New Zealand Rugby
Wyatt Crockett
All Blacks and Crusaders prop Wyatt Crockett will continue to play his rugby in New Zealand and for the Crusaders for another 3 years, having re-signed through to the end of the 2018 season.
Crockett has been a vital member of the Crusaders’ front row since 2006 and made his All Blacks debut in 2009.
He was named the New Zealand Super Rugby Player of the Year in 2011 and has established himself as an All Blacks regular since 2013.
Crockett recently became the most capped-Crusader, surpassing Corey Flynn’s record of 151 games, and 3rd on the all-time list and his re-signing will give him the chance to become the most capped Super Rugby player ever (currently Keven Mealamu who is on 174 caps).
His work rate around the field sets him apart from many other props, and he is also recognised as one of the most skilled scrummagers in the game.
Tom Franklin
Alex Ainley
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is facing some serious selection posers in the wake of his team’s humiliation at the hands of Super Rugby’s runaway leaders, the Hurricanes.
As if shipping more than 50 points were not enough, he has lost 2 more locks and now have a serious 2nd row crisis.
Tom Franklin and Alex Ainley became the latest additions to the 2nd row injury list – which also includes Joe Wheeler (knee) and Mark Reddish (hand).
It means Joseph is down to some utility forwards, rather than specialist locks, ahead of the Final Round of league action – when they face the Blues in Auckland on Friday.
Joseph – who rested the star All Black trio of Ben and Aaron Smith, as well as Malakai Fekitoa – started the match against the Hurricanes with a host of players on the injury list.
Apart from the locks, Shane Christie (hamstring), Hayden Parker (shoulder), Kane Hames (knee), Nasi Manu (shoulder), Patrick Osborne (calf) and Josh Renton (hamstring) were unavailable.
Sam Cane
Sonny Bill Williams
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie will be forced to rest star loose forward Sam Cane when they take on the competition leaders, the Hurricanes, in the Final Round of Super Rugby league action.
However, he looks set to rush back star midfielder Sonny Bill Williams as they push for a home ground advantage in the preliminary play-offs.
Rennie confirmed they would not play Cane against the competition’s runaway leaders, the Hurricanes, in New Plymouth on Saturday.
“We’ll probably give Sam a rest this week and freshen him up prior to the quarterfinals, because he’s played a fair bit of footy,” Rennie told a post-match media briefing.
Reds (3) 3 / 24 (14) Chiefs (Final Score)
The Reds and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby at
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Blues (6) 11 / 34 (17) Crusaders (Final Score)
The Blues and Crusaders did battle in Super Rugby at
Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
It is Round 17 of Super Rugby 2015 this weekend.
There are 2 games on Friday 5 June and 5 games on Saturday 6 June.
The Cell C Sharks have a BYE weekend.
The action is kicked off by the Hurricanes and Highlanders who do battle in Napier at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT)
Thereafter and after a couple of hours break, also on Friday – the Western Force play the Brumbies in Perth at 13:00 SA Time ((19:00 AWST, 21:00 AEST, 23:00 NZ Time, 11:00 GMT)
Early on Saturday the Melbourne Rebels host the Vodacom Bulls in Melbourne at 07:30 SA Time (15:30 AEST, 17:30 NZ Time, 05:30 GMT). It is the Vodacom Bulls’ last game on tour.
Thereafter the Blues host the Crusaders in Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT), whereafter the Reds host the Chiefs in Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT).
In South Africa, the Toyota Cheetahs host the Waratahs in Bloemfontein at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT, 23:00 AEST, Sunday 01:00 NZ Time). Thereafter the DHL Stormers host the Emirates Lions in Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT, Sunday 01:05 AEST, Sunday 03:05 NZ Time).
The Hurricanes vs Highlanders match should be a cracker, as these are the 2 teams who have already qualified for the Top 6, it is anybody’s guess who will be victorious in this doozie!
