Official 2015 Super Rugby Thread

[GreGorGy]

Sky Television to offer Super Rugby online subscription for $299 a year

If they're talking NZ$ (seems they are) that's R2500 give or take. And that is expensive. livetv.russia.streaming.google.it.for.yourself is free

 

[sand_man]

Thought it was quite a productive outing for the Bulls, although Sarries have a Sunday game. Not too often, these days, that Top tier club sides would schedule 2 games one day after the other!!

Thought the Bulls looked pretty sharp considering this be their first warm up match since last season. Other than the scrums they dominated up front. Lovely to see Pierre playing again. Love him or hate, one must appreciate his form is critical to the Boks success in RWC 2015.

Also enjoyed JJ and Jan at centre! Would love to see that combination really fire this season. Again, if it did it would certainly add some must needed depth to the Boks centre combination.

 

[APoc184]

Thought it was quite a productive outing for the Bulls, although Sarries have a Sunday game. Not too often, these days, that Top tier club sides would schedule 2 games one day after the other!!

Thought the Bulls looked pretty sharp considering this be their first warm up match since last season. Other than the scrums they dominated up front. Lovely to see Pierre playing again. Love him or hate, one must appreciate his form is critical to the Boks success in RWC 2015.

Also enjoyed JJ and Jan at centre! Would love to see that combination really fire this season. Again, if it did it would certainly add some must needed depth to the Boks centre combination.

I see what you did there...

Cheetahs are not worthy to be counted as a warm up match

 

[sand_man]

I see what you did there...

Cheetahs are not worthy to be counted as a warm up match

S hit, I would NEVER dis Free State rugby!! My sincere apologies, 2nd warm up match...

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Thought it was quite a productive outing for the Bulls, although Sarries have a Sunday game. Not too often, these days, that Top tier club sides would schedule 2 games one day after the other!!

Thought the Bulls looked pretty sharp considering this be their first warm up match since last season. Other than the scrums they dominated up front. Lovely to see Pierre playing again. Love him or hate, one must appreciate his form is critical to the Boks success in RWC 2015.

Also enjoyed JJ and Jan at centre! Would love to see that combination really fire this season. Again, if it did it would certainly add some must needed depth to the Boks centre combination.

 

[sand_man]

/snip

Where did you get that picture of outcast?

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Thought it was quite a productive outing for the Bulls, although Sarries have a Sunday game. Not too often, these days, that Top tier club sides would schedule 2 games one day after the other!!

Thought the Bulls looked pretty sharp considering this be their first warm up match since last season. Other than the scrums they dominated up front. Lovely to see Pierre playing again. Love him or hate, one must appreciate his form is critical to the Boks success in RWC 2015.

Also enjoyed JJ and Jan at centre! Would love to see that combination really fire this season. Again, if it did it would certainly add some must needed depth to the Boks centre combination.

Eh, why? He shouldn't be there if his form isn't up to scratch, as it wasn't when he last took the field.

 

[sand_man]

Eh, why? He shouldn't be there if his form isn't up to scratch, as it wasn't when he last took the field.

If his form isn't up to scratch, he won't be there. Point is he is 29, still young, an incredible athlete, when not sick or recovering from serious injury, and essential backup at 8, where other than Duane, we don't seem to have all that much cover.

So the point I'm making: If Pierre can regain some of the form that made him such a force in 2006/2008, he'd be a very valuable asset to SA rugby... The sad reality is serious injury has curtailed, what I and many believe, would have been amazing career!

 

[OrbitalDawn]

If his form isn't up to scratch, he won't be there. Point is he is 29, still young, an incredible athlete, when not sick or recovering from serious injury, and essential backup at 8, where other than Duane, we don't seem to have all that much cover.

So the point I'm making: If Pierre can regain some of the form that made him such a force in 2006/2008, he'd be a very valuable asset to SA rugby... The sad reality is serious injury has curtailed, what I and many believe, would have been amazing career!

He was shyte before his injuries. Had a big dip in form that he couldn't break and this was only worsened by his injuries.

I'd rather have Whiteley there, at the moment.

But yeah, on song he was great.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Eben Etzebeth ruled out of the clash with The Bulls at Loftus on Feb the 14th. Manuel Carizza as well. Both first choice locks sidelined with injuries before the season has even started. Admittedly, neither injury is reported to be serious; just still frustrating.

 

[sand_man]

Very.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Jones linked with Stormers job

And...

WP lock banned for steroids

lulz.

 

[APoc184]

Toulon vs Sharks tonight. Definitely "borrowing" the office DSTV for this one tonight.

