Super XV 2015 General Discussion Thread

KevIRL

8-11 now. 50 mins

KevIRL

Canes pen makes it 8-17 with 5 mins left. Best the lions can hope for now is a losing bp

sydthebeat

Finished 8 - 22

Proctor gets in in the corner on full time

Swiwi.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Let's start with a winning NZ side

Canes didn't really get out of 2nd gear v Lions, easily soaked up the pressure, put a try on each half, and Beauden kicked the points. Canes need to start Vito, he's just better than Brad Shields, but 4 points in South Africa is always gratefully received. Lions look like wooden spoon material already: the Italy of Super Rugby, just completely one-dimensional on attack.

And the Crusaders

0 points at home to the Rebels, not sure whether this :mad: or this or this or this or even this :eek:

Hopeless ruck protection (McMahan was immense for the Rebels), the inevitable injury to Carter, why don't Slade or Tom Taylor kick the goals, they're just better these days, and Kieran Fonatia starting in the midfield, with AB centre Crotty on the bench. Freuan had a mare, multiple knock ons, and you're allowed to pass Robbie.
Crusaders always start poorly (remember the dreadful loss to the Chiefs first up last season), but a lot more accuracy needed.

On a side note, isn't it nice to see Pocock back? A real gentleman, and a class rugby player.

George Hook

Swiwi. wrote: »

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Let's start with a winning NZ side

Canes didn't really get out of 2nd gear v Lions, easily soaked up the pressure, put a try on each half, and Beauden kicked the points. Canes need to start Vito, he's just better than Brad Shields, but 4 points in South Africa is always gratefully received. Lions look like wooden spoon material already: the Italy of Super Rugby, just completely one-dimensional on attack.

And the Crusaders

0 points at home to the Rebels, not sure whether this :mad: or this or this or this or even this :eek:

Hopeless ruck protection (McMahan was immense for the Rebels), the inevitable injury to Carter, why don't Slade or Tom Taylor kick the goals, they're just better these days, and Kieran Fonatia starting in the midfield, with AB centre Crotty on the bench. Freuan had a mare, multiple knock ons, and you're allowed to pass Robbie.
Crusaders always start poorly (remember the dreadful loss to the Chiefs first up last season), but a lot more accuracy needed.

On a side note, isn't it nice to see Pocock back? A real gentleman, and a class rugby player.

I'm not too worried about Crusaders, they had a really slow start to the tournament last year, was getting very worried for them at one point.

Canes were solid. Really impressive defence and very accurate.

Totally slipped my mind Pocock was playing, sorry I missed that one - how did he go?

Swiwi.

George Hook wrote: »

I'm not too worried about Crusaders, they had a really slow start to the tournament last year, was getting very worried for them at one point.

Canes were solid. Really impressive defence and very accurate.

Totally slipped my mind Pocock was playing, sorry I missed that one - how did he go?

Only saw highlights of Brumbies v Reds, but online reports suggests he had a good game. Also good to see Stephen Moore back, far & away Australia's best hooker.

sydthebeat

Chiefs having it easy enough against blues 20 - 6 after 33 mins

Swiwi.

sydthebeat wrote: »

Chiefs having it easy enough against blues 20 - 6 after 33 mins

In the battle of the virginal flyhalves, Damian "Ian Madigan-lookalike" McKenzie is having a very assured game, completely outshining Ihaia West.

sydthebeat

Is Francis saili the one supposed linked to munster?

Swiwi.

sydthebeat wrote: »

Is Francis saili the one supposed linked to munster?

Yes. I'm not sure about that TBH, as someone else pointed out there have been so many supposed Munster signings in recent times that have never materialised. With Nonu & Smith heading off-shore, Saili might well rate himself a chance to add to his AB caps in 2016. Safe to say, Saili would walk straight into that Munster midfield, which must be the weakest of the 4 provinces currently, would be a good signing for them.

sydthebeat

He certainly would.

Blues haven't really come out of the traps here at all.
West isnt full filling your predictions for him

Swiwi.

sydthebeat wrote: »

He certainly would.

