Semi-finals 2016 - Hurricanes v Chiefs & Lions v Highlanders

Preview for SF 1 - Hurricanes v Chiefs

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/preview-hurricanes-v-chiefs-semi-final/

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Chiefs by 5

I hope the Chiefs get up, but it could go either way.

I would also like the Lander's to get up over the Lions, for an all NZ final, but its a big ask.

I know I spent a lot of time going over footage of the canes last week, might distort my view, but god Barret and Peranara were good. Career defining good. Just a pleasure to watch.

I'd like an all Kiwi final so I can pretend that the Aus conference is better than it is. But I suspect the Lions may have something to say about it. When the J'burg crowd starts singing you just know its going to be big.

Lions v Highlanders:

At Emirates Ellis Park, Johannesburg (11:00 PM Saturday AEST)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe, AJ Jacobs
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse Van Rensburg, 11 Courtnal Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf De Klerk, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylon Smith. Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Steph de Witt, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Jaco van der Walt.

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (C), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Matt Faddes, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown. Replacements: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Joe Wheeler, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Dan Pryor, 22 Te Aihe Toma, 23 Marty Banks

TAB: Lions $1.85-$1.95 Highlanders

Hurricanes v Chiefs:

At Westpac Stadium, Wellington (5:35 PM Saturday AEST)
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: Glen Jackson, Paul Williams
TMO: Ben Skeen


Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Jason Woodward, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara), 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles (c)/Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Loni Uhila. Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli/Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Mike Kainga, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Vince Aso, 23 Julian Savea

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Sam McNicol, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (cc), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Sam Cane (cc), 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Kane Hames. Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 18 Mitchell Graham, 19 Lachlan Boshier, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Toni Pulu, 23 Shaun Stevenson

TAB: Hurricanes $1.60-$2.35 Chiefs

Anyway WOB, you want me to save you a seat on the Cane Train, or have the in-laws got you barracking for the Chiefs?? I was really blown away by how well both teams went last week, so not too sure which way this will go, bloody good news for Chiefs that Cane ok and Leitch coming back on bench certainly will make them feel good. Suspect the Chiefs may rule the lineouts, so Canes will try to keep ball in field of play.
Just a quick note, how bloody good has Fifita been going, continues to look like he may have a future in the game, and Woodward seems to be trying to prove me wrong on my criticism of him. Canes really need to TJ and Beaudy to play like they did last week.

Preview for SF 2 - Lions v Highlanders

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/preview-lions-v-highlanders-semi-final/

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I'm hoping the Hurricanes host, and win, the final. Doing so would give the NZRU a royal flush, with each NZ franchise having won at least one title. Plus I don't want to risk those cow cocky's drawing level with the Blues in the number of titles held.

On the other semifinal, given their recent travels and the quality of the Lions, the Highlanders would do well to still be in the game at half time. But I'm still holding out hope that the Highlanders can troll on for one week more.

If the Clan roll the Lions they'll have to fly back to NZ for the final, that'd make their last six weeks' travel NZ>SAf>Arg>NZ>Aus>SAf>NZ. Impossible.

Where's Shiggins and his boisterous campaigning when you need him?

I intend to remain strictly neutral so I can mock the Chiefs-fanatic whanau should they lose (as they mock me every time my lot lose) without running the risk of being further mocked should they defy the odds & actually win the damn thing

Well I shall go and make sure there are no sharp pickets on the fence for you WOB!!
I did have to listen to a few Chiefs fans last week though when I snuck back to NZ (again) for Brothers birthday. One Bro-in-law would have at least 12 Chiefs players in the ABs I reckon. Though what he would know god only knows as I explained to him he is stupid enough to watch League, and be married to one of my sisters, so his opinion counts for nothing!!
Though to be fair I did find it hard to argue when Leinert-Brown's name is bandied about, I really do think that boy has got the goods to go not bad at 12!!

I actually wondering who Shag Hansen would want to win tonight, he would probably be quite happy if the Landers went down and the 2 Smiths could get a bit of rest, and would maybe prefer the Cnaes to win their one to save Chiefs players in ABs having to travel.

Warm up fun! I had no idea he could kick.

Dane Coles must be sufferign from caulifower ear leakage to the brain if he thinks a rib protector will help him. my 2 broken ribs after 1 week? I could walk fine but dont fuckign touch me and dont make me laugh, cough or sneeze

TJP is prone to byronation but holy shit he's been ax murder the last few weeks. Just a turbine of unrelenting damage

fuck that shit. just switch allegiances to the Blues. Great to watch. Plus, no one mocks us. You dont piss on crippled childen when they've fallen down the well. No AB's clocking in to coast from paycheck to paycheck til test season. As Confucius once said, "no tall poppy syndrome when it's all gone up in smoke."

Cane Train bandwagon:

woah, if thats Sam Cane's bandwagon I'd love to see Ardie Savea's...

Steven Luatua, most mornings around Onehunga...

It is cold, windy and wet in Wellington at lunchtime today. Probably not as windy as last week but colder for sure.