Super 15 2011

[Somerset]

Quade < DC (DC has more experience in tests)
O'Connor < Nonu / SBW
Cooper = Smith
Ioane > anyone we can put up Gear/Joe/Ranger
Mitchell = Jane
Beale > Mils

Reckon the backs are about equal if you believe that DC is better than Cooper. Cooper will need to step up his game in tests for the Aussie backline to be better.

Honestly think you could argue either way for all of those comparisons; in fact the only backline comparison I'd make with certainty is one you haven't got there, in that I rate Genia superior to Cowan/Weepu/etc as well as Fourie du Preez. The rest offer different skills - Cooper and SBW offer magical touches and offloads while Carter and O'Connor are fantastic but more steady operators. Beale had a brilliant 2010 where for the first time he showed his true class at the highest level but Muliana was also superb and deserves his reputation as such a reliable player. Ioane can't kick and can be error-prone so he's got weaknesses that a Cory Jane type doesn't - but that balances against his electric pace and ability to beat players.

 

[Somerset]

I disagree with who I've marked in bold. I don't fancy Nonu or SBW in midfield and reckon it will be our weak link as will our wingers. I think it's the first time is as far back as I can remember that we're short of quality wing men. We have some good up and comers yes, but our experienced ones are getting on and don't have the fizz that they once had and this is where the Wallabies will target I think in getting the ball out wide.

SBW's performances in the midfield for the Crusaders this year and on the end of year tour in 2010 have been excellent IMO; Nonu had a woeful start to the Super 15 season but seemed to be finding form towards the end of the Hurricanes' campaign. I'm not at all worried about the midfield, particularly with Conrad Smith at 13. I also think we're spoilt for choice with regard to the wingers, rather than short of quality. Dagg, Toeava, Guildford, Ranger, Ben Smith, etc. will struggle to make the AB 22 but would be first choice players in basically any other international XV.

 

[Hurricane]

OK - can't think of anything else to say. Look forward to seeing the final standings. Terribly dissapointed that - that Rotter Athlai pipped me at the post. I had a poor start to the tipping with a terrible first week and then a failure to believe that the Blues were actually good until the season was almost over hurt as well. I could have been a contender! (not)

Thanks for running it Somerset - I might have dropped out of CW for the winter without this thread.

 

[Hurricane]

SBW's performances in the midfield for the Crusaders this year and on the end of year tour in 2010 have been excellent IMO; Nonu had a woeful start to the Super 15 season but seemed to be finding form towards the end of the Hurricanes' campaign. I'm not at all worried about the midfield, particularly with Conrad Smith at 13. I also think we're spoilt for choice with regard to the wingers, rather than short of quality. Dagg, Toeava, Guildford, Ranger, Ben Smith, etc. will struggle to make the AB 22 but would be first choice players in basically any other international XV.

Who is your starting 15 for the world cup for the ABs and Wallabies

 

[Somerset]

Who is your starting 15 for the world cup for the ABs and Wallabies

I'm sure my opinion is bound to change after the Tri Nations matches, but at present:

All Blacks - Woodcock, Mealamu, O.Franks, Thorn, Whitelock, Kaino, McCaw, Read, Cowan, Carter, Sivivatu, SBW, Smith, Jane, Muliana; Hore, B.Franks, Boric, Thomson, Weepu, Nonu, Dagg

Wallabies - Robinson, TPN, Alexander, Horwill, Sharpe, Elsom, Pocock, Palu, Genia, Cooper, Ioane, O'Connor, AAC, Mitchell, Beale; Moore, Slipper, Mumm, Robinson, Burgess, A.Fainga'a, Davies

Thats assuming all players are available, i.e. Mitchell, Slipper, Woodcock, Boric, Dagg, etc. are fit.

 

[_Ed_]

Well done, Reds. Congrats on a well-deserved title.

Tonight was the first and only time I'll ever support the Crusaders. They played really well, but it just wasn't their night.

 

[Hurricane]

I am quite concerned about the 9pm issue that may mean a lot of kicking - we are a running rugby team - this favours SA

 

[ripper868]

.KDFVNBKUAHR;ONw:eNHGKJNCVKAEEVK ZDVOINKIZDN JNFGDNVLMLTHMBKJTOIJLJNQWEBTGKNZ.NAK4BENM3LNHEWNFERK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LSGNBKNAR;BNFNZEHBNS.ZNB.AZENKJN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

z

REDS!!!!!!!!!

This hangover is well worth it.

 

[Quaggas]

.KDFVNBKUAHR;ONw:eNHGKJNCVKAEEVK ZDVOINKIZDN JNFGDNVLMLTHMBKJTOIJLJNQWEBTGKNZ.NAK4BENM3LNHEWNFERK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LSGNBKNAR;BNFNZEHBNS.ZNB.AZENKJN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

z

REDS!!!!!!!!!

This hangover is well worth it.

Well, congratulations to worthy winners,and Ripper. Obviously, Crusaders, memorable season.

Thanks to Somerset for a great tipping thread.

Clearly, another season with the Lions asleep at the wheel....80% of Africa's wealth, but not a competent rugby player in sight

 

[Athlai]

A respectable midtable finish for my predictions. 6th isn't all that bad when I was risking spooning it halfway through.

