Super Rugby 2017

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/top-english-club-chase-after-ackermann-20170313

Top English club chases after Ackermann

Cape Town - Lions coach Johan Ackermann has reportedly been linked with a move to English club Gloucester.

According to the GloucestershireLive website, The Rugby Paper - an English rugby publication - is reporting that the Premiership club have approached Ackermann about replacing Australian Laurie Fisher.

The report states that Ackermann is considering the offer, but he could favour a director of rugby position.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Pat Lambie suffered a back injury in a tackle and suffered a fractured vertebrae in his lower back. Said Dr Kourie: “It is difficult to say exactly how long the approximate length of recovery will be in Pat’s case, as he undergoes further scans today, but his return is estimated at six to eight weeks.”

Sigh, that sucks for the young guy

 

[mbayshark]

Sigh, that sucks for the young guy

Ag no man!!! Was hoping it would not be to serious.

 

[Agent_Smith]

The poor oke. Apparently that's now the fourth year in succession that he is sitting out the majority of the Sharks' season. At least Curwin Bosch is looking the real deal. He seems (at least on TV anyway) to be on the small side. Not sure of his Vitalstatistix (yes, Asterix reference) but if he can add on a few kilos while still maintaining that pace, he will be a real handful.

 

[sand_man]

Fcksakes Pat man!!

So bloody unlucky!!

 

[mbayshark]

The poor oke. Apparently that's now the fourth year in succession that he is sitting out the majority of the Sharks' season. At least Curwin Bosch is looking the real deal. He seems (at least on TV anyway) to be on the small side. Not sure of his Vitalstatistix (yes, Asterix reference) but if he can add on a few kilos while still maintaining that pace, he will be a real handful.

Jip Curwin is a real talent. But his not Pat. We will definitely miss his experience in the crucial games. So sad this.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Interesting...

Paris clubs Stade Francais, Racing 92 announce merger plan

 

[Agent_Smith]

So I heard on the radio this morning that apparently Lambie went into the game against the Waratahs carrying that back niggle. Now I know hindsight is 20/20 and no one would've expected Bosch to step up the way he did, but was it really worth risking Lambie this early in the comp? If he was carrying any kind of ailment, surely err on the side of caution (even if it meant risking a victory)?

 

[bigboy529]

So I heard on the radio this morning that apparently Lambie went into the game against the Waratahs carrying that back niggle. Now I know hindsight is 20/20 and no one would've expected Bosch to step up the way he did, but was it really worth risking Lambie this early in the comp? If he was carrying any kind of ailment, surely err on the side of caution (even if it meant risking a victory)?

In my opinion very very stupid by the Sharks, you never ever take a risk with any type of back injury, a bump or fall in the wrong way and it's good bye career.

 

[Fulcrum29]

An unpublished report has it that Singapore as the Sunwolves 2nd home venue is to be scrapped. Finally, it is not a home venue to any team. There are more to this report, but I will rather wait until it is conclusively decided.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/serfontein-returns-as-bulls-ring-changes-20170314

Serfontein returns as Bulls ring changes

Pretoria - Bulls coach Nollis Marais made wholesale changes to his team to face the Sunwolves at Loftus Versfeld on Friday, naming different combinations in his back three, midfield, half-backs, loose trio, lock pairing and front row.

...

Friday’s game is scheduled for 19:00.

Teams:

Bulls

15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Handre Pollard (captain), 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Renaldo Bothma, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 6 Lood de Jager, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Trevor Nyakane, 3 Edgar Marutlulle, 2 Pierre Schoeman

Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Lizo Gqoboko, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Jannes Kirsten, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Jesse Kriel

 

[Agent_Smith]

Fantastic looking backline, but if they not getting quality ball from the forwards, they might as well not be there. Here's hoping the forwards front up against The Sunwolves (which they really ought to do).

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/cheetahs-boss-were-staying-in-super-rugby-20170314

Cape Town - Harold Verster, managing director of the Cheetahs, insists the Bloemfontein-based franchise will not lose its Super Rugby status.

This comes after weekend reports indicated that the Cheetahs were believed to be one of three teams that could lose their Super Rugby status if the competition is reduced from 18 to 15 teams.

SANZAAR bosses met in London over the weekend to discuss the future of the tournament’s format, which has come under fire since it was expanded last year.

It is believed that the most popular proposal put forward was that three teams be scrapped from the tournament.

According to the Stuff.co.nz website, New Zealand's preference is for a 15-team model which retains the Sunwolves and the Jaguares, and involves South Africa dropping two sides.

Changes, however, can only be made with unanimous agreement from all SANZAAR partners.

In response to the proposed changes, Verster told Netwerk24 that he was not worried that the Cheetahs would lose their Super Rugby status.

According to Verster, the competition will be reduced from 18 to 16 teams from next year.

As per the report that I have read, many structural changes to the competition still undecided on like groups, travelling, etc. which mainly rests on the rights holders (e.g. broadcasters).

Those worried about the Cheetahs, they stay.

The Kings are out and Australia is still battling between the Brumbies, Rebels and Force...

 

[Fulcrum29]

Fantastic looking backline, but if they not getting quality ball from the forwards, they might as well not be there. Here's hoping the forwards front up against The Sunwolves (which they really ought to do).

The Bulls are too strong. The Sunwolves also lost Tupou in their backline which did the damage to the Cheetahs, stats-wise. Then there are the props, the Sunwolves rotated them. The better props are resting in Japan.

