Super Rugby

[Lizard]

As I suspected the Chiefs have more travelling than any other NZ team

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbZyzflUMAA ... name=large

[morepork]

My heart bleeds for you.

Airlines must make a mint out of this comp.

[Lizard]

The Sunwolves could probably make a business case for leasing a jet for the duration and having an inhouse flight crew. Like Iron Maiden.

[cashead]

The Jaguares and Sunwolves will definitely be struggling this year. They probably would need a bigger squad. I kind of wish they were something more like a Top League All-Stars (plus some ring-ins from the SANZAR teams) type team.

[Lizard]

Jaguares is a shadow Pumas side, isn't it? It should be ok.

[Lizard]

By the way this thread has taken off, you can tell how successful the expansion to 18 teams has been. Obviously the fans have come to grips with the easy to understand group/conference system. In particular, there is broad acceptance of the complete opaque and non-transparent way in which inter-group fixtures have been arranged.

I probably couldn't put it better than this http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-20 ... 87389.html

Anyway, whinging won't help so let's just get on with it. The opening weekend's fixtures (predicted winners in bold:

Blues v Highlanders (NZ conf) - defending champs will be pushed by Tana's team but the JK hangover is not fully cleared yet.

Brumbies v Hurricanes (inter-conf, ANZ group) - Canes will start strongly, with all wheels firmly attached for now...

Cheetahs v Jaguares (inter-conf, Africa Group) - Shadow Pumas will be fired up and keen to make a statement in their first match.

Sunwolves v Lions (inter-conf, Africa Group) - with so many household names on both sides, this one is harder to pick than a broken nose, nah actually its a bunch of nobodies wasting everyone's time. I'm going Lions simply because they appear to be a functioning entity. Mind you the combination of an SA team on the road and a new team keen to make a mark could see me wrong. Zero fucks given though.

Crusaders v Chiefs (NZ Conf) - Crusaders were well off the pace in warm-ups.

Waratahs v Reds (AUS conf) - More class in the home team

Force v Rebels (AUS conf) - Who needs Le Crunch or El Classico when Australian rugby can serve up this annual feast? ZFG.

Kings v Sharks (Africa 2 conf) - I know that South Africans are used to playing well despite administrative shambles but the Kings have set a new mark for ineptness, going broke before they even set foot back in the comp. I have a morbid curiosity as to just how bad they will be.

Stormers v Bulls (Africa 1 conf) - Stormers are probably still the best SA has to offer

[rowan]

Jaguares is a shadow Pumas side, isn't it? It should be ok.

I think the Jags will be ok, and may well reach their target of the playoffs on debut. The Sunwolves, on the other hand, may struggle badly. I personally think they shouldn't even be there.

[Lizard]

Jaguares is a shadow Pumas side, isn't it? It should be ok.

I think the Jags will be ok, and may well reach their target of the playoffs on debut. The Sunwolves, on the other hand, may struggle badly. I personally think they shouldn't even be there.

I agree completely. I'm not sure what level of pay or other inducements the players have been offered but they've put together a good side. Being the only home-based, professional team is probably a big draw card. Internationally, the Pumas operate at a different level to Japan, are already in a SANZAAR tournament, and have some experience of fielding a domestic side in international comps through the Pampas XV. Putting aside geographical considerations (which still cause me concern), an Argentinean side is a logical expansion step.

Japan, on the other hand, are competing on their home turf with some of the best funded clubs in the world. I'm no expert, but presumably the corporate backers of the Japanese clubs are not massively overwhelmed with a desire to do what is best for the national game (other than importing Tongans and Kiwi loose forwards on 3+ year contracts). Even the full Japanese national team would struggle over the Super Rugby season. Plainly there are some Japanese players of the required standard (Tanaka, Leitch etc) but few have signed on. The Sunwolves (AFAIK) have 9 players with Super Rugby experience, 3 of them seem to have come out of the Aussie dispensation scheme* but with very limited game time (i.e. 0 caps or 1 or 2 sub appearances only). Captain Horie is the only ethnically Japanese player to have been signed on true merit for Super Rugby, having been picked up by the Rebels out of New Zealand provincial rugby. The other 5 are journeymen of varying degrees - Moli showed some potential for the Blues but didn't apply himself, Leonardi has played everywhere but only got regular game time in Edinburgh, Quirk apparently has 38 caps for the Reds over several years, Tusi Pisi is OK, and Viloen is at least very experienced but probably peaked as a Springbok dirt-tracker last decade.


