Super Rugby is already in Round 2, with the Antipodion teams also taking part this weekend. We have 7 games in Round 2, with 2 games on Friday, 4 games on Saturday and 1 game in the early hours (SA Time) on Sunday morning.
The Melbourne Rebels have a bye weekend, right at the outset, but of course Bye Points fall away in 2014.
In June / July 2014 the Antipion teams will catch up in played games with the South African counterparts, when the South African sides sit out for 1 Round.
The Combined Log will therefore be skewed for the majority of the competition and one has to question why individual countries are allowed to start such a long competition ahead of it’s rivals. In 2013 the Australian sides started a week early, but at least they had the excuse that they needed an extra week in the middle of the year to prepare for the British & Irish Lions series, which they lost.
(The Weekend Teams are also up under the Main Menu, Super Rugby, 2014, Weekend Teams.)
Super Rugby – Round 2
Crusaders
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Chiefs
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| 21 February at 08:35 |
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- Team: 15. Israel Dagg, 14. Johnny McNicholl, 13. Reynold Lee-Lo, 12. Ryan Crotty, 11. Nafi Tuitavake, 10. Tyler Bleyendaal, 9. Andy Ellis, 8. Luke Whitelock, 7. Richie McCaw (Captain), 6. George Whitelock, 5. Dominic Bird, 4. Sam Whitelock, 3. Owen Franks, 2. Corey Flynn, 1. Tim Perry
- Replacements: 16. Ben Funnell, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Nepo Laulala, 19. Luke Romano, 20. Matt Todd, 21. Willi Heinz, 22. Tom Taylor, 23. Rob Thompson
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- Team: 15. Mils Muliaina, 14. Tim Nanai-Williams, 13. Robert Fruean, 12. Charlie Ngatai, 11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10. Aaron Cruden, 9. Augustine Pulu, 8. Kane Thompson, 7. Tevita Koloamatangi, 6. Liam Messam, 5. Brodie Retallick, 4. Michael Fitzgerald, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 2. Rhys Marshall, 1. Jamie MacKintosh
- Replacements: 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Pauliasi Manu, 18. Ben Afeaki, 19. Matt Symons, 20. Nick Crosswell, 21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22. Andrew Horrell, 23. James Lowe
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Toyota Cheetahs
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Vodacom Bulls
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| 21 February at 19:10 |
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- Team: 15. Willie Le Roux, 14. Cornal Hendricks, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Francois Venter, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Shaun Venter, 8. Philip Van der Walt, 7. Pieter Labuschagne, 6. Boom Prinsloo, 5. Francois Jakobus Uys, 4. Lodewyk de Jager, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Adriaan Strauss (Captain), 1. Caylib Oosthuizen
- Replacements: 16. Ryno Barnes, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Maks Van Dyk, 19. Rynard Landman, 20. Jean Cook, 21. Sarel Pretorius, 22. Elgar Watts, 23. Hennie Daniller
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- Team: 15. Jurgen Visser, 14. Akona Ndungane, 13. JJ Engelbrecht, 12. Jan Serfontein, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Louis Fouche, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Jacques ‘Vleis’ Engelbrecht, 7. Jacques Du Plessis, 6. Jono Ross, 5. Grant Hattingh, 4. Flip van der Merwe (Captain), 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Callie Visagie, 1. Dean Greyling
- Replacements: 16. Mbongeni Mbonambi, 17. Frik Kirsten, 18. Victor Matfield, 19. Wiaan Liebenberg, 20. Piet van Zyl, 21. Handre Pollard, 22. Ulrich Beyers, 23. Marcel Van Der Merwe
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Highlanders
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Blues
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| 22 February at 08:35 |
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- Team: 15. Ben Smith (Co-Captain), 14. Richard Buckman, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 12. Shaun Treeby, 11. Patrick Osborne, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Nasi Manu (C0-Captain), 7. Shane Christie, 6. Gareth Evans, 5. Jarrad Hoeata, 4. Brad Thorn, 3. Chris King, 2. Liam Coltman, 1. Kane Hames
- Replacements: 16. Ged Robinson, 17. Matias Diaz, 18. Craig Millar, 19. Josh Bekhuis, 20. TJ Ioane, 21. Fumiaki Tanaka, 22. Hayden Parker, 23. Phil Burleigh