Set-pieces. The Bulls can attack the Sunwolves backline anywhere they desire and will dominate the scrums. The Sunwolves are poor at the breakdowns, it seems they have lost touch without Andrew Durutalo.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/lions-report-2-new-injury-concerns-20170314

Lions report 2 new injury concerns

Flank Cyle Brink injured his left shoulder and not is available for this Saturday's match against the Reds in Johannesburg.

Prop Dylan Smith will be assessed in the week after leaving the field against the Jaguares with a troublesome shoulder.

 

[bigboy529]

The Bulls are too strong. The Sunwolves also lost Tupou in their backline which did the damage to the Cheetahs, stats-wise. Then there are the props, the Sunwolves rotated them. The better props are resting in Japan.

Set-pieces. The Bulls can attack the Sunwolves backline anywhere they desire and will dominate the scrums. The Sunwolves are poor at the breakdowns, it seems they have lost touch without Andrew Durutalo.

Bulls must just be careful of overconfidence, going in to this thinking it will be a walk in the park.
They can do with a good solid confedence boosting performance before going oversees.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Bulls must just be careful of overconfidence, going in to this thinking it will be a walk in the park.
They can do with a good solid confedence boosting performance before going oversees.

Agree, even the strong team may succumb to the weak opponent. The Sunwolves kicked less against the Cheetahs wherewith they retained more ball possession. The Bulls will need to secure clean ball at the breakdowns, interesting topic on which Heyneke Meyer elaborated on over the weekend.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/bring-back-the-fetcher-says-meyer-20170311

Bring back the fetcher, says Meyer

Johannesburg - Former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has cautioned South African Super Rugby sides against their newfound penchant for playing without specialist openside flankers in their games, saying it’s a tactic that will affect the national team in the long run.

In the first three rounds of this year’s tournament, openside flankers have been thin on the ground, with the “fetcher” role being shared among the three loose forwards and, sometimes, the hookers or whichever backline players don’t mind poking their heads into the ruck furnace.

Looking at the not-so-distant past, the basic roles of the loose trio were devolved as follows: the openside flank played to the ball, the blindside flank generated momentum, be it in defence or attack, and the eighth man was the link and therefore the distributor between backs and forwards.

Continued

 

[bigboy529]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/cheetahs-boss-were-staying-in-super-rugby-20170314



As per the report that I have read, many structural changes to the competition still undecided on like groups, travelling, etc. which mainly rests on the rights holders (e.g. broadcasters).

Those worried about the Cheetahs, they stay.

The Kings are out and Australia is still battling between the Brumbies, Rebels and Force...

Still think this must be decided based on log position / result in the previous year, but with money flowing around, braudcast contracts etc I know it's not that simple.

If you end last out of your countries teams on the log this year you are out, whether Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Lions, Cheetahs or Kings. After that it can be decided how a dropped team can reenter in to super rugby since there are only 5 spaces and 6 teams, maybe work some kind of qualifying thing in to the Currie Cup which would allow a team to get back in.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Still think this must be decided based on log position / result in the previous year, but with money flowing around, braudcast contracts etc I know it's not that simple.

If you end last out of your countries teams on the log this year you are out, whether Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Lions, Cheetahs or Kings. After that it can be decided how a dropped team can reenter in to super rugby since there are only 5 spaces and 6 teams, maybe work some kind of qualifying thing in to the Currie Cup which would allow a team to get back in.

I know that a promotion/relegation option was or still is under consideration. I doubt that it will happen. SANZAAR is a business, not a union.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2017/03/463782.html

Rugby: Sunwolves make 3 changes ahead of Bulls clash

The Sunwolves team to take on the Bulls on Friday night in Pretoria shows three changes to the side that narrowly lost to the Cheetahs last week.

Sam Wykes starts at lock with Liaki Moli dropping to the bench, and Timothy Lafaele is handed the No. 12 jersey in place of Derek Carpenter, who drops out of the match-day 23. Jamie-Jerry Taulagi replaces the inform William Tupou, who is set to miss at least a week with a calf injury.

"Willy had a minor injury that saw him leave the field against the Cheetahs. He has done a great job for the team but with the short turnaround this week it was best to rest him," said head coach Filo Tiatia.

"Taulagi has taken every opportunity presented, and this will be another for him to take the bull by the horns so to speak."

...

"The team performance against the Cheetahs was another great improvement for the group. We have been trying to get better every week and Saturday's game was a good indicator of that," he said.

"We have had to focus on getting the guys ready quickly and the players are genuinely excited. You never forget a game at Loftus against the Bulls and this week will be no exception."

Rio Olympian Yo****aka Tokunaga is included in the squad and will win his first Super Rugby cap if he comes off the bench.

...

Starting XV:

Koki Yamamoto, Yusuke Niwai, Yasuo Yamaji, Sam Wykes, Uwe Helu, Ed Quirk, Shuhei Matsuhashi, Willie Britz, Keisuke Uchida, Hayden Cripps, Kenki Fukuoka, Timothy Lafaele, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi, Takaaki Nakazuru, Shota Emi.

Bench:

Atsushi Sakate, Masataka Mikami, Heiichiro Ito, Liaki Moli, Yo****aka Tokunaga, Kaito Shigeno, Jumpei Ogura, Ryohei Yamanaka.

I wonder whether they will give Jumpei Ogura a go at Super Rugby this time around. Sunwolves did pair up a good centre choice, but these two have never played together in that combination. This game will be won at the scrums, Bulls better live up to their reputation.