2013 Super XV: Fixtures, Results & Table

Narrow losses to very strong defences last night.
Although barrett had a good game all round...especially the pass for the try the goal kicking in rough conditions didnt help.
I do get annoyed when one player can run over 25 meters to charge down a kick where the kicker only has to walk 4 to 5 steps. In the end the diff was the very two points and I wondered at the time.
Getting charged down used to be the ultimate embarrassment for a kicker but it seems its par for the course.
But good wins to both the reds and stormers. Hopefully the Chiefs can turn that around tonight.

I've a question for NZ fans. I've been watching a few games from the Blues this season, and I have to ask, why is Rene Ranger not being looked at? Surely with Smith on the wrong side of 30, Ranger looks like a fantastic option at 13? Time and time again I see him fending off or crashing through opponents, offloading wonderfully, fantastic support play and great defending.

He looks like one of the best 13s around!

Also, is Luke Braid an option for the 7 shirt? If not, why? He also looks very good. Very strong in contact and a great support player.

Rangers already an All Black and has had for lapses at both AB and sxv levels prior to this year. This year under JK he's been asked to take on a more senior role in the backs particularly in terms of looking after the younger players, of which this team has many. He's done this with real enthusiam and I think has given him a new outlook on the game, and as a team member.

This year he's looked to involve players and has a better awareness of the space around him making him more effective in the centers, rather than his previous wing position. The arrive and pilfer skill seems to be a necessary back skill these days and he's a master at it already.

He's also asked the selectors what he has to do and their response is to do what hes been doing. So he's definitely in the mix this year. I believe he's put off a Japan contract for this reason. Not up with the play on that. I agree though. Has stunning pace, strength and skills, just needs to point them in the right direction.

Luke Braid is carrying on from brother Daniel and looks even better in the loosie role. He looks good for McCaws role vs the French. Sam Cane and Todd from the Saders are also in the mix. Look for bolter Julians brother Ardie from the Canes as well. Stocks look good in the 7 pos and 2015 is by far no certainty for McCaw.

Luatua look's frontrunner to challenge Liam Messam for the 6 jersey though by last nights match Messam looks as good as ever.

Thanks for the insight, Taylorman.

Yeah, Luatua also looks like a huge prospect. Apart from his robust defence and ball carrying, what has impressed me is his decision making. He has a very good pass and offload, and knows when to take the ball himself or when to give the ball to players in a better position.

Yes he's come through the ranks as well, NZ u20's etc so isnt a flash in the pan. Things are looking good in the loosie area. Front row 12 and Centre look our weakness. Fullback we have Piutau and even Anscombe to back Dagg up.

Cruden and Barrett for DC, Perenara for Weepu and Aaron Smith. Ranger for Conrad is an option. 12 is a bit weak with Nonu the only standout, and even he's playing in a losing side, but he'll step up as usual. Locks are good, provided Ali isnt there. Wings with Savea, Gear at least are ok. Rangers an option there too. I'm also assuming Read doesnt need a backup at 8 of course.

Article on Steve Luatua from this weeks Rugby News:

http://rugbynews.realviewdigital.com/?iid=76552&sr=0#folio=14

The Sharks and Cheetahs will both rue their loss of bonus loints this weekend.

Keegan Daniel has shown again what an absolute idiot he can be, takes a rushed quick tap penalty right in front of the posts and loses posession, if the Sharks either went for a line out option, they could have not only perhaps have scored a try which would have brought them within one, or taken a kick which would have put them within 4 and the later lenalty would have out them within 1

That cost them a bonus point which would have been crucial in outting them 1 point ahead of the midddle pack.

The Cheetahs after having scored their third try showed the Kings far too much respect and took to opportunities at goal but could have gone for the line out and atry, or even a scrum, kr a tap penalty.

By doing that they missed out okn a bonus point.

Decision making is vital in this competition and as the Reds last weekend, made wrong decisions.

Table updated.

Great game this afternoon in Chch. Rebels came so close but Woodward's failure to find touch with that penalty was the turning point. A costly error. Some top long-range kicks were landed by Tom Taylor into the teeth of the wind.

