Rugby 2009-2010 Thread
 

So given we don't have a rugby thread here, we can use this thread to discuss all rugby. Much like the Americans have with their threads.

So, as far as Southern hemisphere rugby goes. We're about to come into the second to final week of super 14. If you miss the Hurricanes Chiefs game, you're a mug. Chiefs are 3rd and Hurricanes are 1st on the super 14 table. But besides that, it's been such a close competition that at least 6 sides are still in contention, including the defending champions the crusaders, and the original competition leaders the sharks, along with South Africa's traditionally strong side, the bulls.

Today is a great day to post this thread.

As far as NH rugby goes, I saw a kick-off in finals rugby, which disgusted me. Can the NH save itself from my opinion with some input from Teem Sheep, or another knowledgeable rugby fan from the NH?

The Cardiff vs Leicester semi final on Sunday was amazing. Leicester up 26-12, pretty much controlling the game, then in the space of a couple of minutes, Cardiff score 2 converted tries in the corner, and sends the game to extra time and then the place kick shoot out which was absolutely gutting for Martin Williams and Cardiff. But hey, you've gotta decide a winner somehow. That thing probably won't happen again for another 10+ years so they're not going to change the rules on it.

Looking forward to the Lions tour now. Don't know what to expect really.

Golden point extra time works for me. Or just extra time, it's what they've decided World Cups with.
Yeah the Lions tour should be interesting, I can't see the Lions coming through with it though. I think their backs are a bit weak. O'Driscoll and Williams can't carry the lot of them.

Mind you, the South Africans are old, and their coach is shit. So who knows.

They did go to extra time for 20 minutes but still no team scored. I agree it's a bit silly when you've got forwards kicking, and flankers missing a penalty to mess it up for the team. But then again a golden point extra time could go on forever, with both teams not having the bollocks to go forward.

I think the Lions will lose 2-1. You just don't know though really, they could gel straight away and be magnificent or just be and absolute flop. New Zealand 2005 was just outstanding :shifty:

Tom Shanklin is now a doubt for the tour so that's a big blow.

Final week of the super 14, with 7 sides still in the running for the semis!
Bulls are top of the table, Chiefs second, followed by the Hurricanes and Crusaders. Bloody amazing the Crusaders have been able to fight back like this after their terrible start to the season, and losing so many players.
Big games this weekend, I'll def be watching the Chiefs/Brumbies, Crusaders/Blues, Reds/Hurricanes, Highlanders/Force. Bulls/Sharks is a HUGE one as well.

WEEK 14
85.Friday 15 May Chiefs v Brumbies Hamilton 19:35
86. Friday 15 May Lions v Waratahs Johannesburg 19:10
87. Saturday 16 May Blues v Crusaders Auckland 19:35
88. Saturday 16 May Reds v Hurricanes Brisbane 19:40
89. Saturday 16 May W Force v Highlanders Perth 19:45
90. Saturday 16 May Cheetahs v Stormers Bloemfontein 16:00
91. Saturday 16 May Sharks v Bulls Durban 18:05

this thread is primed for success.

Super 14 semi finals have been decided after an exciting weekend of rugby, with a lot games being decided in the final moments.

Chiefs are playing Hurricanes in Hamilton
Bulls are playing Crusaders in Pretoria

I think the Chiefs will pick up another victory over the Canes, but who really knows with either side.
If anyone is going to beat the Bulls, it's the Crusaders, but I don't think they have the firepower this season.

Just like the Rams.

In contract news.

WILKINSON SIGNS FOR TOULON

England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson has joined Toulon from the Newcastle Falcons, the French club said on its website.
Wilkinson, 29, has suffered a succession of injuries since kicking the winning drop goal for England against Australia in the 2003 World Cup final.
He has been sidelined for five months after dislocating his left kneecap during a game with his club.
Toulon have already signed Argentina flyhalf Felipe Contepomi for next season, when they will be coached by former France international Philippe Saint-Andre.
The French club did not elaborate on Wilkinson's contract details.
Club president Mourad Boudjellal has attracted several internationals, including South Africa lock Victor Matfield and former Australia scrumhalf George Gregan, for short spells at the club in recent years.
Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga coaches Toulon's backs.
Wilkinson is one of 16 new signings by Toulon, who made sure they would still play in the French top flight next season by finishing ninth in the Top 14 this year.
Other signings incluse Scotland wing/fullback Rory Lamont and Contepomi, as well as experienced French scrumhalf Pierre Mignoni and hooker Sebastien Bruno


