Un-Australian Activities 2018

[HJ Nelson]

Ben O'keefe truly is awful at his job.

Good to know he's not just crap towards Australian teams.
More a general incompetence, rather than targeted.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Great result for Clan & does my lot a favour provided we take the opportunity it provides v Tribe tonight, something they've not always done in the past e.g. that time we went from potentially top seed to not even making the QF in the space of two weeks.

 

[Dan54]

And you know how fucked up our game is now? A guy affecting a tackle cops a falling player in the head, gets sent off. The guy that throws a fucking punch stays on the field.

C'mon ACR, you know they looked for a punch and noone could see it as camera was following ball. Even Hammett saying he thought it was handled correctly, as none of them saw a punch land either. Were you having a drink while watching the game?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Squire cited: not for the incident that earned him the YC but for shouldering TJP in the 12th minute:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...re-cited-for-foul-play-in-win-over-hurricanes

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Wow.
Fox halftime panel highlighting joe moody foul play.
Are we finally growing a spine?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^ I'll be there even tho I'm 0/5 for watching CruSadists away matches incl FMG in 2008 so hope I don't jinx them

Losing streak broken!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

UA-A16 is up:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/un-australian-activities-week-16/

Thanks to guest editor/ publisher oztimmay.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

UN-AUSTRALIAN ACTIVITIES - WEEK 17

Highlanders v Chiefs 17:35* Saturday (in Suva)

Sunwolves v Bulls 21:55 Saturday (in Singapore)

Sharks v Lions 1:15 Sunday

Jaguares v Stormers 5:40 Sunday

* times are AEST.

Probably timely to recap where we're at Standings- & potential Playoffs-wise:

Standings:

1. Crusaders 54 points (played 14)
2. Lions 40 (14)
3. Waratahs 35 (13)
4. Hurricanes 45 (13)
5. Highlanders 40 (13)
6. Chiefs 37 (13)
7. Jaguares 34 (13)
8. Rebels 34 (13)

If that were the finishing order the quarter finals would be:

QF1: Crusaders v Rebels
QF2: Hurricanes v Highlanders
QF3: Lions v Jaguares
QF4: Waratahs v Chiefs

Note that this year Semi Final 1 is between the winners of QF1 and QF2, not the highest- and lowest-seeded quarter final winners as was previously the case.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

KRead played 40 minutes for Counties Manukau (his new M10 Cup team) v Tasman yesterday & declared himself fit to come off the bench next week:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...ad-plays-first-game-for-counties-manukau-2018

Great news & hopefully CruSadists & Steelers don't break him 'cos AB sure as hell missed him v France & will need him to be 100% at RWC 2019.

 

[Hawko]

UN-AUSTRALIAN ACTIVITIES - WEEK 17

Highlanders v Chiefs 17:35* Saturday (in Suva)

Sunwolves v Bulls 21:55 Saturday (in Singapore)

Sharks v Lions 1:15 Sunday

Jaguares v Stormers 5:40 Sunday

* times are AEST.

Probably timely to recap where we're at Standings- & potential Playoffs-wise:

Standings:

1. Crusaders 54 points (played 14)
2. Lions 40 (14)
3. Waratahs 35 (13)
4. Hurricanes 45 (13)
5. Highlanders 40 (13)
6. Chiefs 37 (13)
7. Jaguares 34 (13)
8. Rebels 34 (13)

If that were the finishing order the quarter finals would be:

QF1: Crusaders v Rebels
QF2: Hurricanes v Highlanders
QF3: Lions v Jaguares
QF4: Waratahs v Chiefs

Note that this year Semi Final 1 is between the winners of QF1 and QF2, not the highest- and lowest-seeded quarter final winners as was previously the case.

Sanzaaar once again manipulates the draw to try to get non-NZ teams into the final. Already the team coming second on points has a tougher quarter final than teams below it, but now if they win they get to play the team coming first. So it ends up as 1 vs 2 in one semi and probably 3 v 4 in the other semi. Airmchair ride for the Crusaders, they play the semi at home and then they will play a team who has had either one or two Indian Ocean transitions.

Its rubbish.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^ it could be argued that Crusaders v Hurricanes is by far the toughest potential SF match up even if it's at home. Also whatever the format there's always been a fair chance of someone having to travel from Australasia to Africa or vice versa at some point. Can't really see any way around that.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Waisake Naholo, Rob Thompson, Tei Walden, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, Dillon Hunt, Elliot Dixon, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (cc), Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Aki Seiuli, Tyrel Lomax, Alex Ainley, Shannon Frizell, Kayne Hammington, Josh Ioane, Richard Buckman.

Chiefs: Solomon Alaimalo, Toni Pulu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Charlie Ngatai (co-c), Sean Wainui, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber, Liam Messam, Sam Cane (co-c), Luke Jacobson, Tyler Ardron, Michael Allardice, Angus Ta'avao, Liam Polwart, Karl Tu'inukuafe. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Sam Prattley, Jeff Thwaites, Jesse Parete, Mitch Karpik, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Marty McKenzie, Shaun Stevenson.

 

[Dan54]

They look a couple of pretty handy teams WOB, be interested to see if Frizell, and Hemopo go any better now they are All Blacks, sometimes gives these players a bit of a lift having a test under their belts.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^ I hear they're visiting Waisake's village for some of that magic kava or whatever it is that can fix a broken leg in double-quick time

 

[Hawko]

^^^^^^^ it could be argued that Crusaders v Hurricanes is by far the toughest potential SF match up even if it's at home. Also whatever the format there's always been a fair chance of someone having to travel from Australasia to Africa or vice versa at some point. Can't really see any way around that.

The travel can't be avoided. Where I take issue is the guaranteed finals to conference leaders. Position on the table should be the sole criteria for finals allocation, even though you might get every QF played in NZ. Home finals should be earnt, not by right.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^ I agree & have advocated same ever since the Conferences were introduced but the broadcasters would never allow it & as long as they're paying the bills what they say goes.

 

[Derpus]

The travel can't be avoided. Where I take issue is the guaranteed finals to conference leaders. Position on the table should be the sole criteria for finals allocation, even though you might get every QF played in NZ. Home finals should be earnt, not by right.

I agree to an extent, but the mismatch is such that no one else would ever get to enjoy finals footy.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Derpus, don't think you can say that. Tahs and Rebels have shown they can be competitive and even win the odd game against the NZers. They have been improving over the year and if they continue in that vein, they just might give the better NZ sides a run for their money next year or soon after.

 

[Derpus]

aren't we still 1/40 or so?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

23C & 80% humidity up in Suva which is getting on for double what it's been this week in The Tron & probably nearly triple what it's been in Dunners. Players are really gunna be hurting come the last quarter.