The Brumbies should be too much for the Western Force in Perth, as the Brumbies are aiming at Top spot in the Australian Conference, whilst the Force is already out of the race for the playoffs.
The Vodacom Bulls have one final chance on tour to come good against the Melbourne Rebels, and so keep their playoff aspirations alive, but the Bulls play predictable and stale rugby and they will have to get a bonus point, if they were to have any semblance of a chance at the playoffs and still some other teams would have to do them favours in order to reach the playoffs.
The Crusaders are also close to playoff contention and will attempt to put the Blues to the sword in Auckland and they might well achieve that feat.
In Brisbane, the Chiefs will attemp to ressurrect their season, after some poor form in the last few Rounds and thus qualify for the playoffs, whereas a resurgent Reds team will try to salvage some pride after a dismal season. My guess is that the Chiefs will get their needed win.
The Waratahs should put Franco Smith’s new team to the sword and earn their bonus point in Bloemfontein. My expectation is that the Cheetahs midfield will be brittle and let through a few of the tries on the day.
The last game of the weekend is one I am particularly looking forward to, where No 1 and No 2 in the SA Conference do battle in Cape Town. The Lions chances of making the playoffs are very, very slim and only really a mathematical consideration, but the men from Joburg play passionalte and intense rugby, if not somewhat “Run-at-all-costs” and naiive rugby, but they make for a grand spectacle and the Stormers defences will be tested all afternoon in Cape Town. The Stormers on the other hand can sow up the SA Conference and will go hell-for-leather at the Lions to achieve that. I predict a relatively good win for the Stormers.
With only 2 Rounds of action left before the Top 6 teams in Super Rugby start fighting it out for the grand prize, there is still a lot that happen before the final positions on the Log are secured.
What we do know is that the Hurricanes and Highlanders, opponents in Napier this weekend, have already booked their places in the Top 6 and that none of the Melbourne Rebels, Cell C Sharks, Reds, Toyota Cheetahs, Blues or Western Force can make the playoffs anymore.
But the DHL Stormers, Waratahs, Chiefs, Brumbies, Emirates Lions, Crusaders and Vodacom Bulls still have a lot to play for – the final 4 spots in the playoffs.
The Vodacom Bulls still have a mathematical chance of reaching the playoffs, which means their match against the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday is a must-win, preferably with a try-scoring bonus point. It would be their 1st win in Australia in almost 3 years.
The only local derby on the roster this weekend is in Cape Town, where the DHL Stormers can put an end to the Emirates Lions’ hopes of reaching the playoffs, while at the same time securing the South African Conference title for a 3rd time.
The Emirates Lions have never beaten the DHL Stormers at DHL Newlands – in fact, they’ve only won once in 12 encounters against the Capetonians and will have to be at their very best on Saturday afternoon to keep alive their slim chance of making the Top 6 for the 1st time ever.
The other match involving a South African team on SA soil is also on Saturday afternoon, when the Toyota Cheetahs will be playing under new coach Franco Smith for the 1st time, against the Waratahs in Bloemfontein. A 5th win over the New South Welshmen for the team from Central South Africa would have a big impact on the Australian Conference.
The Cell C Sharks have a BYE this weekend.
Jerry Collins and his partner Alana tragically died in a car crash this morning… R.I.P.
Hurricanes and All Blacks legend Jerry Collins and his partner Alana Madill have tragically passed away following a car accident in France on Friday morning.
The duo were Beziers when their car was apparently struck by a bus.
The couple sadly passed away while their three-month-old daughter was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Collins joined Wellington in 1999, earning 85 Super Rugby caps and first receiving a call-up to the All Blacks in 2001. He went on to play 48 Tests before retiring after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
He subsequently joined French club Toulon and Ospreys in Wales before a stint in Japan.
He was 34 years of age.
Tributes have started flowing in from around the rugby world and a moment’s silence will be observed before kick-off between the Hurricanes and Highlanders in Napier on Friday evening.
