Un-Australian Activities 2019

[waiopehu oldboy]

Highlights:

 

[Dan54]

Well certainly enjoyed the Canes game of course. I thought the Canes backline went bloody well obviously, as did Ardie as usual and was quite pleased with young Aumua at 2, he coming right nicely. Jordie certainly went well at 15, looks pretty bloody good at 2nd 5 too/centre too but think we got plenty of depth there in NZ. I personally think BB is really going well at 10 too, regardless of the talk of him being at 15.
F*** me wasn't ALB bloody good for the Chiefs in a well beaten team, talk about the lone ranger in their backline.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

ref O'Qweef refers to Sunwolves captain as "Thommo"? WhenFt did that shit creep in? What are you, roomies? Whatever happened to "Red 5" or fucken "captain" ffs?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

1. Crusaders 39 points no change
2. Sharks 26 up from sixth
3. Rebels 24 down from second
4. Hurricanes 32 no change
5. Bulls 24 down from third
6. Jaguares 23 back in the eight
7. Stormers 23 back in the eight
8. Highlanders 23 back in the eight

Lions (were fifth), Waratahs (seventh) & Blues (eighth) drop out.

QF1 Crusaders v Highlanders
QF2 Hurricanes v Bulls
QF3 Sharks v Stormers
QF4 Rebels v Jaguares

If it keeps raining I might have a crack at a "road home" thingo just to see how wrong I can be re: where everyone ends up on the table (but barring an horrific accident of some kind I think you can lock in the Crusaders as top seeds for the Finals series).

EDIT: it stopped raining but it's meant to be wet tomorrow so maybe I'll do it then.

Week 12:

Fri 3 Crusaders v Sharks
Sat 4 Highlanders v Chiefs
Sun 5 Jaguares v Stormers

 

[Derpus]

ref O'Qweef refers to Sunwolves captain as "Thommo"? WhenFt did that shit creep in? What are you, roomies? Whatever happened to "Red 5" or fucken "captain" ffs?

Bout the time Nigel started high fiving Richie mid game.

 

[Blake]

Pains me to say it but I think Crusaders have to let Ennor or Jordan go for the greater good, it's pointless them not even making the 23 some weeks versus probably starting most weeks elsewhere.

Reece needs to stay, though, at least for now as the Crusaders environment will imo be better for him than the more laid-back Chiefs or Blues (EDIT: as a person with some personal issues moreso than as a player).

I think Ennor is marked down to replace Crotty next year in the middle.

So its: Bridge, Havili, Reece, Jordan and Mataele that will have the 3 outside back spots, plus a bench spot and room for injury and resting. Imagine if Dagg was still in the equation.

Reece is brilliant (understatement), but I'm concerned about his tackling - slow to wrap the arms and goes higher than most. Can see some cards coming. Also hits more rucks than any winger i've ever seen - which i like.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Bryn Gatland gone for the season with what sounds like a nasty foot injury:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...s-no-10-bryn-gatland-ruled-out-for-six-months

Lurch now not expected back for another three weeks:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...-to-miss-three-more-weeks-of-super-rugby?rm=a

 

[Dan54]

Forgot the Clan had McKay in the background and could do job at a pinch.

Chiefs are going to keep hurting without Lurch!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

KR racks up his 150th, SamW, Mo'unga* & Crotty rested, Goodhue moved in to 12:

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, George Bridge, Mitch Hunt, Bryn Hall, Kieran Read, Matt Todd (captain), Jordan Taufua, Scott Barrett, Mitchell Dunshea, Michael Ala'alatoa, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Isi Tu'ungafasi, Oliver Jager, Luke Romano, Ethan Blackadder, Mitchell Drummond, Brett Cameron, Tim Bateman.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...acks-centre-jack-goodhue-to-secondfive-eighth

* read a coupla weeks ago that each time CruSadists have lost in the Razor era RM has been absent from the 23, also that they score significantly more points with him playing than without him. Put another way, you could view it as risky to rest him v Shorks than against a less-threatening team.

 

[Derpus]

^^
Not terribly controversial that the Crusaders are a worse team without NZ's best flyhalf playing.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ which is why you might rest him against a less-threatening team than the currently second-ranked Shorks.

 

[Derpus]

I think they are third, which is still pretty odd. How'd they manage that?

Edit: Second, forgot about the ridiculous conference system for a moment.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

No Beast this week, gone home injured:

https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Sup...ch-at-10-for-crucial-crusaders-clash-20190430

Sharks: 15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Sbu Nkosi, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Louis Schreuder (captain), 8. Daniel du Preez, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Philip van der Walt, 5. Ruan Botha, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Thomas du Toi. Substitutes:16. Akker van der Merwe, 17. Mzamo Majola, 18. John-Hubert Meyer, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Jacques Vermeulen, 21. Cameron Wright, 22. Robert du Preez, 23. Marius Louw

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Bender's back & Frizzell gets some crossword puzzle time:

Highlanders: Ben Smith (cc), Matt Faddes, Rob Thompson, Teihorangi Walden, Tevita Li, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith, Elliot Dixon, James Lentjes, Luke Whitelock (cc), Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Tyrel Lomax, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Replacements: Ash Dixon, Ayden Johnstone, Siate Tokolahi, Josh Dickson, Shannon Frizell, Kayne Hammington, Josh McKay, Sio Tomkinson

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...eturns-for-the-highlanders-against-the-chiefs

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Tribe get Laulala, Weber & Wainui back:

Chiefs: Solomon Alaimalo, Sean Wainui, Tumua Manu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Marty McKenzie, Brad Weber, Tyler Ardron, Lachlan Boshier, Luke Jacobson, Mitchell Brown, Michael Allardice (c), Nepo Laulala, Nathan Harris, Atu Moli. Reserves: Liam Polwart, Ryan Coxon, Angus Ta'avao, Jesse Parete, Taleni Seu, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Shaun Stevenson, Bailyn Sullivan.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...s-back-for-super-rugby-clash-with-highlanders

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Jaco Coetzee , 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Johan du Toit, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Damian de Allende, 23 Seabelo Senatla.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

10. Curwin Bosch

wow, is that a thing or is it very left field? haven't seen the Shawks yet this season. they better be more fun than this years anti-rugby, anti-try stormfront outfit

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ they are.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

25 straight wins at home & it ends tonight if they keep this up. Taking nothing away from Shorks who've been really good at doing what they do but we've been mostly rubbish.

 

[Dctarget]

25 straight wins at home & it ends tonight if they keep this up.

Surely you of all people know to never speak too soon.

Crusaders are not great tonight, but it's a joy to watch the Sharks big men in action.