Super Rugby 2018

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rug...iath-for-sunwolves-clash-20180220-h0wcy4.html

ACT Brumbies to form powerful alliance with Suntory Sungoliath for Sunwolves clash

The ACT Brumbies will align themselves with the most powerful team in Asia to boost their hopes of starting the Super Rugby season with a win in Tokyo.

The Brumbies flew out of Canberra on Tuesday night with a new coach and fresh blood in the team as they prepare for a fresh start under rookie coach Dan McKellar.

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The Brumbies will base themselves at the home of the Suntory Sungoliath for the rest of the week to fine-tune their preparations for a round-one clash against the Japan Sunwolves.

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The Brumbies have struck a deal to use Suntory's facilities on an extended stay in Japan for the club's first match in Tokyo in Super Rugby history.

The Brumbies are bracing to face the unpredictable Sunwolves in chilly conditions in Tokyo, with temperatures expected to drop as low as two degrees.
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:whistle:
 
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...eauden-Barrett-out-all-together-against-Bulls

Hurricanes should leave Beauden Barrett out all together against the Bulls

OPINION: To bother with Beauden Barrett or not?

"He hasn't played any pre-season minutes, so he'll come off the bench probably in Pretoria. We may yet choose to make that one of his All Black rest weeks, we'll wait and see how that pans out," Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd said of Barrett, before the team left for South Africa.

"Rest weeks" is the intriguing part of that quote. We're aware the All Blacks plan to take players out of their franchises for training camps, but prescribing games off hasn't been widely discussed.

But if the Hurricanes are required to sit Barrett and their other All Blacks out this season, then Sunday's (NZT) clash with the Bulls would be as good a time as any.

Barrett's only been back training a few weeks and didn't see any pre-season action. Wedding commitments meant he travelled to South Africa independent of the team, who ought to be good enough to beat the Bulls without him.

Ihaia West wasn't a raging success at the Blues. But he's now exposed to better coaching at the Hurricanes, with a more cohesive supporting cast of players around him, and shouldn't have any trouble playing first five-eighth in Barrett's absence.

With Jackson Garden-Bachop also in the Hurricanes' touring party, there's no need for Barrett to be on the bench either. Especially if the Hurricanes are expected to fit rests into their schedule.
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Garden-Bachop has much potential, he had a poor time at the Rebels also being undervalued. Time at the Hurricanes may bring his potential to light. I hope that West has a better game at the Hurricanes, but he didn't disappoint at the Blues as the article suggests...
 
Oh my...

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...rises-with-super-rugby-opener-selections.html

Rugby: Joseph surprises with Super Rugby opener selections

New Sunwolves coach Jamie Joseph sprung a few surprises Thursday when he named his side for the Super Rugby opener against the Canberra-based Brumbies this weekend at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

Michael Leitch, Harumichi Tatekawa and Akihito Yamada all failed to make the 23-man squad, while Kotaro Matsushima, Kenki Fukuoka and Yu Tamura are all out with knee injuries, as Joseph named nine new Sunwolves' caps in the starting XV, which will be led by scrumhalf Yutaka Nagare.

"The omissions are a surprise for you guys as they have always been automatic choices," Joseph said. "But these are the players who have been training the best and mentally are in the best frame of mind."

Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie and Koo Ji Won form an all Brave Blossoms front row with Sam Wykes and Grant Hattingh in the engine room and Kazuki Himeno, Lappies Labuschagne and Willie Britz in the back row.

"The Brumbies are a set-piece team and create a lot of momentum from the set piece. So we have to deal with that and having tall men is crucial to that selection," Joseph said of Wykes and Hattingh, who are 1.97 meters and 2.01 meters, respectively.

In the backs, Nagare links up with Robbie Robinson at halfback with Ryoto Nakamura and Timothy Lafaele in the midfield and Hosea Saumaki, Lomano Lemeki and Jason Emery forming an abrasive back three.

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Among the replacements, history will be made if Jaba Bregvadze takes to the field as he will become the first Georgian to play Super Rugby.

The 30-year-old hooker is joined on the bench by props Craig Millar and Asaeli Ai Valu, with James Moore and Ed Quirk providing the second and back row cover.

Fumiaki Tanaka -- one of five players in the squad to have played in a Super Rugby championship-winning team -- joins up with fellow former Highlander Hayden Parker as the reserve halfbacks, with Sione Teaupa the back-up center.
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7 Japanese players in the team, 6 actually, Koo Ji-Won is South Korean :p

I get what Joseph wants to achieve, it was clear when he named the squad that he wants to be results driven than preparing the Brave Blossoms by Super Rugby means. My issues with this team are some player placements and continuity. Emery at 15? Oh well, I’m no Super Rugby coach and I know that they didn’t had any pre-season games to test key criteria.
 
