Super Rugby 2017

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/paulse-you-can-never-go-wrong-with-a-kiwi-but-20170404

Paulse: You can never go wrong with a Kiwi, but...

Cape Town - Former Springbok and Stormers wing Breyton Paulse has shared his thoughts after his former side contracted a New Zealand player.

The Stormers on Monday signed New Zealand centre Shaun Treeby on a short-term contract as injury cover in midfield.

Paulse shared his thoughts on Twitter, hinting that the best option for South African rugby would have been to invest in a local player.

He did, however, acknowledge that the New Zealander should prove to be a class act in Cape Town

Responding to a fan’s question on Twitter, Paulse said:“You can never go wrong with a Kiwi, but I like developing local talent, just my opinion.”

They must take into consideration that Treeby is replacing Huw Jones on a short notice, and Jones is not local talent anymore. Treeby may also contribute to the larger vision that Paul Feeney have in mind to develop the Stormers attack, more a role model I may say.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Sunwolves named:

01. Koki Yamamoto (Yamaha Júbilo)
02. Yusuke Niwai (Canon Eagles)
03. Yasuo Yamaji (Canon Eagles)*
04. Liaki Moli
05. Uwe Helu (Yamaha Júbilo)*
06. Yo****aka Tokunaga (Toshiba Brave Lupus)*
07. Shuhei Matsuhashi (Ricoh Black Rams)*
08. Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco (NTT Communications Shining Arcs)*
09. Fumiaki Tanaka (Panasonic Wild Knights)*
10. Hayden Cripps (Hino Red Dolphins)*
11. Kenki Fukuoka (Panasonic Wild Knights)
12. Derek Carpenter (Suntory Sungoliath)
13. Timothy Lafaele (Coca-Cola Red Sparks)
14. Takaaki Nakazuru (Suntory Sungoliath)*
15. Kotaro Matsushima (Suntory Sungoliath)*

16. Takeshi Kizu (Kobe Steelers)*
17. Keita Inagaki (Panasonic Wild Knights)*
18. Heiichiro Ito (Yamaha Júbilo)*
19. Sam Wykes (Coca-Cola Red Sparks)*
20. Shunsuke Nunomaki (Panasonic Wild Knights)*
21. Yuki Yatomi (Yamaha Júbilo)*
22. Yu Tamura (Canon Eagles)*
23. Ryohei Yamanaka (Kobelco Steelers)

Sunwolves made 9 changes to the starting XV and 7 to the bench. Welcoming back Yu Tamura and Yuki Yatomi to the 2017 Super Rugby season. There are debuts in this team, some say Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco is the next Amanaki. I also updated the player's clubs as Hayden Cripps and Yu Tamara moved to new clubs.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2017/04/467387.html

Rugby: Sunwolves forced to make numerous changes ahead of Bulls clash

Timothy Lafaele will lead the Sunwolves against the Bulls on Saturday as Filo Tiatia's side return from a bye week to continue their search for their first Super Rugby win of the season.

The starting XV named Thursday shows nine changes from the side that lost 44-31 to the Stormers in Singapore two weeks ago, with Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco and Kotaro Matsushima set to make their Sunwolves debuts.

There are also a number of changes to the bench, which includes another potential debutant in Shunsuke Nunomaki.

"The team sees some changes across the field and I am delighted to name Timothy Lafaele as the game captain of the Sunwolves for this Saturday. Tim has grown into his leadership role and is well deserved of his place," Tiatia said.

I would have expected Tanaka to be named the captain, also questioned why they have named Quirk as the season’s captain. Why not keep the captaincy Japanese? Anyway, the entire Sunwolves backrow is new. The only thing that is back in place here are their props. They will scrum the Bulls, but they will be troubled in the lineouts and other set pieces.

The Bulls to take it with 2 scores at minimum, but I’m sticking to my picks as there is no point in changing it.

 

[Fulcrum29]

The Bulls is not exactly a weak team,

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/bulls-without-pollard-de-jager-for-sunwolves-20170406

Bulls without Pollard, De Jager for Sunwolves

Cape Town - Tian Schoeman and Jannes Kirsten will get their first starts of the Super Rugby season when the Bulls take on the Sunwolves in a Super Rugby clash in Tokyo on Saturday.

...

Bulls

15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Nic de Jager, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Lizo Gqoboko.

Substitutes: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Martin Dreyer, 19 Jaco Visagie/Hendré Stassen, 20 Jacques Potgieter, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Francois Brummer, 23 Franco Naude

 

[Fulcrum29]

Frans Ludeke is going to do the Bulls commentary in Japan.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...per-rugby-clash-against-stormers-in-cape-town

Prop Sosefo Kautai set to debut for Chiefs in Super Rugby clash against Stormers in Cape Town

The Chiefs will roll out their biggest piece of artillery in this weekend's clash against the Stormers in Cape Town, with hulking prop Sosefo Kautai set to make his Super Rugby debut.

The 20-year-old, who tips the scales at 133kg - the biggest in the Chiefs' squad - has been named on the bench for the match at Newlands.

First-choice tighthead Nepo Laulala was ruled out of the three-week overseas trek due to concussion suffered in the last-up win over the Bulls in Hamilton last Saturday night, so Atu Moli gets the No 3 jersey, with Kautai to back him up.

