Super Rugby 2017

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/fleck-to-turn-to-familiar-face-at-no-10-20170515

Fleck to turn to familiar face at No 10?

Cape Town - Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has limited options at flyhalf for Friday's Super Rugby clash against the Blues at Newlands, but one of those comes in the form of a familiar face at Newlands - Joe Pietersen.

The 32-year-old, who represented the Sharks in last year's competition, has been training with the Stormers for most of the 2017 Super Rugby campaign during his new club's (Japan's Kamaishi Seawaves) off-season.

Fleck confirmed on Monday from Cape Town that Pietersen was an option for him at No 10, while wing Dillyn Leyds and Brandon Thomson would also come into the mix.

Thomson has been in decent form for the Western Province SuperSport Rugby Challenge team, but he has now been called up to the Super Rugby squad.

Pietersen played for the Stormers between 2006 and 2010 and then again from 2012 to 2013, and with Robert du Preez, Jean-Luc du Plessis and Kurt Coleman all out injured, Fleck has a tough decision to make at pivot.

Another option would have been Damian Willemse, but he is with the SA U-20 camp currently preparing for this year's World Rugby U-20 Championship in Georgia.

There is some good news on the injury front with Springboks Damian de Allende and Juan de Jongh both fit again and available for selection once more.

 

[faniebraai]

Whoo! Criticism incoming...

Snyman - 4 weeks.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...s-four-week-ban-after-red-against-highlanders



Naholo - 1 week.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...naholo-banned-for-a-week-by-sanzaar-judiciary



I know that the two incidents are unique in nature, and one’s actions are more severe than the other, but Naholo should have received 4 weeks. Inconsistency here. He also has 2 aerial high tackles against his name which is also not necessarily the player’s deliberate action, but is reckless under the law.

Strange, oh well. Snyman should work on his discipline. Young man, should not make it a habit.

Naholo's action is like a split second decision at the last moment, just to bring his shoulder forward, Snyman knew exactly what he was doing.... I would've at least given Naholo a 2 week ban imo

 

[Fulcrum29]

Naholo's action is like a split second decision at the last moment, just to bring his shoulder forward, Snyman knew exactly what he was doing.... I would've at least given Naholo a 2 week ban imo

I agree with you, it is only that Naholo has a record, though it is all similar incidents. Interesting that he had a lawyer to state his early guilty plea, research went into this, may have contributed to the reduced suspension.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Whoo! Criticism incoming...

Snyman - 4 weeks.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...s-four-week-ban-after-red-against-highlanders



Naholo - 1 week.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...naholo-banned-for-a-week-by-sanzaar-judiciary



I know that the two incidents are unique in nature, and one’s actions are more severe than the other, but Naholo should have received 4 weeks. Inconsistency here. He also has 2 aerial high tackles against his name which is also not necessarily the player’s deliberate action, but is reckless under the law.

Strange, oh well. Snyman should work on his discipline. Young man, should not make it a habit.

Naholo's action is like a split second decision at the last moment, just to bring his shoulder forward, Snyman knew exactly what he was doing.... I would've at least given Naholo a 2 week ban imo

Super Wrap putting their tinfoil hats on for this one...

Easy explanation - he's an All Black

We were taken aback when news broke on Tuesday morning that the two red-card culprits from Loftus were given vastly different sanctions.

The Bulls' RG Snyman got four weeks on the sidelines for his illegal ruck clean-out, but the Highlanders' Waisake Naholo copped only one week for his vicious shoulder charge.

The press releases merely stated that in the case of Snyman: "With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks primarily due to the dangerous nature of the act and the direct contact with the opponent's head."

For Naholo they claimed: "With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of two weeks."

On further inquiry the South African representative on the Sanzaar Foul Play Review Committee dismissed us with a cold: "Look carefully at the footage available. Explanation all there."

We looked again. The only difference we can see is that one player is an All Black in need of match fitness before the Lions tour, while the other is not. Feel free to correct us.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Super Wrap putting their tinfoil hats on for this one...

Lol,

The Bulls' RG Snyman got four weeks on the sidelines for his illegal ruck clean-out, but the Highlanders' Waisake Naholo copped only one week for his vicious shoulder charge.

Who is Super Wrap? Seriously. Both actions are deemed illegal, but to state that Snyman merely made an illegal ruck clean-out is ridiculous. Snyman’s intention is clear to shoulder charge into the ruck into an opposing player’s head. Not to mention that he dived into the ruck, no bind whatsoever. The penalties add up, breaking the laws. Super Wrap is sympathising with Snyman.

I am only surprised by Naholo’s hugely reduced suspension due to his record.

 

[faniebraai]

^ I love how they describe Snyman's incident as an "illegal ruck clean-out", but Naholo's as a "vicious shoulder charge" :crylaugh:

 

[faniebraai]

Lol,



Who is Super Wrap? Seriously. Both actions are deemed illegal, but to state that Snyman merely made an illegal ruck clean-out is ridiculous. Snyman’s intention is clear to shoulder charge into the ruck into an opposing player’s head. Not to mention that he dived into the ruck, no bind whatsoever. The penalties add up, breaking the laws. Super Wrap is sympathising with Snyman.

