Super XV 2015 General Discussion Thread

SuprSi

Stupid Sky are showing the Women's Sevens rugby on Sky Go rather than either the HSBC Sevens or Super Rugby.

Swiwi.

Landers on fire. That's the 4 try BP wrapped up already.

matthew8

38-3. An absolute rout by the Highlanders. Cheetahs injury situation is desperate.

SuprSi

That's some scoreline

skippymac6

A bit of hard ground and the Highlanders are so exciting to watch

Swiwi.

Ben Smith with a perfectly weighted grubber of his left foot. That is a nice bit of skill. Where was this Cheetahs team in the first 40?

Swiwi.

http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/68609050/Clermont-relents-Waisake-Naholo-to-stay-with-Highlanders-in-New-Zealand-report

No complaints from me if it proves correct.

sydthebeat

Swiwi. wrote: »

http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/68609050/Clermont-relents-Waisake-Naholo-to-stay-with-Highlanders-in-New-Zealand-report

No complaints from me if it proves correct.

ill be delighted myself

great game today against a poor cheetahs side, loved the mix of skills involved though to score the trys

stl.ire

Swiwi. wrote: »

Was pleasantly surprised by Hosea Gear. Thought he was finished TBH.

NMS also showed great positioning today at 15 and has s good punt. He's an outside chance to displace Dagg in an AB squad

Gear was impressive. Perhaps he didn't deserve some of the criticism he's gotten this season. He has been stuck behind 2 of the form wingers in NZ in Lowe and Heem so hasn't had much opportunity to redeem some early season performances.

NMS was solid at fullback. He got to show off his monster boot which covered some of his inexperienced defensive positioning. But he proved he's an option there which is huge for his AB hopes. His place at the WC will be based on how he goes in the warm ups but he's on the right track long term.

The naholo news is big for the WC. I reckon Cory Jane's penciled in as the 2nd wing opposite Savea but naholo is a huge threat to that with the form he's in. The fact Hansen seems to have intervened to keep him in NZ should ensure he's at least on the plane to England.

sydthebeat

http://www.superbru.com/superrugby/pool_leaderboard.php?p=11353585

we're down to on 3.33 points between 1st and 6th ..... this is going to go down to the wire
4 rounds to go before the playoffs

Swiwi.

Tackling In Super Rugby

Good news for Ulster fans

Fullback

Elite: Charles Piutau - 86.8%

After struggling in his first two seasons, Piutau's last two campaigns have been impressive


Bad news for Munster fans

Centre

Ordinary: Francis Saili - 64.2%

Saili's downhill slide has resulted in him missing the most tackles out of any Kiwi this season, with 24.


Appalling news for AB fans

Winger

Ordinary: Julian Savea - 56.4%

Note to attack coaches gameplanning against the Hurricanes: Attack down Savea's wing.

pickarooney

I'm sure ulster would be willing to make the sacrifice and sawp. If anyone can the revive the flagging career of that overweight overrated one trick pony Savea it's the Ravenhill boys. Although he'd be benching for Gilroy obviously.

skippymac6

Swiwi. wrote: »

Tackling In Super Rugby

Good news for Ulster fans

Fullback

Elite: Charles Piutau - 86.8%

After struggling in his first two seasons, Piutau's last two campaigns have been impressive


Bad news for Munster fans

Centre

Ordinary: Francis Saili - 64.2%

Saili's downhill slide has resulted in him missing the most tackles out of any Kiwi this season, with 24.


Appalling news for AB fans

Winger

Ordinary: Julian Savea - 56.4%

Note to attack coaches gameplanning against the Hurricanes: Attack down Savea's wing.

I've always thought that Savea was a very good defender. Maybe it's masked a bit by the fact that he throws in a lot of "big hits" and that can maybe paper over the fact that he's missing a few? I suppose as well that the above can be taken out of context a bit as the tackling sample size for a winger can be a lot lower than other positions. For example he could attempt three tackles in a game, miss one and have a 66% completion rate where as a centre could attempt 10, miss 2 and have 80%. I understand that it evens itself out over a year though. I'd still take him poor tackling and all though!!

.ak

Yeah but 55% is about the average in SXV right?

Swiwi.

.ak wrote: »

Yeah but 55% is about the average in SXV right?

Above average for Leinster this season, though

NB: No surprises for those who follow the NZ franchises, Sam Cane is NZs top tackler 97.1%, 4 missed tackles for the season.

sydneybound

Very good news for the Rebels. Results on the pitch improved but this is arguable more important as the club have been sucking funds from the ARU for a few years.

"In big news for the Rebels – and their current financiers, the Australian Rugby Union – the Melbourne club have secured private owners.

The Rebels are understood to have signed a heads of agreement with the Imperium Group, led by well-known Melbourne businessman Andrew Cox and sports entrepreneur Peter Sidwell on a deal that will take effect on July 31.

Cox and partners, who are understood to specialise in brand management and business turnarounds, have teamed up with Sidwell, the former owner of A-League club Melbourne Heart (now Melbourne City), met with the playing group and coach Tony McGahan this week.

It is a major boost for the club, who who are turning around their on-field fortunes under McGahan but have sucked up more than $9 million in life support from the ARU"

Snegg

Swiwi. wrote: »

Tackling In Super Rugby

Good news for Ulster fans

Fullback

Elite: Charles Piutau - 86.8%

After struggling in his first two seasons, Piutau's last two campaigns have been impressive


Bad news for Munster fans

Centre

Ordinary: Francis Saili - 64.2%

Saili's downhill slide has resulted in him missing the most tackles out of any Kiwi this season, with 24.


Appalling news for AB fans

Winger

Ordinary: Julian Savea - 56.4%

Note to attack coaches gameplanning against the Hurricanes: Attack down Savea's wing.

Where'd you find those stats?

Swiwi.

Snegg wrote: »

Where'd you find those stats?

Here is where I found those stats...

matthew8

Brutal error from Heem gifts a try to the Bulls. What's he thinking batting the ball away.

stl.ire

Bulls off to a flier here against the Chiefs. 2 very strange tries and the last one unbelievably stupid.
Chiefs don't seem to be focused at all.

stl.ire

And the Chiefs get 2 quick tries back! Both from broken play. 15-15 now and who knows what will happen next.

Yeah_Right

Great game so far. Very entertaining.

Dave_The_Sheep

If the Reds could hold onto the ball after a pass, they'd be decent.

skippymac6

Sharks are just hanging on for dear life. They are completely out on their feet but they are just doing enough. Reds are so wasteful in attack and that kick from O'Connor for the second Sharks try was just awful.

Yeah_Right

That Jams O'Connor screw up was hilarious

matthew8

Reds have played directly into Sharks hands all game with the pick and go. Jake McIntyre has 2 starts at 10 now and you wonder what his role in the team is. He barely touches the ball.

SuprSi

I'm happy for the Sharks, they've been unlucky in the last two games not to get more than they did.

Swiwi.

sydthebeat with the SuperBru table

sydthebeat

Haha, I'll never count my chickens, there are a few games coming up that could go anyway.

But delighted so far

Swiwi.

https://vine.co/v/eqAPjVUuFuv

No surprises who's buying his team-mates the drinks tonight...