2013 SUPER Pre-season Matches

[kiap]

For those interested, below is a list of the pre-season games involving Super teams this year. As usual, most won't be televised, although there may be some on radio (or just live updates via web or twitter). There will be a reliance on spectator or press reports.

Looks like 3 of the Saffa teams are taking the week off before their first Super matches to freshen up. The Aus teams are booked solid in February due to their earlier start. Interested to see how the Tongan side go in the trial match against the Force in Mandurah, as it's a long trip early in the season.

Jan
Sat 26 Lions v Cheetahs, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), 19:00 SAST

Feb Week 1
Fri 1 Force v Brumbies, Darwin (Marrara Rugby Oval), 19.30 ACST
Sat 2 Chiefs v Highlanders, Taupo (Owen Delany Park), 15.00 NZDT
Sat 2 Crusaders v Hurricanes, Timaru (Alpine), 15.00 NZDT
Sat 2 Rebels v Waratahs, Hobart (North Hobart), 17.30 AEDT
Sat 2 Reds v Blues, Toowoomba (Sports Ground), 19:00 AEST
Sat 2 Cheetahs v Stormers, Bloemfontein (Free State), 17.00 SAST
Sat 2 Lions v Bulls, Soweto (Orlando), 19:00 SAST

Feb Week 2
Fri 8 Highlanders v Crusaders, Oamaru (Whitestone), 16.30 NZDT
Fri 8 Reds v Chiefs, Sunshine Coast (Stockland), 19.00 AEST
Fri 8 Brumbies v ACT XV, Canberra (Viking Park), 19.00 AEDT
Fri 8 Force v Tongan XV, Mandurah (Meadow Springs), 19.00 WAST
Fri 8 Leopards v Sharks, Pietermaritzburg (Woodburn), 19.00 SAST
Sat 9 Blues v Waratahs, Whangarei (Toll), 14.30 NZDT
Sat 9 Rebels v Hurricanes, Geelong (Simmonds), 17.30 AEDT
Sat 9 Lions v Kings, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), 15.00 SAST
Sat 9 Cavaliers v Stormers, Wellington (Boland Stadium), 16.00 SAST
Sat 9 Bulls v Cheetahs, Polokwane (Peter Mokaba), 17.00 SAST

Feb Week 3
Wed 13 Kings v Griquas, Port Elizabeth (Mandela Bay), 19.00 SAST
Thu 14 Waratahs v Crusaders, Sydney (Allianz), 19:30 AEDT
Fri 15 Highlanders v Blues, Queenstown (Rec. Ground), 17.30 NZDT
Fri 15 R1 Rebels v Force, Melbourne (AAMI), 19:40 AEDT
Fri 15 Mpumalanga Pumas v Sharks, Nelspruit (Mbombela), 19.00 SAST
Sat 16 Hurricanes v Chiefs, Mangatainoka (Tui), 15:00 NZDT
Sat 16 R1 Brumbies v Reds, Canberra (Canberra Stadium) 19:40 AEDT

Super Team Match-ups in February 2013

Team :  W1    W2   W3/R1 W4/R2
------------------------------
Bulls: Lions Cheet  -    Storm
Cheet: Storm Bulls  -    Shark
Kings:  -    Lions Griqu Force
Shark:  -    Leopa Pumas Cheet
Storm: Cheet Caval  -    Bulls
------------------------------
Blues: Reds  Warat Highl Hurri
Chief: Highl Reds  Hurri Highl
Crusa: Hurri Highl Warat  bye
Highl: Chief Crusa Blues Chief
Hurri: Crusa Rebel Chief Blues
------------------------------
Brumb: Force ACTXV Reds  Rebel
Force: Brumb Tonga Rebel Kings
Rebel: Warat Hurri Force Brumb
Reds : Blues Chief Brumb Warat
Warat: Rebel Blues Crusa Reds
------------------------------

 

[BDA]

Nice warm up for the Reds against the Chiefs heading into the Brumbies game.

 

[grievous]

Ah nice wrap I can plan my Feb now

 

[grievous]

The Tahs could a better job taking the game to the country.

 

[qwerty51]

They've taken games plenty of times to country areas in the past. Normally against Tonga, Fiji or Samoa and I really like how they've gone away from that and used common sense to play other Super rugby sides now. In the past their trial games would have cricket scores and that did no one any help. They're playing 2 away (and not in traditional areas) and 1 at the SFS for the majority of their fans.

I reckon the Crusaders trial at the SFS could even get over 15k.

 

[Brumby Jack]

I reckon the Crusaders trial at the SFS could even get over 15k.

So 15,000 single people turning up on Valentine's Day?

 

[Braveheart81]

So 15,000 single people turning up on Valentine's Day?

I've already locked in Mrs BH for the Valentine's Day fixture.

 

[Brumby Jack]

I've already locked in Mrs BH for the Valentine's Day fixture.

Pre or post match?

 

[Nusadan]

Pre or post match?

Why not both?

 

[kiap]

In Joburg, the Lions ran in 6 tries (4 in the last 30 mins) to beat the Cheetahs. The Cheetah's scrum was getting mullered until Nyakane replaced de Klerk at tighthead in the 2nd half.