A young Canterbury club player has been banned from all rugby for 2 years for possessing a human growth hormone.
Finn Hart-Strawbridge pleaded guilty to possessing the drug, GHRP-6, in a case heard by New Zealand Rugby’s Judicial Committee. .
The peptide stimulates the production of human growth hormone and has been found in nutritional supplements.
A 5mg vial of the peptide that the Canterbury Under 19 had in his possession was seized by NZ Customs in October last year.
The substance is prohibited in and out of competition under World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby Anti-Doping Regulations. Hart-Strawbridge said he had ordered the peptide online as a “joke” after reading a series of articles in the New Zealand Herald last year about a reporter who experimented with the drug.
He told the committee he didn’t realise that importing the substance breached the regulations and quickly realised he had made a mistake after attending a DFSNZ education seminar.
Hurricanes (30) 56 / 20 (13) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at
McLean Park, Napier at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
SANZAR has announced the names of the Match Officials for Round 17 of the 2015 Super Rugby season.
This weekend sees 7 matches in Super Rugby.
The Cell C Sharks have a BYE Weekend.
The weekend’s action is kicked off by Jaco Peyper in the Friday match between the Hurricanes vs Highlanders in Napier at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT), whereafter we have a little break before the Western Force host the Brumbies in Perth at 13:00 SA Time (19:00 AWST, 21:00 AEST, 23:00 NZ Time, 11:00 GMT), where Angus Gardner will officiate the game.
On Saturday the action starts earlier than normal when the Melbourne Rebels host the Vodacom Bulls in Melbourne at 07:30 SA Time (15:30 AEST, 17:30 NZ Time, 05:30 GMT), with Nick Briant the referee. We then go back accross the pond to New Zealand where the Blues play the Crusaders in Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT) and where Chris Pollock will be in charge of the whistle. Once again we cross the Tasman, back to Australia, where the Reds host the Chiefs in Brisbane where Mike Fraser wields the power, at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT).
Over to South Africa and we have 2 matches on SA soil for the Round, first the Toyota Cheetahs play the Waratahs in Bloemfontein at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT, 23:00 AEST, Sunday 01:00 NZ Time), with Glen Jackson in charge.
The last match of the Round takes place in Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT, Sunday 01:05 AEST, Sunday 03:05 NZ Time) when the DHL Stormers host the Emirates Lions and with Stuart Berry as referee.
It was a weekend of Super Rugby 1ts and doubles as the DHL Stormers consolidated their place at the Top of the South African Conference, while the Emirates Lions and Cell C Sharks both got one over their Australian opponents.
The weekend started on a false note for the Vodacom Bulls on Friday though, as they came up short by 22 / 16 in their 3rd tour match, in Canberra against the Brumbies.
The Cell C Sharks won their 2nd consecutive match against Aussie opposition when they beat the Melbourne Rebels by 25 / 21 in Durban on Friday evening. It was the KwaZulu-Natalians’ 4th win over the side from Melbourne, who is still winless after 5 seasons of coming to South Africa.
Saturday’s derby in Cape Town between the DHL Stormers and Toyota Cheetahs ended in a rather one-sided 42 / 12 win for the home team as the visitors from Bloemfontein bid farewell to their coach, Naka Drotské, after 8 seasons and 118 matches in charge of the men from Central South Africa.
Only 3 coaches – Frans Ludeke of the Cats and Vodacom Bulls, Ewen McKenzie (Waratahs, Reds) Robbie Deans (Crusaders) coached in more matches than Drotské, who guided the Toyota Cheetahs to a spot in the Top 6, 2 seasons ago.
The final match of the weekend was a real humdinger as the Emirates Lions got their 1st-ever win as a franchise over the defending champion Waratahs, by 27 / 22 in Johannesburg, their 9th victory of the season.
