Super 15 2011

[BoyBrumby]

Great stuff from the Highlanders. Not even a losing bonus for yer Cantabs.

 

[Somerset]

Major upset, particularly when you consider the corresponding Crusaders-Highlanders match earlier in the season and that the Highlanders were without two of their best players in Cowan and Thompson, as well as the obvious loss of Slade for the rest of the season. A tenacious effort and thats really epitomised what the Highlanders have based their game around this year.

 

[Burgey]

Tough old derby match tonight. Kudos to Qld on some great defense 2nd half. Waratahs had more than enough chances, they just lack spark in attack.

 

[ripper868]

Tough old derby match tonight. Kudos to Qld on some great defense 2nd half. Waratahs had more than enough chances, they just lack spark in attack.

Was expecting the scrum rant etc when i saw you post tbh

Brutal defense from the Reds, can't believe they got away with defending their own line for 25 minutes with only 3 points.

That just about wraps up the Australian confernece then...now for the Kiwi Teams.

Reds

 

[Somerset]

Waratahs really should've won - they completely dominated the second half but couldn't find a killer blow. Got a bit carried away with the scrums and spent the next 20 minutes trying to get something out of their dominance. Cooper had a very average night, especially with his kicking game. Beale was pretty quiet too, all things considered. Reds will easily make the top six being so far ahead of the other Australian sides so its just a matter of where they'll finish in the overall scheme of things.

Good win for the Force against the Bulls which makes it incredibly tricky for the Bulls now, given they struggle on the road and a home knockout match looks unlikely given their position on the table.

 

[Smudge]

There's always a fair bit of pleasure taken from a Highlanders win over the Crusaders.

 

[Burgey]

Was expecting the scrum rant etc when i saw you post tbh

Brutal defense from the Reds, can't believe they got away with defending their own line for 25 minutes with only 3 points.

That just about wraps up the Australian confernece then...now for the Kiwi Teams.

Reds

Perversely enjoyed it. Probably as it was a derby and I had a family connection to it, as I'm related to the Waratahs coach. Agree they got carried away with the scrum thing. Terrible injury to Mitchell. Not good for the WC, which I actually think (fwiw given my limited knowledge of the game) we are a very good chance of winning.

 

[Tricia McMillan]

Hi, I'm a Blues fan and I think Stephen Brett is terrible and would rather see Lachie Munro play at fly half.

 

[Mike5181]

I can't believe the run the Highlanders have had this year. This last few years they couldn't win a game to save themselves now they just knocked over arguably the strongest team in the competition. I wish the blues had someone like Nick Evans as first five.

 

[Somerset]

Perversely enjoyed it. Probably as it was a derby and I had a family connection to it, as I'm related to the Waratahs coach. Agree they got carried away with the scrum thing. Terrible injury to Mitchell. Not good for the WC, which I actually think (fwiw given my limited knowledge of the game) we are a very good chance of winning.

I think Australia are a much better chance of taking the trophy than in 2007, and I think those that are tiping them to reach the final aren't making unreasonable predictions. Their backline, even with the loss of Mitchell for the WC, which is terribly unlucky, is arguably equal to any in the world right now. I still question several of their tight forwards and scrum issues though, and thats certainly their area of weakness.

 

[Somerset]

Hi, I'm a Blues fan and I think Stephen Brett is terrible and would rather see Lachie Munro play at fly half.

I can't believe the run the Highlanders have had this year. This last few years they couldn't win a game to save themselves now they just knocked over arguably the strongest team in the competition. I wish the blues had someone like Nick Evans as first five.

Ironically Michael Harris, who was in the Blues franchise area since he plays for North Harbour, wasn't picked up by the Blues (nor any other NZ side in the draft) and is now making great impact for the Reds at 12 (although he can play 10 just as well). Obviously Munro took his spot in the Blues squad but I tend to doubt whether hes really the best option at 10 for the Blues - admittedly his impact off the bench has been very good though this year. Evans would be brilliant and its such a shame he didn't return to NZ a la McAlister.

 

[Somerset]

Week Ten Points:
Athlai 4
Hurricane 4
Ripper868 4
Social 4
Somerset 4
TT Boy 4
BoyBrumby 3
HeathDavisSpeed 3
Quaggas 3
Samuel_Vimes 3

Standings after Week Ten:
TT Boy 48
Somerset 47
Ripper868 46
BoyBrumby 44
HeathDavisSpeed 43
Samuel_Vimes 43
Social 43
Athlai 42
Hurricane 42
Quaggas 36

 

[Somerset]

Week Eleven Fixtures:
Highlanders vs Blues
Cheetahs vs Brumbies
Hurricanes vs Reds
Waratahs vs Rebels
Force vs Crusaders
Bulls vs Chiefs
Stormers vs Sharks

Lions have the bye (their first, even though the Stormers and Brumbies have already had two each)

 

[Smudge]

I hate Lachie Munro with a passion, so needless to say I don't want him anywhere near the Blues starting lineup (even though I'm a Highlanders supporter).

 

[BoyBrumby]

I hate Lachie Munro with a passion, so needless to say I don't want him anywhere near the Blues starting lineup (even though I'm a Highlanders supporter).

Oh? What's his deal then?

 

[Mike5181]

Ironically Michael Harris, who was in the Blues franchise area since he plays for North Harbour, wasn't picked up by the Blues (nor any other NZ side in the draft) and is now making great impact for the Reds at 12 (although he can play 10 just as well). Obviously Munro took his spot in the Blues squad but I tend to doubt whether hes really the best option at 10 for the Blues - admittedly his impact off the bench has been very good though this year. Evans would be brilliant and its such a shame he didn't return to NZ a la McAlister.

Yeah, i rated Harris when he was playing for Habour. He never got talked about by anyone really. It always confused me because he looked like such a solid player.

 

[Smudge]

Oh? What's his deal then?

Two things:

1) he's got one of those faces that is just asking for a punch. Exhibit A:

2) During an Auckland Ranfurly Shield defence against North Otago, it was coming up to half time, and Auckland were ahead 47-3 or something similar. Either way, 100 points was always going to be on the cards. Anyhoo, Auckland were hot on attack, and instead of spinning it wide for another try, the show pony decided to snap a droppie from in front of the posts. Ball-hogging, arrogant little ****.

 

[TT Boy]

Good win for the Force against the Bulls which makes it incredibly tricky for the Bulls now, given they struggle on the road and a home knockout match looks unlikely given their position on the table.

They are done and the issue for the Bulls is that the players who have got them into the mess are the "undroppables" - their captain, his lock partner, Pierre Spies and Wynand Olivier. Even du Preez looks lost and Morne Steyn is playing so deep he is completely anonymous. The only guys who are standing up are Gurthrö Steenkamp, Francois Hougaard and Bjorn Basson.

Worry for Bok supporters is that the Bulls will supply most of the WC side and the Boks play the Bulls brand of rugby.

 

[TT Boy]

Perversely enjoyed it. Probably as it was a derby and I had a family connection to it, as I'm related to the Waratahs coach. Agree they got carried away with the scrum thing. Terrible injury to Mitchell. Not good for the WC, which I actually think (fwiw given my limited knowledge of the game) we are a very good chance of winning.

Cynical play from Higginbotham. Surprised he wasn't pulled up over that.

 

[Athlai]

Highlanders vs Blues
Cheetahs vs Brumbies
Hurricanes vs Reds
Waratahs vs Rebels
Force vs Crusaders
Bulls vs Chiefs
Stormers vs Sharks