Super 15 Discussion and Prediction Competition

[Hurricane]

Interesting that the two you quite rightly mentioned as having strong matches both represent Taranaki. Southland had a period a couple of years ago where their players dominated the early rounds of Super Rugby following their Ranfurly Shield victory, and Taranaki seem to be the provisional side outside of the major areas doing so this season - particularly when you throw Andre Taylor's name in there too.

He's a keeper.

Shades of John Gallagher.

 

[Hurricane]

Watched the 2nd half of the Stormers game. Incredible defence the likes of which I have not seen before.

They do have one play that I don't agree with. And many teams do it especially in 7s. When otago were threatening to spin the ball wide. The stormers sent a runner up to stand in the middle of their backline and look for the intercept. This means that Highlanders can't continue to pass the ball. It should really be offside play in my book. But every team seems to do it. The Stormers are the only team that does it as a tactic.

 

[Somerset]

Tipping competition week seven results:
Hurricane 6.1
Somerset 6.1
BoyBrumby 4
Quaggas 4
Ripper868 4
Johnners 4
Prince EWS 4

Tipping competition standings:
Somerset 32.4
Prince EWS 29.2
Hurricane 28.4
Quaggas 28.3
BoyBrumby 26.3
Johnners 26.2
Ripper868 25.2

Last man standing 3:
Eliminated:
Johnners (-)
Prince EWS (-)
Somerset (Blues)

Standing:
BoyBrumby (Cheetahs)
Hurricane (Bulls)
Quaggas (Cheetahs)
Ripper868 (Reds)

 

[Somerset]

Not sure how I managed to lose out on the LMS with the highest tipping score of the week...

Week Eight Fixtures:
Blues vs Sharks
Force vs Waratahs
Crusaders vs Stormers
Brumbies vs Rebels
Cheetahs vs Chiefs
Lions vs Bulls

Byes: Highlanders, Hurricanes, Reds

 

[Somerset]

Watched the 2nd half of the Stormers game. Incredible defence the likes of which I have not seen before.

They do have one play that I don't agree with. And many teams do it especially in 7s. When otago were threatening to spin the ball wide. The stormers sent a runner up to stand in the middle of their backline and look for the intercept. This means that Highlanders can't continue to pass the ball. It should really be offside play in my book. But every team seems to do it. The Stormers are the only team that does it as a tactic.

Why should it be offside? If they're quick enough to race up and shut down the opposition then thats just a good tactic. Good teams tend to exploit teams that do it too often so its not effective all of the time. I wouldn't say the Stormers are the only team that use that strategy but with players like de Villiers and Habana who thrive on intercepts, it suits their style more than other sides.

 

[Hurricane]

Somerset I am changing to the hurricanes - based on mixed reviews I read about them in the Dom Post.

Tipping competition week seven results:

Hurricane 5

Don't I have 6 points since I changed to the hurricanes Somers?

 

[Somerset]

Don't I have 6 points since I changed to the hurricanes Somers?

Ah yup, forgot about that sorry. Should be correct now.

 

[Hurricane]

Why should it be offside? If they're quick enough to race up and shut down the opposition then thats just a good tactic. Good teams tend to exploit teams that do it too often so its not effective all of the time. I wouldn't say the Stormers are the only team that use that strategy but with players like de Villiers and Habana who thrive on intercepts, it suits their style more than other sides.

Its bad for running rugby. In 1995 teams could have just sprinted as fast as they could to stand in front of Lomu to block the pass to him.

I think it is a negative tactic.

 

[Hurricane]

Week Eight Fixtures:
Blues vs Sharks
Force vs Waratahs
Crusaders vs Stormers could go either way but crusaders have no kicker atm
Brumbies vs Rebels
Cheetahs vs Chiefs
Lions vs Bulls

Never picked so many away teams b4 - Blues Sharks could also go either way.

Chiefs LMS

 

[Johnners]

Crap, knew I forgot to tip in something 8|

Blues vs Sharks
Force vs Waratahs
Crusaders vs Stormers
Brumbies vs Rebels
Cheetahs vs Chiefs
Lions vs Bulls

 

[ripper868]

Week Eight Fixtures:
Blues vs Sharks
Force vs Waratahs - supporting force
Crusaders vs Stormers
Brumbies vs Rebels
Cheetahs vs Chiefs
Lions vs Bulls

LMS: Bulls

 

[Quaggas]

Blues vs Sharks
Force vs Waratahs
Crusaders vs Stormers
Brumbies vs Rebels
Cheetahs vs Chiefs
Lions vs Bulls

LMS Bulls

 

[BoyBrumby]

Week Eight Fixtures:

Blues vs Sharks
Force vs Waratahs
Crusaders vs Stormers
Brumbies vs Rebels
Cheetahs vs Chiefs
Lions vs Bulls

LMS: Brumbies

 

[Somerset]

Blues
Waratahs
Stormers
Brumbies
Cheetahs
Bulls

 

[Somerset]

Arghhh...Blues!!!

 

[Hurricane]

Arghhh...Blues!!!

Porous defence from the Blues. But I think the Kevin M injury hurt them.

Hard to believe that the Blues ever were a gun team. But they have indeed been in seasons of Yore.

 

[Somerset]

Tipping competition week eight results:
Ripper868 6.1
BoyBrumby 5
Hurricane 5
Quaggas 5
Johnners 4
Somerset 3
Prince EWS 3

Tipping competition standings:
Somerset 35.4
Hurricane 33.4
Quaggas 33.3
Prince EWS 32.2
BoyBrumby 31.3
Ripper868 31.3
Johnners 30.2

Last man standing 3:
Eliminated:
-

Standing:
BoyBrumby (Cheetahs, Brumbies)
Hurricane (Bulls, Chiefs)
Quaggas (Cheetahs, Bulls)
Ripper868 (Reds, Bulls)

 

[Somerset]

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

Byes: Cheetahs, Force, Lions

 

[Somerset]

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

Byes: Cheetahs, Force, Lions

 

[Somerset]

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

Byes: Cheetahs, Force, Lions