*Aussie franchises were permitted and encouraged to sign Japanese players ahead of the Japanese franchise joining the comp

[cashead]

The Chiefs have replaced Nepo Laulala and Michell Karpik with a couple of Steelers.

Karpik is replaced with Sam Henwood, who apparently impressed at flanker for Counties, and had been doing some club rugby in Portugal, so his fitness isn't too bad.

Replacing Laualala is Hiroshi Yamashita, who has 49 test caps for Japan to his name at tighthead prop. He stands at 1.83m and tips the scales at 120kgs, and will fly in from Kobe.

[Lizard]

The Chiefs have replaced Nepo Laulala and Michell Karpik with a couple of Steelers.

Karpik is replaced with Sam Henwood, who apparently impressed at flanker for Counties, and had been doing some club rugby in Portugal, so his fitness isn't too bad.

Replacing Laualala is Hiroshi Yamashita, who has 49 test caps for Japan to his name at tighthead prop. He stands at 1.83m and tips the scales at 120kgs, and will fly in from Kobe.

Gee, our front row is going to look pretty green...

[cashead]

Save us Super Rugby. Save us from shitty NH rugby.

[cashead]

Blues v Highlanders (NZ conf) - defending champs will be pushed by Tana's team but the JK hangover is not fully cleared yet.

Really?

[Banquo]

'canes caned, despite two brumbie yellows. Looked like a strong team too- any view?

[zer0]

Was only paying half attention to the match, but looked like they were continuing the Piri Weepu and Julian Seavea tradition of turning up fat, lazy and not very interested in doing much. Fluffing around with a pointless "documentary" in the pre-season probably didn't help much either.

[Tre]

Save us Super Rugby. Save us from shitty NH rugby.

Tries, glorious tries.

I'm glad I caught the two matches this morning to balance out my chi ahead of this evening's Wales game and the other Blues kicking everything on Sunday.

[cashead]

Sunwolves are playing the Lions at the moment. Looks like a full house at Chichibunomiya.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Save us Super Rugby. Save us from shitty NH rugby.

Tries, glorious tries.

I'm glad I caught the two matches this morning to balance out my chi ahead of this evening's Wales game and the other Blues kicking everything on Sunday.

The quality of rugby in Super Rugby was so much higher than anything we've seen so far in the 6N. Thank christ for it.

[Len]

Save us Super Rugby. Save us from shitty NH rugby.

Tries, glorious tries.

I'm glad I caught the two matches this morning to balance out my chi ahead of this evening's Wales game and the other Blues kicking everything on Sunday.

The quality of rugby in Super Rugby was so much higher than anything we've seen so far in the 6N. Thank christ for it.

I've wanted to say that since last night but thought I'd get roasted for suggesting it. Why has NH rugby gone backwards?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Tries, glorious tries.

I'm glad I caught the two matches this morning to balance out my chi ahead of this evening's Wales game and the other Blues kicking everything on Sunday.

The quality of rugby in Super Rugby was so much higher than anything we've seen so far in the 6N. Thank christ for it.

I've wanted to say that since last night but thought I'd get roasted for suggesting it. Why has NH rugby gone backwards?

It hasn't. It just hasn't moved forwards. I think it's probably the first time that Super Rugby has started stronger than the 6N. It's support and skill levels that make the big difference.

I've been banging the drum for some time saying that Super Rugby was very strong, even in the days it was being decried as basketball rugby. It's only a couple of years ago that people were still saying on the EMB that it wasn't real rugby and defence was optional whilst i was trying to point out that it was the strength of the attack, not the weakness of defence that led to large scores.

[Tre]

The quality of rugby in Super Rugby was so much higher than anything we've seen so far in the 6N. Thank christ for it.

