SA vs NZ matches

[PaarlBok]

Stormers vs Highlanders
15 Gio Aplon, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Subs: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Gary van Aswegen, 22 Jaque Fourie.

Glad to see Aplon and Duvenhage starting and Jacque Fourie on the bench. They will give the Stormers much more on attack. Januarie was slow as usual and Jantjes dont counter from the back. The Stormers will have to up their play and their defense and forwards will have to be up for this one.

 

[PaarlBok]

Time to give life to these great clashes.

Brutes got a big win against the Canes on the weekend. Played the perfect gameplan to frustrate them to death and good to see Morne and FdP back on form again. The Tin Ears played well against the Blues and nearly got them towards the end. Sarel Pretorius putting up his hand yet again for higher colours.

This weekend its the big one for the Brutes against the Saders in Nelson. I just got the feel here for a Brute upset and the Tin Ears have the Highlanders in Dunedin.

 

[Jethro Tah]

Sarel Pretorius putting up his hand yet again for higher colours.

I watched the Blues Cheetahs game and was also impressed with Sarel. Will he make the Springboks squad this year, 3N and/or WC?

 

[PaarlBok]

I watched the Blues Cheetahs game and was also impressed with Sarel. Will he make the Springboks squad this year, 3N and/or WC?

See Januarie is off SA contract for a starter. Hougaardt already showed he is more then a capable backup for FdP and look sharp against the Canes on the wing. Sarel played now some good rugby for a long time, remain to be seen if the selectors take notice. I'll have him any day, is a totally different kind of scrummy and offer a lot in that regard.

 

[Sandpit Fan]

Morne Steyn must be looking over his shoulder at Peter Grant these days? Helps to be playing in a team thats on song, but he is looking pretty good this season, and is kicking very well. Suprise inclusion in the bokke 3N/WC team?

 

[Jethro Tah]

I watched the Blues Cheetahs game with the sound off so am not sure if it was picked up by the commentators but did anyone else notice that the Blues gave the Cheetahs a free bonus point? The score was 29 to 22 with the Blues having secured the BP win and they were awarded a penalty after the full time hooter within easy kicking range. But instead of going for the extra 2 points they decided to kick it out to finish the game and thus gave the Cheetahs the losing BP. Was it a decision made in haste and while suffering from fatigue? At seasons end it probably won't matter but could make the difference in the SA conference on who gets the wooden spoon and could even affect the NZ conference if it comes down to points for and against.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

See Januarie is off SA contract for a starter. Hougaardt already showed he is more then a capable backup for FdP and look sharp against the Canes on the wing. Sarel played now some good rugby for a long time, remain to be seen if the selectors take notice. I'll have him any day, is a totally different kind of scrummy and offer a lot in that regard.

you blokes have a fair few good scrum halves, dont you. FDP, Hawkart, pretorious, vermaak, kockott, duvenenghe (sorry). We have the same sorry bunch of club players kicking around from province to province.

 

[Blue]

Morne Steyn must be looking over his shoulder at Peter Grant these days? Helps to be playing in a team thats on song, but he is looking pretty good this season, and is kicking very well. Suprise inclusion in the bokke 3N/WC team?

Sandpit Man I wish the Bok coaches saw that too yet I don't see Grant making it. Two years ago PdV critisized his kicking from hand which at the time was not great but he has fixed it. Right now he is way ahead of Steyn and Lambie for that matter.

Who better cab we have than Grant on the bench? Nobody. He playes 10 and 12 and can play 15 at a push. They would be, and will be, nuts not to pick him. Instead I expect Lambie on the bench. Not bad but Grant is just a better option - he is more physical.

 

[PaarlBok]

I watched the Blues Cheetahs game with the sound off so am not sure if it was picked up by the commentators but did anyone else notice that the Blues gave the Cheetahs a free bonus point? The score was 29 to 22 with the Blues having secured the BP win and they were awarded a penalty after the full time hooter within easy kicking range. But instead of going for the extra 2 points they decided to kick it out to finish the game and thus gave the Cheetahs the losing BP. Was it a decision made in haste and while suffering from fatigue? At seasons end it probably won't matter but could make the difference in the SA conference on who gets the wooden spoon and could even affect the NZ conference if it comes down to points for and against.

I thought they were just kak scared not losing the game after the Tin Ears wait 50 minutes before actually playing rugby.

 

[PaarlBok]

Saders team vs Brutes:
Crusaders side: Israel Dagg, Sean Maitland, Robbie Fruean, Sonny Bill Williams, Zac Guildford, Matt Berquist, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (captain), Matt Todd, George Whitelock, Chris Jack, Brad Thorn, Ben Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: ^ MacDonald, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Jonathan Poff/Joe Wheeler, Kahn Fotuali'i, Tom Marshall, Adam Whitelock.

No wonderboy Carter.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Dean Greyling.

Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Francois Brummer, 21 Gerhard van den Heever, 22 Derick Kuün

for some reason I have a Brutetish feeling about this game. The venue may cancel out any benefit the Saders might have and these Brutes show last week they can do it.

 

[whatty]

Looking forward to this Bulls game. Some commentators have called it the battle of the RWC styles and a loss to the Crusaders will certainly get a lot of people nervous!!

With Carter having a grade one hamstring the have a scape goat if they loose.

 

[PaarlBok]

Looking forward to this Bulls game. Some commentators have called it the battle of the RWC styles and a loss to the Crusaders will certainly get a lot of people nervous!!

With Carter having a grade one hamstring the have a scape goat if they loose.

All NZ refs in this game, no scape goat there. The venue also a bit neutral with only 12,000 cap.

 

[PaarlBok]

Tin Ears just lost against the Highlanders. Thought they toured much better compare to the past and good to see some young stock coming through for them. For me Coenie Oosthuizen was impressive specially with ball in hand, Wilhelm lead them well , Sarel Pretorius their man of the tour, the Ebersohn Twins look settled on this level and Riaan Viljoen impressive. They have the Canes at home next week, hope they get their pap and braai in this week and build on this tour.

 

[whatty]

They certainly earned some respect here in NZ. Probably a little bias but with a few decisions falling on there side of the fence they could have won these past two weeks.

Sarel Pretorius play and Wilhelm Steenkamp Captaincy got my notice.

Brussow back next week and they should get that win.

 

[GC]

Money Bill is looking unstoppable so far in the Saders v. Bulls match. Ma'a can kiss his ABs spot goodby.

 

[MrTimms]

Yep, Ma'a is going to have to turn the hurricanes season around himself to have a chance.

 

[qwerty51]

What a game he's having.

No just offensively, just made a dominant tackle in his own 22. Then kicks the ball on a the turnover to force a 5m scrum.

Best 12 in the game right now, even go as far as the best non-ball playing back.

 

[Nusadan]

Saders are up to their old tricks...falling down at breakdown...the last penalty goal at half time by them was undeserved!

 

[DPK]

Far out, the Brumbies may have got the Real Madrid tag last season but this Crusaders teams has got to be one of the best collection of class players in the history of Super rugby. Just elite strength across the park.

 

[GC]

Another absolutely shocking display from the ref though. Bulls are getting murdered in the penalty count whilst the Saders are doing whatever they want at the breakdown. What is going wrong with the adjudicators this year?