Super 14 Rugby 2006 Tipping and Discussion Thread

[SideshowTim]

as most rugby fans know, the rugby union super 14 competition starts in less than a couple of weeks. i thought this would be a good place for discussion and also a tipping thread if anyone is interested. this year we get the first look at the central cheetahs and the western force. any predictions for who will do well and who will fail this season?

up the 'tahs!

[God]

I'm in.


Crystal ball gazing:

I think that once again the South African teams, while looking good on paper will once again fail to do much away from home apart from the Bulls, although having said that the bottom placed South African team will be relegated out and replaced by the Southern Spears from 2007.

Regarding Australia, the Waratahs will once again be there or there abouts, the Brumbies will push for semi-finals and the Force will have a solid opening season. The Reds will again disappoint.

And New Zealand, well the Crusaders will once again be a force despite losing some major talent (Mehrtens, Marshall, Maxwell, Hewett), but they still have Carter, Mauger, McCaw. Hurricanes will again be a force with some major game-breakers in their team.
Blues are a bit of an unknown with David Nucifora now their coach, they have potential. Chiefs and Hurricanes both dipped heavily into the player draft this season so probably unlikely to gel quickly.

My table prediction

1. Crusaders
2. Waratahs
3. Hurricanes
4. Bulls

5. Brumbies
6. Blues
7. Force
8. Highlanders
9. Cheetahs
10. Cats
11. Reds
12. Chiefs
13. Stormers
14. Sharks.

[SideshowTim]

if anyone wants to join the tipping competition we'll give them up to the 9th the put in their tips for the first round. i'm still thinking about my tips as i'm not completely sure what teams are going to be etc.

[God]

western force lost 43-5 in a warm-up game to the blues last night. and were also comfortably beaten by the crusaders last week.
hopefully they will be a bit better in the competition itself.

[SideshowTim]

i suppose it's difficult to get a group of guys together who have never played together before and get results. i'm sure as they play together more they will become a stronger side.

[God]

This weekends games:
Blues v Hurricanes
Force v Brumbies
Cheetahs v Bulls
Crusaders v Highlanders
Reds v Waratahs
Cats v Stormers
Sharks v Chiefs

My tips:
Hurricanes
Brumbies
Cheetahs
Crusaders
Waratahs
Cats
Chiefs

[SideshowTim]

hurricanes
brumbies
bulls
crusaders
waratahs
stormers
chiefs

[jase]

Hurricanes
Brumbies
Bulls
Crusaders
Waratahs
Cats
Chiefs

I've never watched Super 12 before but I'll give this a shot :D

[SideshowTim]

excellent. the more the merrier.

apparently the western force have already sold 38,000 tickets for their first game of the season. not too shabby at all. maybe their home crowd will push them over the line.

[God]

hurricanes have just thrashed the Blues 37-19 after the Blues lead 16-3 at halftime.

[SideshowTim]

not a good start for the blues. they were very shaky in that second half. the western force also got beaten in front of a packed home crowd but it was a valiant effort.

[SideshowTim]

results for the weekend:
stormers 23 def. cats 12
sharks 30 def. chiefs 21
waratahs 16 def. reds 12
crusaders 38 def. highlanders 15
bulls 30 def. cheetahs 18
brumbies 25 def. force 10
hurricanes 37 def. blues 19

results:
sideshowtim: 6/7
god: 4/7
yourmother 5/7

so points are:
sideshowtim - 12
yourmother - 10
god - 8

[God]

crusaders played well, after a sluggish start to the game, highlandders couldn't get over the tryline.

[SideshowTim]

highlanders vs. blues
cats vs. chiefs
bulls vs. brumbies
hurricanes vs. force
reds vs. crusaders
sharks vs. cheetahs
stormers vs. waratahs

blues
chiefs
brumbies
hurricanes
crusaders
sharks
waratahs

[jase]

highlanders
chiefs
brumbies
hurricanes
crusaders
sharks
waratahs

[God]

highlanders
chiefs
bulls
hurricanes
crusaders
sharks
waratahs

[SideshowTim]

waratahs 32 def. stormers 26
cheetahs 27 def. sharks 26
crusaders 47 def. reds 21
hurricanes 29 def. force 5
brumbies 27 def. bulls 21
cats 21 def. chiefs 16
highlanders 25 def. blues 13

results:
sideshowtim: 4/7
yourmother: 5/7
god: 4/7

points table:
sideshowtim - 20
yourmother - 20
god - 16

[God]

crusaders really kicked the reds ass in the 2nd half, especially in the final 15 minutes, where they scored 31 points.

