Super Rugby 2017

The Sunwolves has beaten the All Stars 24-12, but apparently it was a shoddy game with many mistakes and high tackles. Not good knowing that they have soon to meet with the Hurricanes.
 
Guessing I need to sub to this as apparently I'm doing superbru again this year.
 
A Dillon Smit and a Dylan Smith playing for the Lions. The lions got more Dylan than a hippies cd collection.
 
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/stormers-reveal-squad-for-super-rugby-season-20170218

Stormers reveal squad for Super Rugby season

Cape Town - Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has named a 45-man squad ahead of the 2017 Vodacom Super Rugby season.

The group has a good blend of youth and experience, with five players under the age of 21 and 10 players with over 50 Super Rugby caps to their name.

...

Stormers squad:

Juarno Augustus, Bjorn Basson, Nizaam Carr, Jaco Coetzee, Kurt Coleman, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Jan de Klerk, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Dan du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Rob du Preez, Dewaldt Duvenage, Rynhardt Elstadt, Eben Etzebeth, Huw Jones, Oli Kebble, Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi, Dan Kriel, Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Godlen Masimla, SP Marais, Bongi Mbonambi, Dean Muir, Khanyo Ngcukana, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Caylib Oosthuizen, Justin Phillips, Ramone Samuels, JD Schickerling, Marnus Schoeman, Seabelo Senatla, Chad Solomon, JC Janse van Rensberg, Frans van Wyk, Chris van Zyl, Ali Vermaak, Jano Vermaak, EW Viljoen, Cobus Wiese, Damian Willemse, Eduard Zandberg
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http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/cheetahs-name-youthful-super-rugby-squad-20170218

Cheetahs name youthful Super Rugby squad

Cape Town - The Cheetahs have announced their 37-man squad for the 2017 Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.

Coach Franco Smith has included four players - Justin Basson, Dennis Visser, Zee Mkhabela and Clinton Swart - with no Super Rugby experience in the squad, while there are also four Springboks - Hilton Lobberts, Oupa Mohoje, Uzair Cassiem and Francois Venter - in the group.

...

Cheetahs 2017 Super Rugby squad:

Danie Mienie, Joseph Dweba, Ox Nche, Charles Marais, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Jacques du Toit, Elandre Huggett, Tom Botha, Johan Coetzee, Justin Basson, Carl Wegner, Hilton Lobberts, Armandt Koster, Francois Uys, Dennis Visser, Reniel Hugo, Paul Schoeman, Oupa Mohoje, Uzair Cassiem, Boom Prinsloo, Niell Jordaan, Henco Venter, Shaun Venter, Tian Meyer, Fred Zeilinga, Niel Marais, Sergeal Petersen, Raymond Rhule, Zee Mkhabela, Francois Venter, Ryno Benjamin, Nico Lee, William Small-Smith, Clinton Swart, Michael van der Spuy, Clayton Blommetjies, Ryno Eksteen
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Small squad...
 
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...aches-super-rugby-debut-with-melbourne-rebels

All Blacks' son Jackson Garden-Bachop approaches Super Rugby debut with Melbourne Rebels

For a man born into an accomplished rugby family, Melbourne Rebels playmaker Jackson Garden-Bachop has had to make it to Super Rugby the hard way.

The 22-year-old five-eighth comes from a long line of New Zealand internationals with dad Stephen Bachop, uncle Graeme Bachop and cousins Aaron and Nathan Mauger all playing for the All Blacks at either test or tour level while Jackson's mum Sue also played for New Zealand.

While Garden-Bachop played for New Zealand at school boy and under-20 level, at senior level he has been caught in the log jam of talent on the fringes of Super Rugby.

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After four seasons with Wellington Lions in NZ's respected provincial competition, the Mitre 10 Cup, Garden-Bachop only scored a regular starting spot at number 10 last season and he acquitted himself well.

He won the supporters' club's player of the year award, slotted seven penalties in one game and nailed a game-winning penalty from 45-metres after the siren against Counties-Manukau.

But finding a spot with a New Zealand Super Rugby side is only getting tougher and if you aren't contracted then you have to make ends meet.

So Garden-Bachop had to find part-time work in between Wellington trainings so over the years he has worked in computer administration, stacking boxes in a wine warehouse and delivering kegs for a local brewing company.

"The company wasn't too big so I didn't have too many kegs to deliver but I didn't need to go to the gym after work," Garden-Bachop joked.

In four seasons the closest Garden-Bachop came to Super Rugby was two years ago when he scored a preseason training spot with Wellington Hurricanes filling in for All Blacks star five-eighth Beauden Barrett while he was on tour.

So when Melbourne Rebels came calling late last year, Garden-Bachop jumped at the chance.
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The Rebels may be a mercenary squad, but I admire them digging out overlooked talent. They really do have a superstar squad, though mostly through heritage it is a quality team. Good luck to Garden-Bachop.
 
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/milner-skudder-in-doubt-for-super-rugby-opener-20170220

Milner-Skudder in doubt for Super Rugby opener

Cape Town - Hurricanes star utility-back Nehe Milner-Skudder is in doubt for his side's opening clash with the Sunwolves.

