Official Super Rugby 2016 Thread

OrbitalDawn said:
^ That's a bit grim.
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Yep, and there are sources close to Bath which stated that the story published by the Bath Chronicle is made up. They say Amanaki was released by mutual agreement without any controversy.

I also read that the JRFU has decided to pull 6 Japanese Sunwolves into the Brave Blossoms squad to compete in ARC2016.
 
Also OT (but since we don't have an official 7's thread...

Double blow for Blitzboks

The Springbok Sevens side were dealt a massive blow when it was revealed that Bok 15s players Warren Whiteley and Damian de Allende had both withdrawn from the side to rather concentrate on 15s rugby.

In what must have been an agonising decision, both Whiteley and De Allende informed coach Neil Powell of the decision this past week and said they wanted to concentrate on making Allister Coetzee’s side for the upcoming three-test series against Ireland in June.

While De Allende had concerns about his fitness after coming back from a long-term injury picked up in Japan in the off-season, Whiteley’s decision was way more difficult, having to decide between leading the Emirates Lions in their breakout season in Super Rugby or taking the one-time chance of making the Olympic squad.

Whiteley’s position is unique as he is the heart and soul of the Lions team that currently leads the African conference 2 and certainly is the player that will be felt the most if he had to leave the team mid-season.

Both players needed to make a decision before the team to the London and Paris Sevens is named later this week, and needed to play in the two legs if they were to be considered for the Rio Olympics.

But other than that, coach Powell will name his team for a training camp with other Olympic hopefuls in June, meaning such a commitment would mean they would lose their chance of playing for the Bok 15s as well. And with the fact that Super Rugby’s final clashes with the Olympics, it would mean that it would affect any chance in the playoffs as well.

“Unfortunately for us, both Damian and Warren withdrew from the Olympics,” Powell told Supersport.com.

“Both of them really want to focus on their 15s career and hope to make the side to play against Ireland in June.”

The Bok Sevens coach said it was a blow for the side, but that they had enough players of quality to cover the positions both were aiming for.

“It is a bit of a blow for us, but I am still confident that we have more than enough players to cover the positions that Warren and Damian played in and obviously they still had to come in and prove they could play Sevens.

“Both of them would have played in the forwards, and I am still happy with the forwards we have for those tournaments. The team we have will be strong enough to take a good team to Rio.”

There is a likelihood that few other 15s players will be considered, other than those who have already played for the team this season in the HSBC World Sevens Series, where the Blitzboks are currently lying fourth.
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I think this just highlights that people don't put much stock in an Olympic medal for what one might consider a 'non traditional' Olympic sport and I say this when you look at the golfers who have recently pulled out of Rio 2016. You'd think sportsmen and women would be falling over themselves to get on the plane to Rio but no.

Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel have all declined to go citing scheduling conflicts. They still consider the Majors to be the ultimate prize in golf and not an Olympic medal and it seems to be the same in rugby. The 15 man code still holds the ultimate allure. Don't be surprised if more players (from various countries) turn down the chance to go to the Olympics later this year.
 
Yay!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11632923

Rugby: Damian McKenzie's decision a blow for Blues

Damian McKenzie's decision to stay at the Chiefs is a blow to the Blues, who had designs on luring him north with the promise of a guaranteed start in the No10 jersey.

McKenzie was off contract at the end of this season but has decided to stay in Hamilton despite being in the same team as Aaron Cruden, who is likely to be named All Blacks first-five for the June tests against Wales.

The Herald understands the Blues contacted McKenzie's representatives in a bid to tempt him to Auckland to solve a problem position which has dogged them for years.

With Cruden, a co-captain at the Chiefs and a member of the All Blacks' leadership group, blocking his way, the 21-year-old has not been able to consistently play in his preferred position but has been spectacular at fullback for Super Rugby's table-toppers.

He leads the attacking statistics in several categories despite his relatively small 1.75m and 80kg frame, and has an innate ability to play with freedom and yet also consistently take the right option regardless of defensive pressure.

...
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The best decision that he could had made, the most enterprising New Zealand side in my opinion.