[SideshowTim]

stupid reds. always throwing away early advantages.

[SideshowTim]

hurricanes vs. cats
force vs. chiefs
stormers vs. brumbies
crusaders vs. sharks
reds vs. blues
bulls vs. waratahs
cheetahs vs. highlanders

hurricanes
chiefs
stormers
crusaders
blues
waratahs
highlanders

[God]

canes
force
stormers
crusaders
reds
waratahs
highlanders

i think this could be the force's week.

[jase]

crap, I haven't been around the last few days so I didn't have a chance to put my tips in. I have no idea if any games from this round have been played already but i'll put in my tips anyway

hurricanes
chiefs
brumbies
crusaders
blues
waratahs
highlanders

[God]

i think this could be the force's week.

jesus. are they ever going to have a week ?

[SideshowTim]

hurricanes 29 def cats 16
chiefs 26 def force 9
stormers 15 drew brumbies 15
crusaders 22 def sharks 20
blues 21 def reds 20
bulls 26 def waratahs 17
highlanders 17 def cheetahs 12

sideshowtim: 5.5/7
god: 4.5/7
yourmother: 5.5/7

sideshowtim - 31
yourmother - 31
god - 25

we all got one point for the draw

[SideshowTim]

Chiefs v Reds
Brumbies v Cats
Waratahs v Sharks
Crusaders v Blues
Stormers v Highlanders
Cheetahs v Hurricanes
BYE Western Force/Bulls

chiefs
brumbies
waratahs
crusaders
stormers
hurricanes

[jase]

Chiefs
Brumbies
Waratahs
Crusaders
Stormers
Hurricanes

[God]

Chiefs
Brumbies
Waratahs
Crusaders (going to that game)
Highlanders
Hurricanes

[SideshowTim]

sideshowtim: 4/6
god: 5/6
yourmother: 4/6

sideshowtim - 39
yourmother - 39
god - 35

the crusaders look very hard to beat at the moment. i don't know if it's been done before but i'd back them to go through the entire season undefeated.

[God]

crusaders did in 2002 in super 12, scoring 30+ points in every game and basically just dominated the rest of the teams, including when they beat the 2nd place waratahs in the final round robin game 96-19 (leading an amazing 63-0 at halftime, which they got a standing ovation for, it was a great game to be at).

as for this year, well they still have the hurricanes and the waratahs to play, plus the south african away trip. they still need to improve their performance in the first half, as they were losing 10-9 at the break.

[SideshowTim]

including when they beat the 2nd place waratahs in the final round robin game 96-19 (leading an amazing 63-0 at halftime, which they got a standing ovation for, it was a great game to be at).
:'(

[SideshowTim]

shit, sorry guys completely forgot about this.

Chiefs v Crusaders
Waratahs v Cats
Brumbies v Sharks
Reds v Force
Bulls v Highlanders
Stormers v Hurricanes

crusaders
waratahs
brumbies
force
highlanders
stormers

edit: i'll take the hurricanes instead of the stormers

[jase]

Crusaders
Waratahs
Brumbies
Reds
Highlanders
Hurricanes

[SideshowTim]

woo, tahs thrashed the cats 50-3 last night. god, i'll give you the points for the tips of the crusaders and the waratahs as i know you would've tipped them anyway.

[God]

Thanks tim, and yes I would have picked them.
Brumbies
Force
Highlanders
Stormers

[SideshowTim]

crusaders 25 def chiefs 19
waratahs 50 def cats 3
brumbies 35 def sharks 30
reds 29 def force 18
bulls 23 def highlanders 16
hurricanes 23 def stormers 19

sideshowtim: 4/6
yourmother: 5/6
god: 3/6

yourmother - 49
sideshowtim - 47
god - 41

[God]

i need to stop tipping the bloody farce.