Sharks – 15 SP Marais, 14 S’bura Sithole, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Renaldo Bothma, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Subs: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Monde Hadebe, 20 Marco Wentzel, 21 Etienne Oosthuizen, 22 André Esterhuizen, 23 Paul Perez, 24 Odwa Ndungane, 25 Conrad Hoffmann, 26 Fred Zeilinga.

Toulon – 15 Juan Martín Hernández, 14 Joshua Tuisova, 13 Bryan Habana, 12 Jimmy Yoboo, 11 David Smith, 10 Nicolás Sanchez, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, 6 Gerhard Vosloo, 5 Jocelino Suta, 4 Ali Williams, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Jean-Charles Orioli, 1 Xavier Chiocci.

Subs: 16 Matias Cortese, 17 Florian Fresia, 18 Corentin Braendlin, 19 Steffon Armitage, 20 Virgile Bruni, 21 Ulupano Seuteni, 22 Eric Escande, 23 Karim Bougherara, 24 Andy Cramond, 25 Stephane Munoz.

 

[Sl8er]

Toulon vs Sharks tonight. Definitely "borrowing" the office DSTV for this one tonight.

Sharks – 15 SP Marais, 14 S’bura Sithole, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Renaldo Bothma, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Subs: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Monde Hadebe, 20 Marco Wentzel, 21 Etienne Oosthuizen, 22 André Esterhuizen, 23 Paul Perez, 24 Odwa Ndungane, 25 Conrad Hoffmann, 26 Fred Zeilinga.

Toulon – 15 Juan Martín Hernández, 14 Joshua Tuisova, 13 Bryan Habana, 12 Jimmy Yoboo, 11 David Smith, 10 Nicolás Sanchez, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, 6 Gerhard Vosloo, 5 Jocelino Suta, 4 Ali Williams, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Jean-Charles Orioli, 1 Xavier Chiocci.

Subs: 16 Matias Cortese, 17 Florian Fresia, 18 Corentin Braendlin, 19 Steffon Armitage, 20 Virgile Bruni, 21 Ulupano Seuteni, 22 Eric Escande, 23 Karim Bougherara, 24 Andy Cramond, 25 Stephane Munoz.

Any idea what time it'll air?

 

[APoc184]

Eish.

21h50 tonight.

I might just skip it then

 

[Sl8er]

Eish.

21h50 tonight.

I might just skip it then

Got it, thanks.

 

[sand_man]

Average game of rugby. Sharks win 12-10. The post match celebration and award ceremony was hysterical. It's a frigging warm up game for crying out loud.

 

[APoc184]

O didn't watch. Will catch the highlights at office.

I'm guessing Sharks celebrated as if they won the World Cup?

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Smith to join Pau after RWC

Wonder why he's joining such a crummy club?

 

[APoc184]

Never even heard of this South African Japanese.

Current Super Rugby champions the Waratahs have signed Suntory Sungoliath (Japan) centre Kotaro Matsushima for the 2015 Super Rugby Season

Utility back Matsushima has agreed on a short term deal with the New South Wales rugby Union and will join the squad in March through to August 2015.

The 21 year-old South African-born Matsushima is fast developing a reputation in both Japan and South Africa for his pace and agility on field as well as his versatility at wing, centre and fullback.

Demonstrating a sharp side-step, the youngster impressed recently at outside centre in Japan's clash against Samoa in 2014 and has many speculating of his future in Super Rugby.

"I am greatly appreciated (sic) for my team to let me challenge to join the great team like Waratahs," said Matsushima.

"I am very looking forward to have a new experience and learn a lot of things. And I want to grow more, not only a better player but also as a person."

Suntory Sungoliath welcomed the news that Matsushima would join the NSW Waratahs over the 2015 Super Rugby season.

"We are very happy to announce Matsushima's new challenge to Super Rugby. We hope that he will have the great experience and grow as a professional player," said a spokesman for Suntory Sungoliath.

The former Toin Gakuen High School student showed promise from an early age and became the first Japanese player to be signed to the Durban Sharks Academy in 2011, making his debut for the Sharks XV in 2014.

Matsushima has earned 6 test caps for Japan, debuting for the national side against the Philippines in May 2014 and scoring two tries in that match.

Kotaro Matsushima
Position: Utility back (Centre, Wing, Fullback)
Height: 178cm
Weight: 85kgs
DOB: 26/02/1993
Place of Birth: South Africa
Senior Club: Suntory Sungoliath (Japan)
Test Caps (Japan): 6
Test Points (Japan): 20 (4T)
Test Debut (Japan): 2014, May 3rd - Japan v Philippines at Silangan (2T)
Sharks (RSA) Academy: Jan 2011-Oct 2013
Suntory Sungoliath: December 2013
Contract Period (NSW Waratahs): March 2015-August 2015.

<snip> ...is fast developing a reputation in both Japan and South Africa...<snip>

Really?