Official Super Rugby Thread 2013

[Devill]

Hello all

I thought I would create one of these again

If someone starts a MyBB pool for the Super Rugby please pm me so that I can add the link to the OP.

Round 1 (Australian teams only)

February 15 - Melbourne Rebels (AUS) v Western Force (AUS), Melbourne

Feb 16 - ACT Brumbies (AUS) v Queensland Reds (AUS), Canberra

NSW Waratahs (AUS) - bye

Round 2

Feb 22 - Otago Highlanders (NZL) v Waikato Chiefs (NZL) Venue TBC
Feb 22 - Melbourne Rebels (AUS) v ACT Brumbies (AUS), Melbourne
Feb 22 - Northern Bulls (RSA) v Western Stormers (RSA), Pretoria
Feb 23 - Wellington Hurricanes (NZL) v Auckland Blues (NZL) Venue TBC
Feb 23 - Queensland Reds (AUS) v NSW Waratahs (AUS), Brisbane
Feb 23 - Central Cheetahs (RSA) v Coastal Sharks (RSA), Bloemfontein
Feb 23 - Southern Kings (RSA) v Western Force (AYUS), Port Elizabeth

Canterbury Crusaders (NZL) - bye


Round 3

March 1 - Blues v Crusaders, Venue TBC
March 1 - Reds v Hurricanes, Brisbane
March 2 - Chiefs v Cheetahs, Venue TBC
March 2 - Waratahs v Rebels, Sydney
March 2 - Bulls v Force, Pretoria
March 2 - Sharks v Stormers, Durban

Brumbies, Highlanders, Kings - byes


Round 4

March 8 - Hurricanes v Crusaders, Venue TBC
March 8 - Rebels v Reds, Melbourne
March 9 - Highlanders v Cheetahs, Venue TBC
March 9 - Brumbies v Waratahs, Canberra
March 9 - Stormers v Chiefs, Cape Town
March 9 - Kings v Sharks, Port Elizabeth
March 10 - Blues v Bulls, Venue TBC

Force - bye


Round 5

March 15 - Highlanders v Hurricanes, Venue TBC

March 15 - Waratahs v Cheetahs, Sydney
March 15 - Kings v Chiefs, Port Elizabeth
March 16 - Crusaders v Bulls, Christchurch
March 16 - Reds v Force, Brisbane
March 16 - Sharks v Brumbies, Durban

Blues, Rebels, Stormers - byes


Round 6

March 22 - Chiefs v Highlanders, Venue TBC
March 23 - Crusaders v Kings, Christchurch
March 23 - Reds v Bulls, Brisbane
March 23 - Force v Cheetahs, Perth
March 23 - Sharks v Rebels, Durban
March 23 - Stormers v Brumbies, Cape Town
March 24 - Waratahs v Blues, Sydney

Hurricanes - bye


Round 7 (Easter)

March 29 - Highlanders v Reds, Venue TBC
March 30 - Hurricanes v Kings, Venue TBC
March 30 - Chiefs v Blues, Venue TBC
March 30 - Brumbies v Bulls, Canberra
March 30 - Cheetahs v Rebels, Bloemfontein
March 30 - Stormers v Crusaders, Cape Town
March 31 - Waratahs v Force, Sydney

Sharks - bye


Round 8

April 5 - Blues v Highlanders, Venue TBC
April 5 - Brumbies v Kings, Canberra
April 5 - Sharks v Crusaders, Durban
April 6 - Hurricanes v Waratahs, Venue TBC
April 6 - Force v Rebels, Perth
April 6 - Cheetahs v Stormers, Bloemfontein

Bulls, Chiefs, Reds - byes


Round 9

April 12 - Highlanders v Brumbies, Venue TBC
April 13 - Chiefs v Reds, Venue TBC
April 13 - Blues v Hurricanes, Venue TBC
April 13 - Rebels v Kings, Melbourne
April 13 - Force v Crusaders, Perth
April 13 - Stormers v Sharks, Cape Town
April 13 - Bulls v Cheetahs, Pretoria

Waratahs - bye


Round 10

April 19 - Hurricanes v Force, Venue TBC
April 19 - Waratahs v Chiefs, Sydney
April 20 - Crusaders v Highlanders, Christchurch
April 20 - Reds v Brumbies, Brisbane
April 20 - Sharks v Cheetahs, Durban
April 20 - Kings v Bulls, Port Elizabeth

