Super XV 2015 General Discussion Thread

Interested Observer

The rucks are hilarious, there's zero requirement to stay on your feet.

matthew8

Chiefs doing well to be in the lead, forwards are on top but Highlanders really dangerous when they get the ball.

skippymac6

Yeah the chiefs are hanging in there but you have to feel that the highlanders are close to breaking this open. Stating the obvious but the first ten minutes are key now. Chiefs will look to keep it tight but if the highlanders can get their noses in front and force the chiefs to chase the game, that might not suit them.

stl.ire

Highlanders are devastating on set moves and when things get loose but the Chiefs have the scrum and an edge at the breakdown. They are slowly taking hold of the game. Chiefs will need a try or two as I can't see the Landers not getting a couple in the next half but all credit to them for the job the've done so far (even if the ref got the Osborne try wrong). Incredible game so far though - the line breaks and big hits have been awesome.

sydthebeat

Chiefs are benefiting from some stupid Highlanders penalties, some pretty mindless stuff. They will keep it tight cos that's where they have the upper hand, so we need to stay patient and disciplined.
At lot of 50/50s going to one side.

Id like to see us be a little more structured from our own 22 and open up further up the pitch.

SuprSi

Superb play, from the ref too who held off on calling the penalty just enough

Interested Observer

Smith is stupid good.

Kiwi_knock

Great play again by A Smith

LuckyGent88

Brilliant work from smith. Undisputed number 1 scrum half in the world

Surely naholo has to make the AB squad?

Interested Observer

Sky Go on my computer flat out won't work and Sky Go on my PS4 won't stop buffering.

FML

matthew8

Real clash of styles with the pick and go there. Chiefs back in it.

SuprSi

Nasty for Prior there, looks like he picked up a nasty arm injury in that tackle and the Highlanders were a man down straight away, when they needed him the most. Good play from the Chiefs though.

LostArt

Superb, Retallick is an absolute machine

Interested Observer

The replacement 8 for the Chiefs has been quite good, very high work rate.

LuckyGent88

That was a horrendous penalty to give away by Big Ben. Just gifts 3 points to the highlanders

LuckyGent88

Massive win for the highlanders. Delighted for them

sydthebeat

YES !!!!!!!

Kiwi_knock

Deserved win, A Smith was outstanding.

SuprSi

Yep, delighted. A fantastic match too, really enjoyable from start to finish.

stl.ire

Stupid mistakes and handling errors doomed the chiefs in the 2nd half. The Landers deserved it for sure although they'll need to work out their set piece issues for the semis. Would love to see a full strength Canes and Landers semi or final, just 2 teams going full pelt at each other in attack. It's also fun that we might have a 1st time winner from NZ now the Canes and Landers are through - good to see some change at the top.

Smith is unstoppable when he's on. Great that Brodie R is coming back to form too. If Naholo and Sopoaga aren't in the extended AB squad for the world cup then I don;t know what more they could have done. Excellent games by both tonight.

sydthebeat

Delighted with this morning, really showed great in the second half in defense against the chiefs power. Intelligent defending meaning we left their first in cleaners to barge through and took out the pick and goers.

Smith really controlled the second half, even if some of the kicks were too long, and mckenzie had a field day returning the loose ones.

Would much prefer the canes in nz than the tahs in Sydney now. ...

Kiwi_knock

Great start by the Brumbies, nice awareness of the space by White

Buer

Really fluid with the ball in hand in the opening 5 minutes. They moved the ball so quickly and accurately with no spills or misplaced passes.

Surprised to see a SA referee taking this game with a South African side at home. Surely they could have found a neutral referee for such a high profile game?

Kiwi_knock

That was clinical, good hands by the forwards.

Buer

Superb from the Brumbies. Crush Leyds under the high ball and blow away Stormers at the breakdown for the turnover. Lovely skip pass from White missing out the midfield and exposing the huge overlap for the try.

Lilo misses his second conversion. Might be costly. 10-3 after 15 minutes.

Buer

Absolutely superb continuity and skill levels on show thus far. We're almost 20 minutes in and not a single scrum yet.

And just as I say it there's a ball spilled on the deck.

Kiwi_knock

What a handoff by Tomane on the way to his hat-trick, great turn of pace as well

Buer

Holy crap. Tomane hat-trick after 25 minutes. Stormers completely napping on the blindside off a wheeled scrum.

sydthebeat

Stormers playing dire rugby. Kicking possession away within the brumbies half all the time.
They're really missing vermullen and burger.

Buer

White is correct to be irate there. That pass was clearly well forward and momentum wasn't the issue there given the passer was going sideways as he threw it.

That's the 4th time he has corner flagged really well to cover the Stormers kicks through. Only a matter of time before the Stormers get over though, I think.