Super Rugby 2017

[DWPTA]

I'll take that as a win because of that first half travesty ..... and wish the Lions the worst. Karma is a SOB.

Boo F U C K I N G hoo. Now how do you think us supporters felt with the Jagaugeres game? Move on this is not the last time the guppies will be done in, or for any other team, by the ref.

Get a life I can also say Kobus van Wyk is a P O E S, what a S H I T T Y ego.

 

[DWPTA]

PS. Yes the guppies was robbed, but that is how the cookie crumble

 

[faniebraai]

I'll take that as a win because of that first half travesty ..... and wish the Lions the worst. Karma is a SOB.

What.the.actual.fukk?

The ref fukks up and you blame the Lions? What moronic comment!

Dude, they say Bulls supporters are bad, but you are in a league of your own.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Monstrous performance by the Crusaders. Waratahs didn't play badly at all, with a couple of new players putting their hands up, too.

Last 20 the 'Saders are tough as nails. They become the first team to win 10 games in a row against Aussie competition.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/bulls-want-kiwi-consultant

Bulls want Kiwi consultant

The Bulls hope to hire a New Zealand coaching consultant to help turn their season around.

The Pretoria-based franchise has had a nightmare start to the Super Rugby tournament, losing four of their five matches. Their only win was an unconvincing one against the worst team in the competition, the Sunwolves, at Loftus.

According to Rapport newspaper, Wayne Smith, Dave Rennie, Graham Henry and Tony Brown have been targeted by the Bulls, with the hope that one of them will agree to assist under-fire Bulls coach Nollis Marais.

Rapport's source said the Bulls wanted 'someone who is currently part of the inner workings of New Zealand rugby'. The source added that the Bulls still believed they were on the right track, but needed something to help make them click.

Wayne Smith has an opportunity to win another RWC, Dave Rennie has a cushy landing at Glasgow with much potential and Tony Brown is signed with Japan until they conclude with the RWC. Graham Henry, maybe… I doubt it. The Bulls, iirc, has the largest coaching team. They are reaching at the moment.

 

[DanDango]

Taqele Naiyaravoro - BEAST MODE! | Waratahs vs. Crusaders (Super Rugby 2017)

[video=youtube;C0aoJQPuqjY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0aoJQPuqjY[/video]

:crylaugh:

 

[faniebraai]

Taqele Naiyaravoro - BEAST MODE! | Waratahs vs. Crusaders (Super Rugby 2017)

[video=youtube;C0aoJQPuqjY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0aoJQPuqjY[/video]

:crylaugh:

LOL and that children is why you are taught to tackle around the legs!

 

[Fulcrum29]

LOL and that children is why you are taught to tackle around the legs!

How do you tackle a bus around the legs?

[video=youtube;u2c9ioqVLfE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2c9ioqVLfE[/video]

 

[DWPTA]

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/bulls-want-kiwi-consultant



Wayne Smith has an opportunity to win another RWC, Dave Rennie has a cushy landing at Glasgow with much potential and Tony Brown is signed with Japan until they conclude with the RWC. Graham Henry, maybe… I doubt it. The Bulls, iirc, has the largest coaching team. They are reaching at the moment.

The news is that they don't have they money either to appoint a foreign consultant

 

[Fulcrum29]

The news is that they don't have they money either to appoint a foreign consultant

Snorre and Meyer will make a lekker co-op head coach. The one claims to know how to beat the All Blacks and other is an expert on the new enterprising game. Keep it local.

 

[DWPTA]

Snorre and Meyer will make a lekker co-op head coach. The one claims to know how to beat the All Blacks and other is an expert on the new enterprising game. Keep it local.

Totally agree, but what I can say is that it's not currently a happy place to be, Loftus. It's going to take a few years to solve the problems there.

 

[DanDango]

Bulls turned to AB de Villiers for help

Pretoria - It has been a tough old season for the Bulls, with just one win from five to show for their Super Rugby efforts so far.

The draw has not been kind - they have played only one match at Loftus this season, which they won - but the Bulls find themselves a massive 17 points behind the Stormers in Africa Conference 1.

It has placed coach Nollis Marais under some increased pressure, and the Bulls have now confirmed that they have been using and will continue to make use of a number of independent consultants.