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rug...aletini-richie-arnold-in-20180221-h0wgwc.html

ACT Brumbies team: Scott Sio out, Tom Cusack, Rob Valetini, Richie Arnold in

Richie Arnold's trial form and physicality at training convinced ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar to throw him into a round-one battle ahead of twin brother Rory and Wallabies lock Blake Enever.

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He will be one of five players making their Brumbies debut, with Isi Naisarani, Rob Valetini, Chance Peni and Matt Lucas to earn their first cap.

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Christian Lealiifano will return to the No. 10 role for the first time in almost two years, Tom Banks starts his tenure at fullback, Naisarani slots into No. 8 and NRL convert Peni is part of an electric wing combination.

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Brumbies team: 15. Tom Banks, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. Chance Peni, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Isi Naisarani, 7. Tom Cusack, 6. Rob Valetini, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Richie Arnold, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Josh Mann-Rea, 1. Ben Alexander. Reserves: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Faalelei Sione, 18. Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 19. Rory Arnold, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Wharenui Hawera, 23. Lausii Taliauli.

Sunwolves team: 15. Jason Emery, 14. Lomano Lemeki, 13. Timothy Lafaele, 12. Ryoto Nakamura, 11. Hosea Saumaki, 10. Robbie Robinson, 9. Yutaka Nagare, 8. Willie Britz, 7. Pieter Lappies Labuschagne, 6. Kazuki Himeno, 5. Grant Hattingh, 4. Sam Wykes, 3. Jiwon Koo, 2. Shota Horie, 1. Keita Inagaki. Reserves: Java Bregvadze, 17. Craig Miller, 18. Asaeli Ai Valu, 19. James Moore, 20. Ed Quirk, 21. Fumiaki Tanaka, 22. Hayden Parker, 23. Sione Teaupa.
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https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sup...lues-team-news-kick-off-time-and-live-stream/

Super Rugby: Highlanders vs Blues

Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Waisake Naholo, Rob Thompson, Tei Walden, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, Dillon Hunt, Liam Squire, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (co-captain), Daniel Lienert-Brown

Substitutes: Liam Coltman, Aki Seiuli, Tyrel Lomax, Dan Pryor, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Fletcher Smith, Matt Faddes

Blues: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, 10 Bryn Gatland, Augustine Pulu (captain), Akira Ioane, Murphy Taramai, Glenn Preston, Scott Scrafton, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, James Parsons, Alex Hodgman

Substitutes: Leni Apisai, Pauliasi Manu, Michael Tamoaieta, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sione Havili/Antonio Kiri Kiri, Jonathan Ruru, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Melani Nanai

Kick-off time:

Friday, 23 February at 8:35 (SAST) at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
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https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/4-waratahs-debutants-against-stormers-20180222

4 Waratahs debutants against Stormers

Openside flanker Michael Hooper will lead the Waratahs in his 81st Super Rugby game for the franchise in their opening Super Rugby match against the Stormers at Allianz Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 10:45 SA time).

Teams:

Waratahs

15 Israel Folau, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Curtis Rona, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson

Substitutes: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Shambeckler Vui, 19 Nick Palmer, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Mitch Short, 22 Bryce Hegarty, 23 Alex Newsome

Stormers

15 SP Marais, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Dean Muir, 17 JC Janse ven Rensburg, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 George Whitehead, 23 EW Viljoen
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https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/luke-romano-hits-100-for-crusaders-20180222

Luke Romano hits 100 for Crusaders

Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named a strong starting XV for their Super Rugby opener with the Chiefs in Christchurch on Saturday.

The defending champions' run-on side includes nine All Blacks with 281 Test caps between them, led by captain Sam Whitelock and vice-captains Matt Todd and Ryan Crotty.

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Kick-off is at 08:35 SA time.

Teams:

Crusaders

15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Pete Samu, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Luke Romano, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett

Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Chris King, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Billy Harmon, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Manasa Mataele

Chiefs

15 Charlie Ngatai (co-captain), 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Fa'auli, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Mitchell Brown, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Aidan Ross

Substitutes: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Angus Ta'avo, 19 Liam Messam, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Sean Wainui
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That's a good looking Stormers side but I don't know if they will have enough. Willemse, de Allende and Engelbrecht are going to have their hands full trying to contain Folau and Beale.
 
https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/9-wallabies-start-for-rebels-20180221

9 Wallabies start for Rebels

The Melbourne Rebels have named their team for the opening game of the 2018 Super Rugby season against the Reds at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Friday.

