Some interesting snippets from various other rugby websites
Teams of the Week
Here are different teams chosen from different sites.
Super XV for Week Two:
15. Bernard Foley (Waratahs) 14. Corey Jane (Hurricanes) 13. Ben Tapuai (Reds) 12. Phil Burleigh (Highlanders) 11. Hosea Gear (Highlanders) 10. Mike Harris (Reds) 9. Sarel Pretorius (Waratahs) 8. Radike Samo (Reds) 7. David Pocock (Western Force) 6. Adam Thomson (Highlanders) 5. Juandre Kruger (Bulls) 4. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers) 3. Pat Cilliers (Lions) 2. Andrew Hore (Highlanders) 1. Sona Taumalolo (Chiefs).
Another perspective:
15. Zane Kirchner (Popularity: 43%), 14. Bjorn Basson (Popularity: 71%), 13. Wynand Olivier (Popularity: 43%), 12. Francois Venter (Popularity: 43%), 11. Hosea Gear (Popularity: 29%), 10. Morne Steyn (Popularity: 57%), 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Popularity: 29%), 8. Pierre Spies (Popularity: 29%), 7. David Pocock (Popularity: 29%), 6. Adam Thomson (Popularity: 29%), 5. Andries Bekker (Popularity: 57%), 4. Eben Etzebeth (Popularity: 86%), 3. Werner Kruger (Popularity: 29%), 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle (Popularity: 43%), 1. Dean Greyling (Popularity: 71%)
SA’s Super XV for Week Two:
15. Zane Kirchner (Bulls) 14. Gio Aplon (Stormers) 13. Wynand Olivier (Bulls) 12. Jean de Villiers (Stormers) 11. Bjorn Basson (Bulls) 10. Morne Steyn (Bulls) 9. Francois Hougaard (Bulls) 8. Nick Koster (Stormers) 7. Jacques Potgieter (Bulls) 6. Siya Kolisi (Stormers) 5. Juandre Kruger (Bulls) 4. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers) 3. Pat Cilliers (Lions) 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls) 1. Dean Greyling (Bulls).
Fourie’s a jolly good fellow…
It was with a smile that we noted how Fourie du Preez and Danie Rossouw’s Suntory Sungoliath won the Japanese championship this past weekend, beating Jaque Fourie’s Panasonic Wild Knights 47-28 in an eight-try feast.
Du Preez was, according to reports in the Daily Yomiuri, a massive part of the victory, and ended up, like Fourie, on the score-sheet in a final where no Japanese-born player was among the scorers.
But the Man of the Match was another international legend in George Smith, the former Wallaby, who scored a hat-trick, mainly off the back of a rolling maul.
What is interesting is that the Japanese season has now ended, with Du Preez, Fourie and Rossouw set to head back to South Africa in the next few weeks for a holiday, and all very capable of playing for the Springboks against England later this year.
One thing is certain, the former Bulls duo won’t be playing for their Pretoria side as their contracts prevent it, and Fourie’s contract apparently has a similar clause.
But for Bok coach Heyneke Meyer, should he want to use the trio, they will be refreshed and injury free by the time June comes.
Penalties mount
In the first two Super 15 rounds, New Zealand referees haven’t been slow to ping players for going off their feet and sealing off the ball.
The Chiefs were deemed to be culprits in their 29-14 win over the Blues with coach Dave Rennie and captain Craig Clarke perturbed at the 16-4 penalty count against them.
Rennie said he was not disputing the accuracy of most of the calls against the Chiefs.
“But it seemed to be going one way,” he said. “I’m trying to be tactful here but we got penalised in possession when we were going forward, for hands on the ground and things like that but we were the only side that got penalised for that tonight and a penalty count of 16-4 [in favour of the Blues] is a massive concern for us.”
Coach Todd Blackadder said sealing off hadn’t been a problem for the Crusaders, “because we haven’t been in a position to hold on to the ball”.
Look after possession and minimise your mistakes
It is a rugby cliché and seems very logical, but it is the exact opposite of the advice we’d give teams wanting to win Super Rugby matches this year.
No, we have not suddenly all gone bonkers here at the SuperWrap desk, we’re simply conveying what the statistics are telling us after two weeks of tournament action.
The facts are clear: in only two of the six matches played by South African teams so far has the team conceding the fewest penalties won the contest. And it’s the same story for ball control; here too only two teams can claim to have won a match because they made fewer handling errors.
It gets worse: 66% of matches were won by the team that spent the least amount of time on attack, while a staggering 83% of matches were won by the team that kicked the ball the furthest.
What the stats seem to be showing us is that losing teams should stop worrying about eliminating errors and start finding ways to avoid having to attack with ball in hand.
2012 Super Rugby Judicial Wrap: Week Two
There were two White Cards issued:
1. Rebels v Waratahs
Following a complaint from Waratahs Captain Daniel Halangahu that team mate Tom Cater alleged that The Rebels No. 4 (Adam Byrnes) had attacked his eyes, Referee Bryce Lawrence issued a White Card in the 27th Minute and informed the Rebels Captain Gareth Delve of the allegation.
Bynes was subsequently cited post match and Charge under Law 10.4 (m) Acts contrary to Good sportsmanship – making contact with the eye, and was found guilty by a SANZAR Judicial officer and was suspended from all forms of Rugby for 10 weeks, up to and including the 13th May 2012.
2. Highlanders v Crusaders
Following a scrum minor altercation Referee Jaco Peyper received a report from his Assistant Referee that Owen Franks had allegedly thrown a punch but was unclear where it landed. As Peyper had not seen the incident and the Assistant Referee was unclear in his report he penalised the Crusaders and put the incident on report.
The incident was reviewed by the SANZAR Citing Commissioner post match who deemed this incident had not met the Red Card threshold and therefore no further action was taken.
There were two Off Field Yellow Cards Issued:
1. Tristan Moran (Hurricanes)
In the 31st minute of the match between the Lions and the Hurricanes Referee Steve Walsh penalised Hurricanes player Tristan Moran for a dangerous tackle following advice from his assistant referee. Following review by the Citing Commissioner after the game, he reached the conclusion that the incident did not meet the Red Card Threshold however felt a Yellow are was an appropriate outcome. He was there for found in breach of Law 10.4 (e) Dangerous Tackling. A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously and the Off-Field Yellow Card issued.
2. Jason Eaton (Hurricanes)
Hurricanes player Jason Eaton was also issued an “Off-field” yellow card for contravening Law 10.4 (b) A Player must not stamp or trample on an opponent, following an incident in the 51st minute of the Lions v Hurricanes match. The incident was not acted on by the Match Referee Steve Walsh, however on further review of the footage after the match by the Citing Commissioner he deemed an yellow card was appropriate.
There was one Red Card issued:
1. Francois Hougaard
Francois Hougaard was given a red card by Referee Craig Joubert in the 62nd minute of the game between his team (the Bulls) and the Cheetahs on 3 March 2012.
Mr Hougaard immediately accepted the tackle was in breach of rule 10.4(j) as per the sending off of the referee. After consideration of all the relevant material, including the footage, Mr Hougaard’s good record and the rather unusual nature of the incident, I indicated a penalty of one-week suspension. Mr Hougaard, through his lawyer, accepted that and accordingly he is suspended from all forms of the game to and including Sunday 11 March 2012 (a one week, one match suspension).