Super Rugby

[zer0]

Why? It was the Argentine test team against three All Blacks and 20 blokes quickly rounded up from the Kingsland pubs 10 minutes before kickoff.

[rowan]

Bulls - Highlanders to come. Promises to be the match of the round.

[rowan]

Just kicked off in Pretoria. Have to back the home team here.

Anyway, I'm always especially happy when both my favorite teams win, even if it was against the bottom two sides in the comp ! !

[rowan]

Canes have a game in hand:

1. Crusaders 9 7 0 2 267:160 33

2. Hurricanes 8 7 0 1 267:145 32

3. Lions 10 6 0 4 343:278 31

4. Highlanders 8 6 0 2 239:183 28

5. Chiefs 8 6 0 2 249:182 26

6. Waratahs 8 5 1 2 248:207 24

7. Rebels 9 4 0 5 257:248 21

8. Jaguares 10 5 0 5 234:285 20

9. Bulls 9 4 0 5 241:234 20

10. Stormers 10 4 0 6 265:298 18

11. Sharks 9 3 1 5 258:277 18

12. Reds 9 4 0 5 170:241 17

13. Brumbies 9 3 0 6 183:227 15

14. Blues 9 2 0 7 225:288 13

15. Sunwolves 9 0 0 9 177:370 2

[rowan]

Did I mention the Canes have a game in hand . . .

[rowan]

Replay?

Cape Town - Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett believes a blunder by New Zealand referee Glen Jackson helped the Highlanders snatch a last-gasp 29-28 win over the Bulls in Pretoria.

Speaking in the SuperSport studio, Mallett said the match official wrongly penalised Bulls prop Lizo Gqoboka for entering a ruck from the side when he actually came in from behind.

Television replays of the incident near Highlanders' 22 late in the second half supported Mallett, who called the decision "a poor, critical one".

It enabled the Highlanders to relieve the pressure and when they were awarded another soon after, 19-point Lima Sopoaga converted to win the match.

“There was one bit of play I felt Glen Jackson got wrong. That was the second-last penalty that the Highlanders got. Lizo Gqoboka does a very, very good counter-ruck, takes the player, comes from behind and for some reason, Jackson felt he came in from the side. That is a very poor decision and it is a critical decision that, in the end, lost them the game," Mallett said.

https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRu ... t-20180430

[morepork]

Mallet has been a whining bitch ever since he butchered the Italian national side.

[rowan]

Week 12 already, though the teams have only played 8-10 games each. Two-thirds of the way through the regular season, basically. The New Zealand teams are dominant again, not much has changed on that front despite the streamlined format, but it's going to be a tough weekend and I suspect one or two of them might go down - notably the battling Blues who are away to the in-form Tahs. A home win there, which appears more than likely, would hand Australia its first victory over a Kiwi team since 2016! Saders & Landers are also on the road, but will be expected to prevail over the Rebels & Sharks, two teams which have flattered to deceive this season. Canes and Chiefs have the home advantage against the Lions & Jaguares. Should be two more wins in the bag, but you never know. The only game not involving an NZ outfit this weekend is the Stormers - Bulls derby in CT, which should go the way of the visitors.

[rowan]

Canes v Lions should be the match of the round. Replay of the 2016 final, of course.

[rowan]

6-10 Jags! Half an hour gone.
12-10 HT
Jags back in front 12-13 early 2nd half, Chiefs get a yellow card . . .
Penalty try sees Jags out to 12-20 lead.
Approaching 3/4 mark.

[Spy]

Sweet schadenfreude.

[rowan]

19-23: Another win in NZ by the Jaguares. They've actually won 4 games on the trot on this current tour of Australia and NZ, I believe. That's astounding. Looks like the Argie outfit has finally come of age!

[rowan]

10-10 in Melbourne, Saders with a man in the bin, approaching 1/2 time. Many were picking the Tahs to end the Aussie drought against Kiwi sides when they face the Blues this weekend, but will the Rebels get there first?

Not even close. Turning point appeared to be Genia's departure midway through the game. Huge blow. Saders cruising 10-41 with 15 to go.

FT 10-55. The Rebels' promising start to the season is but a distant memory . . .