Blues, Rebels, Stormers - byes


Round 11

April 26 - Hurricanes v Stormers, Venue TBC
April 26 - Reds v Blues, Brisbane
April 27 - Chiefs v Sharks, Venue TBC
April 27 - Brumbies v Force, Canberra
April 27 - Bulls v Waratahs, Pretoria
April 27 - Cheetahs v Kings, Bloemfontein
April 28 - Crusaders v Rebels, Christchurch

Highlanders - bye


Round 12

May 3 - Blues v Stormers, Venue TBC
TBC - Rebels v Chiefs, Melbourne
May 4 - Highlanders v Sharks, Venue TBC
May 4 - Force v Reds, Perth
May 4 - Kings v Waratahs, Port Elizabeth
May 4 - Bulls v Hurricanes, Pretoria
May 5 - Brumbies v Crusaders, Canberra

Cheetahs - bye


Round 13

May 10 - Chiefs v Force, Venue TBC
May 10 - Reds v Sharks, Brisbane
May 10 - Cheetahs v Hurricanes, Bloemfontein
May 11 - Blues v Rebels, Venue TBC
May 11 - Waratahs v Stormers, Sydney
May 11 - Kings v Highlanders, Port Elizabeth

Brumbies, Bulls, Crusaders - byes


Round 14

May 17 - Hurricanes v Chiefs, Venue TBC
May 17 - Rebels v Stormers, Melbourne
May 17 - Force v Sharks, Perth
May 18 - Crusaders v Blues, Christchurch
May 18 - Waratahs v Brumbies, Sydney
May 18 - Bulls v Highlanders, Pretoria
May 18 - Cheetahs v Reds, Bloemfontein

Kings - bye


Round 15

May 24 - Chiefs v Crusaders, Venue TBC
May 24 - Rebels v Waratahs, Melbourne
May 25 - Blues v Brumbies, Venue TBC
May 25 - Force v Highlanders, Perth
May 25 - Kings v Cheetahs, Port Elizabeth
May 25 - Stormers v Reds, Cape Town
May 25 - Sharks v Bulls, Durban

Hurricanes - bye


Round 16

May 31 - Crusaders v Waratahs, Christchurch
May 31 - Brumbies v Hurricanes, Canberra
June 1 - Highlanders v Blues, Venue TBC
June 1 - Reds v Rebels, Brisbane
June 1 - Stormers v Kings, Cape Town
June 1 - Cheetahs v Bulls, Bloemfontein

Chiefs, Force, Sharks - byes


Round 17 (Australian teams only)

June 7 - Brumbies v Rebels, Canberra
June 9 - Force v Waratahs, Perth

Reds - bye


Round 18 (New Zealand/South African teams only)

June 28 - Chiefs v Hurricanes, Venue TBC
June 29 - Highlanders v Crusaders, Venue TBC
June 29 - Sharks v Blues, Durban
June 29 - Bulls v Kings, Pretoria
June 29 - Stormers v Cheetahs, Cape Town


Round 19 (New Zealand/South African teams only)

July 5 - Crusaders v Chiefs, Christchurch
July 6 - Hurricanes v Highlanders, Venue TBC
July 6 - Cheetahs v Blues, Bloemfontein
July 6 - Kings v Stormers, Port Elizabeth
July 6 - Bulls v Sharks, Pretoria


Round 20

July 12 - Crusaders v Hurricanes, Christchurch
July 12 - Rebels v Highlanders, Melbourne
July 13 - Blues v Chiefs, Venue TBC
July 13 - Waratahs v Reds, Sydney
July 13 - Force v Brumbies, Perth
July 13 - Sharks v Kings, Durban
July 13 - Stormers v Bulls, Cape Town

Cheetahs - bye


Qualifiers
July 19/20


Semifinals
July 26/27


Final
August 3 Sapa

Come join myBB Super Rugby prediction game on SuperBru! It's free and loads of fun. Just click here:

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Pool name: MyBroadband

Pool code: eyeskilt

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Can the Stormers please not choke this time around?!

So embarrassing losing to the banana boys, despite the fixture being heavily in our favour!

 

[Fulcrum29]

Superbru?

 

[DJ...]

Sharks vs Crusaders final, in Durban.

Sharks to win by 8 points...

 

[GreGorGy]

Argh! Kings FTW.




(sorry, I laughed even while I was typing that)

 

[Devill]

Sharks vs Crusaders final, in Durban.

Sharks to win by 8 points...

Stormers can't get past a final and the sharks can't win a final when getting to one

Argh! Kings FTW.

