Official Super Rugby Thread 2012

[Devill]

So it kicks off again. My insights:

(1) THE BULLS: my team, thick and thin. TBH, I think this might be a thin year. We have to rebuild in many key positions as stalwarts have moved on, retired, etc. I do hope that we use this time to develop. Already slumping towards the end of last year, THE BULLS will have to take it on the chin and redefine their game.

(2) THE CHEETAHS: shame, poor FS: forever being raped for players by the wealthier unions. Naka often finds himself rebuilding from season to season. This time around, they do not appear to have suffered as much. Things are shaping up for them. They'll compete for 3rd place and maybe even second in the ZA conference.

(3) THE LIONS: great finish to last year and let's hope for their sake and ZA rugby that the team keeps that momentum. After the first few rounds, if they look good still, they may just top the ZA conference. Watch this space.

(4) the stormers: utter tossers. Ok, that's just the hate talking. In reality, they face the same dilemma as the BULLS and I see these two teams fighting over the wooden spoon in ZA conference.

(5) the sharks: not as badly affected as the BULLS and stormers, they should shape their usual average selves. I expect a mediocre performance that will see them competing with the Cheetahs for 2nd in ZA.



Of course, these insights will change after the first few games when we can actually get a taste of what our various charges are capable of. Also, other conferences have suffered setbacks themselves with retirements etc so it may not all be doom and gloom. I certainly hope I am wrong on a few of my insights above.

Hope the Lions do not suffer any serious injuries as their depth has not really been tested all that much.

[Devill]

Bulls team for Saturday
Zane Kirchner , Akona Ndungane , Johann Sadie, Francois Venter, Bjorn Basson , Morne Steyn , Francois Hougaard , CJ Stander, Dewald Potgieter , Deon Stegmann , Juandre Kruger, Flip van der Merwe , Werner Kruger , Chiliboy Ralepelle (c), Dean Greyling

Replacements: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Arno Botha, Jano Vermaak, Louis Fouche, JJ Engelbrecht.

Cheetahs team for Saturday

Willie le Roux, Ryno Benjamin, Robert Ebersohn, Philip Snyman, Rocco Jansen, Johan Goosen, Piet van Zyl, Davon Raubenheimer, Ashley Johnson, Heinrich Brussow, Izak van der Westhuizen, Andries Ferreira, WP Nel, Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane.

Replacements: Ryno Barnes, Lourens Adriaanse, Francois Uys, Philip van der Walt, Tewis de Bruyn, Sias Ebersohn, Hennie Daniller, Andries Strauss.

[Devill]

Teams:

Kings: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Marcello Sampson, 13 Jaco Bekker, 12 Wayne Stevens, 11 Norman Nelson, 10 Shane Gates, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Vleis Engelbrecht, 6 Mpho Mbiyozo, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Darron Nell, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Jaco Engels.

Substitutes: 16 Bobby Dyer, 17 Zane Killian, 18 Andre Schlechter, 19 Wayne van Heerden, 20 Reynier Bernardo, 21 Boetie Britz, 22 Thembelani Bholi, 23 Dustin Jinka, 24 Earl Rose, 25 Dwayne Jenner, 26 Kieran Goss.

Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Bryan Habana, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Gerhard van den Heever, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Rynhard Elstadt, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Strong Stormers team. Wonder how Habana will do.

Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 19 Frans Malherbe, 20 Eben Etzebeth, 21 De Kock Steenkamp, 22 Nizaam Carr, 23 Nic Groom, 24 Marcel Brache, 25 Burton Francis, 26 Danie Poolman.

[APoc184]

Took these pics at yesterday's game between the Vodacom Cup squads of the Blue Bulls and Cheetahs.

Bulls won 33-29 in a highly entertaining match.

Tewis de Bruyn.



Jean Cook. Former Free State player.



Just a cool lineout shot I took.

[BobsLawnService]

Can't we just relegate the Cheetahs already? What a bunch of palookas. Just toss them and give the spears a chance - they can't do any worse.