The fleet-footed Milner-Skudder had a meteoric rise to stardom at the 2015 Rugby World Cup before suffering a shoulder injury that kept him off the field for most of the season last year.

Assistant coach John Plumtree says that Milner-Skudder strained his hamstring over the weekend.

"Hopefully he'll be all right, but we're not sure," Plumtree told ESPN.

"He's had a big pre-season, he's trained really well and he competed in the Tens competition, so he's good to go but unfortunately at the weekend he picked up a bit of a twinge."
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http://www.supersport.com/rugby/article.aspx?Id=3892644

Stormers ditch co-captain policy

Expect Siya Kolisi to be named on Tuesday as the leader the DHL Stormers will follow into action in the coming Vodacom Super Rugby season.

Stormers coach Robbie Fleck did not announce his new captain as anticipated on Monday as he had only just informed the team of his decision. However, the announcement will be made on Tuesday by press release, and it is expected that it will be Springbok flanker Kolisi.

Last season the Stormers had a dual captaincy policy, with Juan de Jongh and Frans Malherbe sharing the armband in the same way that the Highlanders leaders have in the past, but Fleck says that the players decided that they preferred to have an identified leader.

“The co-captaincy was my idea and I was in favour of it last year as we had a young group of leaders,” said Fleck on Monday.

“However, I have consulted with the team over this and the preference is for one captain who the guys can identify as the leader and can base themselves around. So we will have a captain and a vice-captain, and it will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday) as we have only just informed the players of the choice of captain.”
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http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/tupou-leads-blues-in-super-rugby-opener-20170221

Tupou leads Blues in Super Rugby opener

There are three All Blacks on the Blues bench in Charlie Faumuina, George Moala and the explosive Rene Ranger, back after a long-term ACL injury last year.

Players not considered for selection include Parsons, Kaino, Patrick Tuipulotu, Billy Guyton, Declan O’Connell, Stephen Perofeta and Sonny Bill Williams.

Kick-off is at 10:45 (SA time) on Thursday.

Teams:

Rebels

TBA

Blues

15 Michael Collins, 14 Matt Duffie, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Jimmy Tupou (captain), 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 Matt Moulds, 1 Pauliasi Manu

Substitutes: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Murphy Taramai, 21 Sam Nock, 22 George Moala, 23 Rene Ranger
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Good to see Ranger returning to the game.
 
Having a closer look at the Rebels selection it seems to be very experimental at the backline. Moving Debreczeni to the back, playing a newly signed youngster at 10 and moving another youngster, Maddocks, to the wing which is supposed to cover the no 15 position. Maddocks being a dual-coded player. The only regular combination in the backline is English, Hodge and Inman. At least the Blues also have a young-blooded backline, a team many say will be capable to take the cup next year…

Starting Amanaki above Shatz, interesting as Shatz is experienced at the Super Rugby game.
 
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...d-out-of-hurricanes-opening-super-rugby-match

Nehe Milner-Skudder ruled out of Hurricanes opening Super Rugby match

Squad: Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett, Ben May, Blade Thomson, Brad Shields, Callum Gibbins, Chris Eves, Chris Smylie, Cory Jane, Dane Coles, James Blackwell, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Jordie Barrett, Julian Savea, James O'Reilly, Matt Proctor, Michael Fatialofa, Mike Kainga, Wes Goosen, Ngani Laumape, Otere Black, Reed Prinsep, Ricky Riccitelli, TJ Perenara, Vince Aso.
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No Milner-Skudder, but still an strong squad travelling to Japan.
 
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/marais-set-to-start-at-fullback-for-stormers-20170222

Marais set to start at fullback for Stormers

Cape Town - Indications are that SP Marais will start at fullback for the Stormers in their Super Rugby opener against the Bulls, with Cheslin Kolbe on the wing.

Marais impressed at No 15 for the Stormers in their 57-40 pre-season win over the Lions earlier this month, and according to Netwerk24, he could run out in that position against the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

This would see Cheslin Kolbe, the Stormers' regular fullback in 2016, play on the wing.

The other wing position would be a contest between Dillyn Leyds, Bjorn Basson and Seabelo Senatla.
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I wouldn't start Kolbe. If you're going to play him, bring him in on the last 15 or 20 minutes when hopefully the game is a bit more open and gaps are more prevalent. Expect a lot of bombs onto his wing from Pollard for Ulengo to chase.
 
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport...t-all-blacks-off-bench-against-sunwolves.html

Hurricanes to start All Blacks off bench against Sunwolves

Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Cory Jane, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Otere Black, TJ Perenara (capt), Blade Thomson, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Michael Fatialofa, James Blackwell, Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves. Reserves: Dane Coles, Ben May, Mike Kainga, Reed Prinsep, Callum Gibbins, Chris Smylie, Beauden Barrett, Vince Aso.
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I am guessing that we may see a 40 pointer over the Sunwolves. Also not entirely happy with the Sunwolves selection, but hey…
 
Man it's making the fantasy picking difficult when most teams haven't been announced yet. Fulcrum29, you perhaps have any idea who will start at flyhalf for the Cheetahs?
 
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