Un-Australian Activities 2019

[waiopehu oldboy]

Top eight unchanged but some movement rankings-wise:

1. Crusaders 42 n/c
2. Bulls 28 were 5th
3. Rebels 24 n/c
4. Hurricanes 36 n/c
5. Sharks 28 were 2nd
6. Jaguares 27 n/c
7. Highlanders 25 were 8th
8. Stormers 24 were 7th

Brumbies also 24 but PD of -28 c.f. Stormers -25.

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

Week 13:

Fri 10 Blues v Hurricanes
Sat 11 Bulls v Crusaders
Sat 11 Highlanders v Jaguares
Sat 11 Chiefs v Sharks

 

[Dan54]

Top eight unchanged but some movement rankings-wise:



Week 13:

Fri 10 Blues v Hurricanes
Sat 11 Bulls v Crusaders
Sat 11 Highlanders v Jaguares
Sat 11 Chiefs v Sharks

Geez WOB, I'll have to stay up a bit later to watch the games this weekend, heading back home for a few days!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ safe travels, Dan. I see ko for Bulls v CruSadists is 5:10 NZT so I'll be able to watch that before I leave for work.

Yet more injury concerns for Tribe with Boshier & Allardice set to miss Shorks this week:

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/spor...9-injury-toll-mounts-for-battered-chiefs.html

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Blues: 1-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2-James Parsons, 3-Ofa Tuungafasi, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu, 5-Josh Goodhue, 6-Dalton Papalii, 7-Blake Gibson, 8-Akira Ioane, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Harry Plummer, 11-Rieko Ioane, 12-Ma'a Nonu, 13-TJ Faiane, 14-Tanielu Tele'a, 15-Melani Nanai. Reserves: 16-Leni Apisai, 17-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-Scott Scrafton, 20-Jed Brown, 21-Augustine Pulu, 22-Otere Black, 23-Matt Duffie

Hurricanes: 1-Toby Smith, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Jefff To'omaga-Allen, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Isaia Walker-Leaware, 6-Vaea Fifita, 7-Ardie Savea, 8-Reed Prinsep, 9-TJ Perenara (c), 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Ben Lam. 12-Ngani Laumape, 13-Matt Proctor, 14-Wes Goosen, 15-Jordie Barrett. Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Fraser Armstrong, 18-Ross Geldenhuys, 19-Kane Le'aupepe, 20-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21-Finaly Christie, 22-James Mitchell, 23-Chase Tiatia.

 

[zer0]

A few weeks ago I'd have definitely been at Eden Park for this one. But the absolutely brain dead, hapless efforts of the last two games mean I will not be providing the dipsticks in Blue with any form of financial remunerations.

 

[Brumby Runner]

A few weeks ago I'd have definitely been at Eden Park for this one. But the absolutely brain dead, hapless efforts of the last two games mean I will not be providing the dipsticks in Blue with any form of financial remunerations.

Many more teams than the Blues are inconsistent with their results and efforts this year Zero. Blues are no exception. Don't give up on them just yet.

 

[zer0]

It's not the results so much as the effort. Their losses to the Crusaders, Jaguares and Chiefs all had good efforts (though the Jaguares effort was hardly pretty) that easily could've seen the match go the other way. Their matches against the Highlanders and Brumbies, however, had no such efforts. They just rocked up, muddled around for 80 minutes, collected a cheque, and went home.

Now if those poor efforts had been dispersed across the season, and were sandwiched between good efforts -- just like their loss to the Sharks -- then it'd be annoying, but could potentially be written off as something not being quite right on the day, or whatever. But they've occurred on consecutive matches at a point in the season when things are getting properly serious. That isn't a good sign for me. They also have no prior history/goodwill in the bank to suggest that they'll turn it around quick time, like if they were the Crusaders, for instance.