[Devill]

Can't we just relegate the Cheetahs already? What a bunch of palookas. Just toss them and give the spears a chance - they can't do any worse.

Sorry mate but if we relegate the cheetahs, the Bulls, sharks and WP will have no one to buy players from.....

[GreGorGy]

Yes, but does it work...
(or rather, how does it work?)

All this discussion around EP and inclusion/relegation/whatever has me thinking. One of the arguments put forward incuded mentioning that SuperSport was this power player. The crud we were fed when the S15 was reshaped was that Aus needed a domestic tournament to grow the sport and this was part of the intention. Personally, I though the conference format was a massive failure and it simply could not live up to its promise. Maybe it did in Oz, what do I know. And on that topic (my ignorance) I'd like to know if the new format actually worked for viewer numbers. Did SS show increased viewership in the new format? Obviously, with more matches, there may have been a total increase but was there a net increase? Did more people or less people watch PER WEEK? And if it was less, did this conference system work? Apoc - you seem to be on the inside here. Any insights?

[Devill]

Yes, but does it work...
(or rather, how does it work?)

All this discussion around EP and inclusion/relegation/whatever has me thinking. One of the arguments put forward incuded mentioning that SuperSport was this power player. The crud we were fed when the S15 was reshaped was that Aus needed a domestic tournament to grow the sport and this was part of the intention. Personally, I though the conference format was a massive failure and it simply could not live up to its promise. Maybe it did in Oz, what do I know. And on that topic (my ignorance) I'd like to know if the new format actually worked for viewer numbers. Did SS show increased viewership in the new format? Obviously, with more matches, there may have been a total increase but was there a net increase? Did more people or less people watch PER WEEK? And if it was less, did this conference system work? Apoc - you seem to be on the inside here. Any insights?

I should think the TV viewer numbers decreased and the attendance increased.

[Xmailer9]

I should think the TV viewer numbers decreased and the attendance increased.

I remember years ago when EP played Northern Transvaal at the Boet Erasmus stadium, the game was not televised at all, and was only later shown around midnight.

That must be done again to ensure better attendance at stadiums. After all, ticket prices aren't that bad.

[Devill]

I remember years ago when EP played Northern Transvaal at the Boet Erasmus stadium, the game was not televised at all, and was only later shown around midnight.

That must be done again to ensure better attendance at stadiums. After all, ticket prices aren't that bad.

I would not like that as I do not want to buy the over priced beer or shltty hotdogs at crazy prices at the stadium

Also I prefer watching it on TV as I can see replays and MUCH better angles.

I also do not miss the people cursing and being #@!#!@# in general all that much

[Devill]

The Lions beat the Kings 88-0 in their warm up match.

http://www.lionsrugby.co.za/index.ph...ern-kings-88-0

[alf101]

The Lions beat the Kings 88-0 in their warm up match.

http://www.lionsrugby.co.za/index.ph...ern-kings-88-0

Southern Queens off to an expected start.

[Sl8er]

Southern Queens off to an expected start.

Whaaaaaaahahahahahahaha!

[GreGorGy]

Whaaaaaaahahahahahahaha!

They were without their star players, whom they are keeping in cotton wool until the start of the 2012 First Division Currie Cup.

Oh, wait, that is funny still...

[Devill]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super...clash-20120215

Sharks' Michalak suspended

Frederic Michalak (Gallo Images)
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Durban - Sharks coach John Plumtree has made a couple of late changes to the side to play the Southern Kings at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday evening.

According to Sharks website editor Michael Marnewick, Charl McLeod replaces Frederic Michalak at scrumhalf which means that Cobus Reinach is elevated into the match 24 where he will play off the bench.

Michalak has been found guilty for a late and dangerous tackle on Elton Jantjies in the Currie Cup final last year.

Due to the fact that Michalak left for France immediately after the final, his hearing was delayed until the start of this season. The Judicial Officer was Dekker Govender and the Citing Commissioner Freek Burger.

The hearing took place on Tuesday evening with the suspension valid for one week which makes him available to play as of 22 February.