 

[ripper868]

Fantastic Game of Rugby last night.

End to End, Brutal defense, 3 fantastic tries. Pretty sure every player on both sides played well. Some Game turning moments from my memory banks -besides the tries.

Both sides had the chances to win it and i honestly wouldn't have been able to begrudge a Crusaders victory.

Fantastic end to what has been - for me anyway - a fantastic season. Bring on the World Cup and the 2012 season!

Big Boo's to South Africa for naming a 2nd string squad for the Tri-Nations.

 

[James]

Reckon we need a sub-forum for the Rugby World Cup guys?

 

[_Ed_]

Yeah, I think so.

 

[Somerset]

Definitely in favour of a RWC sub-forum.


Week 21 Points:
Athlai 3
BoyBrumby 3
Ripper868 3
HeathDavisSpeed 0
Hurricane 0
Quaggas 0
Samuel_Vimes 0
Social 0
Somerset 0
TT Boy 0

Final Standings:
TT Boy 93
BoyBrumby 89
Ripper868 89
Somerset 87
HeathDavisSpeed 84
Athlai 83
Hurricane 81
Quaggas 79
Social 77
Samuel_Vimes 76

Comprehensive win to TT Boy despite tipping the final incorrectly. Tie for second between Ripper and Brumby who both overtook me at the last minute by picking the Reds to win the final. Vimes takes last spot with some average tipping in the knockout stages.

 

[Somerset]

All Blacks 30-man squad for the Tri-Nations named yesterday:

Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg, Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford, Isaia Toeava, Conrad Smith, Richard Kahui, Sonny Bill Williams, Ma'a Nonu, Dan Carter, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Andy Ellis, Piri Weepu; Kieran Read, Liam Messam, Richie McCaw, Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Jarrad Hoeata, Ben Franks, Tony Woodcock, Owen Franks, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore, Corey Flynn

Crockett, Jane, Sivivatu and Ben Smith are all acting as injury cover although I'm slightly disappointed that neither Jane nor Sivivatu made it - they'd have been in my best team let alone the 30 man squad. Hoeata the bolter although I note several experts picked he'd make the side so thats not so much of a surprise with Boric out injured.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Pretty sure every player on both sides played well

Corey Flynn had a shocker, I reckon.

 

[Burgey]

I'm sure my opinion is bound to change after the Tri Nations matches, but at present:

All Blacks - Woodcock, Mealamu, O.Franks, Thorn, Whitelock, Kaino, McCaw, Read, Cowan, Carter, Sivivatu, SBW, Smith, Jane, Muliana; Hore, B.Franks, Boric, Thomson, Weepu, Nonu, Dagg

Wallabies - Robinson, TPN, Alexander, Horwill, Sharpe, Elsom, Pocock, Palu, Genia, Cooper, Ioane, O'Connor, AAC, Mitchell, Beale; Moore, Slipper, Mumm, Robinson, Burgess, A.Fainga'a, Davies

Thats assuming all players are available, i.e. Mitchell, Slipper, Woodcock, Boric, Dagg, etc. are fit.

Mitchell and TPN are out I think, and TPN most likely to miss the EC last I heard.

Shame, he's a good player.

 

[Hurricane]

Definitely in favour of a RWC sub-forum.


Week 21 Points:
Athlai 3
BoyBrumby 3
Ripper868 3
HeathDavisSpeed 0
Hurricane 0
Quaggas 0
Samuel_Vimes 0
Social 0
Somerset 0
TT Boy 0

Final Standings:
TT Boy 93
BoyBrumby 89
Ripper868 89
Somerset 87
HeathDavisSpeed 84
Athlai 83
Hurricane 81
Quaggas 79
Social 77
Samuel_Vimes 76

Comprehensive win to TT Boy despite tipping the final incorrectly. Tie for second between Ripper and Brumby who both overtook me at the last minute by picking the Reds to win the final. Vimes takes last spot with some average tipping in the knockout stages.

I would like to dedicate my 7th place finish to the people of Upper Hutt who I have represented with dedication and devotion throughout this tipping contest.

Yes to the RWC sub forum.

 

[Somerset]

Mitchell and TPN are out I think, and TPN most likely to miss the EC last I heard.

Shame, he's a good player.

Yeh Mitchell's out, not named in the Wallabies extended squad - neither is Berrick Barnes. TPN is included though.

 

[Hurricane]

Fantastic Game of Rugby last night.

End to End, Brutal defense, 3 fantastic tries. Pretty sure every player on both sides played well. Some Game turning moments from my memory banks -besides the tries.

Both sides had the chances to win it and i honestly wouldn't have been able to begrudge a Crusaders victory.

Fantastic end to what has been - for me anyway - a fantastic season. Bring on the World Cup and the 2012 season!

Big Boo's to South Africa for naming a 2nd string squad for the Tri-Nations.

I must say I enjoyed every second of the game. I usually don't enjoy scrum time. But I even got into those. Fantastic scrummaging by Crusaders in particular.

The rucks were great - the lineouts while poorly executed by Canterbury on the whole were still exciting. As Burgey said a very good advertisement for the game of rugby. I remember a couple of years ago with the particular emphasis on the laws at the time that rugby was a kicking game. I am glad we have left that behind.