Super Rugby 2017

OT - Currie Cup:

http://www.heraldlive.co.za/sport/2016/11/29/new-plan-may-oust-ep-kings/

New plan may oust EP Kings

Proposal to trim Currie Cup Premier Division to six teams up for discussion

Plans for a new strength versus strength Currie Cup Premier Division next season could leave the EP Kings sitting on the sidelines and relegated to the First Division. SA Rugby Union (Saru) bosses will gather in Cape Town on December 9 and one of the main items on the agenda is a proposal to slash the size of the Premier Division from nine to six teams next year.

With the national team struggling, there is a concerted move to make the Premier Division more appealing to fans and sponsors.

It is known that new Saru boss Mark Alexander is keen to boost the image of the game and a more competitive Currie Cup would be a major move forward.

Insiders say that if a revamp is successful, the Kings will no longer be guaranteed a berth in the Premier Division despite being the home of a Super Rugby franchise, as was the case last season.

The lack of Premier Division status would severely hamper efforts to create player and coaching continuity between the EP Kings and Southern Kings.

...

There is talk that next year’s Premier Division will comprise the six best-placed teams in last season’s competition. That would leave the Cheetahs, Bulls, Golden Lions, Western Province, the Sharks and Griquas fighting for the coveted trophy.

Insiders say a plan for a seven-team league might also be mooted, which would see Boland included.

It is believed the proposal would like to see the winners of the First Division playing against the bottom team in the Premier Division in a promotion/relegation match at the end of the season.

There are no plans to tamper with the Currie Cup provincial competition, which is played before the Currie Cup.

This will serve the same purpose as the old Vodacom Cup and will include all 14 provincial unions and the Namibian Welwitschias.
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Fulcrum29 said:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/38137115
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Good news from a Stormers perspective. Assuming DDA can recapture his old form, he and Jones could form a lethal midfield combination.

As for Kolbe going or staying, I'm nonplussed. I'll admit, I never took to him like I did Gio Aplon. That oke sent a frisson of excitement up my spine every time he got the ball. Kolbe, less so.
 
Agent_Smith said:
Good news from a Stormers perspective. Assuming DDA can recapture his old form, he and Jones could form a lethal midfield combination.

As for Kolbe going or staying, I'm nonplussed. I'll admit, I never took to him like I did Gio Aplon. That oke sent a frisson of excitement up my spine every time he got the ball. Kolbe, less so.
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Kolbe is like Ben Tune.... only a favourite to the commentators.
 
Agent_Smith said:
Good news from a Stormers perspective. Assuming DDA can recapture his old form, he and Jones could form a lethal midfield combination.

As for Kolbe going or staying, I'm nonplussed. I'll admit, I never took to him like I did Gio Aplon. That oke sent a frisson of excitement up my spine every time he got the ball. Kolbe, less so.
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Kolbe is playing in the wrong position, he is an unsuitable player at the back and would do better as an scrummie as with his supporting role in rugby sevens.

I have to agree with Aplon, he even continued to capture the French people’s hearts.

There is really something wrong at WPRU, seeing how everyone dismissed Schalk he turned out to be an HUGE contribution to the Saracens. Likewise, with Vermeulen… the guys are more motivated playing overseas than here. There are many ‘WP’ players, abroad, to be mentioned.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
There is really something wrong at WPRU, seeing how everyone dismissed Schalk he turned out to be an HUGE contribution to the Saracens. Likewise, with Vermeulen… the guys are more motivated playing overseas than here. There are many ‘WP’ players, abroad, to be mentioned.
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Sam-teng that's wrong at the boks? No team spirit? No proper culture?
 
faniedry said:
Sam-teng that's wrong at the boks? No team spirit? No proper culture?
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True, but with the liquidation at WPRU it will not be helping the Union or the players in that regard, but I hope that it is a move so that they may be rescued by Remgro. Privatise WPRU and you will see them rise to power, like the olden days. This Aerios case is BS imho, too many things are not adding up, especially with one company having so much control over Union income streams. They are involved with the Sharks as well... and SARU.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
Wait, what now, this one?

[video=youtube;6xkRx3maQ6o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xkRx3maQ6o[/video]
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That's the guy... whenever you watched Aus play, and when the ball reached Ben Tune, the commentator would go "TUNE!", and the promptly get tackled by the man right in front of him. Same goes for Kolbe. :D
 
faniedry said:
That's the guy... whenever you watched Aus play, and when the ball reached Ben Tune, the commentator would go "TUNE!", and the promptly get tackled by the man right in front of him. Same goes for Kolbe. :D
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watch the first 5 seconds of this one, that's what it sounded like, every. damn. time.

[video=youtube;JjJRPrOmQ14]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjJRPrOmQ14[/video]
 
Rumour has it that the Sunwolves squad will be announced on the 12th December, 2 months earlier than they were announced in their inaugural year. They wrap up the Top League season in early February meaning that many players will not have rested since they started with their Super Rugby campaign.

It will be interesting to see the team selection; how many non-Top League players will return to the Sunwolves, their depth as opposed to last year’s non-existent depth and how many Cherry Blossoms will be named?

The Panasonic Wild Knights are playing in the Brisbane Tens, hoping to see the better quality Japanese players making their way to Super Rugby.

Interesting though, I heard that the Sunwolves wages are paid by the Top League, and not by the JRFU. Not only that, but their budget is very limited. Not sure whether this is the truth…

In my opinion a special provision must be made as the Japanese do not have any breaks between the International tests window, Super Rugby and Top League. They need a larger squad, double the size to play on the rotation, but the larger issue is to cater to these needs as it will up the wages.

Good luck Filo Tiatia.
 
Just call it Super-farce, because that's what it is atm.
All the unions just chasing the $$$, while our teams get weaker and weaker.

Even the All Blacks want SA rugby to be strong, you want to test yourself against the best.
Here's a clip where Joel Stransky (yes yes, I hate him too) talking to the guys on "Tight 5"
This little bit from Joel really surprised me :wtf: I'm actually seeing him in a different light now.

Start from 3:15 to hear what he says about Super-boring-rugby, actually watch the whole darn thing. It' was post match Italy :crylaugh:

[video=youtube_share;gIzwc8HlOGE]https://youtu.be/gIzwc8HlOGE?t=3m15s[/video]
 
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Fulcrum29 said:
Lol, have you heard Owen's commentary on Saturday, "Uys!", "Uys!"

Wie de f**? Francois Venter.
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His commentary is horrible. He says the player's name and surname, every damn time.

And his favourite phrase "good exit strategy"
 
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