No fewer than 6 players – 2 South Africans and 4 Aussies – scored a brace of tries this weekend. They are Seabelo Senatla (DHL Stormers), Ruan Combrinck (Emirates Lions), Henry Speight (Brumbies), Scott Higginbotham (Rebels), Quade Cooper (Reds) and Lachie Turner (Reds).
Blitzbok star Senatla scored his 1st try at Super Rugby level, as did his DHL Stormers team-mate Vincent Koch and Heimar Williams from the Cell C Sharks.
The Highlanders picked apart a poor Chiefs side with a convincing 36 / 9 victory down at Rugby Park, Invercargill, in Southland.
Tries from in-form wingers Patrick Osborne and Waisake Naholo either side of halftime and late efforts from Richard Buckman and Ben Smith ensured they took away maximum points, as Lima Sopoaga punished the Chiefs with the boot.
Victory means the Highlanders strengthen their position in the wildcard spots for now with a 10th win of the season, a franchise Super Rugby record.
They were once again inspired by a moment of magic from Naholo, whose future now seems set to be in New Zealand rather than with Clermont in France. His 9th try of the season moves him within 1 of Jeff Wilson’s Highlanders record of 10 in a campaign.
For maybe the 1st time this season the number of Chiefs absentees through injury really shone through, with no Brodie Retallick, Liam Messam, Aaron Cruden, Sonny Bill Williams or James Lowe to call upon.
There were simply too many errors from the Chiefs for them to be truly competitive with a high number of missed tackles and handling errors.
This was accentuated by the aggression from the Highlanders at the breakdown, as they constantly forced errors out of their opponents.
Highlanders (11) 36 / 9 (3) Chiefs
The Highlanders and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby at
Rugby Park, Invercargill at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Force (10) 10 / 32 (18) Reds
The Western Force and Reds did battle in Super Rugby at
nib Stadium, Perth at 11:40 SA Time (17:40 AWST, 19:40 AEST, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Crusaders (16) 35 / 18 (8) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Crusaders and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at
Travalgar Park, Nelson at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
It is Round 16 of Super Rugby 2015 this weekend.
There are 3 games on Friday 29 May and 4 games on Saturday 30 May.
The Blues have a BYE weekend.
The action is kicked off by the Crusaders and Hurricanes who do battle in Nelson at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT)
There are 2 South African teams in action on Friday – the Vodacom Bulls who play the Brumbies in Canberra at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT) and on Friday evening the Cell C Sharks host the Melbourne Rebels in Durban at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT, Saturday 03:10 AEST, Saturday 05:10 NZ Time). It is the Vodacom Bulls’ 3rd game on tour and it will be the Cell C Sharks 1st game back after their overseas tour.
On Saturday morning the Highlanders host the Chiefs in Invercargill at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT), whereafter the Western Force host the Reds in Perth at 11:40 SA Time (17:40 AWST, 19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT).
There is only 1 South African derby on the weekend, that between the DHL Stormers vs Toyota Cheetahs in Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT, Sunday 01:05 AEST, Sunday 03:05 NZ Time). Thereafter the Emirates Lions host the Waratahs in Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT, Sunday 03:10 AEST, Sunday 05:10 NZ Time).
The Crusaders vs Hurricanes match should be a cracker, but the destructive form the Hurricanes are commanding at present should see them victorious against the Crusaders in the Saders’ backyard. The Brumbies should have far too much firepower for a strangely selected and miss-firing Vodacom Bulls side in Canberra. The evening game on Friday should go in favour of the Cell C Sharks as the Melbourne Rebels have NEVER beaten a side in South Africa.
The game between the Highlanders and Chiefs is very difficult to call and could well deliver the game of the weekend.
The game in Perth between the bottom-dwelling Western Force and equally abhorrent Reds is a toss-up and I suppose one would have to fancy a win for the Home side.
