Official Super Rugby Thread 2013

[Piesank]

Don't think the bulls played the Chiefs away did we? But ok if you put it like that.....

It looks like you guys skipped the Chiefs this year

You are going to get flak for this now

Good luck in two weeks time, you are correct we have been woeful after our breaks so need to step up - and play running rugby (for the Stormers fans ) and we should be ok!

 

[Devill]

It looks like you guys skipped the Chiefs this year

You are going to get flak for this now

Good luck in two weeks time, you are correct we have been woeful after our breaks so need to step up - and play running rugby (for the Stormers fans ) and we should be ok!

If the Cheetahs do well on fringe defence and their scrum holds up, they have a good chance. I doubt the brumbies will play an expansive game.

 

[Crowley]

Don't think the bulls played the Chiefs away did we? But ok if you put it like that.....

My bad.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

I hope my 'thumbsuck' was a good idea

As for the Stormers complaining about a tough tour they can go piss that notion in the wind - Cheetahs drew the short stick this year (we did miss the Brumbies and Saders) but we had our first bye in round 12 (Stormers already had both their byes in rounds 5 and 9) and then our second in the last week of the round robin. So if we can do it then so can any other team.

Cheetahs had a very easy tour though. Force, Rebels, Highlanders & Waratahs. Their only top six fixture was against the Chiefs.

Look, Cheetahs are my second favourite South African after the Stormers and I do enjoy their playing style but they were lucky in terms of the teams they faced on Tour.

Another great SANZAR fsck-up.

 

[Piesank]

Cheetahs had a very easy tour though. Force, Rebels, Highlanders & Waratahs. Their only top six fixture was against the Chiefs.

Look, Cheetahs are my second favourite South African after the Stormers and I do enjoy their playing style but they were lucky in terms of the teams they faced on Tour.

Another great SANZAR fsck-up.

We had the Chiefs, Highlanders, Force (without Goosen) then the Waratahs. We played the Rebels at home.

I agree we had an easier tour but we had a harder run in with the amount of games we played before getting a break. Give and take.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has blamed refereeing decisions in two of the team’s overseas matches as the primary reason the Stormers did not make the play-offs.
It is true they were on the receiving end of some indifferent refereeing decisions, but then they were also the beneficiaries of some dodgy refereeing decisions. Over the course of 16 matches the scales of good and bad were balanced.

Not the first time this season or the last that the Breezers coaches nogal, blamed the refs ........ methinks the idiot Breezer fans like to say the Sharks blame the ref, just to cover up.

 

[OGroteKoning]

Not the first time this season or the last that the Breezers coaches nogal, blamed the refs ........ methinks the idiot Breezer fans like to say the Sharks blame the ref, just to cover up.

This year probably saw the worst display of refereeing ever in Super rugby. I almost stopped watching early in the season. What AC is doing is pointless unless all coaches pitch in and let the referees know how much they are messing up rugby for all concerned. The only thing really is they are often blowing badly to both sides. What you lose in the swing, you make up on the roundabout. I just wish the overall standard of refereeing will become better. Get a penalty system going for bad refereeing. But start with taking away crap laws that needs interpretation.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

This year probably saw the worst display of refereeing ever in Super rugby. I almost stopped watching early in the season. What AC is doing is pointless unless all coaches pitch in and let the referees know how much they are messing up rugby for all concerned. The only thing really is they are often blowing badly to both sides. What you lose in the swing, you make up on the roundabout. I just wish the overall standard of refereeing will become better. Get a penalty system going for bad refereeing. But start with taking away crap laws that needs interpretation.

That's what I cannot understand ....... everyone can see the horrendous reffing but no one will take them on. The IRB is way too much like the mafia in that nothing is allowed to be questioned. Makes you wonder why.

 

[Piesank]

That's what I cannot understand ....... everyone can see the horrendous reffing but no one will take them on. The IRB is way too much like the mafia in that nothing is allowed to be questioned. Makes you wonder why.

This quote is taken from the rugby365 editor:

rugby365editor • 17 hours ago

Pete, Gav they are already assessed by a panel (retired refs), but it is just not being made public

So the refs do get 'evaluated' the outcome isn't made public, but someone like Chris Pollock was dropped from the playoffs because of bad form.

I agree with koning though you get some calls for and against you. Like I felt bad at the reffing when the Cheetahs played the Stormers, but we were playing so badly that the outcome wouldn't be any different.

 

[GreGorGy]

I have made my feelings about ref bashing known before so I won't rehash. As much as the refs make poor decisions, the blame ultimately lies elsewhere: SANZAR.

My BIG gripe is that the money that has driven the stupid format decisions (Super 15 conference rubbish) has not filtered to where it is needed. This is why we see refereeing as a semi-professional non-permanent appointment. That is why we see this mass player exodus. That is why we will always struggle to field the best 15: money decided their fate. Player stress and injury risks are of no concern to the SOBs that cash the cheques. I have always marveled at player strikes (soccer, baseball) and wondered who they thought they were. Now I understand.

You want decent refereeing, quality domestic talent and acceptable stadium behaviour and prices? Go on boycott and encourage a player strike. Of course, that will never happen so the SANZAR shylocks* will continue to milk the players and the fans.

/rant over

*Not meant as an anti-semitic statement. Rather an anti-pound-o-flesh criticism.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Milk the players? Hardly... They coin it big time.

 

[GreGorGy]

Milk the players? Hardly... They coin it big time.

Not all of them - the player exodus is testimony to that. And I am not only referring to the money aspect - the players are exposed to far greater injury risks as well as fatigue.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Not all of them - the player exodus is testimony to that. And I am not only referring to the money aspect - the players are exposed to far greater injury risks as well as fatigue.

True. Although the Super Rugby gives them a great platform to showcase themselves. It's usually the players that perform well in Super Rugby that get scooped up with massive contracts overseas.

 

[GreGorGy]

Campo says Brumbies and Crusaders - the Brus and the Crus.

Crusaders won't allow the reds into the game, unfortunately. Not that they are a better team - but BMT and finishing well are Crusaders traits. Having avoided glory for a few years, they'd like to beat as many previous winners as possible. Home ground advantage, etc. I went crusaders...

The bookies have given the Cheetahs a 9 start. SuperXV gives a 10. Campo gives it to the Brus as well.

Greg DOES NOT give a flying fck. Going Cheetahs. They just know how to spoil anybody's day and it's Jake's turn.

 

[Piesank]

Vrystaat Verewig!

Guys I'm already happy we made it so far, my champagne will flow tomorrow regardless, but you know I always hope for Cheetahs by 100 tomorrow I'll take it by 1!!

Good luck Cheetahs!

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Quite a dismantling the Saders put on the Reds.

 

[APoc184]

CHEETAHS!!!

 

[Vrotappel]

6-5 to Brumbies at half-time. Go Cheetahs!

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Bit scrappy so far. Neither team is really able to build consistent momentum. Cheetahs still in it, but they'll start to tire soon.

 

[APoc184]

What about them?

They are in the play-offs.... The Stormers? Not so much!