Official Rugby Thread

[PhoenixFire]

So Cipriani is now 6th choice stand-off for England, but 3rd choice for the Lions. Makes sense.

 

[BoyBrumby]

So Cipriani is now 6th choice stand-off for England, but 3rd choice for the Lions. Makes sense.

Think if push comes to shove Johnno will take the Tigers player over the other bloke, so Vesty & Goode were always in the box seat to get a gig. That he's behind Tom May (who I've never even seen play) is rather more of a shock tho.

Nice to see Wally back in the squad after his career looked over a coupla years ago.

 

[Uppercut]

I was looking at getting to Edinburgh for the Heineken Cup final on Saturday. Ridiculously long journey though, and a touch too expensive when you factor in getting there and back.

 

[ripper868]

Extended 29-man Wallabies squad named Today for Test matches against the Barbarians, Italy and France:-

Forwards - Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Al Baxter, Pek Cowan, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Peter Kimlin, Dean Mumm, Matt Hodgson, George Smith, David Pocock, Phil Waugh, Richard Brown.

Backs - Josh Valentine, Luke Burgess, Matt Giteau, Berrick Barnes, Quade Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Timana Tahu, Ryan Cross, Lote Tuqiri, Peter Hynes, Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O'Connor.

Stoked Turner is in the side, seriously gun winger/FB he is. Not to sure about the halfback position though, Burgess needs to find some of his old form.

 

[ripper868]

Language Warning
YouTube - Alternative Rugby Commentary - The Ten Commandments

 

[Francis]

I was disappointed the Chiefs lost the Super 14 final. They're my favourite New Zealand side and my 10th favourite Super 14 side, so to see them go down like that hurt. But gosh South African rugby is powerful. Just a powerful, POWERFUL, rugby nation.

 

[TT Boy]

I was disappointed the Chiefs lost the Super 14 final. They're my favourite New Zealand side and my 10th favourite Super 14 side, so to see them go down like that hurt. But gosh South African rugby is powerful. Just a powerful, POWERFUL, rugby nation.

 

[ripper868]

I was disappointed the Chiefs lost the Super 14 final. They're my favourite New Zealand side and my 10th favourite Super 14 side, so to see them go down like that hurt. But gosh South African rugby is powerful. Just a powerful, POWERFUL, rugby nation.

Indeed, is rugby THE number 1 sport in SA? and the way they play the game is just as you mentioned, powerful, Tri-nations will be interesting this year.

 

[TT Boy]

Indeed, is rugby THE number 1 sport in SA? and the way they play the game is just as you mentioned, powerful, Tri-nations will be interesting this year.

No. Soccer is. And cricket is probably second.

 

[Somerset]

I was disappointed the Chiefs lost the Super 14 final. They're my favourite New Zealand side and my 10th favourite Super 14 side, so to see them go down like that hurt. But gosh South African rugby is powerful. Just a powerful, POWERFUL, rugby nation.

Do remember though that only one South African side made the top four of the Super 14 (obviously the Bulls), and the third best South African side didn't even get close to finishing in the top half of the table...so all very well to make such comments about South Africa being a force (which, given the calibre of some of their current players is a fair observation) but there are flaws as well.

 

[Somerset]

By the way, the All Black squad named for the home tests in the build up to the Tri Nations:

John Afoa - Auckland
Jimmy Cowan - Southland
Wyatt Crockett * - Canterbury
Stephen Donald - Waikato
Andrew Hore - Taranaki
Cory Jane - Wellington
Richard Kahui - Waikato
Jerome Kaino - Auckland
Tanerau Latimer * - Bay of Plenty
Brendon Leonard - Waikato
Keven Mealamu - Auckland
Liam Messam - Waikato
Mils Muliaina - Waikato
Ma’a Nonu - Wellington
Kieran Read - Canterbury
Josevata Rokocoko - Auckland
Isaac Ross * - Canterbury
Conrad Smith - Wellington
Adam Thomson - Otago
Brad Thorn - Canterbury
Neemia Tialata - Wellington
Isaia Toeava - Auckland
Piri Weepu - Wellington
Ali Williams - Auckland
Tony Woodcock - North Harbour
Rudi Wulf - North Harbour

Muliana captain which, with McCaw injured and So'oialo "rested" is not a major surprise. Still not convinced fullback is the ideal place for a captain though in saying that hes been a top leader for the Chiefs during the Super 14 and hes guaranteed to play close to 80 minutes every match. No Masaga or Ranger as bolters and Tuitavake also misses out which doesn't overly surprise me, but I haven't been convinced with Rudi Wulf so he'll have a point to prove. It does worry me that Stephen Donald is the only specialist first five in the squad - besides players like Weepu and Toeava who could fill the position on a makeshift basis.

 

[BoyBrumby]

No. Soccer is. And cricket is probably second.

Union's the main deal for the Afrikaners still tho, isn't it? SA rugby teams seem to have a lot more non-Anglo surnames per capita than cricket teams. Even allowing for Afrikaners with Anglo surnames (Donald, Hayward) and Anglos without them (Steyn).