Rebels coach Dave Wessels has named 10 international Test players in his starting line-up, including nine current Wallabies and a Japanese international.

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Teams:

Rebels

15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Sefa Naivalu, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Will Genia, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Angus Cottrell, 6 Lopeti Timani, 5 Adam Coleman (captain), 4 Matt Philip, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Tetera Faulkner

Substitutes: 16 Anaru Rangi, 17 Fereti Sa’aga, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Ross Haylett-Petty, 21 Michael Ruru, 22 Semisi Tupou, 23 Billy Meakes

Reds

15 Aidan Toua, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Jono Lance, 9 James Tuttle, 8 Scott Higginbotham (captain), 7 Adam Korczyk, 6 Caleb Timu, 5 Lukhan Tui, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 James Slipper

Substitutes: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 JP Smith, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Liam Wright, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Filipo Daugunu
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https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/barrett-on-hurricanes-bench-for-bulls-clash-20180222

Barrett on Hurricanes bench for Bulls clash

Cape Town - All Black flyhalf Beauden Barrett has been included on the Hurricanes bench for their Super Rugby clash against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday (17:15 kick-off).

Barrett’s bench role is largely due to the fact that he did not feature in any of the pre-season warm-up matches and that he arrived late in South Africa after attending the weddings of his brother and a close friend.

Former Blues player Ihaia West will now start at flyhalf and he is one of three new caps named in the Hurricanes starting team by head coach Chris Boyd.

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Teams:

Bulls

TBA

Hurricanes

15 Matt Proctor, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Ihaia West, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields (captain), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Ricctelli, 1 Toby Smith

Substitutes: 16 James O'Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Alex Fidow, 19 Murray Douglas, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Ben Lam
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Beauden made the team. I will post the Bulls team when available.
 
https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/4-boks-start-as-mitchell-names-bulls-team-20180222

4 Boks start as Mitchell names Bulls team

Bulls coach John Mitchell has named four Springboks in his starting team for their 2018 Super Rugby opener against the Hurricanes and named three potential debutants on the bench for the clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (17:15 kick-off).

Burger Odendaal will lead the team that includes Springboks Warrick Gelant, Jesse Kriel, Handre Pollard and Lood de Jager in the starting team, with two more Springboks, Adriaan Strauss and Marnitz Boshoff, amongst those who will play off the bench against their Kiwi foes.

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Teams:

Bulls

15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Johnny Kotze, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Frans van Wyk, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman

Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Nic de Jager, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Divan Rossouw

Hurricanes

15 Matt Proctor, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Ihaia West, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields (captain), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Ricctelli, 1 Toby Smith

Substitutes: 16 James O'Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Alex Fidow, 19 Murray Douglas, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Ben Lam
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https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/rookie-scrumhalf-included-on-lions-bench-20180222

Rookie scrumhalf included on Lions bench

Johannesburg - Lions coach Swys de Bruin has named his team for Saturday’s Super Rugby encounter against the Jaguares at Ellis Park (15:05 kick-off).

De Bruin has made two minor changes to his match-day squad that defeated the Sharks 26-19 last weekend.

Andries Ferreira, who withdrew at the last minute before the Sharks game, is back and will partner Sprignbok Franco Mostert at lock.

Marvin Orie, who stood in for Ferreira, drops out of the match-day squad.

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Teams:

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen

Substitutes: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Jaguares

TBA
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Just read that the Sunwolves don’t have a starting kicker, it seems Robbie Robinson won’t take to the posts. Hayden Parker can kick, but he is on the bench.

It is speculated that Ryoto Nakamura will have the kicking duties, but he has never played Super Rugby and has only on occasion kicked in the Top League and on national duty. This may be a concern when it comes to crunching the game out. Really strange selection by Jamie Joseph, he picked the big grunts to beat the Brumbies head-on, lacking on the technical side.
 
https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/jaguares-change-2-for-lions-clash-20180222

Jaguares change 2 for Lions clash

Cape Town - Jaguares coach Mario Ledesma has made two changes to his starting lineup for the Super Rugby Round Two clash with the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Guido Petti takes the place of Matias Alemanno who drops to the bench.

Bautista Delguy starts on the right wing, instead of Emiliano Boffelli - who moves to the left wing, with Ramiro Moyano also moving to the replacements.

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Teams

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen

Substitutes: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Jaguares

15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Tomas Lezana, 7 Javier Ortega, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Felipe Arregui

Substitutes: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Javier Manuel, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Marcos Kremer, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Leonardo Senatore, 23 Ramiro Moyano
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I am not really feeling the rugby spirit yet. The season starts too early.
 
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