Un-Australian Activities 2018

[Brumby Runner]

The conference system really has its drawbacks, but on points alone, both the Tahs and the Rebels would still be in the top 8, just with the Tahs moving down to its rightful spot of 6th on the table. Unfortunately, can't see the second Aus side keeping a spot on the log as the season progresses.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^ five of the Rebs remaining matches are against teams currently below them*, win three or more of them & there's no reason they can't play Finals footy. Big ask with four away games but Sunwolves, Reds & Blues all very beatable IMO.

* Stormers (away), Brumbies (a), Sunwolves (home), Reds (a), Blues (a).

 

[Dismal Pillock]

on points alone, both the Tahs and the Rebels would still be in the top 8

look who they get to play most weekends

 

[charlesalan]

look who they get to play most weekends

That is an interesting proposition. So if Crusaders and Hurricanes tanked v Blues, they would still lead the table (all other things being equal) and Blues would move up to about 5th place wiping out a second spot for an Aussie team (assuming SA get two of Lions, Stormers or Sharks in). Can't quite see Crusaders tanking in case Hurricanes dont as this could upset their placings of first and second unless Hurricanes did it first - wow - your mind works in mysterious ways DP

 

[Dismal Pillock]

That is an interesting proposition. So if Crusaders and Hurricanes tanked v Blues, they would still lead the table (all other things being equal) and Blues would move up to about 5th place wiping out a second spot for an Aussie team (assuming SA get two of Lions, Stormers or Sharks in). Can't quite see Crusaders tanking in case Hurricanes dont as this could upset their placings of first and second unless Hurricanes did it first - wow - your mind works in mysterious ways DP

ha, no, wasnt thinking of it from a Blues perspective. Meant for the other "proper" NZ rugby teams. They7d be looking long and hard at scheduling for the last 2 weekends to avoid each other first up in the playoffs I reckon

The Blues miraculously making the playoffs would be a pallatiative remedy at best. Akin to diving down to affix a shiny red "participation" star to the barnacled hull of the motherf******g Titanic.

 

[charlesalan]

so assume NZ top the table they will play 8 - SA maybe Stormers
then SA will play 7 - maybe Blues
then Aussie will play 6 - NZ - holy shit
then NZ v NZ (fourth plays fifth)so one NZ knocked out in the quarter finals

 

[charlesalan]

I'm sensing a NZ v NZ semi final followed by NZ v NZ final
now that cant be good for ratings can it?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NM-S is finally back:

Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Julian Savea, Matt Proctor, Vince Aso, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, Finlay Christie, Brad Shields (captain), Ardie Savea or Sam Henwood, Reed Prinsep, Murray Douglas, Michael Fatialofa, Ben May, Ricky Riccitelli, Toby Smith. Reserves: James O'Reilly, Chris Eves, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Sam Lousi, Gareth Evans, Jamie Booth, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Nehe Milner-Skudder.

 

[Up the Guts]

NM-S is finally back:

Probably my favourite New Zealand player to watch. Hopefully he's back for good this time.

 

[charlesalan]

NM-S is finally back:

Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Julian Savea, Matt Proctor, Vince Aso, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, Finlay Christie, Brad Shields (captain), Ardie Savea or Sam Henwood, Reed Prinsep, Murray Douglas, Michael Fatialofa, Ben May, Ricky Riccitelli, Toby Smith. Reserves: James O'Reilly, Chris Eves, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Sam Lousi, Gareth Evans, Jamie Booth, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Nehe Milner-Skudder.

where's TJP??

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^ ruptured an MCL early April, out for another 3-5 weeks.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Sunwolves: 15 William Tupou, 14 Hosea Saumaki, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Michael Little, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Fumiaka Tanaka, 8 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Pieter Labuschagne (captain), 6 Yoshitaka Tokunaga, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 James Moore, 3 Takuma Asahara, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Craig Milla. Substitutes: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Shintaro Ishihara, 18 Nikoloz Khataishvili, 19 Wimpie van der Walt, 20 Edward Quirk, 21 Yutaka Nagare, 22 Yu Tamura, 23 Semisi Masirewa

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Tuipulotu & Faiane injured, Ioane back to 12 & no subs named yet:

Blues: Matt Duffie, Jordan Hyland, Orbyn Leger, Rieko Ioane, Tumua Manu, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu/Jonathan Ruru; Akira Ioane, Kara Pryor/Dalton Papali'i, Jimmy Tupou, Josh Goodhue, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Sione Mafileo, James Parsons (capt), Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: to be named.

EDIT: confirmed 23: Matt Duffie, Jordan Hyland, Orbyn Leger, Rieko Ioane, Tumua Manu, Stephen Perofeta, Jonathan Ruru; Akira Ioane, Kara Pryor, Dalton Papalii, Josh Goodhue, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Sione Mafileo, James Parsons (capt), Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Leni Apisai, Ross Wright, Mike Tamoaieta, Ben Nee-Nee, Lyndon Dunshea, Augustine Pulu, Dan Kirkpatrick, Terrence Hepetema

 

[zer0]

So, by my count, we now only have five 1st XV players available, with two out of position (one more-so than the other).

1. Pauliasi Manu
2. James Parsons
3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi Sione Mafileo
4. Scott Scrafton Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
5. Patrick Tuipulotu Josh Goodhue
6. Jerome Kaino Jimmy Tupou
7. Blake Gibson Kara Pryor
8. Akira Ioane
9. Augustine Pulu Jonathan Ruru
10. Otere Black Stephen Perofeta
11. George Moala or Melani Nanai Tumua Manu
12. Sonny Bill Williams Rieko Ioane
13. Rieko Ioane Orbyn Leger
14. Matt Duffie Jordan Hyland
15. Michael Collins Matt Duffie

The Argentine test team is in real trouble if they can't beat this lot.

 

[Derpus]

​

​

Blues $1.37​

vs​

Jaguares $3.10

Fucken place your bets boys. Might as well be printing money.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^ it's as if no-one has seen the respective teams' last two games!

 

[The torpedo]

Still not as bad as the odds for the Hurricanes-Sunwolves game:

Hurricanes: $1.002
Sunwolves: $41.00

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Jaguares: 15 Joaquin Tuculet (captain), 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Javier Ortega Desio, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizaval, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Santiago Garcia Botta. Substitutes: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Javier Manuel Diaz, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Tomas Lavanini, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Bautista Ezcurra, 23 Sebastian Cancelliere

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Divan Rossouw, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Johnny Kotze, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Thembelani Bholi, 7 Jason Jenkins, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Substitutes: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Frans van Wyk, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Hendre Stassen, 20 Nic de Jager, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Travis Ismaiel

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

BSmith shifted to wing (which FWIW is where I think he'll start the France series with JBarrett at 15):

Highlanders: 15 Fletcher Smith, 14 Ben Smith (co-captain), 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown. Substitutes: 16 Ash Dixon (co-captain), 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Kalolo Tuiloma, 19 Alex Ainley, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Kayne Hammington, 23 Sio Tomkinson

KHam so good they named him twice I'll correct it when sport24 does.

EDIT: stuff.co.nz have James Lentjies on the bench so he'd be 21 & KHam 22 in a 6/2 split. Lentjies has been out for a while but he's a good 'un. Mauger obviously expecting a forward-dominated game.