Author: Ozee316
The Waratahs, fresh off a stunning victory against the Rebels last weekend lie in wait for the arrival on Sunday of the red-hot Crusaders from New Zealand. The Form Waratahs – they have slogged their way to second place in the Australian Conference behind the Brumbies and have a 2-3 record. Their season comprises a hard-fought win against the Force, two maulings in the Republic from the Lions (at altitude) and Sharks, and snatching a late victory from the Rebels in Melbourne last Friday. Their forwards have been more serviceable than the backs, but have been too late to many…
It was Derby Weekend in New Zealand with the Battle of the Bombays and the Southern Classic producing some scintillating rugby. Chiefs v Blues Friday, 3 March 2017 7:30pm, FMG Stadium in Hamilton The Chiefs were at their Championship-winning best in Hamilton on Friday night crushing the Blues 41-26 in a commanding performance. Despite the Blues dominating early possession and field position the Chiefs scored twice early to break out to a 15-9 lead through tries to Liam Messam (6) from a 5m lineout and Damian McKenzie (15) who finished off a slick midfield move after a great pass from…
The Chiefs went down to the Champion Hurricanes in the semifinals in 2016 in a one-sided affair after some very stoic defence. That was only a week after comprehensively taking apart the Stormers in Newlands in a clinical display of attacking rugby. Which Chiefs team will turn up in 2017? Embed from Getty Images Tight head prop Nepo Laulala – missed 2016 Super Rugby season Team changes In the forwards promising youngsters Mitch Karpik (openside) and Nepo Laulala (prop) finally get a chance at Super Rugby after missing the entire 2016 season through injury. Liam Messam returns (NZ Sevens) to…
In some way the Blues had a disappointing year in 2016 finishing last in the NZ Conference and eleventh overall. However 2016 was Tana Umaga’s first year as Head Coach and saw the Blues record the most wins (eight) and fewest losses (six) since 2011. Team changes It is hard not to get excited about Blues roster for 2017. The backline boasts the additions of Sonny Bill Williams and talented youngsters Matt Vaenga (North Harbour) and TJ Faiane (NZ U20s) to a midfield which already includes All Blacks George Moala, Rieko Ioane and Rene Ranger. Further out , Tevita…
Johnny Sexton gives Simon Zebo a hug after he scores important try Irish eyes were smiling at Soldier Field in Chicago today when Ireland beat the Rugby World Champions, the All Blacks, for the first time since they started playing them in 1905, and ended the Kiwis’ record run of consecutive victories at 18. There were no excuses for the All Blacks and nor did they make any. It was their first loss since they played the Wallabies in Sydney last year. First half The Irish got the first points on the board early through a Sexton penalty, but…
After setting a world record for consecutive Tier One wins against the Wallabies at Eden Park two weeks ago, the All Blacks return to Chicago’s Soldier Field on Saturday – this time to play Ireland. Recent form Ireland hit a purple patch in 2014 after current coach, Kiwi Joe Schmidt, had taken over the reigns in late 2013. Following a bumpy start in the first Autumn Internationals, Schmidt guided Ireland to a winning record of 13 out of 15 and two consecutive Six Nations’ titles. Fans were calling him “Saint Joe”. This all came to an end last year when…
The Maori All Blacks are a NZ rugby team representing a proud culture of New Zealand and date back to 1888. All players must have Maori whakapapa, or genealogy, confirmed in order to represent the side. The NZ Maori first played against the USA in 2004 and this will be the fourth match between the two sides. Embed from Getty Images NZ Maori perform haka in England on 45 match world tour in 1925-6 History and form The Maori have won all the previous three encounters with the USA, although the gap narrowed in Philadelphia in 2013 when they…
MITRE 10 CUP PREMIERSHIP FINAL AT AMI STADIUM CHRISTCHURCH CANTERBURY 43-27 TASMAN It was an all Crusaders clash as Canterbury and Tasman battled it out for provincial rugby supremacy in Christchurch on Saturday night. Both teams lost just two games in the regular season and it was Canterbury who took the honours when the teams met in round two. Head-to-head the two teams have played 12 times since 2007 when the Tasman union was amalgamated from Nelson and Marlborough, Canterbury winning eight to Tasman’s four. Canterbury made three changes to their lineup from the semi-final bringing in Prop Daniel Lienert-Brown…
MITRE 10 CUP PREMIERSHIP – SEMI FINAL 1 IN CHRISTCHURCH CANTERBURY 22-7 COUNTIES This first semi final game was marked by an increased intensity in defence compared to regular Mitre 10 Cup matches. Counties played into the wind in the first half and copped an early penalty from Canterbury pressure right from the kick-off. Soon Counties came close to scoring when Number 8 Sootala Fa’aso’o peeled off the back of a 5m scrum and was ruled held up over the line and in the next scrum midfielder Vaega (12) spilled the ball with the line begging. Counties hooker Hika Elliot…