(sorry, I laughed even while I was typing that)

Haha, the problem is I can just see the Bulls / Cheetahs slipping up and losing to the Kings

 

[Devill]

Thanks to the Mod for the sticky!

 

[Piesank]

Why do the mighty Free State Cheetahs only get byes in weeks 12 and 20? Racist bloody agents!!!

Oh I found this gem on Rugby365 and I have to share - no credit to me.

lol , don't get us started again on Gio's scrumcap.Word has it that he wears it for the unexpected JDJ pass , unpracticed ,that might hit him in the ear.

But rumour has it that that problem may have been solved . After Fleck took a week to teach JDJ the simple scissors , we hear he has spent the last 2 months teaching him the simple pass . However Gio will keep his scrum cap on until they find out if its ..the pass to the right ....or the pass to the left .

Habana is said to be so excited he is considering tearing up his new contract with the frogs .

 

[APoc184]

I have no hope for my Cheetah boytjies this year.

I say that so that I will not be disappointed when they eventually disappoint and if they do actually win a few games I will be pleasantly surprised.

I also expect Brussow, Juan Smith and Goosen to get injured within the first 4 weeks. Coenie will last 6 weeks because he will only notice the broken neck after a few weeks. I've had my doubts over the conditioning of the Cheetahs players for a while now.

 

[APoc184]

And may the lord have mercy on the first team to lose to the Kings.

Hell has no fury like a Super Rugby fan who's team lost to a Vodacom Cup squad.

In all fairness I wish the players all the best. They just want to play rugby and none of them asked to be involved in all this political BS.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

They do play some exciting rugby, they're one of my favorite teams to watch.

Agreed. Far more exciting than the Sharks, at least!

But also admittedly more exciting than the Stormers...but we don't blame the ref when we lose...ahem....

 

[Spizz]

Nicked from keo.co.za...

Breakdown of those who flopped with the Lions:

Stormers: Ruan Botha, Pat Cilliers, Michael Rhodes, Jaco Taute, Elton Jantjies (5)

Bulls: Paul Willemse, Grant Hattingh, Callie Visagie, Rudi Paige, Lionel Mapoe (4)

Sharks: Butch James, Franco van der Merwe (2)

Cheetahs: Caylib Oosthuizen (1)

Kings: Bandise Maku, Michael Killian (2)

16 South African players have also left for European, English and Australian teams.

SA player movement (who’s in and who’s out):

Stormers
IN: Ruan Botha, Pat Cilliers, Michael Rhodes, Jaco Taute, Elton Jantjies (all Lions)
OUT: Demetri Catrakilis (Kings), Tyrone Holmes (Colomiers), Nick Koster (Bath), Quinn Roux (Leinster)

Bulls
IN: Marcell van der Merwe (Cheetahs), Willie Wepener (Clermont), Paul Willemse, Grant Hattingh, Callie Visagie, Rudi Paige, Lionel Mapoe (all Lions)
OUT: CJ Stander (Munster), Gerrit-Jan van Velvze (Northampton), Rayno Gerber (Rovigo), Johann Sadie (Cheetahs).

Sharks
IN: Butch James, Franco van der Merwe (both Lions)
OUT: Steven Sykes (Kings), Ross Skeate (Agen), Frederic Michalak (Toulon)

Cheetahs
IN: Joubert Engelbrecht (Leopards), Elgar Watts (Boland), Cornal Hendricks (Boland), JP Nel (Shining Arcs) Johann Sadie (Bulls), Torsten van Jaarsveld (Pumas) Rossouw de Klerk (Bulls), Lodeweyk de Jager (Leopards), Tertius Daniller (WP), Sarel Pretorius (Waratahs), Caylib Oosthuizen (Lions)
OUT: WP Nel (Edinburgh), George Earle (Llanelli Scarlets), Sias Ebersohn (Force), Izak van der Westhuizen (Edinburgh), Marcel van der Merwe (Bulls), Phillip Snyman (Bok Sevens), Ashley Johnson (Wasps).

Kings
IN: Demetri Catrakilis (WP), Andries Strauss (Cheetahs), Steven Sykes (Sharks), Bandise Maku (Lions), Michael Killian (Lions), Waylon Murray (Lions), Nichols Vergallo (Toulouse), Hadleigh Parkes (Auckland)
OUT: Paul Perez (Samoa), Louis Strydom, Clint Newland

-------------

On balance, I think the winners in the movement stakes are the Kings and the Stormers. Especially the Kings who need a few experienced heads and even the youngsters have already undergone their baptism of fire elsewhere.

