Super Rugby

[rowan]

Thanks for the heads up!

I see the Rebels thumped the Reds in their opening game. I guess that will be held up as vindication of the ARU's controversial decision to retain them ahead of the Force. But time will tell us more. Could be that the Reds are just going to be rubbish again this season when the whole idea of contraction was to get them back up to speed.

[rowan]

Sunwolves in the Aussie conference makes so much more sense. Much less travel and more or less in the same time zone. Looks like they've ditched Singers as the alternative venue and gone with HK, which is probably a good move as well:

Hong Kong will stage its first ever Super Rugby match on 19 May 2018 at Mong Kok Stadium when Japan’s Hito-Communications Sunwolves host South Africa’s DHL Stormers in Week 14 of the 19-week 2018 regular season.

Although the Sunwolves will be on debut in the city, the side features some familiar faces for local fans – including over 10,000 Japanese residents in the city, with test captain and flanker Michael Leitch, scrumhalf Fumi Tanaka, hooker Shota Horie, backs Yu Tamura, Kenki Fukuoka, Akihito Yamada, Harumichi Tatekawa and sevens star Lomano Lemeki all having represented Japan here previously.

https://www.asiarugby.com/2018/02/23/sunwolves-2/

[zer0]

I hadn't realised they'd dropped Singapore. HK does indeed make more sense for getting a larger crowd at a non-Japanese venue. But the Sunwolves now play most of their matches in Australasia, as opposed to Africa. So I don't see why they aren't playing all their home matches in Japan, as the whole reason for playing in Singapore was to try and reduce travel for the South Africans.

[rowan]

Yes, dropping Singers now makes sense, since they certainly weren't getting the crowds there. Obviously they're looking at the economic benefits of a game in HK with a decent-sized attendance likely.

Meanwhile, Saders off to a perfect start, thumping the Chiefs

[rowan]

Jags leading the Lions in Jo'burg 0-7 early on.

FT 47 - 27 Lions

Meanwhile, Uruguay is examining the possibility of obtaining a Super Rugby franchise next time it expands https://www.referi.uy/se-viene-el-rugby ... a-n1174916 Would be good to have another team on the South American continent.

[rowan]

Hopefully we don't see Ihaia West back in a Canes' jersey again. Barrett's got to be starting next week. Still, not too disappointed with a 2-point loss in Pretoria.

[rowan]

[rowan]

Better from the Reds this week. I see them as the litmus test for the success of the changes that have been made to the comp this year. A perennial giant in representative rugby, they clearly did not have the depth to help support 5 Aussie franchises. They made a wretched start last week, but have bounced back with this win over the Brumbies. As for the Auckland Blues, not much sign of a revival there, going 0-2 with a loss to the Chiefs.

[morepork]

Maybe the Blues and Warriors should swap stadiums. Neither seem to be able to win at home.

[rowan]

Another poor start from the Sunpoodles, 0-2 after a drubbing at home from the Rebels. The Aussies, however, are off to an encouraging start with two straight wins, perhaps going some way toward justifying their inclusion ahead of the Force after all . . .

[zer0]

The Rebels have had the majority of the Force players assimilated into their squad. The same would've happened if it were the reverse. That being the case, I'd say it has next to nothing to do with justifying ones inclusion ahead of the other.

[morepork]

20 mins, 26-0 to Cru over the Stormers.


Oh yes.

[cashead]

The Stormers are trying, but the Crusaders are all over them like a flannel, and cutting through their defence almost at will. They'd do well to score any points, let alone a try.

[morepork]

Counter attack is brutal.

[morepork]

South African beef hammers it in.

[morepork]

Goodhue pretty much has to be killed to stop him going hard doesn't he?

[rowan]

Crusaders looking ominous once again. This is really disappointing from the Stormers so far.

[morepork]

Now now. Let us revel in the EQC being able to make a stadium but not a family home in 8 years.

[morepork]

Jesus De Allende is not a playmaker but he is a unit that needs stopping.

[cashead]

Jesus De Allende is not a playmaker but he is a unit that needs stopping.

When he's fully fit, he's a physical freak. He was shit last year, but that had a lot to do with him coming off of a long-term injury and severely lacking match-fitness.

[morepork]

Stormers have the red meat in their play now.

[morepork]

Fuck it's A&E passing in the midfield.

[rowan]

Saders are toying with them . . .

[morepork]

Saders are toying with them . . .

Nah man, they are adjusting their game plan. No more cute loopy width. It's a dogfight now.

[morepork]

Having said that...