I am only surprised by Naholo’s hugely reduced suspension due to his record.

type slower fool

 

[Fulcrum29]

Oldest man, Hitoshi Ono, in Super Rugby will be returning to the Sunwolves this year to play the Sharks in Singapore. He is coming in as a late replacement. This will be interesting.

 

[faniebraai]

Oldest man, Hitoshi Ono, in Super Rugby will be returning to the Sunwolves this year to play the Sharks in Singapore. He is coming in as a late replacement. This will be interesting.

Is he like mister miagi old?

 

[Fulcrum29]

Is he like mister miagi old?

Not quite, 39. He is nicknamed the Iron Man.

 

[Vrotappel]

Whoo! Criticism incoming...

Snyman - 4 weeks.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...s-four-week-ban-after-red-against-highlanders



Naholo - 1 week.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...naholo-banned-for-a-week-by-sanzaar-judiciary



I know that the two incidents are unique in nature, and one’s actions are more severe than the other, but Naholo should have received 4 weeks. Inconsistency here. He also has 2 aerial high tackles against his name which is also not necessarily the player’s deliberate action, but is reckless under the law.

Strange, oh well. Snyman should work on his discipline. Young man, should not make it a habit.

Wow. NZ getting special treatment again.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Michael Litch is leaving New Zealand. Next year he will be returning to the Japanese national team, but has given his intention to put Super Rugby aside. The man is going on a sabbatical, it is going to be a hard battle to lure the man to the Sunwolves side.

Hmm, I suppose he won't have to play for the Sunwolves if he's playing for Toshiba Brave Lupus. Can just take the sabbatical from Super Rugby specifically.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Hmm, I suppose he won't have to play for the Sunwolves if he's playing for Toshiba Brave Lupus. Can just take the sabbatical from Super Rugby specifically.

Likely, yes. A change which was made to the Sunwolves as the JRFU do not have the money and are currently considering implementing centralised contracts is that the Top League are burdening the costs to have their players play in the Super Rugby competition which is likely to do with exposure.

To take note, the Top League is now abiding to the World Rugby regulations and due to the schedule changes made to bring competitions in sync to cater to the international schedules the Japanese players will have a chance to rest. We will need to see how Leitch will be planning his rugby career. Hendrik Tui’s contract is also expiring this year, and with the Rebels on the chopping block we may also see Amanaki sign with the Sunwolves…

These are 3 big names, but the JRFU do not have the money. I only see them centralise the contracts once they have a stake in SANZAAR which is only likely to be around 2019/2020 pending on whether their brand is ‘lucrative’ enough to stay in the competition. Who knows, maybe the Top League or another third-party will pump money into the Sunwolves. It will also be the only way to sign better players… now they have players like Shota Emi which is European club material, they will need to plan.

Getting back to Leitch, will they retain him as captain or will they groom a new captain? Going with Leitch I will advise to lure him into the Sunwolves squad. The World Cup preparations has begun.

At the end, the Sunwolves will need to win more games this year to make them attractive enough. They did improve, but they need to play 80 minutes.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://english.kyodonews.net/news/2...s-game-to-close-in-on-remarkable-century.html

Rugby: Ono hoping to use Sunwolves' game to close in on remarkable century

Japan rugby legend Hitoshi Ono is the epitome of a team man. The 39-year-old lock has always put his side first and done what his coaches have asked of him, even playing on the wing early in his career.

A fierce competitor, the last thing he would want is for bad luck to befall a teammate. But he also knows his career may be coming to an end, and so Kazuhiko Usami's recent misfortune could just be the opportunity Ono has been waiting for.

Having not appeared for the Sunwolves this season, the Toshiba Brave Lupus veteran was a last-minute call-up to the squad for this weekend's Super Rugby game in Singapore against the Sharks after Usami was injured in training on Tuesday in Tokyo.

And the man more usually referred to as "Kin Chan" is hoping to use the opportunity to kickstart his attempt to become the first Japanese player to represent his country 100 times.

Ono has won 98 caps for Japan to date, having made his debut against South Korea in 2004, and solid performances in the next two weeks could still see him feature in Jamie Joseph's plans for June when the Brave Blossoms play Romania and a two-match series against Ireland.

"Of course, I am thinking about it," he told Kyodo News after the team trained Thursday on the grounds of UWCSEA international school.

"But first I need to play for the Sunwolves so I can have the opportunity to show what I can do."

Despite missing all 10 games to date, Ono said he was fit and ready to go.

"I had a calf strain but have been training on my own with a training menu provided by the Sunwolves and am fully fit," he said following a practice session in which he packed down alongside head coach Filo Tiatia, who is just six years his senior.

"I love playing for a team such as the Sunwolves. The culture of the team was created last year and the new members have all bought into it. We have so many fans and I play for them," he said when asked what motivates him to carry on.

As to whether he would emulate Takeomi Ito who is still playing second division rugby for Kamaishi Seawaves at the age of 46, Ono was, however, cagey.