I’m sure that the Blues will eventually discover their cohesion, they are playing well, but are unable to tidy up their game. The best thing that has happened to the Blues is Tana Umaga, it is going to take time, 2018 will be their season. At the moment, the Blues do not cater to have players like McKenzie in their gameplan, Mckenzie is a playmaker and others would need to adapt to his play style.
 
Agent_Smith said:
Also OT (but since we don't have an official 7's thread...



I think this just highlights that people don't put much stock in an Olympic medal for what one might consider a 'non traditional' Olympic sport and I say this when you look at the golfers who have recently pulled out of Rio 2016. You'd think sportsmen and women would be falling over themselves to get on the plane to Rio but no.

Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel have all declined to go citing scheduling conflicts. They still consider the Majors to be the ultimate prize in golf and not an Olympic medal and it seems to be the same in rugby. The 15 man code still holds the ultimate allure. Don't be surprised if more players (from various countries) turn down the chance to go to the Olympics later this year.
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Richard Turner made a similar point on The Breakdown last week. If so many of top athletes in a sport gives it a pass, it shows that sport doesn't belong at the Olympics.

This was after Ardie Savea pulled out of the NZ 7s squad to focus on the 15 man game, too.

Fulcrum29 said:
Yay!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11632923



The best decision that he could had made, the most enterprising New Zealand side in my opinion.

I’m sure that the Blues will eventually discover their cohesion, they are playing well, but are unable to tidy up their game. The best thing that has happened to the Blues is Tana Umaga, it is going to take time, 2018 will be their season. At the moment, the Blues do not cater to have players like McKenzie in their gameplan, Mckenzie is a playmaker and others would need to adapt to his play style.
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Yeah, agreed. West is going well at the moment, too. Wouldn't want to see him get sidelined.

McKenzie is a revelation. Would be very surprised if he doesn't get a run in the Black jersey this year...
 
Agent_Smith said:
Also OT (but since we don't have an official 7's thread...



I think this just highlights that people don't put much stock in an Olympic medal for what one might consider a 'non traditional' Olympic sport and I say this when you look at the golfers who have recently pulled out of Rio 2016. You'd think sportsmen and women would be falling over themselves to get on the plane to Rio but no.

Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel have all declined to go citing scheduling conflicts. They still consider the Majors to be the ultimate prize in golf and not an Olympic medal and it seems to be the same in rugby. The 15 man code still holds the ultimate allure. Don't be surprised if more players (from various countries) turn down the chance to go to the Olympics later this year.
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It could also be that Alister had a quiet word with them and so they consider their chances within the Springboks to have been strengthened compared to with Meyer. Especially Whiteley.
 
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/van-der-westhuizen-refs-sharks-v-canes-20160503

Van der Westhuizen to ref Sharks v ‘Canes

Cape Town - South Africa’s Marius van der Westhuizen will referee the Sharks’ Super Rugby clash against the Hurricanes in Durban this Saturday (15:00 kick-off).

Super Rugby referees: Round 11

Van der Westhuizen will be assisted by Quinton Immelman and Rodney Bonaparte, with Marius Jonker the television match official (TMO).
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Oh, an all SA crew. This will not end well if there is controversy...
 
OrbitalDawn said:
Cobus Reinach out for 9 months with an ACL injury. Many of those this season.
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It seems to be happening more and more often these days.

I can't remember players having so many major knee injuries 8, 10 years ago.
 
And in other news the rejected EP Kings hooker, Michael van Vuuren, who is currently on trial at Leicester Tigers, has signed a deal with Bath Rugby.
 
We are almost half way through the season and i must say the bulls are surprising me with every game, for a young team that no one gave a second thought to make to the knockout rounds they are doing really well
 
Werner Harding said:
We are almost half way through the season and i must say the bulls are surprising me with every game, for a young team that no one gave a second thought to make to the knockout rounds they are doing really well
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Agreed. Nice draw they got though. A Super rugby campaign with zero fixtures against NZ opposition is one in which you would fancy your chances of progressing.
 
