Un-Australian Activities 2020

[waiopehu oldboy]

Less than two weeks 'til kickoff!

Week 1:

Fri 31/01 Blues v Chiefs 17:05 AEDT
Sat 1/02 Sharks v Bulls 04:10
Sun 2/02 Stormers v Hurricanes 00:05
Sun 2/02 Jaguares v Lions 08:40

Full draw here:

https://super.rugby/superrugby/fixtures/2020-super-rugby-fixtures/

 

[Dan54]

And I am all ready!! Can't wait even if it is early this year!
Have to admit I a little worried how Canes will go this year, but stuff it win or lose I just love it being on!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NZ pre-season matches last weekend:

Blues 26 (Kurt Eklund, Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Matt Duffie, Hoskins Sotutu tries; Stephen Perofeta 2 con, Harry Plummer con) Chiefs 19 (Samisoni Taukei'aho 2, Naitoa Ah Kuoi tries; Kaleb Trask 2 con) HT: 19-0.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...ssful-return-from-injury-as-blues-beat-chiefs

All together now: "This Is The Year of Loss Bleus"

Crusaders 40 (Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod, Tom Sanders, George Bower, Fasi Fuatai, Michael Ala'alatoa tries; Brett Cameron 4con, Fergus Burke con) Hurricanes 19 (Du'Plessis Kirifi, Vince Aso, Kobus Van Wyk tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop con, Fletcher Smith con). Halftime: 28-12

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...usaders-beat-hurricanes-in-opening-trial-game

"Just another day at the office".

This weekend:

Loss Bleus go 2/2 in pre-season:

Blues 29 (Tony Lamborn, Jordan Hyland, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Sam Nock tries; Stephen Perofeta con, Harry Plummer con)
Hurricanes 28 (Ben Lam, Ricky Riccitelli, Jamie Booth, Asafo Aumua tries; Fletcher Smith 2 cons, Jackson Garden-Bachop 2 cons)
Halftime: 17-14

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12303341

Highlanders hosted Crusaders in Wanaka & were listed as fielding two completely different XV's in each half while Crusaders named ~25 & were presumably using rolling subs.

Crusaders 41
Highlanders 7
HT 12-7

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...-crusaders-thrash-highlanders-in-wanaka-trial

 

[Dan54]

I can her the stereo being wound up at Dismal's house as he hosts the party to celebrate the Blues unbeaten preseason!

 

[Dismal Pillock]

I can her the stereo being wound up at Dismal's house as he hosts the party to celebrate the Blues unbeaten preseason!

ha, no bloody way, been down that road, fool me once, fine, fool me twice, yeah ya got me, fool me 17 times, ok so I'm a wee bit gullible at times but pre-season 2020? NEVER. AGAIN. Blues are the undisputed champions of talking the walk but the instant the real pressure goes on all the pre-season guff gets shot directly in their leaderless rudderless ballmeat and they crumble like vivisectomied mental midgets at the VERY FIRST, VERY SLIGHTEST tinge of even the whiff of a hint of actual real-world adversity. They are the perennially doomed millenials of the rugby century.

 

[PaarlBok]

Looking forward to the Stormers vs Hurricanes match. Last year of rugby on Newlands, hopefull our lot will perform before the faithfull.

 

[KiwiM]

Sounds for the Blues round 1 that Otere and Parsons won't be available.

The issue for me at the Blues is at 9. Christie hasn't been sighted during preseason but he hasn't been mentioned as not available for round 1 so it will be interesting to see if he features.

Blues-Chiefs should be a great game to kick off the season. Both teams play an entertaining style and there is plenty of intrigue (Gatland as coach, Cruden back, DMac back, Rieko likely at centre, Akira supposedly a lot more fitter etc).

 

[Finsbury Girl]

Sounds like Robinson is starting the season with a bit of form. Looking forward to watching him play this year. Could he even push for an AB spot?

 

[KiwiM]

Sounds like Robinson is starting the season with a bit of form. Looking forward to watching him play this year. Could he even push for an AB spot?

Absolutely. He was on the AB radar last year until he got injured.

There are certainly opportunities in the loose forwards in the ABs this year.

His work rate is excellent - what he needs to work on is some of the nuance of playing blindside. Defence off the scrum was one area last year which could use some work.