Bulls and Sharks 50/50, although Butch will be a good signing I think, even though Freddie is leaving. Cheetahs are losing more than they gain I'm afraid but I'm sure they'll surprise us all.

 

[Devill]

And may the lord have mercy on the first team to lose to the Kings.

Hell has no fury like a Super Rugby fan who's team lost to a Vodacom Cup squad.

In all fairness I wish the players all the best. They just want to play rugby and none of them asked to be involved in all this political BS.

Haha, I have a feeling that the Bulls or the Cheetahs might pull that off

I to wish the Kings players (barring Twatson) the best of luck.

 

[Piesank]

Haha, I have a feeling that the Bulls or the Cheetahs might pull that off

I to wish the Kings players (barring Twatson) the best of luck.

Well the Cheethas CC team missing 11 first choice players still managed to thrash the Kings in Bloem and then still beat a fired up Kings side in PE while they were playing badly. So to peg the mighty Free State Cheetahs to stumble against them shows how little you know of other teams and blinded by provincialism.

If Naka can just stop thinking that we can score tries by kicking the ball away we will do a lot better this year

 

[Devill]

Well the Cheethas CC team missing 11 first choice players still managed to thrash the Kings in Bloem and then still beat a fired up Kings side in PE while they were playing badly. So to peg the mighty Free State Cheetahs to stumble against them shows how little you know of other teams and blinded by provincialism.

If Naka can just stop thinking that we can score tries by kicking the ball away we will do a lot better this year

1) The Kings that the Cheetahs played were the CC team, not the Super rugby team.

2) I am a Bulls supporter. So I do not understand your provincialism quip about provincialism.

 

[Piesank]

1) The Kings that the Cheetahs played were the CC team, not the Super rugby team.

2) I am a Bulls supporter. So I do not understand your provincialism quip about provincialism.

Well I didn't know which team you supported but to even think the bulls will stumble against the Kings is crazy imho. Thought you would be an arrogant Shark/Province supporter to suggest that.

Then the players that are in don't impress me so much - two forwards and six backs, I rate Parkes and Vergallo, Killian and Murray not so much, the Greek might struggle behind that pack and Strauss didn't deliver for the Cheetahs when we got him from the Sharks.

I would be the first one to publicly apologize if they manage to beat the Cheetahs but I doubt I'll have to this season or even next season.

 

[Devill]

Well I didn't know which team you supported but to even think the bulls will stumble against the Kings is crazy imho. Thought you would be an arrogant Shark/Province supporter to suggest that.

Then the players that are in don't impress me so much - two forwards and six backs, I rate Parkes and Vergallo, Killian and Murray not so much, the Greek might struggle behind that pack and Strauss didn't deliver for the Cheetahs when we got him from the Sharks.

I would be the first one to publicly apologize if they manage to beat the Cheetahs but I doubt I'll have to this season or even next season.

I meant that the Bulls and the Cheetahs have snatched a few games from the jaws of victory

Province this year should have a good senior core of players and the sharks should not find it difficult to end anywhere in the top 6 this year if they play like last year.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Please no...this would just be embarrassing. He was only in the Springbok team in 2011 because he was captain...

Cape Town - Former Springbok skipper John Smit is poised to make a dramatic return to Super Rugby this season.

According to Wednesday's Cape Times, due to a hooker crisis at the Stormers, Smit's name is being bandied about as a possible short-term solution to the Cape side's No 2 woes.

Deon Fourie - who played the majority of last year's Currie Cup campaign at loose forward - is expected to start at hooker in the Stormers' opening Super Rugby clash against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Friday, February 22 (kick-off is at 19:10).

However, the back-up to Fourie remains uncertain.

Tiaan Liebenberg sustained a back injury last October and has only recently been eased back into taking contact during the Stormers' pre-season training camp in Hermanus.

Making matters worse, the Stormers' worst fears were realised when 21-year-old star Scarra Ntubeni was forced to undergo surgery on his shoulder on Tuesday, and is expected to be out of action for up to three months.

And that is where Smit comes in...

Smit, 33, who has 111 Springbok caps to his name, is currently the understudy to Schalk Brits at Saracens in England, and is believed to be on his way to French Top 14 giants Toulon next season, but could make a "pit stop" in Cape Town on a loan basis.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Smit-heading-for-Stormers-20130123

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

If Fourie gets injured/suspended he might start though!

 

[Spizz]

We all know he's past his best and even the last WC was a WC too far, but as back up in a crisis? Could be worse if you ask me.