Rugby Championship 2019 chat

sydthebeat

just starting a dedicated thread for RC 2019 chat.

shortened version this year due to RWC

New Zealand
World ranking: 1
Titles: 16
Last year: 1st
Coach: Steve Hansen
Captain: Kieran Read

Squad: (Backs) Ben Smith, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, Sonny Bill Williams, Jack Goodhue, Anton Leinert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber.

(Forwards) Keiran Read (captain), Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Shannon Frizell, Matt Todd, Jackson Hemopo, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu, Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tuungafasi, Atu Moli, Angus Ta’avao, Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Asafo Aumua, Liam Coltman.

Argentina
World ranking: 10th
Titles: 0
Last year: 4th
Coach: Mario Ledesma
Captain: Pablo Matera

Squad: (Forwards) Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Mayco Vivas, Juan Pablo Zeiss, Javier Diaz, Santiago Garcia Botta, Agustin Creevy, Julian Montoya, Santiago Socino, Juan Figallo, Ramiro Herrera, Santiago Medrano, Enrique Pieretto, Lucio Sordoni, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Lucas Paulos, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lezana, Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Rodrigo Bruni, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Facundo Isa

(Backs) Tomas Cubelli, Gonzalo Bertranou, Martin Landajo, Felipe Ezcurra, Nicolas Sanchez, Benjamin Urdapilleta, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Domingo Miotti, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Matias Orlando, Matias Moroni, Lucas Mensa, Juan Cruz Mallia, Bautista Ezcurra, Ramiro Moyano, Santiago Cordero, Bautista Delguy, Sebastian Cancelliere, Emiliano Boffelli, Joaquín Tuculet, Manuel Montero, Santiago Carreras.

Australia
World ranking: 6
Titles: 4
Last year: 3rd
Coach: Michael Cheika
Captain: Michael Hooper

Squad: (Forwards) Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Jack Dempsey, Folau Fainga’a, Michael Hooper (capt), Luke Jones, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Isi Naisarani, Tom Robertson, Izack Rodda, Rob Simmons, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Jordan Uelese, Rob Valetini, Liam Wright

(Backs) Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tom Banks, Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Jack Maddocks, Joe Powell, Matt Toomua, Nic White.


South Africa
World ranking: 5
Titles: 3
Last year: 2nd
Coach: Rassie Erasmus
Captain: To be confirmed

Squad: (Forwards) Schalk Brits, Marcell Coetzee, Lood de Jager, Thomas du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Rynhardt Elstadt, Eben Etzebeth, Lizo Gqoboka, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira, Franco Mostert, Trevor Nyakane, Marvin Orie, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Duane Vermeulen

(Backs) Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Faf de Klerk, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Warrick Gelant, Elton Jantjies, Herschel Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Dillyn Leyds, Makazole Mapimpi, Sibusiso Nkosi, Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Frans Steyn.

Fixtures
July 20th: South Africa v Australia, Johannesburg (4.05pm); Argentina v New Zealand, Buenos Aires (7.05pm)

July 27th: New Zealand v South Africa, Wellington (8.35am); Australia v Argentina, Brisbane (10.45am)

August 10th: Australia v New Zealand, Perth (10.45am); Argentina v South Africa, Salta (8.40pm)

Yeah_Right

Good man Syd. Any predictions?

It will be interesting to see if the ABs continue the trend of not winning the title in World Cup years. I think Australia won the Rugby Championship in both 2011 and 2015. But thankfully not the Bledisloe. Speaking of which, the 2nd Bledisloe match is on August 17th at Eden Park.

realhorrorshow

Tomorrow's games are at 4.05pm and 7.05pm.

rainybillwill

Will sean O brian be wearing a diaper is my number one concern

sydthebeat

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Tomorrow's games are at 4.05pm and 7.05pm.

Thanks, i got the above straight from the Irish times, dunno why they are an hour behind. Ill edit to suit.

Yeah_Right

rainybillwill wrote: »

Will sean O brian be wearing a diaper is my number one concern

Is he planning on hammering the beers back while watching the greatest rugby teams in the world play each other?

sydthebeat

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Good man Syd. Any predictions?
.

im already on SA to win the comp.... @ 11/2

I think their game v NZ will be epic... and similarily i think Argies v Ozzies will be epic for similar reasons.....

south africa to go 3 from 3
australia to go 0 from 3

One thing i cant wait to see tomorrow is Elstadt hunting down Foley for 80 minutes and giving him a torrid time. Foley will stand off deeper and deeper and we'll see the weird juxtaposition of an aussie team kicking everything and a bokke team running everything. I think even with the players Rassie has moth balled, they are good enough to beat this aussie team.. its as poor an australia team as ive seen in a long time.

