Official 2015 Super Rugby Thread

[OrbitalDawn]

I think one of the key things was the Lions shut down Folau (who had a bad game by his standards) and Beale. They just had no opportunity to set their backline alive.

 

[Picard]

So proud of my team, their best season ever

Best coach (maybe not the best ever ...) but a very good coach.

 

[Sneeky]

Lions are playing a brand of rugby we have long last seen on our shores.
Highly entertaining and wonderful to watch these young guys week in and week out back themselves, no name brands without any sense of grandeur wearing their hearts on their sleeves and coming out tops.

Bloody frikkin marvelous.

 

[faniebraai]

I just have to note 2 things here.

1. I was very worried about Akker and the line outs. Previously he was very pathetic, but yesterday he was spot on. Well done.

2. Is it just me or is Jantjies playing some of the best rugby of his career. He runs, he passes, he kicks (never mind the last three). He's really giving he's back line good ball at the right time. When he's on the field, compared to Boshoff, we just seem to go forward a lot more. No standing starts. His defense as well has improved immensely.

If we had to pick a Bok team at the moment from people that are on form, there is no doubt that Jantjies, Warren and Kriel will be in the team. Even Combrink had a brilliant game last night, and gets better each week. Stronger running, straight, and hitting the gaps very often.

Pity we are going to be stuck with poopholes like Britney Spies, Pollard and the likes

 

[APoc184]

Yeah. And we won't even see one of the top 4 props in the squad.

Instead we will be going with Jannie, Beast and some other props stuck in reverse this year.

Steven Kitshoff , Vincent Koch, Julian Redelinghuys and Schalk vd Merwe demolished everybody put in front of them this year.

With Koch being the most improved player for me.

WP will be missing him for the Currie Cup for sure.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Agreed with both of the above posts. The Lions players have been shafted by Heyneke. They generally get included in the training camps but never actually gets selected.

Those props you mentioned also never get involved in off the ball scuffles and don't leak penalties. Jannie and Beast just aren't on their level at the moment.

 

[APoc184]

Barbarians vs England on SS5 now.

 

[Pitbull]

Barbarians vs England on SS5 now.

oooo ty for the reminder Apoc

 

[faniebraai]

oooo ty for the reminder Apoc

So what did you think of that Lions team who still can't run?

 

[Pitbull]

So what did you think of that Lions team who still can't run?

Never said they can't. They getting there. They played very well this season. I just hope they keep developing this game plan and not fall back on old faithful forwards and kicking again.

 

[faniebraai]

Never said they can't. They getting there. They played very well this season. I just hope they keep developing this game plan and not fall back on old faithful forwards and kicking again.

This is not the blue bulls

 

[APoc184]

I'm rather going to watch the Comrades ending. Most of those people showing more fight than the Barbarians today.

Getting snotklapped by a England C side.

 

[Arthur]

Baabaa's getting slaughtered. It's a low-intensity game.

 

[Arthur]

Can they make it 73-12?

 

[OrbitalDawn]

One thing I'm wondering about the expanded competition from next year... Won't the Japanese and Argentinian teams' basically be those countries' national teams playing Super Rugby? Many (if not most) of the top Argentinian players have already signed for this team, and I'm sure the Japanese guys will do the same.

 

[APoc184]

Will be interesting to see the final teams. Think the top Argentina players will still stay in Europe. Nobody can compete with the Pound and Euro. Except Japan lately. Will be interesting to see if any of the Saffas and New Zealanders currently playing in Japan will sign for that Super team.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Will be interesting to see the final teams. Think the top Argentina players will still stay in Europe. Nobody can compete with the Pound and Euro. Except Japan lately. Will be interesting to see if any of the Saffas and New Zealanders currently playing in Japan will sign for that Super team.

I dunno, hey. Look at the guys who have already signed up:

Tuculet, Sanchez, Creevy, Matera, Cubelli, Landajo...

I think many players would be interested in building the team, and it gives them the opportunity to play against quality opposition year round.

Although the Euro and Pound will be difficult to match.

 

[APoc184]

If they do end up with a top side then their players are much more patriotic than ours.

Very few people and players care about building a team these days. Only about their bank accounts.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

If they do end up with a top side then their players are much more patriotic than ours.

Very few people and players care about building a team these days. Only about their bank accounts.

Yeah, that's true. But the other teams in SR have long histories and large player stocks. The fledgling Arg and Jap teams need help to get going from scratch, so I'd expect there to be a bit more of a patriotic element to them.

 

[APoc184]

Sharks signed Willie le Roux.

Not really sure how I feel about that as a Cheetahs supporter.

I'm not sad but I'm not happy either.

At least his salary (and Brussow's) will pay for a few good signings and retention of younger stars for the Cheetahs in the coming months.