The DHL Stormers should slaughter the Toyota Cheetahs at DHL Newlands, but then again, I said the same about the match between the 2 foes in Bloemfontein. I simply think the Stormers have far too much to lose, being Top of the SA Conference, to go down to the lowly Cheetahs, in the last match where Naka Drotske and Os du Randt will be in charge at the Cheetahs.
I would like to see the Emirates Lions turn the losing table on the Waratahs on the weekend, as they have never beaten the Tahs, but somehow I doubt they will, as the Waratahs would also want to cement their Aussie spot on the Log… but the guts and passion the Lions have shown this season keeps proving me wrong.
The DHL Stormers will be hoping to retain their Top spot in the South African Vodacom Super Rugby Conference when they host the Toyota Cheetahs on Saturday, while the 3 other local teams are in action against Australian opposition.
Round 16 kicks off from a South African perspective when the Brumbies host the Vodacom Bulls in Canberra, a venue where the men from Pretoria have not won since 2007.
The Cell C Sharks are back at home and will be looking to extend the Melbourne Rebels’ woes in South Africa when they host the team from Melbourne in Durban on Friday evening.
On Saturday evening, the Emirates Lions take on the 1 Australian team they’ve never beaten, the defending champion Waratahs, in Johannesburg.
In the 4th and penultimate match of the weekend, the DHL Stormers will celebrate 125 years of existence of their home ground, DHL Newlands, against the Toyota Cheetahs, the only local side they’ve lost against this year.
DHL Newlands is regarded as 1 of the most iconic rugby venues in the world, having hosted some memorable matches over the years and the DHL Stormers will be looking to increase their lead at the Top of the South African Conference in this match on Saturday afternoon.
SANZAR has named the Match Officials for Round 16 of the 2015 Super Rugby season.
This weekend sees 7 matches, with 3 matches on Friday 29 May and 4 matches on Saturday 30 May.
The Blues have a BYE Weekend.
The weekend’s action is kicked off by Ben O’Keeffe at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT) in the humdinger between the Crusaders and Hurricanes in Nelson. Also on Friday the Brumbies vs Vodacom Bulls match which takes place at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT) in Canberra, is officiated by Marius van der Westhuizen. On Friday evening in Durban the Cell C Sharks host the Melbourne Rebels at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT, Saturday 03:10 AEST, Saturday 05:10 NZ Time) and the match will be handled by Jaco van Heerden.
On Saturday the Highlanders host the Chiefs in Invercargill at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT) and the match is officiated by Nick Briant.
In Western Australia the Western Force is up against the Reds in Perth at 11:40 SA Time (17:40 AWST, 19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT) and the whistle will belong to Matt O’Brien.
Over to South Africa and 1st up on Saturday at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT, Sunday 01:05 AEST, Sunday 03:05 NZ Time) it will be the DHL Stormers vs Toyota Cheetahs in Cape Town, where Craig Joubert will preside over proceedings.
The last game of the Round will take place in Johannesburg where the Emirates Lions host the Waratahs at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT, Sunday 03:10 AEST, Sunday 05:10 NZ Time). Jaco Peyper will be the referee.
Sam Whitelock
Kieran Read
The Crusaders’ fast-fading hope of reaching the Super Rugby play-offs were dealt another cruel blow.
It was revealed that 5 of the team’s All Blacks have been ruled out of the encounter with the tournament’s runaway leaders, the Hurricanes, in Nelson on Friday.
Top of that list is lock Sam Whitelock, who has the recipient of a brutal double spear tackle by 2 Waratahs players – lock Will Skelton and hooker Silatolu Latu.
The duo were handed 2 and 4-week bans on Monday, following their combined actions.
Whitelock has been ruled out of the trip to Nelson due to concussion.
Captain Kieran Read has already been ruled out of the match with the same affliction.
The Crusaders will also be without fullback Israel Dagg (calf), flyhalf Colin Slade (quadricep) and prop Joe Moody (foot).