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- Team: 15. Charles Piutau, 14. Frank Halai, 13. Jackson Willison, 12. Francis Saili, 11. George Moala, 10. Chris Noakes, 9. Piri Weepu, 8. Peter Saili, 7. Luke Braid, 6. Steven Luatua, 5. Tom Donnelly, 4. Liaki Moli, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. James Parsons, 1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
- Replacements: 16. Tom McCartney, 17. Sam Prattley, 18. Angus Ta’avao, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Brendon O’Connor, 21. Bryn Hall, 22. Benji Marshall, 23. Tevita Li
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Brumbies
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Reds
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| 22 February at 10:40 |
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- Team: 15. Jesse Mogg, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Andrew Smith, 12. Pat McCabe, 11. Joseph Tomane, 10. Matt Toomua, 9. Nic White, 8. Jarrad Butler, 7. David Pocock, 6. Ben Mowen (Captain), 5. Sam Carter, 4. Scott Fardy, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Scott Sio
- Replacements: 16. Siliva Siliva, 17. Ruan-Henry Smith, 18. Ruaidhri Murphy, 19. Leon Power, 20. Locky McCaffrey, 21. Conrad Hoffmann, 22. Tevita Kuridrani, 23. Lionel Cronje
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- Team: 15. Aidan Toua, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Ben Tapuai, 12. Mike Harris, 11. Dom Shipperley, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia, 8. Jake Schatz, 7. Liam Gill, 6. Eddie Quirk, 5. James Horwill (Captain), 4. Rob Simmons, 3. Greg Holmes, 2. Saia Fainga’a, 1. James Slipper
- Replacements: 16. James Hanson, 17. Ben Daley, 18. Jono Owen, 19. Ed O’Donoghue, 20. Beau Robinson, 21. Nick Frisby, 22. Anthony Fainga’a, 23. Chris Feauai-Sautia
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Cell C Sharks
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Hurricanes
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| 22 February at 17:05 |
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- Team: 15. SP Marais, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Frans Steyn, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4. Anton Bresler, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis (Captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira
- Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Stephan Lewies, 20. Jean Deysel, 21. Charl McLeod, 22. Heimar Williams, 23. S’bura Sithole.
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- Team: 15. Marty Banks, 14. Cory Jane, 13. Conrad Smith (Captain), 12. Hadleigh Parkes, 11. Julian Savea, 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. TJ Perenara, 8. Blade Thomson, 7. Jack Lam, 6. Faifili Levave, 5. Mark Abbott, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2. Dane Coles, 1. Ben Franks
- Replacements: 16. Motu Matu’u, 17. Chris Eves, 18. John Schwalger, 19. Mark Reddish, 20. Adam Hill, 21. Chris Smylie, 22. Alapati Leiua, 23. James Marshall
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Lions
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DHL Stormers
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| 22 February at 19:10 |
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- Team: 15. Chrysander Botha, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Stefan Watermeyer, 12. Alwyn Hollenbach, 11. Ruan Combrinck, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Warren Whiteley (Captain), 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Franco Mostert, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Schalk van der Merwe
- Replacements: 16. Willie Wepener, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. MB Lusaseni, 20. Warwick Tecklenburg, 21. Ross Cronje, 22. JW Jonker, 23. Coenie van Wyk
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- Team: 15. Gio Aplon, 14. Kobus van Wyk, 13. Michael van der Spuy, 12. Jean de Villiers (Captain), 11. Damian de Allende, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Louis Schreuder, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Schalk Burger, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Manuel Carizza, 4. Rynhardt Elstadt, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1. Steven Kitshoff
- Replacements: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Oliver Kebble, 18. Pat Cilliers, 19. Michael Rhodes, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Nick Groom, 22. Kurt Coleman, 23. Ryno Eksteen