"There are some people who say I should stop now," he joked before heading to the team bus to begin his final preparations for Saturday's important game.

Seeing that he is on the bench, I hope that he can make an impact.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://english.kyodonews.net/news/2...s-game-to-close-in-on-remarkable-century.html

Rugby: Veterans return to boost Sunwolves ahead of clash with Sharks

There were some familiar faces on show Thursday as the Sunwolves trained on the grounds of UWCSEA international school ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby game against South Africa's Sharks at Singapore National Stadium.

Veteran internationals Harumichi Tatekawa, Shota Horie and Hitoshi Ono have all been recalled to the Super Rugby side, having missed most or all of the season to date.

Tatekawa is back to lead the side from inside center, Horie will start at hooker and 39-year-old lock Ono will bring many years of experience to the bench.

With head coach Filo Tiatia and Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph ever mindful of managing the workload of their charges, the team to play the Sharks shows eight changes from the team that started the 46-39 loss to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires two weeks ago.

"It's got its positives and its negatives," Sunwolves defense coach Ben Herring told Kyodo News when asked about the larger-than-average pool of players the Sunwolves can draw on.

"The positives are you've got fresh pumped up guys coming in to add some vigor. This competition is a real marathon battle. So having those fresh guys come in does provide a lift."

"The flip side is you have to start again from wherever you were as a team on tour and start again from basics."

Tatekawa (knee injury) and Ono (calf strain) will both be playing their first games of the season for the franchise, while Horie (rest) has not played since March 4.

…

"The biggest lesson we learnt is that we can actually win those games," Herring said. "The disappointment after the Jaguares win was palpable. I was really gutted. Improving every game on the New Zealand tour and then losing a game we should have won was really disappointing."

…

"We have a game plan that works against the very best teams in the world," he said. "We now need to take what we have learnt and use it against sides that we are more evenly matched with on paper and put them to the sword."

 

[Fulcrum29]

The Sunwolves has selected a really good team,

Starting line-up:

01. Keita Inagaki - Panasonic Wild Knights
02. Shota Horie - Panasonic Wild Knights
03. Yasuo Yamaji - Canon Eagles
04. Sam Wykes - Coca-Cola Red Sparks
05. Naohiro Kotaki - Toshiba Brave Lupus
06. Yo****aka Tokunaga - Toshiba Brave Lupus
07. Shuhei Matsuhashi - Ricoh Black Rams
08. Willie Britz - NTT Shining Arcs
09. Fumiaki Tanaka - Panasonic Wild Knights
10. Yu Tamura - Canon Eagles
11. Kenki Fukuoka - Panasonic Wild Knights
12. Harumichi Tatekawa (c) - Kubota Spears
13. Ryohei Yamanaka - Kobelco Steelers
14. Shota Emi - Suntory Sungoliath
15. Kotaro Matsushima - Suntory Sungoliath

Bench:

16. Takeshi Hino - Yamaha Júbilo
17. Masataka Mikami - Toshiba Brave Lupus
18. Takuma Asahara - Toshiba Brave Lupus
19. Hitosi Ono - Toshiba Brave Lupus
20. Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco - NTT Shining Arcs
21. Keisuke Uchida - Panasonic Wild Knights
22. Jumpei Ogura - NTT Shining Arcs
23. Yasutaka Sasakura - Panasonic Wild Knights

They have good pairings at the back, and this is missing Derek Carpenter, Timothy Lafaele and Will Tupou, but the backline named has a nice Japanese ring to it. Forwards, good choices, even though they will be missing Ed Quirk, and there are better players in the squad which is out due to injury. This team is seriously Japanese... good to see.

Have fun Sharks.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

The Sharks have been dealt yet another backline injury blow, with Mike Claassens ruled out with a hamstring injury. Young Rowan Gouws has been flown over and looks set to debut off the bench, with Cobus Reinach starting alongside April. Making a first start at this level is Johan Deysel, replacing injured Jeremy Ward at inside centre.

15 Lwazi Mvovo
14 Kobus van Wyk
13 Lukhanyo Am
12 Johan Deysel
11 S’busiso Nkosi
10 Garth April
9 Cobus Reinach
8 Daniel du Preez
7 Jean-Luc du Preez
6 Philip van der Walt (capt)
5 Stephan Lewies
4 Ruan Botha
3 Lourens Adriaanse
2 Chiliboy Ralepelle
1 Thomas du Toit.

Subs: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Beast Mtawarira, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Tera Mtembu, 21 Rowan Gouws, 22 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 23 S’bura Sithole

Litey backline but as long as the forwards bring the grunt they're capable of, the youngsters can be exciting

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Wayne Smith: Why it's time for me to finish after 20 years with the All Blacks

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Cruden is a bloody good flyhalf.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Wayne Smith: Why it's time for me to finish after 20 years with the All Blacks

"I've got no interest helping other teams try to beat the All Blacks. I've told [NZ Rugby chief executive] Steve Tew and Steve Hansen that. I will do some stuff in rugby but it won't be with tier-one teams competing against the All Blacks."

So no chance of him taking over the Boks then