Kautai, a former Auckland age-group rep, transitioned to Waikato at under-19 level, debuted for the Mooloos last year, has represented New Zealand Under-20s, and earned a Super Rugby contract, with his size being a key attribute.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/two-changes-to-stormers-starting-xv-20170406

Two changes to Stormers starting XV

Cape Town - Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has made two changes to his starting line-up for their Super Rugby clash with the Chiefs at Newlands on Saturday (17:15 kick-off).

Scrumhalf Jano Vermaak has been ruled out after leaving the field with concussion in the 53-10 victory over Cheetahs at Newlands last week. He is replaced by the experienced Dewaldt Duvenage, with Justin Phillips providing cover on the bench.

The only change to the forward pack sees a fit-again Wilco Louw take his place at tighthead prop alongside hooker Bongi Mbonambi, who earns his 50th Super Rugby cap.

...

Teams:

Stormers

15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Cobus Wiese, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth (vice-captain), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Substitutes: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Dan Kriel

Chiefs

15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Stephen Donald, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Kane Hames

Substitutes: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Mitchell Brown, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Sam McNicol, 23 Shaun Stevenson

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Wonder how the Stormers/Chiefs game is going to pan out this time round. Last time they met was in the QF last year at Newlands where the Chiefs hammered them 60-21. Stormers looking better this year, though.

 

[faniebraai]

Wonder how the Stormers/Chiefs game is going to pan out this time round. Last time they met was in the QF last year at Newlands where the Chiefs hammered them 60-21. Stormers looking better this year, though.

Has the Stormers been challenged yet?

Bulls
Jaguares
Kings
Sunwolves
Cheetahs


.... I think not.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I will not be surprised to see the Australian rugby community blame this game on SANZAAR's 'indecisiveness' on the Australian cut. The Tahs is playing poor rugby today, that is it.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Has the Stormers been challenged yet?

Bulls
Jaguares
Kings
Sunwolves
Cheetahs


.... I think not.

They may be unchallenged, but they are scoring tries left, right and centre. It was not that long ago when they were mocked, by everyone, for being unable to add scores to their tally.

 

[faniebraai]

They may be unchallenged, but they are scoring tries left, right and centre. It was not that long ago when they were mocked, by everyone, for being unable to add scores to their tally.

Easy to score tries against weak opposition... I'm not saying they will definitely lose, i'm just saying i have doubt, and don't trust that winning streak as a true reflection... they struggled big time against the sunwolves for example.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Easy to score tries against weak opposition... I'm not saying they will definitely lose, i'm just saying i have doubt, and don't trust that winning streak as a true reflection... they struggled big time against the sunwolves for example.

Definitely going to be tough but I think what the Stormers have going for them is the Chiefs aren't an unknown quantity. Last year's QF humiliation will be fresh in their minds and they will be far more prepared than they were then.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Definitely going to be tough but I think what the Stormers have going for them is the Chiefs aren't an unknown quantity. Last year's QF humiliation will be fresh in their minds and they will be far more prepared than they were then.

The other thing about the Stormers last year was that they didn't play any Kiwi opposition before facing the Chiefs in the QF...

On the current game... Tahs struggling to contain the Hurricanes.

 

[faniebraai]

The other thing about the Stormers last year was that they didn't play any Kiwi opposition before facing the Chiefs in the QF...

And this is their first kiwi side of the season. Going to be tough

 

[Agent_Smith]

[TOUCH WOOD]

Let's also not forget that the Chiefs haven't exactly set the world alight yet. The Bulls were able to break their lines regularly but the Chiefs were able to scramble in defense really well which saved them. If the Stormers can keep their defensive structures intact, then they have the game breakers to open that Chiefs defense up.

[/TOUCH WOOD]

 

[Fulcrum29]

Easy to score tries against weak opposition... I'm not saying they will definitely lose, i'm just saying i have doubt, and don't trust that winning streak as a true reflection... they struggled big time against the sunwolves for example.

I don’t think the Bulls are weak, they do however have a team culture issue. The same applies to the Sunwolves, and that they are continually testing combinations. The Kings are weak. The Cheetahs are competitive, but their small squad is narrow on the depth and they are reaching now. The Jaguares are the most improved team this season, and is likely to continue this way.

The Stormers, they are also reaching deep into their depth, and are still able to produce the desired results. Winning is motivational, and contributes positively. I doubt that they are ensured a victory tomorrow and will be tested, but they need the exposure. Win or lose, tomorrow, it will point out to Paul Feeney where to address the attack, be ever improving.

I will say this, it is essential to beat the ‘weaker’ teams, they are the insurance to beat the log. Don't underestimate them, also don’t lose your attention.

 

[Fulcrum29]

On the current game... Tahs struggling to contain the Hurricanes.

They came back, it seems to be a thing with the Tahs this year. Struggle the 1st 40min and then gradually work back into the game.

 

[Fulcrum29]

The Sunwolves are rallying up local support, should be a packed stadium in Chichibunomiya, seeing the Cherry Blossoms to attend in supporting their Super Rugby team.

Quirk has been cleared, but is still sitting out, and will be touring to New Zealand. Shota Emi, 4-6 weeks on recuperation, losing the best thing which ever came their way. They have Ataata Moeakiola to replace Emi, but still inexperienced.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Seeing the weather at Chichibunomiya tomorrow, windy and rainy. The Bulls may capitalise on this, enterprising games tend to go awry under these conditions. Stampkar rugby, this is what I am expecting the Bulls to pull out tomorrow.