I've wanted to say that since last night but thought I'd get roasted for suggesting it. Why has NH rugby gone backwards?

It hasn't. It just hasn't moved forwards. I think it's probably the first time that Super Rugby has started stronger than the 6N. It's support and skill levels that make the big difference.

I've been banging the drum for some time saying that Super Rugby was very strong, even in the days it was being decried as basketball rugby. It's only a couple of years ago that people were still saying on the EMB that it wasn't real rugby and defence was optional whilst i was trying to point out that it was the strength of the attack, not the weakness of defence that led to large scores.

It's weird that you get labelled as some kind of hipster for getting up at 6.30 to watch it.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I've wanted to say that since last night but thought I'd get roasted for suggesting it. Why has NH rugby gone backwards?

It hasn't. It just hasn't moved forwards. I think it's probably the first time that Super Rugby has started stronger than the 6N. It's support and skill levels that make the big difference.

I've been banging the drum for some time saying that Super Rugby was very strong, even in the days it was being decried as basketball rugby. It's only a couple of years ago that people were still saying on the EMB that it wasn't real rugby and defence was optional whilst i was trying to point out that it was the strength of the attack, not the weakness of defence that led to large scores.

It's weird that you get labelled as some kind of hipster for getting up at 6.30 to watch it.

My wife thinks i'm slightly mental, but for other people on message boards not to get it is indeed weird.

[Tre]

It hasn't. It just hasn't moved forwards. I think it's probably the first time that Super Rugby has started stronger than the 6N. It's support and skill levels that make the big difference.

I've been banging the drum for some time saying that Super Rugby was very strong, even in the days it was being decried as basketball rugby. It's only a couple of years ago that people were still saying on the EMB that it wasn't real rugby and defence was optional whilst i was trying to point out that it was the strength of the attack, not the weakness of defence that led to large scores.

It's weird that you get labelled as some kind of hipster for getting up at 6.30 to watch it.

My wife thinks i'm slightly mental, but for other people on message boards not to get it is indeed weird.

"I'll get up with the kids" worked for me for a while!

[Banquo]

The quality of rugby in Super Rugby was so much higher than anything we've seen so far in the 6N. Thank christ for it.

I've wanted to say that since last night but thought I'd get roasted for suggesting it. Why has NH rugby gone backwards?

It hasn't. It just hasn't moved forwards. I think it's probably the first time that Super Rugby has started stronger than the 6N. It's support and skill levels that make the big difference.

I've been banging the drum for some time saying that Super Rugby was very strong, even in the days it was being decried as basketball rugby. It's only a couple of years ago that people were still saying on the EMB that it wasn't real rugby and defence was optional whilst i was trying to point out that it was the strength of the attack, not the weakness of defence that led to large scores.

...what, Beef and APR? That's like taking heed of Nigel Farage.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I've wanted to say that since last night but thought I'd get roasted for suggesting it. Why has NH rugby gone backwards?

It hasn't. It just hasn't moved forwards. I think it's probably the first time that Super Rugby has started stronger than the 6N. It's support and skill levels that make the big difference.

I've been banging the drum for some time saying that Super Rugby was very strong, even in the days it was being decried as basketball rugby. It's only a couple of years ago that people were still saying on the EMB that it wasn't real rugby and defence was optional whilst i was trying to point out that it was the strength of the attack, not the weakness of defence that led to large scores.

...what, Beef and APR? That's like taking heed of Nigel Farage.

Sadly not just them.

[Banquo]

It hasn't. It just hasn't moved forwards. I think it's probably the first time that Super Rugby has started stronger than the 6N. It's support and skill levels that make the big difference.

I've been banging the drum for some time saying that Super Rugby was very strong, even in the days it was being decried as basketball rugby. It's only a couple of years ago that people were still saying on the EMB that it wasn't real rugby and defence was optional whilst i was trying to point out that it was the strength of the attack, not the weakness of defence that led to large scores.

...what, Beef and APR? That's like taking heed of Nigel Farage.

Sadly not just them.

rilly....ah well. Can't think of any now, who were naysayers then