Super XV 2015 General Discussion Thread

Yeah_Right · 13-02-2015 9:34am

I just woke up after having a horrible nightmare. The Rebels beat the Crusaders and Dan Carter was hobbling around in pain.
Obviously that can't be true. How did the match go?

sydthebeat · 13-02-2015 9:36am

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I just woke up after having a horrible nightmare. The Rebels beat the Crusaders and Dan Carter was hobbling around in pain.
Obviously that can't be true. How did the match go?

You can go back to sleep now

Kiwi_knock · 13-02-2015 9:41am

Only saw 30 mins of the second half but the Rebels looked very good in defence. Four years to get their first ever away win outside Australia. Crusaders are notorious for their poor starts so far too early to panic

sydthebeat · 13-02-2015 10:03am

Pocock drops the ball over the line after a rrolling maul.

Brumbies still leading 10 - 0 against the reds.

sydneybound · 13-02-2015 10:17am

sydthebeat wrote: »

Finished 10 - 20

Well that's a turn up for the books

Great for Super Rugby that a team like the Rebels can go away and get the win.

Should be interesting how they go this season, they might suprise a few....

Kiwi_knock · 13-02-2015 10:20am

Only tuning in now, Toomua must have lost a bet with that hair.

sydthebeat · 13-02-2015 10:23am

Tomane in the corner.

Reds punch drunk and can't wait for half time

sydthebeat · 13-02-2015 10:24am

21 - 3

Yeah_Right · 13-02-2015 10:24am

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Only tuning in now, Toomua must have lost a bet with that hair.

Joe Tomane as well.

Remember when James O'Connor thought corn-rows were a good idea

sydthebeat · 13-02-2015 10:55am

Nic white nutmegs genia to score.

33 - 3

Kiwi_knock · 13-02-2015 10:56am

Lovely try by White, nutmegging Genia along the way. Hopefully the Brumbies continue to play like this.

LuckyGent88 · 13-02-2015 11:04am

God that's some hammering. And I was going to tip the Reds to top the aussie conference!!!

Kiwi_knock · 13-02-2015 11:17am

Good start to Horwill's "Farewell Tour"

Kiwi_knock · 13-02-2015 11:28am

Finishes 47-3. Far too easy for the Brumbies. I am not sure how much difference Quade and JOC can make to the Reds when they come back, big problems across the team.

skippymac6 · 13-02-2015 12:35pm

Pocock was immense in this game. I know he was playing with a pack that were completely dominant, but the amount of turnovers he forced at the breakdown was amazing. Going to be very interesting to see how Cheika goes with his backrow as if Pocock is back to his best (early days yet I know) he is an automatic starter. Also interesting to see what he does with the captaincy since Hooper was only vice captain to Moore before he injured himself against the French. Great to see him back too.

sydneybound · 13-02-2015 12:45pm

Can Pocock cover 6 as well? If so he would be a great bench player. I doubt Cheika will drop Hooper who has been outstanding and a very good captain so far.

Bridge93 · 13-02-2015 12:50pm

Is there any potential for the two of them to play together? Aussies could be a dark horse come October if they stay healthy.

sydneybound · 13-02-2015 12:54pm

Bridge93 wrote: »

Is there any potential for the two of them to play together? Aussies could be a dark horse come October if they stay healthy.

Hope they put Wales out. Want England to get through just to add hype to the tournament, for the WC to be successful you don't want the home nation to exit early.

Del.Monte · 13-02-2015 4:53pm

What a nightmare start for Crusaders and the injury to Dan Carter. It appears from this report: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/66186993/dan-carters-leg-injury-in-crusaders-loss-not-serious that it may not be as serious as it looked.

sydthebeat · 13-02-2015 6:39pm

Lions 5 - 6 canes after 28 mins

KevIRL · 13-02-2015 7:20pm

8-11 now. 50 mins

KevIRL · 13-02-2015 7:46pm

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

sydthebeat · 13-02-2015 7:56pm

Finished 8 - 22

Proctor gets in in the corner on full time

Swiwi. · 13-02-2015 10:49pm

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 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 · 14-02-2015 12:07am

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. · 14-02-2015 7:04am

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 · 14-02-2015 8:10am

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

Swiwi. · 14-02-2015 8:13am

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 · 14-02-2015 8:18am

Is Francis saili the one supposed linked to munster?

Swiwi. · 14-02-2015 8:21am

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 · 14-02-2015 8:25am

He certainly would.

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

Swiwi. · 14-02-2015 8:28am

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 · 14-02-2015 8:32am

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 · 14-02-2015 8:35am

Well symons in the bin and west scores

12 - 20 ... game on?

sydthebeat · 14-02-2015 8:37am

It may be an absolute joy to play off sbw

basillarkin · 14-02-2015 8:39am

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 · 14-02-2015 8:41am

McKenzie having an unreal game. Very impressive

sydthebeat · 14-02-2015 8:42am

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

basillarkin · 14-02-2015 8:44am

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 · 14-02-2015 8:48am

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. · 14-02-2015 1:03pm

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 · 14-02-2015 1:31pm

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 · 14-02-2015 1:50pm

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 · 14-02-2015 4:40pm

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

Swiwi. · 14-02-2015 5:12pm

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 · 14-02-2015 5:21pm

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

matthew8 · 14-02-2015 5:32pm

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 · 14-02-2015 8:01pm

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

sydthebeat · 15-02-2015 7:57am

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

What's going on at all Ted

Swiwi. · 15-02-2015 8:33am

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.

Super XV 2015 General Discussion Thread

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