[SideshowTim]

they'll win the week you stop tipping them probably. they haven't really looked like winning any match though.

[SideshowTim]

Crusaders v Cats
Western Force v Waratahs
Bulls v Hurricanes
Blues v Brumbies
Highlanders v Sharks
Stormers v Cheetahs

crusaders
waratahs
hurricanes
brumbies
highlanders
cheetahs

[jase]

Crusaders
Waratahs
Hurricanes
Brumbies
Highlanders
Stormers

[God]

Crusaders
Waratahs
Hurricanes
Blues
Highlanders
Cheetahs

[SideshowTim]

crusaders 43 def cats 15
waratahs 32 def force 7
hurricanes 26 def. bulls 23
blues 26 def. brumbies 15
sharks 26 def. higlanders 11
cheetahs 31 def. stormers 25

sideshowtim: 4/6
yourmother: 3/6
god: 5/6

yourmother - 55
sideshowtim - 55
god - 51

things are getting much closer now.

[SideshowTim]

Hurricanes v Sharks
Waratahs v Blues
Cheetahs v Reds
Brumbies v Chiefs
Highlanders v Cats
Force v Bulls

hurricanes
waratahs
cheetahs
brumbies
highlanders
bulls

[jase]

Hurricanes
Waratahs
Cheetahs
Brumbies
Highlanders
Force

I just noticed this is the first time i've picked the force

[God]

Hurricanes
Waratahs
Cheetahs
Brumbies
Highlanders
Bulls

[SideshowTim]

woo hoo 100% for me this week, and for you too god. i'm in a rush so i'll post the scores of the games later but:

sideshowtim - 6/6
yourmother - 5/6
god - 6/6

sideshowtim - 67
yourmother - 65
god - 63

[jase]

why did I tip the bloody force? :(

[God]

everyone loves john mitchell.

[SideshowTim]

Blues v Bulls
Waratahs v Cheetahs
Force v Stormers
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Chiefs v Highlanders
Sharks v Reds

bulls
waratahs
stormers
crusaders
highlanders
sharks

i wonder if the force will even win a single game this year...

[God]

Bulls
Waratahs
Stormers
Crusaders
Chiefs
Sharks

i don't think they will, although if they do they'll probably beat a big side like the crusaders.

[jase]

Bulls
Waratahs
Stormers
Crusaders
Chiefs
Sharks

[SideshowTim]

sideshowtim - 4/6
god - 5/6
yourmother - 5/6

sideshowtim - 75
yourmother - 75
god - 73

very even between everyone...

Crusaders v Waratahs
Highlanders v Force
Chiefs v Bulls
Blues v Stormers
Brumbies v Cheetahs
Cats v Reds


Crusaders
Highlanders
Bulls
Stormers
Brumbies
Reds

[God]

Crusaders (going to this ! should be a cracker)
Highlanders
Bulls
Blues
Brumbies
Reds

[SideshowTim]

please don't be 96-19 again...please...

[God]

we won the final against you guys last year in chch 35-25, but the last time you played us in chch before that, in 2004, you won 43-19, although that was the first game of the season.

[jase]

Crusaders
Highlanders
Chiefs
Stormers
Brumbies
Cats

[SideshowTim]

we won the final against you guys last year in chch 35-25, but the last time you played us in chch before that, in 2004, you won 43-19, although that was the first game of the season.
well it should be a great game anyway. i can't see us getting up though...maybe in the grand final though :)

[SideshowTim]

crusaders 17 def. tahs 11

the scoreline probably isn't a true indication of the match. the crusaders were a little more dominating than that.

[God]

yeah. although the waratahs defence was pretty solid through out the game.

[SideshowTim]

sideshowtim - 4.5/6 (9)
god - 5.5/6 (11)
yourmother - 3.5/6 (7)

sideshowtim - 84
god - 84
yourmother - 82

Blues v Force
Crusaders v Cheetahs
Chiefs v Stormers
Reds v Bulls
Cats v Sharks
Highlanders v Hurricanes
Waratahs v Brumbies

Blues
Crusaders
Chiefs
Reds
Sharks
Hurricanes
Waratahs

still very close between all of us.