One of those includes Proteas ODI captain AB de Villiers, who has already been involved at Loftus when he met with Marais and high performance manager Xander Janse van Rensburg to chat about building a team culture.

"We have used various consultants where needed and upon request from our coaching staff," Bulls CEO Barend van Graan said.

"This is nothing new and our head coach and high performance manager has initiated a number of visits by consultants to advise and assist."

Other consultants to have worked with the Bulls this season include Springbok assistant coaches Johann van Graan and Matthew Proudfoot as well as team culture expert Owen Eastwood, who has also worked with the Proteas in the past.

The Bulls, looking to play a more attack-minded brand of rugby, also called on New Zealand coaches Wayne Smith and Dave Rennie, who have had "information sessions" with the current coaching staff.

The Bulls are next in action when they travel to Tokyo this weekend for a date with the Sunwolves.

:crylaugh:

 

[Agent_Smith]

From Supersport.com

Kiwi centre joins the Stormers


The DHL Stormers have found the protection they were looking for in the midfield in the form of experienced New Zealand centre Shaun Treeby.

Coach Robbie Fleck said a week ago that the Stormers would be looking for outside reinforcement to the midfield following a crippling spate of injuries in that position. Since the start of the year the Stormers have lost three international centres in the form of Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh and Huw Jones to long-term injuries.

In their absence the young players have excelled, with EW Viljoen being a complete revelation at outside centre. Viljoen is just 21, and Dan du Plessis, the man who played inside centre against the Toyota Cheetahs at the weekend, is a year younger, while Dan Kriel, recruited from the Bulls, has also done well when selected.

However, as Fleck explained last week, the Stormers are just one injury away from a midfield crisis, which was why the decision was taken to recruit from outside. Fleck said last week that he would be looking overseas, and it turns out that Treeby, who amassed more than 50 Super Rugby caps with the Highlanders, was the man in the sights of Fleck and Western Province director of rugby Gert Smal.

“Having lost Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh and Huw Jones to injury this year we needed some experience in the midfield and I am sure Shaun will have a positive impact here in his time with us,” said Smal.

Treeby has been engaged on a short-term contract and will be with the Stormers for the next four months, which means effectively until the end of the Super Rugby season.

 

[Fulcrum29]

At least the Bulls have an opportunity to add a second win to their log standing. I have an idea that the Sunwolves will stick to this season’s regulars, though they have an expanded Tokyo squad it looks like the ‘better’ players will still be resting due to being overplayed. I guess more or less the same team that toured SA, hoping to see them at least include Yuki Yatomi, but Yu Tamaru and Harumichi Tatekawa have been training since last week. The squad also packs new loosies which may or may not debut, many being in the top rated Top League players base which they desperately need now to ensure continuity in the carries because the bench is lacking when they rotate. The Sunwolves are currently only good enough to play 50 competitive minutes.

 

[Agent_Smith]

At least the Bulls have an opportunity to add a second win to their log standing. I have an idea that the Sunwolves will stick to this season’s regulars, though they have an expanded Tokyo squad it looks like the ‘better’ players will still be resting due to being overplayed. I guess more or less the same team that toured SA, hoping to see them at least include Yuki Yatomi, but Yu Tamaru and Harumichi Tatekawa have been training since last week. The squad also packs new loosies which may or may not debut, many being in the top rated Top League players base which they desperately need now to ensure continuity in the carries because the bench is lacking when they rotate. The Sunwolves are currently only good enough to play 50 competitive minutes.

Going to be touch and go. Two injuries to key players (Arno Botha & Ruan Steenkamp) have hit them hard. The Sunwolves were competitive against the Stormers so I'm sure they'll fancy their chances. Really don't want to make the call for the MyBB comp

 

[Fulcrum29]

Going to be touch and go. Two injuries to key players (Arno Botha & Ruan Steenkamp) have hit them hard. The Sunwolves were competitive against the Stormers so I'm sure they'll fancy their chances. Really don't want to make the call for the MyBB comp

The Bulls will do what they did at home against the Sunwolves, play Jakeball, old school domination. I won’t be surprised to see the Sunwolves pack big in return. They have some big boys in the squad, though inexperienced, these three are currently training in Tokyo,

FL - Uwe HELU
YAMAHA Jubilo
1990/7/12
193cm/115kg

No. 8 - Malgene ILAUA
TOSHIBA Brave Lupus
1993/6/5
187cm/105kg

No. 8 - Rahboni WARREN VOSAYACO
NTT Communications Shining Arcs
1995/9/28
190cm/108kg

Tongans strike back.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Treeby? Interesting one. He's been pretty solid at the Highlanders.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Oh jeez, had forgotten about this oke! Might just make me rethink picking a winner for this match. Sigh, gonna be one of *those* weekends again...