Mike Fitzgerald
The Chiefs will have at least 1 of their specialist locks back from injury to take on the Highlanders in Invercargill on Saturday but that might be all.
Lock Mike FitzGerald is good to go after missing the last match against the Bulls and most of the previous 1 against the Hurricanes with a particularly bad haematoma on his thigh, but there are still doubts over both star All Blacks 2nd rowers Brodie Retallick and concussed Englishman Matt Symons.
Retallick has now missed 3 matches with the shoulder injury he picked up in the Chiefs’ win over the Force in Hamilton, having missed 5 weeks of the competition earlier in the season when he hurt his other shoulder.
He took part in training yesterday morning, but head coach Dave Rennie said there was still a question mark over him this week as he works on regaining strength in his shoulder.
There was a lot of movement in the South African Conference through Round 15 of Vodacom Super Rugby this weekend, with the DHL Stormers going top and the Emirates Lions surpassing the Vodacom Bulls into 2nd spot.
The Vodacom Bulls started well against the Chiefs in Rotorua on Friday morning and led 15 / 3 after 20 minutes, but were left behind when the Kiwis stepped up a gear. The home team eventually won by 34 / 20 and the team from Pretoria dropped from 3rd to 8th on the Combined Log.
After disappointing defeats in Wellington and Sydney in the last fortnight, the Cell C Sharks finally got a win on the road. Stefan Ungerer scored twice in their 21 / 14 win over the Reds in Brisbane, also on Friday.
Emirates Lions captain Warren Whiteley celebrated his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby cap in style as his team scored an impressive 40 / 17 win over the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday, the only local derby of the weekend.
It was the Emirates Lions’ 8th victory of the season, which means 2015 is now their best Vodacom Super Rugby season ever. The Bloem victory also moved Jozi’s Pride to the top of the SA Conference standings, but it only lasted for roughly 2 hours.
The DHL Stormers then took back top spot in the SA Conference courtesy of a 31 / 15 victory over the Melbourne Rebels in Cape Town, which was the Melburians’ 9th successive defeat in the Republic.
Johan Bardoul
Chiefs’ lock Johan Bardoul is set to watch the remainder of the Super Rugby season from the sideline, as he has been ruled out with a knee injury.
Bardoul has suffered the same injury as his flatmate and fellow lock Michael Allardice, and ruptured the medial ligament in his right knee.
The Chiefs have had a collapse of injuries in the 2nd row, with All Black and World Rugby Player of the Year Brodie Retallick, and Allardice both suffering set-backs.
This saw the Chiefs pull Ross Filipo out of retirement for their game against the Bulls last Friday to cover in the lock department.
Force (3) 3 / 23 (6) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Western Force and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at
nib Stadium, Perth at 13:45 SA Time (19:45 AWST. 21:45 AEST, 23:45 NZ Time, 11:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Waratahs (17) 32 / 22 (8) Crusaders (Final Score)
The Waratahs and Crusaders did battle in Super Rugby at
ANZ Stadium, Sydney at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
Blues (0) 5 / 29 (17) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Blues and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at
Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
*******************
It is Round 15 of Super Rugby 2015 this weekend.
There are 2 games on Friday 22 May and 5 games on Saturday 23 May.
The Brumbies have a BYE weekend.
There are 2 South African teams in action on Friday, one in each game of the day – the Chiefs against the Vodacom Bulls in Rotorua at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT) and thereafter the Reds vs Cell C Sharks in Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT). The battling Sharks play their last game on tour, whereas it will be the Bulls 2nd tour match.
On Saturday morning the Blues host the Hurricanes in Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 17:35 AEST, 07:35 GMT), whereafter the Waratahs host the Crusaders in Sydney at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 AEST, 21:40 NZ Time, 09:40 GMT).
In Perth, Western Australia at 13:45 SA Time (19:45 AWST, 21:45 AEST, 23:45 NZ Time, 11:45 GMT) the Western Force host the Highlanders.