[jase]

Blues
Crusaders
Chiefs
Reds
Cats
Highlanders
Waratahs

[God]

Blues
Crusaders
Chiefs
Bulls
Sharks
Hurricanes
Waratahs

[SideshowTim]

sideshowtim - 7/7 (14)
yourmother - 5/7 (10)
god - 6/7 (12)

sideshowtim - 98
god - 96
yourmother - 92

Chiefs v Cheetahs
Reds v Stormers
W. Force v Crusaders
Brumbies v Hurricanes
Sharks v Blues
Bulls v Cats

Chiefs
Reds
Crusaders
Hurricanes
Sharks
Bulls

[jase]

Chiefs
Reds
Crusaders
Brumbies
Sharks
Cats

[God]

Chiefs
Reds
Crusaders
Hurricanes
Sharks
Bulls

[Ryan]

Im going to see the brumbies on saturday. should be good.

[God]

i don't think they will, although if they do they'll probably beat a big side like the crusaders.

... that almost come true. 23-23 all. who'd a thought it, well i nearly did. :D
not happy though. we played like rubbish.

[SideshowTim]

even-stevens week:
sideshowtim - 3.5 (7)
yourmother - 3.5 (7)
god - 3.5 (7)

sideshowtim - 105
god - 103
yourmother - 99

Highlanders v Waratahs
Cats v Western Force
Hurricanes v Chiefs
Brumbies v Reds
Cheetahs v Blues
Bulls v Sharks
Stormers v Crusaders

Waratahs
Western Force
Hurricanes
Brumbies
Cheetahs
Bulls
Crusaders

[God]

Waratahs
Western Force
Hurricanes
Brumbies
Cheetahs
Bulls
Crusaders

[Ryan]

Brumbies may need to relocate the future:
http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/news/off-the-field/brumbies-may-need-to-find-a-new-home/2006/04/29/1146198390303.html

[SideshowTim]

sideshowtim - 4.5 (9)
god - 4.5 (9)
yourmother - 2.5 (5) (away teams)

sideshowtim - 114
god - 112
yourmother - 104

Hurricanes v Reds
Bulls v Crusaders
Chiefs v Waratahs
Brumbies v Highlanders
Cheetahs v Western Force
Sharks v Stormers
Cats v Blues

Hurricanes
Crusaders
Waratahs
Brumbies
Cheetahs
Sharks
Blues

[God]

Brumbies may need to relocate the future:
http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/news/off-the-field/brumbies-may-need-to-find-a-new-home/2006/04/29/1146198390303.html

that would be a bummer for ACT and would leave them with only one major sports team, i for one hope they don't move.

Reds
Crusaders
Waratahs
Brumbies
Western Force
Sharks
Blues

[SideshowTim]

sideshowtim - 3/7
god - 3/7
yourmother - 3/7

sideshowtim - 120
god - 118
yourmother - 110

Friday 12 May Crusaders v Brumbies Christchurch
Friday 12 May Reds v Highlanders Brisbane
Friday 12 May Sharks v Western Force Durban
Saturday 13 May Blues v Chiefs Auckland
Saturday 13 May Waratahs v Hurricanes Sydney
Saturday 13 May Cheetahs v Cats Bloemfontein
Saturday 13 May Stormers v Bulls Cape Town

Crusaders
Highlanders
Sharks
Blues
Waratahs
Cheetahs
Stormers

[God]

Crusaders
Highlanders
Force
Chiefs
Waratahs
Cheetahs
Stormers

off top crusaders vs. brumbioes tonight. should be a cracker although the weather has been absolute shit today but hopefully there is still a lot of free flowing rugby.

[God]

3 tries from the crusaders in the last 10 mintues blew the 9 point ball game out to a 30 point win.

crusaders win the 'minor premiership' on 51 points. not that such a thing exists.

i am definitely going to the semi if i can grab tickets and have got the day off cued up for the final.

here's a pic i took with my phone from my seat prior to kickoff tonight, you can see brumbies warming up to the far end and a couple of crusaders in the pic at the other end:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/Elliott101/Picture11.jpg

[SideshowTim]

sideshowtim - 3/7
god - 3/7
yourmother - i presume he's not coming back, so..

sideshowtim - 126
god - 124
yourmother - 110

Crusaders vs. Bulls
Hurricanes vs. Waratahs

Crusaders
Waratahs

go the tahs! hopefully a replay of last years grand final.