Werner Harding said:
We are almost half way through the season and i must say the bulls are surprising me with every game, for a young team that no one gave a second thought to make to the knockout rounds they are doing really well
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The big negative that I have with AFR1 is that it is the easiest pool to participate in, these teams will be unprepared to go up against the Kiwis in the knockouts. The ACT Brumbies and the Queensland Reds unions are currently a political mess, the Waratahs played catch up rugby. To think that Brisbane City overpowered the National Rugby Championship, to see where the Reds are now. The Rebels taking AUS1 by playing consistently against the weaker teams. The Force roster is not really representative…

The Bulls greatest challenge is to go up against the Brumbies, and I hope that the Brumbies will play at strength. Say the Bulls played the Kiwis they would had a much harder time to reach the knockouts.

In my opinion, the best 4 teams, at strength, in the competition are,

- Chiefs
- Crusaders
- Hurricanes
- Highlanders

Then the Lions…
 
The system is just stupid. It's not super rugby if you aren't playing NZ teams.
 
Arzy said:
The system is just stupid. It's not super rugby if you aren't playing NZ teams.
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exactly this ....... I can bet that next seasons numbers are going to drop drastically. Fans do not like this kark at all.
 
Okay... so SWD partnered with the WPRU to be integrated within the Stormers, an old alliance. Then I read,

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/boland-bulls-set-to-join-forces-20160504

Cape Town - Western Province’s renewed partnership with South Western Districts has paved the way for a shock alliance between Boland and the Blue Bulls.

...

Boland was also part of the Stormers brand, but it appears the union's relationship with WP has turned sour.

Alan Zondagh, director of rugby at Boland, confirmed to Netwerk24 that Boland will in future form a partnership with the Blue Bulls.

The finer details of the partnership are still unclear, with the Bulls yet to comment on the matter.

However, with transformation of utmost importance, it would allow the Bulls to acquire the services of several talented coloured players coming out of the Boland region.
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I don’t know about any sour relationship between the Boland Cavaliers and WPRU. The Bulls has now an easy lure in the Western Cape.
 
Sunwolves

15 Riaan Viljoen, 14. Akihito Yamada, 13 Derek Carpenter, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 John Stewart, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9. Kaito Shigeno 8 Ed Quirk, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 6. Liaki Moli, 5. Fa’ Atiga Lemalu, 4 Hitoshi Ono, 3 Shinnosuke Kakinaga, 2 Shota Horie (c), 1 Masataka Mikami

Replacements: 16 Takeshi Kizu, 17 Ziun Gu, 18 Takuma Asahara, 19. Yoshiya Hosoda, 20 Taiyo Ando, 21 Atsushi Hiwasa, 22 Yu Tamura, 23 Mifiposeti Paea
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vs

Western Force

1 Francois Van Wyk, 2 Harry Scoble, 3 Guy Millar, 4 Ross Haylett-Petty, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Byrnard Stander, 7 Matt Hodgson ©, 8 Ben McCalman, 9 Alby Mathewson, 10 Ian Prior, 11 Luke Morahan, 12 Kyle Godwin, 13 Solomoni (Junior) Rasolea, 14 Marcel Brache, 15 Dane Haylett – Petty,

Replacements : 16 Anaru Rangi, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Tetera Faulkner, 19 Sitiveni (Stevie) Mafi, 20 Angus Cottrell, 21 Ryan Louwrens, 22 Peter Grant, 23 Semisi Masirewa
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It is good to see the Sunwolves utilising their talent. Lemalu starting the game, a phenomenal lock and Samoa’s 1st choice. John Stewart making his debut at the Sunwolves, another player which had been great throughout 2015. They got their speedster Yamada back. It is sorry to see that Lolohea is unavailable, but it allowed room to play Stewart. I thought Ando would had played with the Brave Blossoms… The team is good, strong bench.

I think they might pull 15 points over the Force. On this note, I heard that politics had also hit the Western Force, apparently the ARU took over management this week. Ahem, Kings. Australian rugby is not that healthy at the moment... too much politics.
 
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