Lions upset Cheetahs​

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Former Super Rugby franchise the Lions upset the Cheetahs preparations for the upcoming Super Rugby season by beating them 33-17 in a warm-up match at Ellis Park on Saturday.​

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The loss will give Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske some food for thought ahead of this year's Super Rugby season as they were outwitted by a rampant Lions side that ran the ball from all corners of the field.....​

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Read more: Clicky​

 

[kiap]

Highlanders, much improved after losing to the Chiefs last week, beat the Crusaders 38-21 at Oamaru.

Nonu leads Highlanders to win over Crusaders​

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By Steve Hepburn on Fri, 8 Feb 2013​

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..... Nonu scored the first try of the game, brushing aside a couple of tacklers, and made metres whenever he had the ball.​

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..... Also impressive for the Highlanders were halfback Aaron Smith, flanker Joe Wheeler while John Hardie got round the paddock in his first game at this level in nearly a year.​

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..... Luke Romano picked up two tries for the Crusaders but they look as though they need plenty of work before the season starts.​

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Read more: Here​

 

[Brumby Jack]

The Brumbies beat an ACT XV side 38-7 at Viking Park in Canberra tonight.

The scoreline of six tries to one would have flattered the professionals in the end with scrappy play the order of the night to give Jake White something to think about for next week.

The try they conceded was from a dropped bacll whilst attacking the opposition line and was returned 90 metres the other way.

Clyde Rathbone continued his return to rugby after three years out with a double and played about 60 minutes and his form has given Jake White some headaches for next weeks opener against Queensland.

New recruit David Pocock also got on the board with a try from close range and also did some great work around the field, including a ruck turnover at the first one of the night.

The majority of the starting 15 for the Brumbies played around 60 minutes before the reserves came on in the last quarter.

The rain also arrived to make the last quarter less than exciting with handling becoming difficult in the conditions.

The most pleasing thing was seeing Matt To'omua and Christian Lealiifano come through the match as they build up to 80 minutes after length periods out of the game.

Brumbies 38 - Rathbone 2, Pocock, Mogg, Moore White tries; Lealiifano 4 cons
ACT XV 7 - Van Der Walt try, Windsor con

 

[RoffsChoice]

Kimlin was noteworthy, looked extremely solid at 6. I hope the running style To'omua had continues into Super Rugby, it will serve the team well.

 

[kiap]

In the Saffa grudge match, the Lions beat the Kings 41-31 in Jo'burg. Full match report: Here, condensed version below:

Spoiler

Visitors - The Kings arrive at Ellis Park

Lions beat gritty Kings​

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Ockert de Villiers: Feb 9 2013​

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..... The Kings opened their account with a Rynier Bernardo try close to the sideline, which flyhalf Wesley Dunlop converted.​

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The home side then kicked up another gear as they ran in three tries in the final 20 minutes of the second half, ..... to Hendrik Roodt, JJ Breet, ..... and prop Ruan Dreyer scoring from a driving maul from a lineout to take their lead to 22-7 before the break.​

Spoiler

The Kings received the first of two yellow cards of the match with Wayne Stevens being sent off minutes into the second half.

The Lions made use of the advantage as they once again used the driving maul with great effect as Roodt powered his way over the line for his second try in the 43rd minute to give his side a 20-point advantage.

The visitors then launched a spirited fight-back as scrumhalf Johan Herbst found a gap on the Lions 22 to dart through and score under the sticks, .....

Warwick Tecklenburg scoring the first of his two tries from a driving maul shortly after Kings flanker Tomas Leonardi received his marching orders for 10 minutes in the sin bin. .....

Herbst scored his second try in the 65th minute, and Hadleigh Parkes also added a five-pointer.

The Eastern Cape franchise then made a baffling decision as they opted for a penalty conversion rather than kick for the lineout. A converted try could have seen them clinch a one-point lead but instead they were trailing the Lions by three points with six minutes left in the match.​

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The Lions then struck the final blow as Tecklenburg added his second try to give his side a psychological victory over the team that replaced the Lions in this year’s Super Rugby competition.​

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Golden Lions 41 (22): Tries: Hendrik Roodt (2), JJ Breett, Ruan Dreyer, Warwick Tecklenburg (2). Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (3), Lionel Cronje. Penalty: Boshoff.​

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Southern Kings 31 (7): Tries: Rynier Bernardo, Johan Herbst (2), Hadleigh Parkes. Conversions: Wesley Dunlop (3), George Whitehead. Penalty: Whitehead​

Ross Cronje beats Johan Herbst

 

[JSRF10]

Interesting that the Lions have beaten two Saffa franchises in pre season games

 

[kiap]

Chiefs looking strong again this year with a pre-season 25-21 away win over the Hurricanes in Mangatainoka this afternoon.

Chiefs win final trial against Hurricanes​

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..... Chiefs dominated for the majority of the first half taking a 10-0 lead into the break thanks to tries to halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow from a quick tap and winger Asaeli Tikoirotuma, who crossed the chalk after a pass from Hika Elliot.​

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After the half-time whistle, Bundee Aki dotted down to give the Chiefs a 17-0 lead. Hurricanes winger Julian Savea then replied with a try. Playing at centre for the Chiefs, Tim Nanai-Williams scored to give the visitors a fifteen point lead.​

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The Hurricanes lifted their game after some substitutions, with Ardie Savea adding the spark. Savea and Faifili Levave both scored making it 22-21. A late penalty to Gareth Anscombe sealed the match.​

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http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/chiefs-win-final-pre-season-trial-against-hurricanes.html​

 

[RoffsChoice]

Blues played the Highlanders, in Dunedan I believe, and won 31-29