There is only 1 South African derby on the weekend, that between the Toyota Cheetahs vs Emirates Lions in Bloemfontein at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT, Sunday 01:05 AEST, Sunday 03:05 NZ Time). Thereafter the DHL Stormers host the Melbourne Rebels in Cape Town at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT, Sunday 05:10 NZ time, 03:10 AEST).
The Chiefs vs Bulls match should go the way of the home team but the game between the 2 bottom-dwelling sides, the Reds and Cell C Sharks, it is difficult to predict a winner… my money, strangely enough is on a Sharks win.
The game between the Blues vs Hurricanes should only ever go one way, and that is heavily in favour of the Hurricanes, even although it is away from home for them.
The Waratahs vs Crusaders game should be a cracker, with both teams rather desperate to get or hold a position in the Top 6, but it could go either way… so I would lean towards the home team for this one.
The Highlanders should properly dispatch the Western Force in perth.
The Lions are strong favourites to beat the Cheetahs, specially in light of the fact that it was announced that both Naka Drotske and Os du rand will leave the franchise at the end of May as well as considering the Cheetahs dismal form in 2015.
The DHL Stormers should outlast and out-defend a gutsy Melbourne Rebels side in Cape Town in the last match of the weekend.
Chiefs (15) 34 / 20 (15) Bulls (Final Score)
The Chiefs and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at
Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Can the Vodacom Bulls hang on to their Top spot in the South African Vodacom Super Rugby Conference or will the DHL Stormers regain the lead?
That question will be answered this weekend when all 5 South African teams take to the field with the competition inching closer to the last stretch before the playoffs start.
The Vodacom Bulls can cement their position at the Top with a victory over the Chiefs in Rotorua on Friday morning, but it won’t be easy as the team from Waikato sits on a 10-match winning streak at home against opposition from South Africa.
The Cell C Sharks’ final tour match, against the Reds in Brisbane, is the 2nd match on Friday morning where the KwaZulu-Natalians will aim to break a 6-match losing streak – something that’s only happened once in their history.
On Saturday afternoon, the Toyota Cheetahs host the Emirates Lions in the only local derby of the Round. The team from Johannesburg can still make the playoffs, but then they have to win in Bloemfontein this weekend.
The final match in Round 15 is in Cape Town at DHL Newlands, where the DHL Stormers have a good opportunity to regain the lead in the South African Conference against the Melbourne Rebels. It won’t be easy as the Rebels have done well this season, but they’ve never won in South Africa and the Capetonians will want to keep it that way.
New Zealand’s Crusaders announced on Wednesday they will play English Premiership club Saracens in New Orleans on 1 August, in a fixture designed to capitalise on growing US interest in rugby.
The Crusaders, 7-time Super Rugby champions, said they will field their development side for the 1-off fixture at the 70 000 capacity SuperDome.
Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said the match, to be called The Hemispheres Cup, was a rare north-south club clash.
Charles Piutau
Charles Piutau has been told by the New Zealand Rugby Union that he cannot play for the Blues next year.
The 23-year-old, has accepted a deal with Pro12 club Ulster midway through the 2016 year, and he wanted to play for the Blues before he left.
If Piutau was allowed to continue playing in Auckland next year he would be available for more than 10 of the Blues Super Rugby games in the 2016 season before his obligations at Ulster began.
However NZRU has denied the opportunity for the 23-year-old to continue playing for the Blues next year, applying its regulation that Super Rugby players must available for All Blacks Test duty.
The Chiefs have made some changes to their pack, as they head to Rotorua to take on the Bulls in a Super Rugby Round 15 match on Friday.
The changes up front are all to the tight forwards.
In the front row Mitchell Graham starts at loosehead prop.
In the 2nd row Michael Fitzgerald has been bracketed with former Chief and All Black Ross Filipo, who was called into the side earlier this week as cover.
