Un-Australian Activities 2018

[waiopehu oldboy]

All going well the Un-Australian Activities blog will be back on the front page with a weekly wrap on those Super Rugby matches not involving Australian teams. This thread is to discuss anything & everything pertaining to those matches & hopefully attract some writers: if anyone's keen PM me with your availability/ preferences & I'll slot you in.

A coupla points to remember & which people may have forgotten due to the Western Force debacle:

The Sunwolves have joined the four remaining Australian teams, The Jaguares have joined the four remaining South African teams, the Cheetahs & Kings having shifted to the Pro14, and there's no change to the New Zealand Conference.

The eight-team playoff format remains but with only three Conferences winners there's an extra wildcard qualifying spot available. In theory, therefore, all five teams from a Conference could qualify for the Quarterfinals (Bloos fans are already talking this up as their best shot at a playoff spot since God knows).

ROUND 1
Stormers v Jaguares
00:05 Sunday 18 Feb*

Lions v Sharks
02:05 Sunday 18 Feb

*times are AEST

 

[Ulrich]

I'm hoping for a stronger SA conference this year.

The Lions should not be affected too much by the departure of Ackerman, but they are also without some first choice players.

The Bulls should get progressively better under Mitchell.

Robbie Fleck is heading into his 3rd year as head coach of the Stormers and his Kiwi assistant has had another pre-season with the team. They should improve on last year.

The Sharks have added Dick Muir as backline coach and by reading accounts that has brought some positive change albeit in pre-season friendlies.

The Jaguares can probably only get better having a new coach and a new captain..

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Any hot tips for Round 1? I'm leaning towards Jags on the basis they're already or soon will be in SA for Bulls pre-season match which takes the travel factor out've the equation, and Lions being as they're pretty much unbeatable at home (most recent home game being the notable exception )

Re: Mitchell, he tends to have a good first season followed by a so-so second followed by a player/staff mutiny followed by getting the flick & doing a bit of consulting then rinse & repeat. So, yeah, Bulls will probably go OK this year.

 

[Ulrich]

Well if the Jaguares win the first game it's going to be tough for the Stormers since they undertake their Australasian tour thereafter. It is a must win game for the Stormers.

 

[Slim 293]

The Jaguares can go the length of the field with some of the best ball skills, offloading and support play out there......... and yet not score any points.

 

[Dan54]

Well I thought the Lions/Sharks game was as good as could of hoped. Pretty good game of rugby, geez the Sharks look a big confrontational team, and Lions were Lions, very quick, and showed some good ball skills. Watched only part of Bulls/Jagueres and looked an ok game too.

 

[dru]

Pretty good first round of super rugby. I thought that Lions v Sharks was a great contest. God though, let's hope teams get passed this scrum debacle.

 

[Ruggo]

Lions are like a Kiwi side in how they play. Very mobile and skillful yet also front up physically.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

dru's excellent Week 1 wrap is up:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/unaustralian-activities/#disqus_thread

His equally excellent preview of the SA Conference has been up for a week or thereabouts:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/south-africa-conference-preview/#disqus_thread

Rumour has some CruSadists freak has had a go at an NZ Conference preview that could possibly be published in the next few days.

 

[Sully]

dru's excellent Week 1 wrap is up:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/unaustralian-activities/#disqus_thread

His equally excellent preview of the SA Conference has been up for a week or thereabouts:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/south-africa-conference-preview/#disqus_thread

Rumour has some CruSadists freak has had a go at an NZ Conference preview that could possibly be published in the next few days.

done! Will publish in the morning.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

It's up now:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/new-zealand-conference-preview-2/#disqus_thread

 

[dru]

One point I missed on the front page and worth noting.

Apparently Saffer sweat is different to Aussie sweat. Hot conditions in both games but no-one felt like they needed to blame a sweaty ball for poor handling.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^ I thought dew was the issue?

Round 2 U-AA

Highlanders v Blues in Dunedin
17:35 Friday 23 Feb*

Crusaders v Chiefs in Christchurch
17:35 Saturday 24 Feb

Lions v Jaguares in Johannesburg
00:05 Sunday 25 Feb

Bulls v Hurricanes in Pretoria
02:15 Sunday 25 Feb

*times are AEDT

 

[mst]

Nice work all. Good reads! Keep it up.

 

[KiwiM]

Blues named for the opening game vs the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Michael Collins charmed run continues with automatic selection at 15 despite no preseason and coming off a serious leg injury ...


Blues team:
1. Alex Hodgman, 2. James Parsons, 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5. Scott Scrafton, 6. Glenn Preston, 7. Murphy Taramai, 8. Akira Ioane; 9. Augustine Pulu ©, 10. Bryn Gatland, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. George Moala, 14. Matt Duffie,15. Michael Collins.


Reserves: 16. Leni Apisai, 17. Pauliasi Manu, 18. Michael Tamoaieta, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Sione Havili/Antonio Kiri Kiri, 21. Jonathan Ruru, 22. Daniel Kirkpatrick, 23. Melani Nanai.

Players not considered because of injury: Otere Black (knee), Blake Gibson (shoulder), Matt Moulds (knee), Dalton Papalii (hand), Stephen Perofeta (hand), Kara Pryor (ankle), TJ Faiane (calf), Jerome Kaino (ankle), Isaac Salmon (elbow), Jimmy Tupou (rib), Sione Mafileo

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^ how they gunna do the Paremoremo Jailbreak / Polynesian B-ball thing with two SWG (skinny white guy) in the back three? Dismal will not be pleased.

Is there some hope that Black might yet play this year? Or are they just gunna list him as "unavailable - injured" every week?

 

[KiwiM]

^^^^^^^^^ how they gunna do the Paremoremo Jailbreak / Polynesian B-ball thing with two SWG (skinny white guy) in the back three? Dismal will not be pleased.

Is there some hope that Black might yet play this year? Or are they just gunna list him as "unavailable - injured" every week?

Duffie plays with the spirit of Polynesian B-Ball (I actually think he has some Samoan blood) whereas Michael Collins plays with the spirit of Phil Collins.

I think Black is done - replaced by the underwhelming Kirkpatrick. However, Perofeta should be back after the Blues have their first bye 4 games in.

Meanwhile Highlanders have been named.

1 Daniel Lienert-Brown 2 Ash Dixon (cc) 3 Siate Tokolahi 4 Jackson Hemopo 5 Tom Franklin 6 Liam Squire 7 Dillon Hunt 8 Luke Whitelock 9 Aaron Smith 10 Lima Sopoaga 11 Tevita Li 12 Teihorangi Walden 13 Rob Thompson 14 Waisake Naholo 15 Ben Smith (cc)

16 Liam Coltman 17 Aki Seiuli 18 Tyrel Lomax 19 Dan Pryor 20 Elliot Dixon 21 Kayne Hammington 22 Fletcher Smith 23 Matt Faddes

 

[Dan54]

I am officially starting to get a bit excited with the start of the NZ/Aus conferences, I did catch the saffa games last week and enjoyed them, but obviously I a bit more built up for this week! For all the criticism of the comp it still does it for me.

C'mon THE CANES!!!

 

[dru]

I can't help wondering who is looking forward to this opening game (both teams first of the season) - the least:

Bulls v Hurricanes

I'm guessing the Bulls but who would want to kick off the season with an away game in Pretoria? Tough gig.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

ffs​