lineups for Round 1 Super 15

[RugbyReg]

any pack with David TeMoana in it can't be good.

 

[Hawko]

Gee, in my eyes, this Highlanders team looks very average

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 James Paterson, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Kade Poki, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 David Te Moana, 2 Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh [c]. Reserves: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 John Hardie, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Siale Piutau.

It is. You'd think 11, 9, 6, 5 and 1, 2, 3 would be up to Super standard but that's how it is in the NZ structure. Their best player, Dagg, went off to play with the Crusaders to further his international prospects and that will keep happening until someone in authority puts a stop to it.

They have got a brute of a front row and in the wet you can put your house on them, they are very good at trench warfare as the Tahs found out last year. But I am predicting 5th in NZ and 14th on the table. Only the Cheetahs will prop them up.

 

[en_force_er]

Ah well, I really rate Nasi Manu and look forward to seeing him at Super level.

Perhaps when Slade comes back they will claim some scalps but they will finish bottom 3.

 

[barbarian]

When Tom Donnelly and Colin Slade return the Highlanders won't be too bad, but without them they look very average. They have always scored a lot of points but conceded a lot more. This year I can see them conceding the same amount but scoring a lot less.

 

[fatprop]

Ben Smith is very good as well, very classy player

 

[qwerty51]

Ben Smith is very good as well, very classy player

One to look out for this year definitely.

 

[Raptor]

Melbourne Rebels

15. Julian Huxley 14. Lachlan Mitchell 13. Stirling Mortlock (c) 12. Cooper Vuna 11. Luke Rooney 10. James Hilgendorf 9. Sam Cordingley 8. Gareth Delve (vc) 7. Michael Lipman 6. Hoani Macdonald 5. Kevin O'Neill 4. Adam Byrnes 3. Greg Somerville 2. Ged Robinson 1. Nic Henderson.

Res: Heath Tessmann, Laurie Weeks, Alister Campbell, Jarrod Saffy, Nick Phipps, Danny Cipriani, Afusipa Taumoepeau.

 

[Tangawizi]

Bulls Team - Hougaard will not be a dreamteam hero at 9 this year.

The team (Super Caps in brackets) is: Zane Kirchner (40), Gerhard van den Heever (17), Stephan Dippenaar (12), Wynand Olivier (71), Bjorn Basson (9), Morné Steyn (73), Fourie du Preez (99), Pierre Spies (56), Dewald Potgieter (31), Deon Stegmann (39), Victor Matfield (109), Bakkies Botha (86), Werner Kruger (42), Gary Botha (73), Gurthrö Steenkamp (66). Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle (19), Rossouw de Klerk (1), Danie Rossouw (102), Derick Kuün (56), Ruan Snyman (1), Francois Brummer (1), Jaco van der Westhuyzen (56).

 

[spectator]

Gee, in my eyes, this Highlanders team looks very average

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 James Paterson, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Kade Poki, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 David Te Moana, 2 Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh [c]. Reserves: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 John Hardie, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Siale Piutau.

Happy to be corrected by LG, Lance Free, or any other schools rugby aficionado, but I'm sure that Lima Sopoaga is the NZ schools 10 from 2009. If it is the same guy, he was outstanding that night, even slotting a penalty from just outside 60 metres. This is a major step up in class though...I wonder whether he is ready?

 

[qwerty51]

Happy to be corrected by LG, Lance Free, or any other schools rugby aficionado, but I'm sure that Lima Sopoaga is the NZ schools 10 from 2009. If it is the same guy, he was outstanding that night, even slotting a penalty from just outside 60 metres. This is a major step up in class though...I wonder whether he is ready?

I believe the guy who slotted the 60m penalty was the fullback (who was back last year I believe too). Niko I think

 

[spectator]

I think you're right Qwerty. Shit the fullback was only in Year 11...wow, that was a prodigous kick!

Not to take anything away from Sopoanga that night though, he was terrific, as much a standout for NZ, as Gill was for OZ. I thought then that for sure I'd be seeing him in Super rugby, just not so soon, given NZ rugby's tendency to cocoon younger players.

I see Robbie Robinson is on the bench. He might be one to watch this year as well.

 

[qwerty51]

The current NZ schools halfback played in the NPC for Wellington last year, he was actually their best player on numerous occasions. He's definitely one to watch also.

 

[Lance Free]

I think it was Lima Sopoaga's mum that I was trying to latch on to that night in 2009?

I quote: "Not only was Jonah playing well but their No 10 Lima Sopoaga was inspirational. He could step like Paul Mecurio. I actually met his Mum before the game and had a bit of a chat. She was quite hot actually for a Kiwi yummy mummy, apart from that appalling accent. Well, when you’re my age…."

bro'Town defeat Australian Schoolboys

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/brotown-defeat-australian-schoolboys/

 

[Lee Grant]

Them and the Canes both had quite a few new names. Interesting

Watch out for 10. Lima Sopoaga the 2009 NZ Schools captain. Future All Back IMO. The Kiwis usually don't blood star schoolboys as soon as Aussies do but we suspected that this youngster was exceptional.

...shame that even their forward quality has the depth of a puddle.

Nice turn of phrase - may I use it?

Oops - I wrote this looking at just the last page - but will let it stand.

 

[RugbyReg]

A couple of the front runners have named their teams.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp. Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Derick Kuün, 20 Ruan Snyman, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Jaco van der Westhuyzen.

Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Adam Whitelock, 11 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read [c], 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: 16 Francis Smith, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Chris Jack, 19 Jonathan Poff, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Matt Berquist, 22 Tom Marshall/Tyler Bleyendaal.

 

[qwerty51]

Read is back?? Wow didn't expect him back so early after that injury he got against Wales

That 22 looks unstoppable when Richie, Guildford and SBW are back.

 

[RugbyReg]

yep, when they are back but I reckon the Blues could do them this weekend, depending on Blues team.

 

[DPK]

Where is Francois Hougaard? Injured?

 

[hench]

Chiefs:

Ben May
Aled de Malmanche
Nathan White
Craig Clarke
Romana Graham
Liam Messam
Tanerau Latimer
Fritz Lee
Brendon Leonard
Stephen Donald
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Tana Umaga
Dwayne Sweeney
Tim Nanai-Williams
Mils Muliaina

Reserves

Toby Smith
Daniel Perrin
Hayden Triggs
Scott Waldrom
Tawera Kerr-Barlow
Jackson Willison
Lelia Masaga

 

[qwerty51]

I was wondering why Hayden Triggs wasn't in the Highlanders team, this explains it. Solid pack and backs, is Colin Bourke injured? They actually might do well this year after their NPC success.