Home town ref helped the Bulls yet again in Pretoria. That crooked throw line out call was severely harsh but then again - the fumble by McCutcheon when the Tahs were in control on the scoreboard was another piece of poor play at a crucial moment.

Folau looked fantastic - great under the high ball and some awesome running with the ball. The ref kept pinging him near the end of course but "c'est la vie", right Biltong?

This time I am going to agree with you, the Tahs played the better rugby and should have win.

Problem for them from a game management pount of view wasthe fact that if you want to beat the Bulls you have to win the kicking contest and your line outs, they didn't

Nick Mallet after the game went on a bit of arant. In his opinion the argentine referee had no clue what was going on in the scrums and breakdowns.

yeah, too many wins against the throw for the Bulls and the Tah's kicking game (whilst slightly better than usual) was still short of par/the Bulls kicking game.

That 3rd spectacular try - when he had his doubts about 'an obstruction' - it seemed (to me) as though he was dying to find a reason to disallow it.

Yeah, but the evidence was too obvious for it too be disallowed.

I was actually rooting for the Rebels this morning, O'Connor had a great game though.

Do you think Folau is ready for a Wallaby jumper?

I do. Tim Horan doesn't. But maybe he's just not wanting to show his cards. (a foil perhaps?)

I really enjoyed the Rebels attitude. No fear against the mighty Crusaders. They were impressive is most facets and I thought dominated Canterbury for that middle 40-50 minutes - just a couple of woopsies and missed kicks when they could have perhaps built a bigger points buffer. The 55m attempt was quite a bold thing to do but I still reckon they should have kicked for touch even though the wind was behind them.

Yeah agree about the line out option.

What I have found very satisfying this season is how the bottom feeders have surprised a few of the favoured teams.

It does show that a bottom feeder isn't necessarily a poor team.

Was thinking exactly the same thing too. They could definitely hold their own 'in Europe' and would give the top teams over there a scare. I reckon only 2 or 3 teams (ASM, Leinster and one of Toulon/Sarries) would be around 28-32 points on our table and the SXV top 8 would most likely have their measure.

HA

I just recieved an email from Superbru commending me on my performance this weekend.


7/7

Well done mate.

So you better sign up for my Lions Tour comp... seeing you are on a roll.
Did you get my invite?

I always forget to go there, but will surely join.

By the way, have you seen my utter dominance in the RABO competition?

Cheers mate. It's a bit early I know.
Already about 80 of your fellow countrymen/women.

80?

Love it when it is that big.

Biltong wrote:By the way, have you seen my utter dominance in the RABo competition>

No, I did it the last few years... sat out this year. What's happening?
(maybe i could quickly join, have a look, then bail out again)

just tried - needs Kiwi's approval to let me have a look.

you got 133 as it stands now, just joined.

Linebreaker wrote:

Biltong wrote:By the way, have you seen my utter dominance in the RABo competition>

No, I did it the last few years... sat out this year. What's happening?
(maybe i could quickly join, have a look, then bail out again)

I have been leading it for the past 2 months, 3.3 points clear of my nearest rival and only the play offs to go.

You're almost home then.

You know in the HC v2 pool I'm 9th... but in another only 1.42 points off 1st. Just shows how strong our lads are at tipping!

Well I am not doing to well in the HC, even with a 80%+ tipping record.

In the super XV I am way off.

Biltong wrote:you got 133 as it stands now, just joined.

Thanks mate. I think the Lions should win all but 2 of the 10 matches (hopefully!)

I think they will lose 3.

I'd like to say that too but don't want to jinx us.

For the love of God help me with my Super picks. I'm 50 points almost behind my brothers and mates. I've lost my mojo!

Pick the home team Kia, unless it is bottom 4 teams, not that it worked for me

Kurtley Beale has been named on the bench for the match against the Chiefs on Friday.

Yes LB just as Dagg is getting dropped by the Saders

He is having a bit of a slump. Hope its not a lot to do with his flatmate Guilford dragging him down.

Be good for him to get a taste of the bench life side of things so he's right mentally for the bigger matches this year...

