Official Super Rugby 2016 Thread

Super Rugby rule changes confirmed

Cape Town - Super Rugby will be implementing a new bonus point system in 2016 and there is also a change to penalty options after the hooter has sounded.

As expected, the four-try bonus point rule no longer applies.

Instead, sides can secure a bonus point by scoring three or more tries than their opponents.

The losing bonus point rule remains unchanged, with sides who lose by seven points or fewer earning a single log point.

In addition, for the first time, sides will now be allowed to set up a lineout after the hooter has sounded.
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Sauce: http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/super-rugby-rule-changes-confirmed-20160202
 
O'Brien dropped from ref panel http://www.supersport.com/rugby/super-rugby/news/160203/OBrien_dropped_from_ref_panel

Controversial Sevens referee Matt O'Brien has received another dressing down after being dropped by the Australian Rugby Union as one of their top referees and off the Vodacom Super Rugby panel.

The referee, who caused a major outcry for the one-sided nature he handled the second half of the Wellington Sevens final on Sunday morning, is no longer on the Super Rugby panel of referees after making his debut in 2014 and appearing again on the panel in 2015.

While the move has little to do with his sevens performances, O'Brien was dropped because of bad reviews in the last season of Super Rugby and hasn't been included in the Australian submissions for the panel either.
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Don't repeat Boks' folly, Elton Jantjies warns Lions

Unlike the Springboks, the Lions should not take the Japanese Sunwolves lightly if they are to avoid tripping up in their Super Rugby opener, says flyhalf Elton Jantjies.

The NTT Shining Arcs star arrived from Japan last week following the conclusion of Japan's Top League and has begun preparing his teammates for what to expect in their season opener on February 27.

The Boks got a nasty surprise in their World Cup opener in Britain last year when they were shocked 34-32 by Japan and Jantjies wants to make sure the Lions don't suffer the same fate in Super Rugby's first foray into the Far East.

"The Sunwolves will pose a different challenge from what we are used to," Jantjies said.

"They have a lot of line speed on defence - mostly channel defence. I could definitely foresee that the Boks were going to have problems against Japan last year. They are tough and they give everything.

"South African rugby's strong point is physical dominance and we will have to play to that strength to beat the Sunwolves."

Jantjies sings from the same hymn sheet as Fourie du Preez, who warned before last year's World Cup that, despite their small stature and tiny player pool, the Japanese are strong in defence organisation.

It's too late for the Boks but the Lions have a chance to put right that embarrassing defeat.

Jantjies, one of the Lions' outstanding performers last year, said his move to Japan two seasons ago had helped his game and his maturity.

It showed last season. Jantjies was the catalyst that got the Lions back line moving fluidly. His distribution gelled well with their high-intensity, attacking game plan.

His kicking was at its sharpest again but Bok coach Heyneke Meyer did not regard him as good enough to join the World Cup squad. It stung but Jantjies is determined to get back into the green and gold.

"One thing that I didn't achieve last year was to go to the World Cup," he said.

"It's something I still want in my future. There are changes in the Bok setup but I still have to perform. Then, hopefully, I'll get into the Springbok squad.
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Don't repeat Boks' folly, Elton Jantjies warns Lions

I think JA is taking the first game very seriously and will not make the same mistake as what as HM did.

With Elton, Lionel and Tecklenburg, JA has more than enough experienced players to count on.
 
DWPTA said:
Don't repeat Boks' folly, Elton Jantjies warns Lions

I think JA is taking the first game very seriously and will not make the same mistake as what as HM did.

With Elton, Lionel and Tecklenburg, JA has more than enough experienced players to count on.
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It is going to be a strange game; the Japanese will play Top League rugby against an enterprising team which will show similarities in play. It is a game in Japan, Tokyo, with a hyped up crowd. It is going to be do or die Japan rugby and Japan will play their big guns in the opening match. I’m expecting the Sunwolves to over utilise Tusi Pusi and Akihito Yamada in the backline, also running Yasutaka Sasakura. They have an experienced lineout; Ironman is Victor in Japanese clothing.

Mark Hammet is an accomplished Super Rugby coach, as Vern Cotter changed the Scotland eight dynamic so will Hammet within short time. Nonetheless, the Sunwolves has a long way to go…

I only know the Top League players, many university club based players in the team.
 
The Sunwolves Achilles heel,

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-only-24-days-before-the-start-of-super-rugby

Sunwolves get together only 24 days before the start of Super Rugby

Japan's new Super Rugby team, the Sunwolves, gathered as a squad for the first time on Wednesday just 24 days before the start of the competition.

Sunwolves coach Mark Hammett and his team came together for a two-day camp which included medical checks and administration before the squad meets again on Monday.

The players from the first Asian side to play in the Super Rugby competition will come back together in Nagoya on Monday and begin their preparation for their opening match of the new season on February 27 against the Lions in Tokyo.

...

Sunwolves utility back Harumichi Tatekawa says the team has a lot of work to do.

"There are some players we have not met before," he said.

"We need to communicate well to create a strong team."
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The only good thing here is that they are ‘continuing’ with their rugby season as they play throughout December. The issue… like Samoa in the Rugby World Cup, these players will have little time together. I see they are pushing the available experience they had with the team with which they had won Wales in Japan.
 
Not sure if this should actually be posted in here...but it IS rugby related, so.... :p

(I know the last thing we all want to see is MORE race related BS, but yeah.)

SHOULD THE IRB SUSPEND SOUTH AFRICA FROM WORLD RUGBY?

What makes the above even more interesting is if you look at it from a SARU (South African Rugby Union) perspective. According to the South African Rugby Union’s new set of rules agreed upon in a board meeting where all local rugby unions were involved in, including the minister of sport and recreation, a strategic transformation plan was set in place. The transformation plan says that by 2019 all local and national teams should consist of a minimum of 50% black player.

While I have no legal background, when comparing South African Rugby Union’s transformation plan against that of the IRB rule book it is as clear as daylight to me, that the transformation plan is a clear violation of By-Law 3 – “The IRB is compelled to prevent any form of racial discrimination in rugby.” Furthermore it is also a clear violation of Regulation 20 which stipulates – “any action which may be construed as racial discrimination will be regarded as misconduct.”

The question should be asked – is the transformation plan, which has been approved, not a clear violation of these rules? In essence the transformation plan which compels a 50% selection of black players, is a clear discrimination against white players, since it will without a doubt take opportunities away from white players!

While the South African, racial situation is a very touchy subject, due to apartheid which we all know about. Yet it has been 26 years since the fall of Apartheid. Many of the players, currently playing in South African rugby were not even born during the Apartheid era. While I do not want this post to turn into a political debate, I do want to raise the question about double standards.
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The whole thing here:

http://www.rugbybetting.com/should-the-irb-suspend-south-africa-from-world-rugby/
 
New-Cheetahs-Rugby-Jersey-2016.jpg


Cheetahs-Rugby-Away-Kit-2016.jpg
 
Why do they have a chalk outline of that la linea dude on their jerseys?

(Is "chalk outline" superfluous in that question?)
 
Jaguares (Argentina Super Rugby side) launched their kit today, and I must say I quite like the black one.

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