The confirmed starting lock will be joined in the 2nd row by the newly re-signed Johan Bardoul.
The only other change to the run on side sees Augustine Pulu assume the starting role at scrumhalf.
Patrick Tuipulotu
Steven Luatua
It is an unlucky 13 for the Blues, with 13 players on the injury list, including 4 players who are unlikely to play again in the final 4 weeks of the Super Rugby regular season.
Joining captain Jerome Kaino and Luke Braid on the long term injured list are All Blacks Steven Luatua and Patrick Tuipulotu.
Luatua, the stand-in captain for Kaino, dislocated his shoulder in the win over the Bulls on Friday and with the associated nerve damage, will not return for the Blues final 3 games. Tuipulotu has a long-term hip injury that has worsened and he, too, is unlikely to make it back in the next 4 weeks.
Both players require further tests prior to any decisions about their prognosis and management.
Joining them on the unavailable list this week is Tony Woodcock with a shoulder injury sustained in a collapsed scrum in the match against the Bulls and Charlie Faumuina who is on All Blacks leave.
Others not considered for this week’s match include Pita Ahki (hamstring), Dan Bowden (groin) and Bryn Hall (foot).
Brad Weber
Johan Bardoul
Michael Allardice
The Chiefs have announced the re-signing of scrumhalf Brad Weber, loose forward Johan Bardoul and lock Michael Allardice all committing for at least the next 2 Super Rugby seasons.
Head coach Dave Rennie said, “They’re all good men with an excellent work ethic who have made big shifts in their game. We’re rapt these men have committed long term.”
Nick Mallett
Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has highlighted the difference between local coaches compared to their New Zealand counterparts.
Mallett was speaking in the SuperSport studio on Saturday night following a dismal weekend for South African teams in Super Rugby.
All 4 teams competing lost, with the Vodacom Bulls going down to the Blues in Auckland (23 / 18), the Cell C Sharks losing to the Waratahs in Sydney (33 / 18), the Emirates Lions undone by the Brumbies in Johannesburg (30 / 20) and the Toyota Cheetahs thumped by the Highlanders in Bloemfontein (45 / 24).
Mallett said: “At halftime we heard Naka (Drotske, Cheetahs coach) say it’s back to basics. So for the 1st 10 minutes of the 2nd half we saw driving mauls and up-and-unders. And it was strange that they were kicking up-and-unders on Patrick Osborne because he’s a very big guy.
“The coaching that you get in New Zealand is very different from what you get here. At practice they will put players into situations that they’ll face in game. They will play attack against defence. The attack is faced with varying types of defence – a press defence, a shift defence, a slow defence, a staggered defence, a tight defence or a wide defence. And they get the attack to choose the right option in relation to the defence they’re confronted with.
After a pivotal Round of fixtures played at high intensity, SANZAR has had the opportunity review each match and announce its Match Official appointments for the forthcoming weekend.
SANZAR Game Manager Lyndon Bray said, “While we acknowledge that the match officials cannot get it right all of the time, there are some basic standards that have simply not been upheld over this past weekend, resulting in some disappointing decisions and selection consequences.
“A thorough and robust system is in place whereby the development and performance of each match official is reviewed by SANZAR and its member unions on a daily basis and like any athlete participating in elite competition, our referees are accountable to performance levels for the competition.
“Appointments are made weekly based on performance reviews from the previous round but also includes an evaluation of the current form of each official over the term of the competition.
“We have completed our reviews from the weekend and have followed strong internal processes as we prepare our team to reach their physical, mental and technical peaks as we head into the critical last four rounds of the regular season and Super Rugby Finals Series.
“Public confidence in match officials is essential to the ongoing success of our product and we will continue striving to enhance the quality and accountability of refereeing across all SANZAR competitions.”
This next weekend’s Round 15 sees 7 matches, with 2 on Friday 22 May and 5 on Saturday 23 May.
The Brumbies have a BYE weekend.