Typically though cheika will have them very hard to beat, but i think their lack of invention in the back line will be theri undoing. Kerevi is the only player of the lot that id take straight into an ireland team.

I think the kiwis will be spooked by the argies in Argentina, but will come good to eventually win by around 11 or 12.

Ive reece tipped to be to try scorer in the RWC so i want to see him open up on the right...

hahashake

The Pumas team named is just the Jaguares team that played in the final + Sanchez and Figallo. So they'll be the most cohesive but least rested team of the RC.

sydthebeat

any body interested in playing a predictor game for a bit of fun ???

Join boards.ie RC 2019, my The Rugby Championship Predictor league on @Superbru! You can find my pool here:

https://www.superbru.com/rugbychampionship/pool.php?p=12082315

or by downloading the Superbru app and searching for the pool with code:

hemsdemo

andymx11

sydthebeat wrote: »

any body interested in playing a predictor game for a bit of fun ???

Join boards.ie RC 2019, my The Rugby Championship Predictor league on @Superbru! You can find my pool here:

https://www.superbru.com/rugbychampionship/pool.php?p=12082315


or by downloading the Superbru app and searching for the pool with code:

hemsdemo

Done - thanks for the invite

accensi0n

With all the talk of NZ being a weakened team for the Pumas match... they're still fielding a team that could tear you a new one.

sydthebeat

Welcome aboard Andy

PTH2009

It be weird having the 6 nations in winter like there having this in winter

Or is it Spring down there ??? Bloody confusing

Think the ABs for the title but wont win all there games

Squidgy Black

PTH2009 wrote: »

It be weird having the 6 nations in winter like there having this in winter

Or is it Spring down there ??? Bloody confusing

Think the ABs for the title but wont win all there games

Middle of Winter at the moment.

PTH2009

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Middle of Winter at the moment.

any comparison chart between North and south hemp in terms of when there pre season is compared to ours

the world cup is nearer the end of theres and plays right into there hands

Squidgy Black

PTH2009 wrote: »

any comparison chart between North and south hemp in terms of when there pre season is compared to ours

the world cup is nearer the end of theres and plays right into there hands

Super Rugby season runs February to July. Much shorter season compared to the Pro14 and Champions Cup, which runs September to May.

In a non-rwc year most ABs would play Super Rugby through to June/July, then into the Rugby Championship in August through to October, then onto the November series and then have their off-season until Super Rugby kicks off again.

World Cup is closer to the domestic season end, but the Rugby Championship is much tougher than the equivalent warm up games that Ireland will play (in terms of intensity and actually meaning something). And they've shortened it this year to 3 rounds instead of 6.

Can't see NZ losing any games

PTH2009

:mad:

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Super Rugby season runs February to July. Much shorter season compared to the Pro14 and Champions Cup, which runs September to May.

In a non-rwc year most ABs would play Super Rugby through to June/July, then into the Rugby Championship in August through to October, then onto the November series and then have their off-season until Super Rugby kicks off again.

World Cup is closer to the domestic season end, but the Rugby Championship is much tougher than the equivalent warm up games that Ireland will play (in terms of intensity and actually meaning something). And they've shortened it this year to 3 rounds instead of 6.

where would the summer tests fit in when the european sides play down under ??

Squidgy Black

PTH2009 wrote: »

:mad:

where would the summer tests fit in when the european sides play down under ??

Generally squeezed in between the space between the round games and knockouts for super rugby.

PTH2009

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Generally squeezed in between the space between the round games and knockouts for super rugby.

Didn't mean for that angry face thing ha

Those games are a head ache selection wise esp if big players are from clubs in the super 14 knockouts

The day will come when we will play the ABs down there and what battles they could be

RugbyLover123

sydthebeat wrote: »

im already on SA to win the comp.... @ 11/2

I think their game v NZ will be epic... and similarily i think Argies v Ozzies will be epic for similar reasons.....

south africa to go 3 from 3
australia to go 0 from 3

One thing i cant wait to see tomorrow is Elstadt hunting down Foley for 80 minutes and giving him a torrid time. Foley will stand off deeper and deeper and we'll see the weird juxtaposition of an aussie team kicking everything and a bokke team running everything. I think even with the players Rassie has moth balled, they are good enough to beat this aussie team.. its as poor an australia team as ive seen in a long time.