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Waratahs
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Force
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| 23 February at 07:05 |
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- Team: 15. Israel Folau, 14. Alofa Alofa, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Peter Betham, 10. Bernard Foley, 9. Nick Phipps, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Michael Hooper, 6. Dave Dennis (Captain), 5. Kane Douglas, 4. Will Skelton, 3. Paddy Ryan, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson
- Replacements: 16. Tola Latu, 17. Jeremy Tilse, 18. Sekope Kepu, 19. Jacques Potgieter, 20. Stephen Hoiles, 21. Brendan McKibbin, 22. Rob Horne, 23. Matt Carraro
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- Team: 15. Luke Morahan, 14. Marcel Brache, 13. Junior Rasolea, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. Nick Cummins, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 9. Alby Mathewson, 8. Ben McCalman, 7. Matthew Hodgson (Captain), 6. Chris Alcock, 5. Hugh McMeniman, 4. Sam Wykes, 3. Oli Hoskins, 2. Nathan Charles, 1. Pekahou Cowan
- Replacements: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Tetera Faulkner, 18. Kieran Longbottom, 19. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20. Brynard Stander, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Zack Holmes, 23. Patrick Dellit
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This week will be damn hard to pick on bru that is for sure.
Brumbies or Reds? That’s the gamble pick of the week.
2 @ Scrumsaam:
Yip I think so as well. Who you think with Saders and Chiefs? Might go with Saders being a home game.
Just waiting for the Brumbies and Reds to announce their teams.
Stormers have announced their team and it is one powerful team to me.
Here is their team and the ref and assistants for this week.
Stormers: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Michael van der Spuy, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Damian de Allende, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Pat Cilliers, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Ryno Eksteen.
Date: Saturday, February 22
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
4 @ Puma:
That is a powerful loose trio.
Both teams got some unknown players in, will probably go for the Chiefs going by the fact that crusaders start slow history.
they are missing the trick by excluding deon fourie as a loosie.
@ Puma: Great STORMERS team, as a true supporter i can only hope for the best. Like the fact that some younger guys get a run as well.
I would have gone for Groom, he just gives more attacking options.
8 @ Scrumsaam:
Yes Groom is better than Schreuder. Very good team I feel.
7 @ MacroBull:
Yip Deon is good at openside flank, but you can’t leave our Kolisi either. I feel that is a powerful loose trio. Burger will never be left out and think Kolisi is going to try and specialise at openside like Marcell is this year for Sharks. Think that is what HM wants. So both coaches from Sharks and Stormers are playing both at openside flank.
@ MacroBull:
It seems like the fetcher loose forward is out of playing style these days, teams prefer the bulky runners.
Nortie I will answer you here from you post on the other thread as this is where the teams are announced.
I personally think Stormers have a good team. I don’t know who Van der Spuy is or Kobus Van Wyk. Other than that I think this is a very good Stormers side.
I really hope the Stormers play some running rugby this year,you can have the best back-line in the world but still won’t help if you just kick the ball away and defend 80 minutes. I like the varsity cup format 2 points for a penalty.
4@Puma
Sorry Puma, I disagree that this is a strong team.
Loose forwards look ok, but Schalk must still show he can compete at this level for 80
Poor backline, no one that scares anyone or has X factor
Fat boys will be standing in the 10 channel all day long stuffing up decent ball, so backline players are ornaments and defenders.
This is not a good side
14 @ nortierd:
Well on paper they look good and I think they might surprise you. There are only two players I don’t know there. The others are very good players. With Scrumsaam though would have started with Groom.
14 @ nortierd:
Schalk played well against the Baa Baas end of year. Think he will be ready.
