Super XV 2015 General Discussion Thread

Jacovs

matthew8 wrote: »

Didn't see it, what happened with the conversion? Was he rushed, or charged down? Was it under the posts or a few metres to one side?

Didnt see it myself, my boy distracted me. Saw the Pocock try about a meter or 2 to the left of the posts, and then saw the ball hitting off the post. I asked my mom cos they were at Newlands for the game and she says Kolbe rushed up. Dont think he touched the ball, just put the pressure on and it seems to have worked.

RugbyLover123

Lealiifano's kicking has been very touch and go of late. I can recall him having a few close calls with kicks in front of the posts in recent weeks as well as missing easy enough kicks. Far cry from being not able to miss against the Lions in 2013.

Magico Gonzalez

Starting to feel mildly concerned about 2016 and the Argentine side. As of this month we have no name, no stadium and not yet got a full squad.

Are the japanese any further down the line? Is it possible they have been told to keep it under wraps until the season ends?

All feels a bit flakey to me. The only information I can find is that the team will be in Buenos Aires province, but given that BA province is about the size of France, that's not saying a lot.

Yeah_Right

Great win by the Blues today Luatua was stretchered off

the form Saili has been in the last few weeks makes him look like a great buy for Munster.

rebels currently leading the Reds 17-8.

matthew8

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Great win by the Blues today Luatua was stretchered off

the form Saili has been in the last few weeks makes him look like a great buy for Munster.

rebels currently leading the Reds 17-8.

If I'm a Blues fan I'd almost root against them given the season is done anyway. Probably going to keep Kirwan if the better form continues and I really don't think you can have much more time for him. They are far better at Eden Park, 9 wins and 1 loss there the last 2 seasons, and away from Eden Park an astonishing 1 win and 18 losses. And they get to play the Highlanders, Crusaders and Hurricanes there to end the season. Easy to imagine they win those 3 now and they say they're making progress, the players come out in support of the coach (who for me, like MOC, must be a very pleasant and likeable man and seen as fair by the players despite a lack of on field results) and they keep Kirwan on.

Saili is a cracking signing for Munster, problem for them is they never seem to utilise their centres well. Jean De Villiers went there as a world class player, made very little impact (apart from in Perpignan), went back home and became world class again.

Swiwi.

LOL Rebels losing to the Reds. That will kill off the Rebels season I would think.

Pudsy33

I missed the cut off on superbru for the bulls game, but iirc I selected the Reds sothat sshould get back the point I lost!

Yeah_Right

WTF just happened. Reds now leading 39-17 with 16 to go!!

skippymac6

Good to see the Reds playing a bit of ball at last. When they beat the Crusaders a few years ago to win the title they were the most exciting team around. They might not get back to that level but when they play with a bit of freedom, they are great to watch. Genia as well is having a great game and he's another one that has a bit to go to re-discover his past form but he's really zipping those flat passes and sniping around the fringes with some intent again.

matthew8

Graham has coached the Reds until now, a man called Connolly has been appointed to 'assist' him for the rest of the season. Perhaps he's properly taken charge. This is party time for the Reds. No way they could do this to a quality team though.

Swiwi.

Pudsy33 wrote: »

I missed the cut off on superbru for the bulls game, but iirc I selected the Reds sothat sshould get back the point I lost!

This season is really hard to predict. Reds woeful and thrashed by crusaders last weak with paper thin defence. This week they destroy the Rebels.

sydthebeat

0 for 2 So far with the superbru.

Swiwi.

sydthebeat wrote: »

0 for 2 So far with the superbru.

Did you see syd that Naholo is apparently trying to do a Ranger...and stick in NZ. Sometimes I wonder about the advice the agents give their players. Like if you still harbour a desire to play international rugby, don't yet sign a contract to move overseas, or at the least insert a clause that allows you to renege if selected for higher honours. Will see what happens here...

thomond2006

Swiwi. wrote: »

Did you see syd that Naholo is apparently trying to do a Ranger...and stick in NZ. Sometimes I wonder about the advice the agents give their players. Like if you still harbour a desire to play international rugby, don't yet sign a contract to move overseas, or at the least insert a clause that allows you to renege if selected for higher honours. Will see what happens here...

There's a chance Nalaga won't be leaving Clermont for Toulon. If he remains at Clermont then perhaps they'll be happy to take a fee to break Naholo's contract.

sydthebeat

Really looking forward to this one.
Could potentially be the final.

On naholo, wont see him today due to injury, but great to see ainley in at lock and hardie with their first starts this season.

sydthebeat

Nonu !!!

Playing his best rugby in 4 years!

Buer

Nonu has started on fire against the Chiefs. Steps off his left inside the cover in the opening seconds for a nice line break in midfield and then steps off his right to beat the drift in the 9th minute.

Chiefs haven't got their hands on the ball yet.

stl.ire

Nonu on fire so far. What a season he's having. Just in time for the world cup too!

sydthebeat

Im setting a habit lately of blind flankers swimming up the scrum on put in, creating an 8 man front row.
Seems to be happening a lot more often and deliberately this season than usual

stl.ire

sydthebeat wrote: »

Im setting a habit lately of blind flankers swimming up the scrum on put in, creating an 8 man front row.
Seems to be happening a lot more often and deliberately this season than usual

Definitely. I think it was Murray Kinsella who pointed out that even Ireland were occasionally doing it in the 6N. It's something smart teams are exploiting.

sydthebeat

SOB does it a lot too.

Hosea gear having a good impact here, don't think he's anywhere near an ab shirt though with the class that's ahead of him.

But good to see him back

sydthebeat

Chiefs individual errors in the canes 5m area is really killing tthem

Buer

Perenara's passing is far too loopy, no zip at all and is killing his backs.

Buer

Oh sweet Jesus. That's a season ender for Allardice by the looks of it. Awful looking injury through the side of the knee.

matthew8

No second rows left for the Chiefs. 2 back rows in second row now.

stl.ire

Horrible injury there. 2 guys diving in at the clearout pincering on his legs.

Canes starting to get back into this. The Chiefs had so much territory and dominance in the forwards but somehow only picked up 6 points.

sydthebeat

Great break and try for chiefs.

Sam cane carrying them a bit at the moment

matthew8

Try right on half time for the Chiefs. Deserved, they've been the better team. Scrums could get very tough in the second half though with no second rows.

Buer

Great try from the Chiefs at perfect time to go in with noses in front.

They'll need to keep it very high tempo, ball in hand and quick movement from the ruck now. May as well play to their strength with 4 flankers on the pitch. The flankers they've brought on aren't exactly small men, though; 112kg and 113kg respectively.

stl.ire

Chiefs deserve their lead. They're doing a great job pressuring the Canes and holding them back in their own half. Eventually that's been rewarded. Will be an interesting 2nd half for sure.