Premier Finalists: Canterbury, Taranaki, Tasman, Counties Championship Finalists: Otago, Wellington, North harbour, Bay of Plenty Biggest losers: Auckland, Waikato and Hawkes Bay. The former two are powerhouse unions that lost crucial games to miss out on the playoffs. Hawkes Bay were promoted from the Championship last season only to drop straight back down again after one season. Biggest winners: North Harbour, Counties and Bay of Plenty have all surged into the playoffs after solid seasons winning crucial games and playing attacking rugby. Breakdown Laws: World Rugby has now confirmed that the Mitre 10 Cup trial breakdown laws will be dumped.…
Highlights: • A third loss in for Waikato in two weeks as the Shield goes south to Canterbury and the Mooloos lose to bottom placed Northland • The big city teams Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury continue their momentum with big wins • In the Premiership Division Canterbury is 10 points clear on 35 points with just 5 points separating the next four teams Taranaki, Auckland, Counties-Manukau and Tasman • In the Championship Division Wellington and Otago are well clear of the pack with North Harbor, Manawatu and Bay of Plenty chasing the remaining two semi-final spots. Mitre 10 Breakdown Law…
New Breakdown Laws: ‘Matadors’ and ‘Sweepers’, no more ‘Jackal’ According to players in the Mitre 10 Cup the traditional openside role of the “Jackal” has all but gone because no-one, not even the tackler, can use their hands once a ruck has formed. Two new roles called “Matadors” and “Sweepers” have emerged in early rounds and players are not quite happy about them. We explain: The “Matador” is a defender who stands at a breakdown waiting to be cleaned out by the “bull” but he moves just as the player charges and causes them to be penalised for leaving their…
New Zealand 57+ – +Argentina 22 The All Blacks were wary of Los Pumas after their victory over the Springboks two weeks ago, but after a tight 50 minutes the Kiwis overpowered their visitors with 33 unanswered points. First half Argentina started strongly in front of a capacity crowd in Hamilton. The big South American forwards took the ball up strongly, recycling well with runners one and two wide of the ruck, building momentum nicely. Just when the All Blacks were expecting the ball to go wide BAM! fullback Tulculet ran close to the ruck breaking a half tackle and…
Could history change in Hamilton on Saturday? If you are a realist you would point to the record books and a World Cup trophy safely in Steve Hansen’s hot water cupboard; but if you dare to dream, you know the Pumas do have a small chance and you will be glued to the screen this Saturday. The Form New Zealand – The current World Cup Champions, are on 13-test winning streak and even more impressively, a 42-consecutive winning streak at home. Their form in the first two games of the Rugby Championship [TRC] against the Wallabies was impressive, as were…
Round 2 of New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup is done and dusted. Here’s a run down of what happened. Otago v Wellington (Thu 25 Aug) Fast improving Otago thumped last year’s Championship finalists Wellington 44-21 on Thurdsay night. The men from the deep south pulled out to a comfortable 28-0 lead, led by their Highlanders Faddes (13) and Tom Franklin (4) who scored tries and provided go forward. Wellington came back in the second spell with busting runs by Hurricanes stars Vaea Fifita (4) and Matt Proctor (13) and Umanga-Jensen (12) (yes a relation) all willing their team forward. But…
Wellington has a 15% chance of rain but a 100% chance of an all-New Zealand thriller in the Super Rugby semifinal between the Chiefs and Hurricanes on Saturday. Buckle in because this one is going to be a battle to decide who will progress to the 2016 Super Rugby final! In Hurricanes territory they are saying this one is dedicated to original 1996 Hurricane and All Black great Jonah Lomu who passed away late last year. Embed from Getty Images FORM Dave Rennie’s Chiefs have been the team to beat in Super Rugby over the last five years. When Chris…
The rain never came to Newlands but the Chiefs spectacular running and passing game did and we were treated to an 8 try Super Rugby master class from the two time Champions. The Chiefs have booked their place in a semi-final in Wellington against the Hurricanes next weekend after dispatching the Stormers in an entertaining match. Embed from Getty Images First Half Bad news came for the Stormers in the opening moments when star open side Siya Kolisi limped off with a badly hurt ankle. But the Stormers fortunes were raised when they crossed the Chiefs’ try line first after…
Australasia’s fourth placed Chiefs travel to Cape Town to take on the Africa’s second placed Stormers for what will be an electric match to decide who will progress to the Super Rugby Semi Finals 2016. The Stormers have yet to play a New Zealand side in this years competition, add in the wet weather forecast for Capetown and knockout football and we are in for a cracker. Embed from Getty Images Form The recent form of both teams is mixed. The Chiefs are coming off a hard fought loss to the Highlanders and with a 3-3 win/loss record in their…