 

[Dctarget]

Chiefs for playing Blues away:
1. Aidan Ross (25)
2. Samisoni Taukei'aho (22)
3. Nepo Laulala (32)
4. Tyler Ardron (26)
5. Mitchell Brown (33)
6. Lachlan Boshier (44)
7. Mitchell Karpik (20)
8. Sam Cane (111) ©
9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (32)
10. Kaleb Trask**
11. Solomon Alaimalo (38)
12. Alex Nankivell (22)
13. Quinn Tupaea**
14. Sean Wainui (26)
15. Damian McKenzie (72)
Reserves:
16. Bradley Slater (2)
17. Atu Moli (38)
18. Angus Ta'avao (32)
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi**

20. Pita Gus Sowakula
21. Brad Weber
22. Aaron Cruden
23. Anton Lienert - Brown
*denotes Chiefs debut
**denotes Super Rugby debut

 

[Dctarget]

Cruden on the bench to a debutant. What's the story on Trask? Also Tupaea? Haven't heard of either.
Embarrassment of riches at scrumhalf for the Chiefs. Looks like a pretty talented team.

 

[KiwiM]

Cruden on the bench to a debutant. What's the story on Trask? Also Tupaea? Haven't heard of either.
Embarrassment of riches at scrumhalf for the Chiefs. Looks like a pretty talented team.

Trask is a young gun 10/15 who had an outstanding Mitre 10 Cup for Bay of Plenty. He got player of the tournament at the national U19 comp a year or so ago I think.

Tupaea broke onto the domestic scene 18 months ago for Waikato but was deemed too young to play Super Rugby last season.

Both have good hype on them

 

[Dan54]

There certainly big wraps on Tupaeu, be interesting to see if he lives up to hype, many thought he should of been a super player last year. Likes the look of Trask, but a little surprised he starting ahead of Cruden and Falcon, but obviuoulsy what the coaches see in him, makes it even more interesting watch!
Shame to read that Nathan Harris is out for season, feel he quite a big loss!

 

[KiwiM]

Blues named

Sotutu gets the nod at 8 over Akira - nice to see they are looking at other options at 8 this year instead of relying on Akira for every minute of every game.

Halfback is still a big worry in my opinion.

Huge opportunity for Eklund.

BLUES: Matt Duffie, Mark Telea, Joe Marchant, TJ Faiane, Rieko Ioane, Stephen Perofeta, Jonathan Ruru; Hoskins Sotutu, Tony Lamborn, Dalton Papalii, Tom Robinson, Patrick Tuipoulotu (capt), Sione Mafileo, Kurt Eklund, Alex Hodgman. Reserves: Ray Niuia, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Josh Goodhue, Blake Gibson, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Emoni Narawa.

 

[zer0]

Thank Christ there's an actual (quality!) centre there. Fortunately MacDonald knows a thing or two about back three players being played out of position. So hopefully we'll only see Ioane at centre against weaker opposition, such as the bye.

 

[KiwiM]

Thank Christ there's an actual (quality!) centre there. Fortunately MacDonald knows a thing or two about back three players being played out of position. So hopefully we'll only see Ioane at centre against weaker opposition, such as the bye.

I wouldn't get your hopes up. By all accounts Rieko is going to logging a lot of minutes at 13 this season.

 

[Finsbury Girl]

I'm going to back the evil Orcs for this match, much as it hurts my Moo Loo pride.

 

[Dan54]

Blues named

Sotutu gets the nod at 8 over Akira - nice to see they are looking at other options at 8 this year instead of relying on Akira for every minute of every game.

Halfback is still a big worry in my opinion.

Huge opportunity for Eklund.

BLUES: Matt Duffie, Mark Telea, Joe Marchant, TJ Faiane, Rieko Ioane, Stephen Perofeta, Jonathan Ruru; Hoskins Sotutu, Tony Lamborn, Dalton Papalii, Tom Robinson, Patrick Tuipoulotu (capt), Sione Mafileo, Kurt Eklund, Alex Hodgman. Reserves: Ray Niuia, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Josh Goodhue, Blake Gibson, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Emoni Narawa.

I am guessing it very much a "WAKE UP AKIRA", though to be fair seems Sotutu has carried on his form from ITM cup where he was definitely the better 8! I agree Ruru doesn't send a lot of confidnce at 9, mind you neither does Perofata at 10!

 

[PaarlBok]

Sharks vs Bulls
Sharks
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Jeremy Ward

 

[qwerty51]

Le Roux Roets!