Typically though cheika will have them very hard to beat, but i think their lack of invention in the back line will be theri undoing. Kerevi is the only player of the lot that id take straight into an ireland team.

I think the kiwis will be spooked by the argies in Argentina, but will come good to eventually win by around 11 or 12.

Ive reece tipped to be to try scorer in the RWC so i want to see him open up on the right...

What’s Elstadt like? Haven’t seen much of SA super rugby this year.

sydthebeat

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

What’s Elstadt like? Haven’t seen much of SA super rugby this year.

Elstadt plays for Toulouse

RugbyLover123

sydthebeat wrote: »

Elstadt plays for Toulouse

Not really doing my username justice by asking that question!! Do you think Kwagga Smith is being saved for Abs? SA have some great options in the back 5, will be interesting to see who is picked.

Squidgy Black

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

Not really doing my username justice by asking that question!! Do you think Kwagga Smith is being saved for Abs? SA have some great options in the back 5, will be interesting to see who is picked.

Yep, Rassie said himself he's holding players back and sending them to NZ ahead of time to acclimatise for the ABs game, hence the sort of mismatch squad for the Australia game.

sydthebeat

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

Not really doing my username justice by asking that question!! Do you think Kwagga Smith is being saved for Abs? SA have some great options in the back 5, will be interesting to see who is picked.

Depends on how Rassie sets up the team, but yeah Smith must be among the front runners to start... Maybe Loue gets the start?? They've so much big guys maybe they will go to smith for the something extra.

Immaterial really cos Kolisi is the incumbent

rainybillwill

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Is he planning on hammering the beers back while watching the greatest rugby teams in the world play each other?

Well if he does i hope he wears a diaper

Del.Monte

Really pumped up for both of tomorrow's games, especially NZ vs Argentina. Sevu Reece's first AB's cap could be epic. And with Sonny Bill out yet again with an injury is there still an outside chance for the return of Ma'a Nonu?

Having watched little rugby over the summer the rise, and rise of 22-year-old Sevu Reece from nowhere to being the top try scorer in the Super 15 competition nearly evaded me, The YouTube video below is phenomenal!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJuaE0AmWco

NeonWolf

Del.Monte wrote: »

Really pumped up for both of tomorrow's games, especially NZ vs Argentina. Sevu Reece's first AB's cap could be epic. And with Sonny Bill out yet again with an injury is there still an outside chance for the return of Ma'a Nonu?

Having watched little rugby over the summer the rise, and rise of 22-year-old Sevu Reece from nowhere to being the top try scorer in the Super 15 competition nearly evaded me, The YouTube video below is phenomenal!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJuaE0AmWco

Sonny Bill being injured is the best thing that happened to the Allblacks .It's Laumape time. I expect the pumas to get a hiding.

shotgunmcos

Del.Monte wrote: »

Really pumped up for both of tomorrow's games, especially NZ vs Argentina. Sevu Reece's first AB's cap could be epic. And with Sonny Bill out yet again with an injury is there still an outside chance for the return of Ma'a Nonu?

Having watched little rugby over the summer the rise, and rise of 22-year-old Sevu Reece from nowhere to being the top try scorer in the Super 15 competition nearly evaded me, The YouTube video below is phenomenal!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJuaE0AmWco

Ok good finishes but nothing you wouldn't expect from a top class winger. I watched a lot of the games and it was the exquisite cross field kicks, the centres line breaks, the loose forwards line breaks, the animation to draw defenses in after phases to create the space. Yes he finishes well but its handy when your team put it on a plate for you.

NeonWolf

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Ok good finishes but nothing you wouldn't expect from a top class winger. I watched a lot of the games and it was the exquisite cross field kicks, the centres line breaks, the loose forwards line breaks, the animation to draw defenses in after phases to create the space. Yes he finishes well but its handy when your team put it on a plate for you.

Something I have been thinking also. I don't see any Joe Roks/Sivivatu style swerve or Milner shudder step. A lot of those tries were relative tap ins compared to the highlight reel of other wingers like a Ben Lam Naholo or Alaimalo (not that i would necessarily select any of them).