[rowan]

Ben Lam opens the scoring for the Canes with an early try. Good start for the hosts.

HT 14-7. Canes should be further ahead but not capitalizing on their chances and a Lions try just before the break keeps it close.

Lam the man again! Quality try to the Canes. 21-7 early 2nd 1/2.

[rowan]

That's my boys

[rowan]

Hell, Blues beat the Tahs! That speaks volumes about the difference in standards between the Kiwis and the Aussies at the moment. But I always suspected the Blues were a far better outfit than they were letting on. I can't believe that the Aussie teams are still so bad, however. The only team from that country to have won lately seems to have been the Force, who downed Fiji in an experimental encounter last night!

Anyway, disappointed in the Tahs, but always very happy when my 2 faves win - namely the Canes and Jags, respectively.

[rowan]

Strange round so far. Sharks are kicking Otago butt in Durban, 38-7 with 10 remaining. Not that it's unusual for the Saffas to be doing well, particularly on their home turf. They have a stronger basis than Australia with a provincial competition just as strong as New Zealand's and dating back a lot further. Canes & Saders are shaping up as probable winners this season, however. The only thing standing in their way could be another final in South Africa, but that's looking less and less likely as well.

[rowan]

38-12. Biggest loss for a Kiwi side against a non-Kiwi side since . . . ?

[rowan]

1. Crusaders 10 8 0 2 322:170 38

2. Hurricanes 9 8 0 1 295:164 36

3. Lions 11 6 0 5 362:306 31

4. Highlanders 9 6 0 3 251:221 28

5. Chiefs 9 6 0 3 268:205 27

6. Waratahs 9 5 1 3 269:231 25

7. Jaguares 11 6 0 5 257:304 24

8. Sharks 10 4 1 5 296:289 23

9. Stormers 11 5 0 6 294:315 22

10. Rebels 10 4 0 6 267:303 21

11. Bulls 10 4 0 6 258:263 20

12. Reds 9 4 0 5 170:241 17

13. Blues 10 3 0 7 249:309 17

14. Brumbies 9 3 0 6 183:227 15

15. Sunwolves 9 0 0 9 177:370 2

[Lizard]

38-12. Biggest loss for a Kiwi side against a non-Kiwi side since . . . ?

See stats thread...

[rowan]

Very wise . . .

[rowan]

Could be some close games this weekend and potentially a few upsets. Are the Blues back in business? Or are the Canes for real? That question will be answered one way or the other tomorrow. Sunwolves won't get a much better chance to win than at home to the Reds right now. Stormers at home to the Chiefs and Landers at home to the Lions could go either way. I suspect the Gauteng outfit might edge the latter, with Otago coming back from a tour which culminated in a thumping and resting Aaron Smith for the occasion. & the big derby in Pretoria should also be a cracker. Probably the most predictable encounter is the Saders at home to NSW, with the Tahs disappointing last weekend and not likely to trouble the reigning 7-time champions in Christchurch.

[rowan]

First of the above questions answered: The Blues are definitely NOT back in business, but the Canes definitely ARE for real.

FT 15-36

[rowan]

& this, ladies & gentlemen, is what the table looks like when the Canes don't have a game in hand against the Saders.

1. Hurricanes 10 9 0 1 331:179 41

2. Lions 11 6 0 5 362:306 31

3. Waratahs 9 5 1 3 269:231 25

4. Crusaders 10 8 0 2 322:170 38

5. Highlanders 9 6 0 3 251:221 28

6. Chiefs 9 6 0 3 268:205 27

7. Jaguares 11 6 0 5 257:304 24

8. Sharks 10 4 1 5 296:289 23

9. Stormers 11 5 0 6 294:315 22

10. Rebels 10 4 0 6 267:303 21

11. Bulls 10 4 0 6 258:263 20

12. Reds 9 4 0 5 170:241 17

13. Blues 11 3 0 8 264:345 17

14. Brumbies 9 3 0 6 183:227 15

15. Sunwolves 9 0 0 9 177:370 2

[zer0]

Didn't realise the Australian matches were being played so early. Looked online to find that the Sunwolves beat the Reds 63-28. Was that seriously the final score? That's insane. Must be the biggest win of the season?