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Well, if he can stay fit, he'll certainly do wonders for Toulon, but I can't see him staying fit unfortunately :(


Also


JACK SIGNS FOR WESTERN PROVINCE TO PLAY IN CURRIE CUP


Former Crusaders and All Blacks lock Chris Jack will play in South Africa before he returns to the New Zealand scene.
Jack is taking the long way home after negotiating a new Kiwi deal when his stint with English club Saracens turned sour.
The club has been taken over by South Africans and while he fell out of favour there he has used the South African connections to stitch together a deal that will see him reportedly play the Currie Cup there rather than the Air New Zealand Cup with Canterbury or Tasman.
WP Rugby (Pty) Ltd managing director Rob Wagner confirmed a deal had been negotiated for Jack to be a Western Province player from July 1 until October 31.
Western Province are keen to tap into Jack's vast knowledge sustained from an All Blacks career that brought 67 tests between 2001 and 2007 when he left after the World Cup disaster that year.
"It's very good for us because Chris has a lot of Test and Super 14 experience. He is a very good lock," Wagner told South African media.
"We hope he can perform a similar role as Federico Mendez (former Argentina front-ranker) and Tony Brown (former All Black flyhalf) by helping younger players. We were also looking at it from that angle."
Western Province are looking to increase their depth at lock because they expect to have Andries Bekker on test duties with the Springboks during the Currie Cup and Adriaan Fondse is injured.
Veteran AJ Venter retired after last weekend's Super 14 finished.
"It's wonderful that we are getting Jack," Stormers and WP senior professional coach Rassie Erasmus said.
"We're losing AJ and I think he was a much bigger asset than a lot of people realise. We are replacing him with a quality player and then still have Hilton Lobberts and Martin Muller.
"Jack will not be available for us in next year's Super 14, but we really want to do well in the Currie Cup."
At 30 Jack is still in his prime by tight five standards but he faces a real challenge to reignite his test career.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said the 2.02m and 115kg Jack would have to prove himself back home to come into consideration again.
That means he will have to force his way into the 2010 Crusaders on the back of playing for a South African provincial team.
Jack is a Crusaders stalwart, having played 89 games for the red and blacks from 1999 and was a key element in their Super Rugby dominance.
His test tally makes him New Zealand's second most-capped lock behind Ian Jones.
The Crusaders have Brad Thorn as their top lock and have rapidly developed Isaac Ross into a highly talented second rower.
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But they are losing Ross Filipo to a Japanese contract after this year's Super 14.




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Guess that means I'll actually be watching some Currie Cup this year :D

Wilkinson :nono: He's had about 20 comebacks since 2003. I don't understand why any club would fork out for him now either.

Also, did you hear about Jerry Collins signing for the Neath-Swansea Ospreys. They seriously need to get their act together next season, their squad on paper should be winning Heineken cups.

Nah, I hadn't heard about that, but it's good to see him moving on from Toulon. They are shithouse. And he's only 28.
Him and Marty Hollah in the loose would be devastating.

Super 14 Final tomorrow morning. Bulls v Chiefs in Pretoria, will be an epic match. But the Bulls are gonna be almost impossible to beat at home.

It's actually on at a normal time over here so I might watch it. Lions kick off their tour in just over an hour. Will be interesting to see how the team gel from the off.

Feckers mixing the lions game with the fa cup final

Yeah that's a pain in the arse. I thought the Lions game was 1pm.

Well Keith Earls is test bound.

Super 14 final is a blowout.

That match was ridiculous, the bulls were unstoppable. My man Bakkies was a force... nevermind Du Preez who just dominated along with Habana... but it's impossible to really single people out because from 1-15 to even the guys who came off the bench it was an all around awesome performance.


