Super Rugby 2017

[faniebraai]

Watching the Kings highlights, wtf Kings 13 trying to tackle Tahs 13 for their 2nd try.
:crylaugh: :crylaugh:

 

[Fulcrum29]

erm ja, 5 wins from 8 and 1 draw with a new coach, huge upward curve from the Gold disaster. Minus tonight, as long as there's gradual improvement, I don't know why you're even mentioning them or even the Breezers for that matter. Teams will stumble, either through bad planning or rebuilding, whatever.

Better win the Kings in round 12 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, they had a close call in round 4. Btw, discipline is not due to bad planning or rebuilding, it is character.

 

[greg0205]

Dear NZ rugby.

The games between Australian and South African Super Rugby teams for the weekend of 21 -22 April, 2017 were subject to be a bet between the ARU and SARU. The bet was to see who could deliver the worst possible result. The NZRU was not informed of this wager as we know you chaps have no sense of humor.
Many of you, we assume, tuned in to watch actual rugby, only to be met by game after game of our boys doing their best clown impersonations. For this we apologise. We also commit to letting you know when we plan to do this in future in order not to impact on your rugby fans missing out on a walk in the park, a nice meal or the latest cinema release.
In case you were wondering, Australia won the bet. The Kings let South Africa down by beating the Waratahs by two points. A representative from SARU will be delivering a bag of Fruit Chutney chips to the ARU as their prize in due course.

Again, our sincerest apologies.

Kind regards
South African and Australian rugby fans everywhere.

 

[faniebraai]

Dear NZ rugby.

The games between Australian and South African Super Rugby teams for the weekend of 21 -22 April, 2017 were subject to be a bet between the ARU and SARU. The bet was to see who could deliver the worst possible result. The NZRU was not informed of this wager as we know you chaps have no sense of humor.
Many of you, we assume, tuned in to watch actual rugby, only to be met by game after game of our boys doing their best clown impersonations. For this we apologise. We also commit to letting you know when we plan to do this in future in order not to impact on your rugby fans missing out on a walk in the park, a nice meal or the latest cinema release.
In case you were wondering, Australia won the bet. The Kings let South Africa down by beating the Waratahs by two points. A representative from SARU will be delivering a bag of Fruit Chutney chips to the ARU as their prize in due course.

Again, our sincerest apologies.

Kind regards
South African and Australian rugby fans everywhere.

Haha wtf

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Better win the Kings in round 12 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, they had a close call in round 4. Btw, discipline is not due to bad planning or rebuilding, it is character.

close calls mean nothing in stats ..... 5 wins and a draw for a building phase team = nowhere close to the dregs teams of SA. And that's me saying that while still beyond highly pyssed at the shocker tonight.

 

[Agent_Smith]

At least The Stormers can take solace from the fact that they weren't the worst performing SA team this weekend. Scant consolation sure, but The Sharks soundly beat them to that honour...

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Coach being blunt and brutal as fark in post match stream. Good, now apply it to giving serial offenders the chop ffs. As for a drubbing being better than a draw ........ ok

 

[Agent_Smith]

Coach being blunt and brutal as fark in post match stream. Good, now apply it to giving serial offenders the chop ffs. As for a drubbing being better than a draw ........ ok

Well your loathing for the Stormers is well documented, so naturally you'll see it that way. The fact is, they were never going to beat the Crusaders at home. The Sharks on the other hand should have had no issue in overcoming The Rebels.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

haha, well documented loathing, phew, big words tonight

 

[Fulcrum29]

close calls mean nothing in stats ..... 5 wins and a draw for a building phase team = nowhere close to the dregs teams of SA. And that's me saying that while still beyond highly pyssed at the shocker tonight.

Because you have a new coach the Sharks are on the rebuild? Perhaps a new plan, yes. The Kings, they are on a rebuild. In a competition like this, it is about securing your home games and to be competitive on tour – the test aspect.

I do agree, the Sharks are in a good place with 9 rounds (incl. byes) to go.

Current standings:

04 - Lions
P – 8 | W – 7 | L – 1 | D – 0 | PF – 280 | PA – 196 | PD – +84 | BT – 4 | BL – 0 | PTS - 32

05 - Stormers
P – 8 | W – 6 | L – 2 | D – 0 | PF – 281 | PA – 212 | PD – +69 | BT – 2 | BL – 0 | PTS - 26

06 - Sharks
P – 8 | W – 5 | L – 2 | D – 1 | PF – 203 | PA – 167 | PD – +36 | BT – 0 | BL – 2 | PTS - 24

11 - Bulls
P – 8 | W – 3 | L – 5 | D – 0 | PF – 178 | PA – 206 | PD – -28 | BT – 0 | BL – 2 | PTS - 14

12 - Kings
P – 8 | W – 2 | L – 6 | D – 0 | PF – 210 | PA – 281 | PD – -71 | BT – 0 | BL – 2 | PTS - 10

13 - Cheetahs
P – 8 | W – 2 | L – 6 | D – 0 | PF – 192 | PA – 280 | PD – -88 | BT – 0 | BL – 2 | PTS - 10

Considering that the highest ranking Australian team is ranked at 10th,

10 - Brumbies
P – 8 | W – 3 | L – 5 | D – 0 | PF – 182 | PA – 176 | PD – +06 | BT – 1 | BL – 4 | PTS – 17

Remembering well how the Stormers was belittled not playing any New Zealand opposition in 2016, I must say that the Sharks need to work on scoring points.