[God]

Crusaders
Hurricanes

I am really looking forward to both games, I'm going to the Crusaders game, i don't think it will be as one-sided as people are thinking.

[SideshowTim]

even though i tipped the crusaders i'm hoping the bulls win as it will make it a bit easier on us if we make the final!

[God]

which you didn't :(. I woulda preferred to play the waratahs as i feel we could beat them, I am a bit uneasy towards the hurricanes, they have been a bogey team for us in the past.

so the crusaders into their 5th consecutive final... gonna try and get tickets tomorrow, don't like my chances though.

[SideshowTim]

sideshowtim - 128
god - 128

i'm gonna go for the crusaders too...looks like it'll be a draw this year. pretty amazing considering it's dead equal after so many games. well done, god.

[God]

that is bloody amazing. good effort tim :)

I managed to get tickets to the final too, so I'll be heading down on saturday night. really looking forward to it.

[SideshowTim]

did you see much from the crowd there god? from the footage i saw of the game it was almost impossible to see it on the camera let alone in the crowd. good win for the crusaders though, who are building up quite a dynasty in super 12/14 history. we both ended up on 130 points for the season. good job, god.

[God]

it was near impossible. i was facing directly from one ingoal area looking straight towards the other in goal area, i couldn't see it, I could only see up to the 22. we coudln't see the big screen either, just could make out the colours. quite surreal really. i had to get a mate to txt me when play was down the far end to tell me what was happening.

heres a diagram:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/Elliott101/fog.jpg

crowd erupted when we won, was a great feeling.
perhaps we could change this to a 'rugby union discussion thread" ?

[SideshowTim]

sounds good with the bledisloe and various test matches coming up pretty soon.

[God]

ll Blacks coach Graham Henry and his assistant coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen and fellow selector, Sir Brian Lochore, have announced the All Blacks squad for the Tests against Ireland as well as a starting XV for the Test against Argentina. The squad for the match in Buenos Aires will include another 11 players to be named on 18 June.

The squad that will prepare for Ireland is:

Jimmy Cowan Southland
Clarke Dermody Southland
Troy Flavell Auckland
Scott Hamilton Canterbury
Carl Hayman Otago
David Hill Waikato
Marty Holah Waikato
Andrew Hore Taranaki (Second Test only)
Doug Howlett Auckland
Jerome Kaino Auckland
Byron Kelleher Waikato
Casey Laulala Canterbury
Luke McAlister North Harbour
Richie McCaw Canterbury (Captain)
Aaron Mauger Canterbury
Keven Mealamu Auckland
Mils Muliaina Waikato
Craig Newby Otago
Ma’a Nonu Wellington
Anton Oliver Otago (First Test only)
Greg Rawlinson North Harbour
Joe Rokocoko Auckland
Rodney So’oialo Wellington
Neemia Tialata Wellington
Ali Williams Auckland


It is the first selection to an All Blacks squad for three players; prop Clarke Dermody, lock Greg Rawlinson and wing Scott Hamilton.

The starting XV for the Test match against Argentina is:

Leon MacDonald Canterbury
Rico Gear Tasman
Isaia Toeava Auckland
Sam Tuitupou Auckland
Sitiveni Sivivatu Waikato
Dan Carter Canterbury
Piri Weepu Wellington
Mose Tuiali’i Canterbury
Chris Masoe Wellington
Jerry Collins Wellington (Captain)
Chris Jack Canterbury
Jason Eaton Taranaki
Greg Somerville Canterbury
Anton Oliver Otago
Tony Woodcock North Harbour



not a bad squad overall.
jerry collins will be the back-up to richie mccaw.

gregan renamed as captain of australia.

[God]

34-23, good fightback by the ab's after being down 23-15 with 20 left. our team was a very much second string, there's was full strength. aussie v. england tomorrow night.