@ Puma:
Neither of our nr. 9’s played decent rugby last year, they were given a lesson by McCloud as well, so 9 is a problem. Demitri will hopefully kick as well as he did last year, we can’t afford another Elton like stuff up in our first game again. Jean is Jean, he will be solid, De Alende hasn’t played wing at this level, so it’s unsure how he will fare. Aplon is solid and the other 2 I have no idea who they are or what they can do. They must be awesome if the powers that be decided they may stay and Swiel can go.
The forwards will hopefully be ok, because the only way we can score a try is from a line out maul, if the hooker gets it in straight
14 @ nortierd:
Do a match up against the Lions players and see who ticks the boxes from each team. That could give you a idea. Though Lions I have to admit play a very different game to Stormers and might be a handful at Ellis Park if allowed to get away. They really like to keep ball in hand and can be dangerous. Though Stormers defence is so solid so have to see how it goes. Still think Stormers have a good side Nortie.
@ nortierd:
It all depends on Toetie’s game plan for Saturday. If he plays his usual defensive game plan, the Stormers could just well be pipped at the post by the Lions.
@ Scrumsaam:
Well I have to admit. I was mightely impressed with Marcel this weekend and towards the end of the currie cup. He could do what hooper and pocock does. I hope kolisi can do that too, but Deon Fourie ads another dimension and energy, and you are not going to tell me he is easier to bring down than anyone of the Stormers forwards.
17 @ nortierd:
Well you have Scarra at hooker and he is better at throwing in than Deon. Deon was terrible last year with that and it cost your team many times.
Demetri is a very good player but have to admit he folded against the Sharks under pressure in the CC final. Though he will be back just too good a player to not to be.
14 -15@puma and lion4ever
I believe we can win, but Lion4, I seriously doubt we will see a different game plan.
Demetri might go kick for kick against Boshoff though, unlike the Cheetahs who missed some sitters that was the difference. We could pip you with one or 2 penalties, if lucky
@ Puma:
The only way the Lions will win will be through exceptional tactical kicking. I cant remember them looking like they will score a try vs the cheetahs so against the stormers that will be twice as difficult. Unless the stormers have finally learnt their lesson and keep the forwards from disrupting the backs they should win easily. if not it will be a repeat of 2012 where the lions played all the rugby and the stormers do not budge. A lions running rugby brand will be pointless.
Puma wrote:
Our whole team was outplayed in the final, everyone looked ordinary, because the Sharks made them look silly. Demetri is only there to kick penalties, no Stormers 10 plays rugby, they don’t receive any good ball. All good balls go from 9 to some dumbfuck fatboy forward to bash up
Schalk isn’t one of the weak links, never has been. Like Nortie I am concerned about some of the outside backs and the lack of experience in the backline.
Would have preferred Tiaan at 2, Scarra and Deon are both very vulnerable in the line out situation.
@ Puma:
Nah Puma, what about the previous currie cup.
Even the mighty Carter would fold if his forwards got that dominated.
25@SB
We know Tiaan is a problem SB, AC knows that when he selects him on a Saturday, he will be booked off sick for the following 4 weeks, so he must preserve him and only pick him when we have off weekends following or before the June International break
I have a feeling that this weekends SuperBru is going to sink me.
I shouldn’t have put in my picks for round 2 last week already. I would probably go back and pick the Lions after seeing our team and what they did against the Cheetahs
@ nortierd:
Ja. Still we needed to have made proper provision in this position. Cannot understand why they don’t see this.
23 @ MacroBull:
Remember it is at altitude and the times the Stormers have played there they have won but not convincingly. As they struggled with the altitude as much as the Sharks do. So expect the Lions to try and run them off their feet this weekend. Well that is how I see them going in the first 20min or so.
If Elton starts at fh he will find the gaps as the Lions game is what he is suited too. Boshoff will still be there at fb to take the kicks. Unless Elton is on the bench this week and Boshoff starts. Boshoff was good last week, though Elton I feel is a little more creative, just don’t let him take the kicks.
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