Un-Australian Activities 2019

[waiopehu oldboy]

Far too busy at work & home for blogging this season but thought there should still be a thread for keeping up to date with non-Strayan Super Rugby.

Round 1:

Fri 15/02 Tribe v Clan
I'd go but we're having a bit of a do for a bloke who's been with the company & its predecessors for 60 years (not a typo, bloke is 76 & apart from a six month LOA while he got his prostate cancer seen to he's been there since pubs closed at 6 & TV wasn't in NZ yet. Amazing achievement, that).

Sat 16/02 Bloos v CruSadists
I'd go but last Thursday it took me over two hours to do the 116km to Penrose & on Friday even longer to get back. Auckland traffic is truly, deeply & seemingly permanently fucked. Thought about training it but don't fancy being vomited on or worse by some drunk bogan(s) - and that's on the way up.

Sat 16/02 Sunwolves v Shawks
In Singapore so the Sethfrickens don't bleat about all the extra travel they have do c.f. us Australasians.

Sun 17/02 Bulls v Stormers
Shoot me now, please.

Sun 17/02 Jags v Lions
Potentially the un-Australian MOTR.

 

[KiwiM]

Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Matt Faddes, Rob Thompson, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Tevita Li, Josh Ioane, Kayne Hammington, Luke Whitelock (co-captain), James Lentjes, Jackson Hemopo, Josh Dickson, Pari Pari Parkinson, Tyrel Lomax, Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone.

Reserves: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Siate Tokolahi, Shannon Frizell, Dillon Hunt, Aaron Smith, Bryn Gatland, Sio Tomkinson

 

[Braveheart81]

So Jack Debreczeni can't crack the Chiefs round 1 side despite losing Tiaan Falcon for the season during the week, and McKenzie being rested (or injured, I'm not sure).

Orbyn Leger who isn't even listed in the squad starts at 10 and Stephen Donald who joined the squad a few days ago is on the bench.

Interestingly, the Chiefs website lists Debreczeni as an outside back so perhaps they see him as a fullback option?!?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ JDeb has an abdominal strain, DMac has an ankle injury & MartyMac a hip injury.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12203562

Chiefs: Shaun Stevenson, Bailyn Sullivan, Tumua Manu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Orbyn Leger, Brad Weber; Tyler Ardron, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Brown, Michael Allardice, Brodie Retallick (c), Angus Ta'avao, Nathan Harris, Atu Moli. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Aidan Ross, Nepo Laulala, Taleni Seu, Jesse Parete, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Stephen Donald, Ataata Moeakiola.

 

[Braveheart81]

^ JDeb has an abdominal strain.

Fair enough. I wonder where he sits in the pecking order once fit and where?

 

[Up the Guts]

I'm not sure the Highlanders will be the same side without Sopoaga. And where's Naholo?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Fair enough. I wonder where he sits in the pecking order once fit and where?

Right now if everyone but Falcon were fit I'd say he's the third-choice 10 behind DMac & Beaver simply because Beaver has those 100+ Super Rugby matches behind him.

 

[Dan54]

Right now if everyone but Falcon were fit I'd say he's the third-choice 10 behind DMac & Beaver simply because Beaver has those 100+ Super Rugby matches behind him.

I would reckon he behind DMac, he went pretty well in trial game last week, and don't think Beaver has played any rugby so will be behind, shit Beaver behind Leger who is basically a centre, and looked completely lost against Reds last week!

 

[PaarlBok]

Brutes vs Stormers will be interesting. Brutes are the favourates at Loftus and look much stronger with Vermeulen and Brits in their ranks. Brutes by 50

 

[KiwiM]

Blues named.

Very interesting to see Ruru at 9 and Pulu on the bench. Ruru has a real opportunity in this game.

15 Michael Collins, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 Ma’a Nonu, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Otere Black, 9 Jonathan Ruru; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c) , 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 James Parsons, 1 Alex Hodgman
Reserves: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Matt Matich, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Sonny Bill Williams.

 

[KiwiM]

Crusaders named

Crusaders have opted to start their AB props whereas Blues are bringing their AB props off the bench.

Crusaders: David Havili, Manasa Mataele, Braydon Ennor, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Richie Mo'unga, Bryn Hall, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Matt Todd (c), Jordan Taufua, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett, Owen Franks, Andrew Makalio, Joe Moody. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Tim Perry, Michael Ala'alatoa, Luke Romano, Tom Sanders, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Hunt, Will Jordan.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ TAB odds suggest a massacre but I'm not buying it. CruSadists by <10.

 

[PaarlBok]

Sunwolves v Sharks - 12:55
Sunwolves
15 Gerhard van den Heever, 14 Semisi Masirewa, 13 Shane Gates, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Kaito Shigeno, 8 Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, 7 Ed Quirk, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 James Moore, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Asaeli Valu, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Craig Millar (captain)

Substitutes: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Awe Helu, 20 Shuhei Matsuhashi, 21 Keisuke Uchida, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Michael Little
Sharks
Substitutes: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Phendulani Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Rhyno Smith, 23 Jeremy Ward

Bulls v Stormers - 17:15
Bulls
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Jessie Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Lood de Jager (captain), 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Lizo Gqoboka
Substitutes: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Eli Snyman, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Dylan Sage

DHL Stormers: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 SP Marais, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Kobus van Dyk, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Dan du Plessis.

Jaguares v Lions - 23:40
Jaguares
TBA
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies 9 Nic Groom, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith
Substitutes: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Frans van Wyk, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Robert Kruger, 21 Gianni Lombard/Dillon Smit, 22 Wandisile Simelane, 23 Ruan Combrinck

 

[PaarlBok]

Sharks, Bulls & Jaquars by 50

 

[Jeeper]

So the year kicks off well with a ridiculous red card in the chiefs v highlanders match

 

[Up the Guts]

So the year kicks off well with a ridiculous red card in the chiefs v highlanders match

That’s how you know the season has really started.

 

[zer0]

It's Glen Jackson and his 60 Chiefs caps. Not surprising, unfortunately. We can also add another TMO to the list who apparently must've failed primary school comprehension in over ruling an on-field Highlanders try at the start of the match.

 

[Up the Guts]

Looks like the red card might have actually fired the Highlanders into action.

 

[zer0]

Glen Jackson will be disappointed with the teams performance tonight. Did every thing he could, but the other boys just couldn't close it out. Can probably put it down to early season rust, but the Chiefs will need to work on their cohesion across all 16 players if they're wanting to make it to the postseason.

 

[TSR]

Glen Jackson will be disappointed with the teams performance tonight. Did every thing he could, but the other boys just couldn't close it out. Can probably put it down to early season rust, but the Chiefs will need to work on their cohesion across all 16 players if they're wanting to make it to the postseason.

Always hard to see a guy bust his guts only to be let down by his teammates.