I think it's good that the ABs know that they should perform or they get dropped. Good move from both teams. Sometimes you need a mental break as well as a physical one. You only have to look at Priestland to see the harm you can do by still playing.

I see Dagg was runover again this weekend, do you guys think he tackling technique needs work?

Saw an article in stuff where blackadder claims abs think their spots are guaranteed and so they can afford to coast through super rugby. I can understand both sides. Too many games to play at your maximum but could see more abs put on bench by coaches in the round robin games.

I wonder if this is the new philosophy that NZ is going to employ?

Resting their All Blacks through half the season, so by the time the Rugby Championship comes around they will be playing against Wallabies and Boks that have already been impacted by injury and fatigue

From the way it was reported in the NZ media, I understand Blackadder has dropped Dagg, not just rested him, even though he has kept him on the bench.

Yeah Laurie, it seemed like a big kick up the behind to say you are a crusader first and an AB second. But it's just not possible to play so much rugby at an intense level.

I like these new proposals for the super tournament. Have the conference system without the stars and then integrate them into the finals and have them play the tests. That is manageable.

How the Stormers aren't leading the Blues at halftime only they will know.

Not taking opportunities to kick for goal, First Aplon doesn't pass when they are 10 meters out, then later in the same move Bekker wants to cross the line and comes up short.

That is ten points down the toilet.

Petersen is having a mare of a game, missed two touches for the sideline that would have set up driving mauls.

Very very poor decision making and execution by them.

The Blues are just sitting back, and waiting for penalties to collect 3 pointers, and the ill discipline by Duvenhage and de Villiers are providing the Blues those chances.

Biltong the Blues contributed their fair share of dropped ball too, 4 knock ons in the first 4 minutes..but that result was a real "get out of jail" exercise.

anyway "W'ere back.."

I was thinking would nt it be great if we ever saw a team that had J de Villiers and Conrad Smith for a mid field,....well it was just a thought.

That game was disappointing from a couple of perspectives.

Blues took their chances.
Stormers F^&&* up their chances.
Jackson allowing Ali Williams to "swim" around the maul and then clearly stating it was through the middle was simply just BS, coming through the middle means you have to split the Stormers pack and go through the middle, he came aournd the stormers.



But alas just another example where a south African team conspire to shoot themselves in the foot with poor decision making, so even though Jackson has a poor game, the stormers in spite of scoring the only two tries in the match lost.

Story of my life.

aucklandlaurie wrote:
Biltong the Blues contributed their fair share of dropped ball too, 4 knock ons in the first 4 minutes..but that result was a real "get out of jail" exercise.

anyway "W'ere back.."

I was thinking would nt it be great if we ever saw a team that had J de Villiers and Conrad Smith for a mid field,....well it was just a thought.

that was one of J de Villiers best games in the midfield, but hell the decision making was poor.

Those were difficult conditions, for the last couple of hours we have had drizzly rain, but the ground surface is still quite frim, the end result being th ball and grass are very slippery. and knock ons .

The decision that I thought that really hurt the Stormers was the Linesman giving Auckland a throw in with about 7 or 8 minutes to go, a ball that clearly came off Ranger, that could have turned out really quite different.

They should have gone for the drop goal in injury time....he says with 20 20 hindsight.

Ja well, it is just another loss, one of those halfway through the first half you get that funny feeling nothing on the night is going to work out.

ah...a feeling I know well, we lost to the Reds last week 11:10.

Then you know exactly how it feels, I thought the reds were very fortunate, The blues made all the play.

I know its an unrealistic statment to make. But That Stormers team doesnt deserve to be the 4th team in the South African conference, They will move up the ladder, last year we all went on about how they couldnt score points and played siege type mentality rugby. yet tonight those tries they scored were very good considering the conditions.

The thing is our conference is very tough this year, the stormers have now lost yet another game by less than a score, it seems to be their season, last year it was the cheetahs.

Oddly both endings had the Blues and Chiefs having to withstand wave afer wave after the final whistle to get the result. 4 to 5 minutes of intensity after the bell. At least they both got there....just.