Also, the Lions almost shit the bed in their first match in SA, managed to sneak it out in the final 15 (didn't see the game though)

Was a shocker. Bulls smashed them. They spent a lot of time offside, but completely outplayed em. I stopped watching it and watched the baa baa's vs england.

Lee Byrne practically carried the other 14 men to that victory. Pretty embarrassing but I guess it was the first game, and the players have only been together a week. O'Gara is a pussy and Keith Earls should be back in Ireland by now.

Poor Keith Earls :( lol

Hopefully they can pull their shit together... I'm a Springbok fan til the death, but noone wants to see a blowout.

Earls hasn't even played a proper test for Ireland really, I am guessing it was mainly nerves at getting a Lions run out.

Lee Byrne was class on Saturday. He and Tommy Bowe have to be starting the tests. I thought O'Gara did pretty well as far as his kicking was concerned.

Shane Williams was poops and hasn't played well in a while, I think Luke Fitzgerald should see his place as up for grabs after the season he has had.

The number 7 for the Lions had a strong game.

Martyn Williams never has a bad game, he's a fucking machine.

what a bummer aboout the chioefs in the Super 14 final, they got their arses handed to them. but congrats to the Bulls, well played and deserved winners tghey were

Habana is a pussy, he wears more padding than the Dallas Cowboys.

it was sad to see a number 8 outrun a winger to score,

Aussie vs Barbarians this weekend, will be fucking sweet.

Not sure about the Aussies but the baa baa's squad is.



Backs: Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues & NZ), Doug Howlett (Munster & NZ), Sonny Bill Williams (Toulon), Seilala Mapusua (London Irish & Samoa), Luke McAlister (Sale Sharks & NZ), Josh Lewsey (London Wasps & England), Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers & Ireland), Ian Balshaw (Gloucester & England), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster & Ireland), Ratu Nasiganiyavi (Waratahs), Justin Marshall (Saracens & NZ), Chris Whitaker (Leinster & Australia)

Forwards: Sebastien Bruno (Sale Sharks & France), Schalk Brits (Stormers & SA), Clarke Dermody (London Irish & NZ), Greg Somerville (Gloucester & NZ), B J Botha (Ulster & SA), Chris Jack (Saracens & NZ), Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers & England), Jerry Collins (Toulon & NZ), Rocky Elsom (Leinster & Australia), Serge Betsen (London Wasps & France), Phil Waugh (Waratahs & Australia)

Heaps of great players in there, and a good few kiwis too :D

Pierre Spies has legendary speed though, there's no shame in any player getting outrun by him.

And Martyn Williams is indeed a fucking animal.

Also the Lions are LUCKY they are not playing Bulls, it'd be a bad fucking night for them, if they weren't demoralized enough, that'd put a nail in their coffin.

I don't think Martyn Williams played well on Saturday. Not many Lions did really. He and Wallace can and need to play much better.

The biggest interest in that barbarian game is to see if some deranged person (eggbert spam comes to mind) charges onto the field to stab Sonny Bill Williams.

His work on the floor alone is worth having him on the field.

Not suggesting he should be dropped, just that he must play better than he did on Saturday.

I don't think he played badly, just didn't do much in a poor team performance. Can't wait for tomorrow's game to see if they've settled a bit. It's an exciting team. Hope Heaslip has a strong game.

I just remembered James Hook is on the tour, why? :nono:

O'Discroll is in for tomorrow night so I think things will automatically be better. Everyone was writing him off in January before the 6 Nations started but he has been absolutely enormous for Ireland and Leinster. Everything so far has just seemed like "his year" and winning a Lions tour would be the hat-trick. Dirty South Africans will probably try to cripple him.

I thought O'Driscoll was past it at the start of the year too after a quiet couple of years but his performances in the Heineken Cup and 6 Nations proved he's still got it. I'm looking forward to Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones as halfbacks, should give the rest of the backs a better platform.

The front row destroyed Royal XV on Saturday but way too many turnovers at the break down. Hopefully they're all acclimatised by now and no doubt Heaslip and Jenkins will play out of their skins.

Fuck off. Sonny Bill is the man.