2013 Super XV: Fixtures, Results & Table

There is only seven teams in it now.

Chiefs and Bulls my tip for coming first and second.

The Tahs have spiced up the final matches in Oz, they can possible ruin it for either of the Reds or Brumbies (in fact they did for the Brumbies)

Then my next bet is the Crusaders with the Blues and Cheetahs fighting it our ofr 6th place.

The Cheetahs had one of their most important matches this past weekend, had they lost that they would have been out.

I think you're right about the Cheetahs... I think they will run out of steam. I for one am amazed at their performances though, fair play to them.

I thought with all the experience they lost they were going to struggle.

Drotske has done very very well and must have known the talent which was coming through.. hence why he was happy to lose so many players.

Look lets not fool ourselves, the Cheetahs used up every bit of luck and good fortune they had last weekend, much like the Reds used up their's earlier in the comp.

On any other day the Reds would have finished those tries, the Cheetahs were just so desperate and somehow managed to keep to tries held up.

beautiful set piece move by the cheetahs though.... when those things happen its a joy to watch... especially from phase 1 set piece ball.

True, they have always been a favoured team for me purely because of the way they play rugby, but I just have this feeling they aren't going to make the play offs.

I agree.... bridge too far. Next year with Goosen back will be a test for any team. Could win the conference next year. Amazing turn around.

Just a little bit too early to write them off but they sure are great to watch- though probably only a week or two early.

They use the width of the park to the max with ball in hand and I find myself looking for when theyre matches are played before any of the others.

For me its when all 5 teams take up that open playing style and start pushing it into Bokland that really gives me the creepies.

No need to worry about Taylorman, our coaches are too conservative.

Perhaps... I think theyll get forced there eventually...supply and demand kind of forces in play.

I'm almost resigned to the Saders being the likely lifters of this years tourney. They have a lot of smarts about them. More or less a conference final tonight vs the Chiefs who for me are getting a bit loose with ball in hand. Good battle of the loosies, 9's and 10's tonight- Read and Todd vs Cane &co. Ellis vs TKB and carter vs Cruden.

Great game by the Chiefs and Crusaders.

Well earned win there for DA CHIEFS

Yes they fronted up well the Chiefs. Clearly our top twop sides for the finals. Blues get to take on the oz best tonight as a last chance redeemer but theyre still missing that ability to absorb pressure and control play. You dont win this comp with all out attack alone. 3 straight losses for Jake White? Be a first since taking over the Brumbies.

He managed to avoid that 3 straight loss.

Table updated.

Yep good old blues one dimensional gameplan in full force again last night. The Blues rise this year will have served the AB's by the end of the year with a couple of new players likely to boost the backs but they still need to find a full gameplan. This was an ideal time to catch the Brumbies cold, at homw etc and they couldnt do that. No way they can win 3 knockout matches against varies opponents unless a serious change in patterns is found. Not very happy occasions for the tahs or Reds so its all over the place the Chiefs, Bulls coming out of this weekend the real winners- with the Brumbies.

Plays of the last couple of rounds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ksSI5kpRFHY

Richie McCaw's been spotted at Crusaders' training, odds are he'll be back in red & black in July

Cheetah vs
Bulls for pole position of the SA division, If you told me this a year ago...

Crusaders versus New south Wales tonight.

Cam Crawford in.

They looked pumped tonight but the Crusaders usually have the wood on us.

Great play from the Tahs, you must be happy LB.

Not yet mate. I tipped the Crusaders of course.

I hope it's not a win/lose scenario.... you know when you tip against your own and they bloody win? There's still a long way to go yet as Carter nails one.

10-3, 25 mins gone.

Big concern for NZ if Read's neck injury is serious. Crusaders get a shaky but much needed 4 points. Not looking in good nick though since the Blues match.

Only the Blues in 7th pos ( but with 2 games in hand) up only really have realistic chances of the top 6 after the Tahs and Canes lost last night. It'll be typical of Josephs Highlanders to dent the Blues chances tonight but they'll only have themselves to blame. Potential Sxv winning sides don't lose to the lowest place side...

Ohhh...and Ali's last chance to give him an excuse to revive hia AB career...though Thrush has already been brought into the squad...

