Super Rugby Matches without a match thread

[waiopehu oldboy]

Lions v Hurricanes highlights:

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Chiefs v Sharks highlights:

 

[FrankLind]

Good performance by the Sharks and Lions in NZ. Good to see April show some of his talent. Hope he'll nail that Sharks 10 jersey.

The Canes just brought SA rugby's hopes down with a thud.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Jags v Kings highlights:

 

[Highlander35]

Colour me somewhat unimpressed.

This is a near international team. They're playing a bottom 2 side at home, which is one of the longest provincial road trips in Rugby. And yes, they smash em by ~45, but they still concede 5 tries in the process.

Don't know if anything will change when they get to internationals but for the sake of the Pumas, I'm really hoping they do.

 

[Dan54]

Well bugger me didn't Matt Proctor play a blinder for th Canes, looked like he did a couple of years ago.

 

[Hawko]

Colour me somewhat unimpressed.

This is a near international team. They're playing a bottom 2 side at home, which is one of the longest provincial road trips in Rugby. And yes, they smash em by ~45, but they still concede 5 tries in the process.

Don't know if anything will change when they get to internationals but for the sake of the Pumas, I'm really hoping they do.

Hard marker.

Last game they got beaten by the Sunwolves so its a significant step up from there. They won't make the finals but I think they'll be mid-table by the end. They've got four home games in the next six after their bye this week. One of their away games will be against the Kings.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Chiefs v Highlanders @ FMG Stadium, Hamilton - 1735 Saturday (AEST)
Ref: Gardner
AR's: Pollock & Mabey
TMO: McDermott
TAB: Chiefs $1.49-$2.60 Highlanders

Sharks v Hurricanes @ Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban - 2300 Saturday
Ref: van der Westhuizen
AR's: Immelman & Bonaparte
TMO: Jonker
TAB: Sharks $2.05-$1.77 Hurricanes

Pollard is expected back but Reinach is apparently out for ~9 mo.

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/lambie-set-to-return-for-sharks/

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/reinach-sidelined-for-nine-months/

Kings v Blues @ Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth - 0110 Sunday
Ref: Anselmi
AR's: Rasivhenge & Sehlako
TMO: du Preez
TAB: Kings $9.00-$1.04 Blues

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Kings: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Lukhanyo Am, 13 Stefan Watermeyer, 12 Shane Gates, 11 Luzuko Vulindlu, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 James Hall, 8 Cyril-John Velleman, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 John-Charles Astle, 4 Steven Sykes (c), 3 Tom Botha, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Sithembiso Sithole. Replacements: 16 Martin Ferreira, 17 Justin Ackerman, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Schalk Oelofse, 20 Stefan Willemse, 21 Ntando Kebe, 22 Louis Fouche, 23 Leighton Eksteen

Blues: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 George Moala, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons (c), 1 Sam Prattley. Replacements: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Hoani Matenga, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Matt McGahan, 23 Male Sa’u

 

[Hawko]

Blues: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 George Moala, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons (c), 1 Sam Prattley. Replacements: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Hoani Matenga, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Matt McGahan, 23 Male Sa’u

Interesting to see Nanai gets another start now that Rieko is off to sevens. The bloke has played really well but seems to have been regularly dropped despite that. There must be some off-field reasons because Tevita Li has certainly not set the world on fire!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Mitchell Graham. Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Siate Tokolahi, 18 Kane Hames, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Maama Vaipulu, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Sam Vaka

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Matt Faddes, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Alex Ainley, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Dan Lienert-Brown. Replacements: 16 Greg Plesants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Siosiua Halanukonuka, 19 James Lentjes, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Teihorangi Walden

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Interesting to see Nanai gets another start now that Rieko is off to sevens. The bloke has played really well but seems to have been regularly dropped despite that. There must be some off-field reasons because Tevita Lee has certainly not set the world on fire!

IIRC @Dismal Pillock has at least one theory about that, but as it's NSFW & possibly libellous I'll not repeat it .

 

[Highlander35]

MOTR

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Sharks: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Garth April, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Tendai Mtawarira (c). Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Jean Deysel, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Odwa Ndungane

Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Vince Aso, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (vc), 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles (c), 1 Reg Goodes. Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ngani Laumape, 23 Jason Woodward

 

[Hawko]

MOTR

If you mean the Chiefs/Clan game I agree 100%.

If the Highlanders lose I think they will be close to missing a finals spot. Although they have the Jaguares and Kings away they should win both, but they could easily lose every other match. Naholo is back, which will help.

If the Chiefs lose then they are behind the Saders in the race for a home final.

There is a hell of a lot at stake!

 

[Dan54]

Gee Hawko just reading your comment at bottom of post by Alan Gaffney, never have truer words been spoken, and think the Clan especially Aaron Smith are masters at it, he almost always throws flat passes that have receivers running onto them at pace!!

 

[Hawko]

Gee Hawko just reading your comment at bottom of post by Alan Gaffney, never have truer words been spoken, and think the Clan especially Aaron Smith are masters at it, he almost always throws flat passes that have receivers running onto them at pace!!

Gaffney knows rugby. I'm not so sure he'd be in favour of the Highlanders incessant kick and chase game though.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

It's a clear & dry night in Hams with pretty much no wind, perfect conditions for what should be MOTR. TAB odds haven't moved much, currently Tribe $1.45-$2.60 Clan which seems fair.

 

[galumay]

Should be the game of the round as you say WOB, very excited about this one, hoping the chiefs can put his one away. What a showcase of kiwi talent!

 

[Upthenuts]

arron smiths wearing those gay lil gloves, hate them