ALL BLACKS STAR SONNY BILL WILLIAMS COULD MAKE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE FOR THE BLUES AGAINST THE HIGHLANDERS IN DUNEDIN ON SATURDAY.

The 31-year-old has been out of action since picking up a bad Achilles injury while playing for New Zealand Sevens at last year's Rio Olympics in August.

"It's looking good," Blues coach Tana Umaga told Veitch on Sport.

"He has been training with us, and it's how he feels after he trains.

"If he can get many days where he feels good after training, then that's the process we're going through at the moment, where he's pain-free after one training, and then he can get through a whole week of training.

"It's good [for him] to be back, but it's hard to say whether it's this weekend, next weekend or after the bye."

Loose forward Steven Luatua could also feature against the Highlanders as he has served his four-week suspension.

Meanwhile, the Auckland-based side will be without flyhalf Ihaia West for the match in Dunedin.

West injured his ankle in the scrappy win over the Western Force in Round Six and could be out for a month.

From Rugby365.com

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/struggling-bulls-struck-by-injuries-20170404

Struggling Bulls struck by injuries

Cape Town - The Bulls have suffered a number of injury setbacks following their loss to the Chiefs in New Zealand, with four players unable to continue to Japan, where the Pretoria-based franchise will take on the Sunwolves on Friday.

Conrad van Vuuren, who joined the squad in Hamilton following a hamstring injury sustained to John-Roy Jenkinson after the opening tour match against the Blues in Albany, injured his ankle in training and will return home. He will be replaced by Martin Dreyer.

Arno Botha, who started against the Chiefs on Saturday in place of injured Hanro Liebenberg, is out with a knee injury and will be replaced by Jacques Potgieter, who missed the tour due to concussion. Liebenberg is expected to be fit for the match against the Sunwolves.

Flank Ruan Steenkamp has picked up ear and knee injuries and will be replaced by Franco Naude, a midfielder. Dries Swanepoel (centre) was earlier replaced by flyhalf Francois Brummer.

Scrumhalf Piet van Zyl, meanwhile, is also returning home due to a lower back injury. Ivan van Zyl will replace him.

The Bulls have won just one of their five Super Rugby matches so far this season, though that win against the Sunwolves was also the only match they have played at Loftus in 2017.

The Sunwolves, meanwhile, have lost five out of five.

Last week the Sunwolves stated that Britz, Quirk, a prop or two and a winger, don’t know which, is also out. They had the bye, so maybe they are back, don't know.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/petition-launched-to-save-cheetahs-20170404

Petition launched to save Cheetahs

Cape Town - Nervy supporters of the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs have set up an online petition to help the franchise retain its Super Rugby status.

Several media reports have indicated that the southern hemisphere competition will be reduced from 18 to 15 teams from next year.

This proposed model sees the Jaguares and Sunwolves retained, with Australia dropping one team and South Africa losing two.

From a South African perspective, the Cheetahs and Southern Kings are likely to be the unlucky ones to go.

Bloemfontein radio station, OFM - a media partner of the Cheetahs - has taken action by setting up a petition for Cheetahs fans to vote to keep their team in Super Rugby.

A post on the radio station’s website reads: “For the Cheetahs it’s a fight for survival and in Central South Africa we have a duty to keep the team in the competition, especially, seeing that the region is breeding ground of Springbok rugby. The pressure is on the team to perform on the field and spate of injuries to key players has made the task that much harder, with just two wins in their five games to date.

“It is also up to the supporters to start backing their team they claimed unwavering loyal to and start turning up in droves to the home match, seeing that the lack of support could be a determining factor. Show your unwavering support for the Cheetahs by signing the petition.”

OFM also claims that SA Rugby will make a ruling on Thursday (April 6) on which South African franchises will be cut from Super Rugby.

Petition -> https://www.ofm.co.za/Pages/Cheetah-Petition