Wow 30 minutes into the match and Blues are getting smoked by Highlanders. I was about to write the score was 22-0, but Hosea Gear just ran through about three guys and the score is now 29-0, still with 5 minutes to go in the first half.

Is this the Blues being awful or the Highlanders finally playing a proper match of Rugby this season?

This is great phase rugby by the Highlanders, that little Tanaka is clearing the rucks very nicely indeed.

Ben Smith the Birthday boy is having a cracker.

A freaky stat was just shown on tv.
Blues have made 98 tackles so far and the Highlanders only 16. Still in the first half.

Blues get a try but that won't stop JK's rollocking at half time.

38-21 with 5 mins remaining.
Gutsy performance by the Highlanders.

Blues have come back into the match and showed what they should've been doing all along. Ali Williams has all the tact with the ref of a rutting rhino and the Blues have been caned in the penalty count. Highlanders have come back into this game after going off the boil.

Just got a text from Mum - "Ali Williams a bully!"

Bugger!

Join the club, laurie and you too Taylorman (your predictions this week were a curse like mine!)

Oh well, at least we can now concentrate on the other matches I suppose?

jeez talk about an exercise in frustration....

LB Michael Cheka did a brilliant interview today over here on radio sport,he didnt leave anything out (subject being referees) he made some very very good points..

I read his response after the game. Without sounding like a sore loser... I tended to agree with him. At least he had the balls to say what he thought about the game and I thought he was sort of diplomatic (and angry) and raised some fair points as you say.

Quade not helping his Wallabies selection chances with that charge-down try to Fuglistaller but he did play a part in the lead up to the Reds first try with Morahan's intercept. ...and now he calmly pots a field goal. Reds 13-10

Another charge-down!

Quade! Twice in 5 minutes.

I Think the best first five 8th in this game is the Kiwi wearing the Blue Number 10 jersey.

I feel gutted for the guy. He's just got to pick himself up and try and turn things around in the 2nd half.

Dont worry LB Dingo will pick him , maybe not for the first test, he doesnt want to look like hes backing down, but he will.

This on field mike is picking up more colourful language than a Kevin Wilson concert!

Poor Scott Higginbotham - looks like a dislocated shoulder.

Yeah he went straight off to the sheds. Looked like it popped out on impact.

Doc Grey reckons it's a grade 2+ AC separation or a clavicle... more bad news for the Wallabies. This is almost unbearable now.

A try to Quade in the end... just on the line. 33-20 final score.

The Golden Lions played Samoa today at Ellispark.

Lions thumped them 74-14

First half was very good and Samoa was very competitive although they really struggled at scrum time.

The biggest problem for Samoa was their defensive organisation, huge gaps that was fully exploited by the Lions who used their backline to great effect.

There is still quite a big number of Samoans to arrive from Eyrope though, so I doubt you can read much into this performance.

The Lions however really played beautiful running rugby, great offloads, set pices were well executed and they have a boatload full of pace in the back three.

How is JOC only 22?

Linebreaker wrote:Join the club, laurie and you too Taylorman (your predictions this week were a curse like mine!)

Oh well, at least we can now concentrate on the other matches I suppose?

I mentioned the H'ders might get up for this...under the pump, at home, nothing to lose and several playing for fringe spots in the AB's- all played well- especially Ben Smith who might finally be rewarded for being a model of consistency over the years, wouldnt be surprised if Dagg doesnt make the squad.

What time (NZ) is the announcement?

ChequeredJersey wrote:How is JOC only 22?

He was born on 5th July, 1990

Linebreaker wrote:What time (NZ) is the announcement?

Sorry LB it was 2.30 today. I'll update my earlier posting in the International section

Taylorman wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:What time (NZ) is the announcement?

Sorry LB it was 2.30 today. I'll update my earlier posting in the International section

cheers mate.

Linebreaker wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:How is JOC only 22?

He was born on 5th July, 1990

I meant how on Earth can he already be key to the Wallabies' efforts and the player he is at age 22!

ChequeredJersey wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:How is JOC only 22?

He was born on 5th July, 1990

I meant how on Earth can he already be key to the Wallabies' efforts and the player he is at age 22!

He was an International at 18 and had his Super Rugby debut at 17. Freaky, I know.