Hopefully he is the goods.

Dog Botherer

If James Lowe was playing in NZ right now he’d be starting ahead of Reece, I reckon.

sydthebeat

Dog Botherer wrote: »

If James Lowe was playing in NZ right now he’d be starting ahead of Reece, I reckon.

Maybe, however 22 yo Sevu Reece is better than 22 yo James Lowe.

NeonWolf

Fancy Australia here to do a smash and grab. The k train and Kerevi to bust them open . Naisirani and Lukhan to give the back row long needed ballast.

9/4 worth a tickle at the price. Faf and the rest of the first teamers are down in Wellington already.

NeonWolf

Dog Botherer wrote: »

If James Lowe was playing in NZ right now he’d be starting ahead of Reece, I reckon.

If he couldn't get selected ahead of an under par and overweight Julian Savea he was never getting in.

NeonWolf

Blight on the game. Local tv producer wants the try chalked off

did the same to Sevu Reece a while back

Clegg

South Africa's 12 has been dreadful. Knock ons, kicks out on the full then a yellow for a high tackle.

NeonWolf

was that grounded ? jeez

Clegg

Really rate DHP as a player. But that's a terrible mistake to make. Knock on over the try line.

NeonWolf

Clegg wrote: »

Really rate DHP as a player. But that's a terrible mistake to make. Knock on over the try line.

Need to dive on it and slide. Easy to say from from the couch but that was an open goal.

Nic White's a very tidy player

troyzer

Australia are utterly reliant on Kerevi for go forward ball.

There are a lot of worrying signs in this game from an Irish perspective. That Bok Blitz is monstrous.

sydthebeat

Strange game where Australia are living off scraps but should actually be leading.

Esterheuizen has been crap.... Most of what he touches turns to sh!te.

Loue has been immense. Bokke really need pollard at 10 as Elton isn't a test class out half.

NeonWolf

troyzer wrote: »

Australia are utterly reliant on Kerevi for go forward ball.

There are a lot of worrying signs in this game from an Irish perspective. That Bok Blitz is monstrous.

True but offside all day. Needs to be policed the world over.

Lucas44

Dog Botherer wrote: »

If James Lowe was playing in NZ right now he’d be starting ahead of Reece, I reckon.

He wouldn’t be in the abs squad never mind starting, Lowe is a left winger only and is neither near the level of reiko or as good as George bridge.. playing for an under par chiefs squad this year aswell wouldn’t of helped

NeonWolf

Thats a rubbish call. Bok player did the same .

NeonWolf

Australia so wasteful/unlucky today.

Squidgy Black

I can see Australia losing to the Pumas.

NeonWolf

Squidgy Black wrote: »

I can see Australia losing to the Pumas.

If they went 0/3 or 0/4 if you include Bledisloe 2 would you sack Cheika pre world cup as a gamble or plough on?

Squidgy Black

NeonWolf wrote: »

If they went 0/3 or 0/4 if you include Bledisloe 2 would you sack Cheika pre world cup as a gamble or plough on?

I'm not sure if Cheika is as big a part of the problem to be honest as much as the players he has available to him. The squad is made up of a lot of players who aren't playing anywhere near like they used to.

It's also probably way too short of a turnaround to the world cup to even think about getting someone in when all of the game plans etc would already be drafted etc for September, it's only 2 months away now.

I think regardless of how they do at the WC, barring an appearance in the final he has to go.

RugbyLover123

Squidgy Black wrote: »

I'm not sure if Cheika is as big a part of the problem to be honest as much as the players he has available to him. The squad is made up of a lot of players who aren't playing anywhere near like they used to.

It's also probably way too short of a turnaround to the world cup to even think about getting someone in when all of the game plans etc would already be drafted etc for September, it's only 2 months away now.

I think regardless of how they do at the WC, barring an appearance in the final he has to go.

Who would you say isn’t playing anywhere near what they were? Genia has never rediscovered his form from 11-13. Foley is playing behind a pack that is always being dominated. No Folau or Pocock. Just simply don’t have the players anymore. Out of that team that started today I’d say only Hooper and Kerevi would start for Ireland or even Wales and England. They always have the odd big performance against ABs but wouldn’t surprise me if Fiji beat them first up in WC

All_in_Flynn

The **** was that? About 90 verses.