If they put in a good and intelligent effort this week against the Hurricanes -- win or, more likely, lose -- then I'd certainly consider going to the Chiefs match the following week.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

yep and home and away left vs the Canes AND the cantabs, things could get Tana-era medieval yet.....

A repeat of last seasons 7 plays 54 cleft-handed clotfuck at the new tinpot Lancaster Park is SURELY not in the offing again.....

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Handre Pollard (captain), 9 Andre Warner, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Lizo Gqobok. Substitutes: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Thembelani Bholi, 20 Paul Schoeman, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Divan Rossouw

CruSadists back to almost full strength:

Crusaders: David Havili, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Richie Mo'unga, Bryn Hall, Kieran Read, Matt Todd (captain), Jordan Taufua, Scott Barrett, Mitchell Dunshea, Michael Ala'alatoa, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Andrew Makalio, Harry Allan, Oliver Jager, Luke Romano, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Hunt, Braydon Ennor.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...-back-richie-mounga-and-ryan-crotty-for-bulls

Bulls, having drawn <8K to 'tahs, are selling 12K tix for the equivalent of NZ $2:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...-win-back-fans-for-crusaders-game-in-pretoria

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Clan & zoo get Squire back but not Wai-sake Na-hole-lo*

Highlanders: Matt Faddes, Jordan Hyland, Rob Thompson, Sio Tomkinson, Tevita Li, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith, Elliot Dixon, Luke Whitelock (c), James Lentjes, Tom Franklin, Josh Dickson, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone.
Replacements: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Tyrel Lomax, Jack Whetton, Liam Squire, Kayne Hammington, Dan Hollinshead, Thomas Umaga-Jensen

* chanted to the riff from Seven Nation Army.

Jaguares: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente (captain), 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Marcos Kremer, 3 Enrique Pieretto, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 Mayco Vivas. Substitutes: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Tomás Lavanini, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Matías Orlando

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Some injury relief for Tribe with Mitch Karpik back (but for how long?):

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

Sharks: 1 Thomas du Toit 2 Kerron van Vuuren 3 Coenie Oosthuizen 4 Hyron Andrews 5 Ruan Botha 6 Jacques Vermeulen 7 Jean-Luc du Preez 8 Philip van der Walt 9 Louis Schreuder (C) 10 Curwin Bosch 11 Makazole Mapimpi 12 Marius Louw 13 Lukhanyo Am 14 Sbusiso Nkosi 15 Aphelele Fassi. Replacements: 16. Fezokuhle Mbatha 17. Mzamo Majola 18. John-Hubert Meyer 19. Tyler Paul 20. Luke Stringer 21. Cameron Wright 22. Robert du Preez 23. Kobus van Wyk

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

It's back:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...-say-my-name-round-to-help-with-pronunciation

 

[Ulrich]

Tteee ranghi

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

FWIW I've tipped 'canes 34-19 loss Bleus.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ so obviously lB score first

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Bad miss by Gibson.

 

[zer0]

For all the various proposed law changes that get bounded about pretty frequently, the two changes I never see proposed, and believe are absolutely essential, are:

1. Everyone on each team gets a free punch of the opposition halfback prior to kickoff
2. Halfbacks have to be behind their #8's feet at the scrum

That the little cretins basically get a license to trash the ball at its source, when defences already have plenty of advantages, is just ridiculous.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

TJ's nous made Pulu/Akira/Nock look like club players

Canes defend well, take a couple of chances, do fuck-all else and win. Again. Like they have been all season

Blues dominate ball, get knackered, run out of ideas, fuck up 36 key moments, and lose. Again. Like they have been since 10666BC.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Highlights:

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

I know people are gunna say Mo'unga's the big difference between tonight & last week & that's partly true but IMO the real difference is they're playing dry weather footy in dry conditions c.f. dry weather footy when there's surface & atmospheric moisture aka "dew" about. When they get back to NZ (& possibly in CT next week) they'll need to tweak the game plan accordingly now that duck shooting season is here & temps drop quickly once the sun goes down.