Blues haven't really come out of the traps here at all.
West isnt full filling your predictions for him

Not helped by his pack. Blues look like last season's model...again. Chiefs look dangerous, even if too many forced passes, which will stick at the business end of the season. Very impressed with McKenzie's first 40 minutes of super rugby.

basillarkin

The Blues kick chase is so poor and so is their fielding in general. Hoping for an early score for the blues so they can make a game of it.

sydthebeat

Well symons in the bin and west scores

12 - 20 ... game on?

sydthebeat

It may be an absolute joy to play off sbw

basillarkin

sydthebeat wrote: »

It may be an absolute joy to play off sbw

Some offloader in fairness and a great catch to set up the 2nd try earlier.

basillarkin

McKenzie having an unreal game. Very impressive

sydthebeat

Did nani Williams go off injured early or something, I think he was supposed to start.

basillarkin

sydthebeat wrote: »

Did nani Williams go off injured early or something, I think he was supposed to start.

There has been a late changes to the Chiefs side with Tim Nanai-Williams and Ben Tameifuna both ruled out.

sydthebeat

basillarkin wrote: »

There has been a late changes to the Chiefs side with Tim Nanai-Williams and Ben Tameifuna both ruled out.

Thanks for that.

A bit strange to loose two starters before the game. .... I was looking forward to seeing if TNW could bring his sevens form to the table.

Swiwi.

May as well kill time until Irlande v France by naming my NZ XV of round 1.

15. Tom Marshall (Chiefs)
14. Charles Piutau (Blues)
13. Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs)
11. Julian Savea (Hurricanes)
10. Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
9. Mitchell Drummond (Crusaders)
8. Jerome Kaino (Blues)
7. Ardie Savea (Canes)
6. Johan Bardoul (Chiefs)
5. Michael Fitzgerald (Chiefs)
4. Luke Romano (Crusaders)
3. Owen Franks (Crusaders)
2. Dane Coles (Hurricanes)
1. Tony Woodcock (Blues)

Player of the round is Damian McKenzie: 1st super XV start, he was composed, decisive, defended and attacked well, kicked his goals. NZ never lacks for good flyhalves, opensides, and back 3 players, and McKenzie kept the tradition going. A mention for Charlie Faumuina off the Blues bench, he was pretty damn good.

Yeah_Right

Would pretty much agree with that team Swiwi except I'd have TJ Peranara at halfback.

Also it was good to see Hika Elliot back after missing all of last season.

matthew8

2 extremely soft tries cost the Blues that game. Was also a bit bemused by them continuing to take the points well into the second half when a kick would still leave them 2 scores down. They seemed to have a lot more territory. That said, you felt the Chiefs were happy to keep them at arms length, and as soon as it became a 5 point game they took charge again. You have to be impressed with their performance, especially with the players missing.

Brumbies and Reds looking the same as they did last year. Good result for the Rebels but they'll have to beat an opponent who's playing well before being taken seriously. Shocker for the Crusaders, top spot should be their goal and it's taken a massive hit, but they'll be back and make the playoffs with a few players returning/finding form. Lions look the same as last year, will put up a fight but ultimately if the opposition plays well they will be beaten. Hurricanes maybe the most interesting team of the round so far as potentially going somewhere. Mark Hammett's side would have found a way to lose that game.

Sharks will want to lay down a marker against a Cheetahs team raided by the Bulls. Top sides in NZ/Aus would put 4 tries past this Cheetahs team. Bulls Stormers looks a matchup of forwards against backs, Duane Vermeulen will have to have a stormer.

matthew8

Bismarck withdrawn before kickoff, Beast taken off with suspected calf tear and Le Roux limping around the pitch here.

Swiwi.

Patrick Lambie a one-man points machine for the Sharks, but although not watching this, looks like Cheetahs putting up a more than decent fight.

matthew8

Cheetahs still can't defend very well, but now the Sharks have joined that club.

matthew8

Bonus point for the Cheetahs. They've been so much better than the Sharks. So hard to see their roster making the playoffs but the SA sides might give an easy schedule.

Jacovs

Stormers beat Bulls 29-17 in Fortress Loftus. :pac:

sydthebeat

So the force beat the waratahs 13 - 25 in NSW.


What's going on at all Ted

Swiwi.

Ah lads, HOME defeats for last year's finalists and the Bulls sees a shocking run of results for the superbru troopers. Congrats to luckygent88 who tops the leaderboard.