 

[ripper868]

Barbarians Squad Announced to Date (as of 1 June)
Backs: Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues & NZ), *Sonny Bill Williams (Toulon), Seilala Mapusua (London Irish & Samoa), *Luke McAlister (Sale Sharks & NZ), *Josh Lewsey (London Wasps & England), Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers & Ireland), Ian Balshaw (Gloucester & England), *Ratu Nasiganiyavi (Waratahs), Justin Marshall (Saracens & NZ), Chris Whitaker (Leinster & Australia), Glen Jackson



Forwards: Sebastien Bruno (Sale Sharks & France), Schalk Brits (Stormers & SA), *Clarke Dermody (London Irish & NZ), *Greg Somerville (Gloucester & NZ), *B J Botha (Ulster & SA), Chris Jack (Saracens & NZ), *Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers & England), Jerry Collins (Toulon & NZ), Rocky Elsom (Leinster & Australia), *Serge Betsen (London Wasps & France), Phil Waugh (Waratahs & Australia)

[* - denotes new Barbarian]

 

[TT Boy]

Union's the main deal for the Afrikaners still tho, isn't it? SA rugby teams seem to have a lot more non-Anglo surnames per capita than cricket teams. Even allowing for Afrikaners with Anglo surnames (Donald, Hayward) and Anglos without them (Steyn).

Only 3 million out of a population of 45+ though.

 

[TT Boy]

Barbarians Squad Announced to Date (as of 1 June)
Backs: Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues & NZ), *Sonny Bill Williams (Toulon), Seilala Mapusua (London Irish & Samoa), *Luke McAlister (Sale Sharks & NZ), *Josh Lewsey (London Wasps & England), Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers & Ireland), Ian Balshaw (Gloucester & England), *Ratu Nasiganiyavi (Waratahs), Justin Marshall (Saracens & NZ), Chris Whitaker (Leinster & Australia), Glen Jackson



Forwards: Sebastien Bruno (Sale Sharks & France), Schalk Brits (Stormers & SA), *Clarke Dermody (London Irish & NZ), *Greg Somerville (Gloucester & NZ), *B J Botha (Ulster & SA), Chris Jack (Saracens & NZ), *Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers & England), Jerry Collins (Toulon & NZ), Rocky Elsom (Leinster & Australia), *Serge Betsen (London Wasps & France), Phil Waugh (Waratahs & Australia)

[* - denotes new Barbarian]

Should be a good game. Looking forward to seeing how the (ex) Mungo gets on against Stirling

 

[BoyBrumby]

Isn't SBW still in potential strife down under for walking out on his Bulldogs contract?

Or has that been settled?

 

[ripper868]

Isn't SBW still in potential strife down under for walking out on his Bulldogs contract?

Or has that been settled?

They paid the bulldogs out (in cash i mean, not to give them a cop out), the papers still went mental when he landed in Aus for his "fight" (cakewalk) last week, along with all the "bloggers" (read unemployed bogans) still calling for his head.

 

[ripper868]

The Qantas Wallabies team to play the Barbarians at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday 6 June (7.30pm kick off), is:

15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
14. Lachie Turner (Waratahs)
13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies, captain)
12. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds)
11. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
10. Matt Giteau (Brumbies)
9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
8. Richard Brown (Western Force)
7. George Smith (Brumbies)
6. Matt Hodgson (Western Force)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
17. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
18. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
19. David Pocock (Western Force)
20. Josh Valentine (Western Force)
21. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
22. James O’Connor (Western Force)

Stoked to see turner get a wing spot, though if only because Ioane and Hynes are Injured.

Brown has been a beast of recent times, looking forward to seeing him tested at the highest level again.

Cooper will hopefully improve with some better players around him, allowing him to focus on his game and not evryone elses...otherwise he could be a deadset dud.

 

[Somerset]

No Lote Tuqiri the big shock IMO but given his average try-scoring record in the Super 14 over the last couple of seasons, I'd say that Mitchell and Turner have earnt their places ahead of him. Its certainly not a bad Australian side when the four Super 14 franchises are combined, even if none of the four teams made the semi finals of the tournament. In saying that, the Barbarians look a half decent unit, with more than a few New Zealanders in the mix which I'll be keen to watch. Should be a good contest on Saturday.

 

[TT Boy]

The Qantas Wallabies team to play the Barbarians at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday 6 June (7.30pm kick off), is:

15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
14. Lachie Turner (Waratahs)
13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies, captain)
12. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds)
11. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
10. Matt Giteau (Brumbies)
9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
8. Richard Brown (Western Force)
7. George Smith (Brumbies)
6. Matt Hodgson (Western Force)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
17. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
18. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
19. David Pocock (Western Force)
20. Josh Valentine (Western Force)
21. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
22. James O’Connor (Western Force)

Stoked to see turner get a wing spot, though if only because Ioane and Hynes are Injured.

Brown has been a beast of recent times, looking forward to seeing him tested at the highest level again.

Cooper will hopefully improve with some better players around him, allowing him to focus on his game and not evryone elses...otherwise he could be a deadset dud.

The Reds backline is pretty good and he was the weak link for them.