 

[sand_man]

Bros interview of the losing captain? Haha. Cringe worthy. That was the highlight of the match for me. That and the final whistle. Fck, it was a terrible game. Sharks are so much better than that. They've been a little inconsistent with their intensity week to week. 3 weeks ago they destroyed the Lions pack at the Park. This week they got man handled at the breakdowns by a Super 18 contender for bottom 3? Wtf man!

Anyway.... Expect further disruptions to their preparations going forward after Andre gets another 4 week sanction for his slam dunk. Personally I didnt think it was more than a yellow.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I couldn’t agree more,

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Supe...for-etzebeth-to-ditch-the-sideshow-20170423-2

Side Entry: Time for Etzebeth to ditch the sideshow

Johannesburg - It was a depressingly familiar sight for anyone who has marvelled at the sheer physical specimen that is Eben Etzebeth. There he was, the player with the biggest biceps in world rugby, flexing his “enforcer” muscles in the Stormers’ Super Rugby game against the Lions.

Last year, it was Lood de Jager with whom he got into a needless tiff. Last weekend, it was young Ruan Ackermann who got the treatment.

As a wannabe bruiser, no one can blame young Ackers for seeking a tête-à-tête with supposedly the toughest breker doing the rounds, but isn’t Etzebeth tired of the crazy-eyed routine, which almost always sees him pursue every off-the-ball incident?

When the dust had settled in the clash between South Africa’s two best sides in the competition, Etzebeth had been outplayed by a workaday Andries Ferreira in a game won by the Lions.

No disrespect to Ferreira, but the rest of us expect more from Etzebeth, a player who has long been touted to potentially be better than the great Bakkies Botha.

Continued

 

[OrbitalDawn]

^ Also read that yesterday and was thinking how accurate it is. Etzebeth doesn't lack in the physicality department but the lock's role has evolved. Bakkies might have got away with just trying to break everything and everyone but that's doesn't work anymore. Locks like Itoje, Retallic, Whitelock, Lawes etc. have adapted their game.

Whitelock seems to have improved even more after taking on captaincy duties at the Crusaders. Already the ABs most capped lock, and will be playing for a couple more years at least, since he's signed to 2020.

 

[Devo1]

Bros interview of the losing captain? Haha. Cringe worthy. That was the highlight of the match for me. That and the final whistle. Fck, it was a terrible game. Sharks are so much better than that. They've been a little inconsistent with their intensity week to week. 3 weeks ago they destroyed the Lions pack at the Park. This week they got man handled at the breakdowns by a Super 18 contender for bottom 3? Wtf man!

Anyway.... Expect further disruptions to their preparations going forward after Andre gets another 4 week sanction for his slam dunk. Personally I didnt think it was more than a yellow.

Just in. He received a 6 week ban!

 

[Fulcrum29]

Shota Emi is recuperated and is expected to group up with the Sunwolves in New Zealand. I guess he will be touring to Argentina then. My expectations may be on track...

 

[sand_man]

Just in. He received a 6 week ban!

Gees, that's rough. Was expecting 4 weeks maximum!!

 

[faniebraai]

Gees, that's rough. Was expecting 4 weeks maximum!!

stupid yes, but stupid deeds deserve stupid bans

 

[Anti-Chris]

Gees, that's rough. Was expecting 4 weeks maximum!!

I dont know, i think he was lucky only to have received 6... It was dangerous, unnecessary and after the whistle was blown and he is a repeat offender. I was expecting 8 weeks

 

[Fulcrum29]

stupid yes, but stupid deeds deserve stupid bans

His history caught up with him,

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/sharks-esterhuizen-hit-with-6-week-ban-20170424

The SANZAAR judicial hearing was held via video conference on Monday and was heard by Michael Heron (chairperson), De Wet Barry and John Langford.

In his finding, Heron ruled: "Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Thembelani Mayosi, the Judicial Committee accepted a guilty plea from the player in respect of Law 10.4(j).

"With respect to sanction the judicial committee deemed the act of foul merited a mid range entry point of 10 weeks. It was deemed to be reckless in nature and placed the opposing player in an extremely dangerous position.

"In regards to aggravating factors, it was noted that the player was suspended for a similar offence in 2015 and subsequently one week was added to the suspension period. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player's excellent conduct throughout the judicial process, his on-field apology to the opposing player, his remorse and his early guilty plea, the foul play review committee reduced the suspension to 6 weeks.

"The player is therefore suspended for 6 weeks.”

 

[zeb]

I'd like to see a change in the citing and banning procedure.
A guilty verdict = a predetermined punishment.
No mitigating factors like tears or good manners should be considered, and there shouldn't be different levels of high tackles, tip tackles, punches etc.
If you're found guilty by the Judicial Committee, your union gets the email/fax/sms that you've been suspended for the predetermined time.
Players will know the consequences of their actions and so will the fans. It'll also end any debate on certain teams or nations getting off lightly when it comes to suspensions.