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SANZAR have released the match officials for the 17th Round of the 2011 Super Rugby tournament with Steve Walsh returning to action.
Although I have said many times that I do not like the new format of Super Rugby, be it due to the unevenness of not playing all the teams in the Competition and playing local derbies twice, it still does make for interesting reading going into the final two rounds of Competition.
A decision by the South African officials which was later proved to be incorrect may have helped the Waratahs to a 23-17 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria but the Waratahs left Pretoria with their pride in tact.
The Brumbies shocked the Reds 14-22 in Brisbane for a result which has little impact on the Brumbies but opens up the Super Rugby finals charge.
The Stormers scored five tries and collected a valuable bonus point in their final tour match, as they downed the hapless Rebels 40-3 in Melbourne on Friday.
Brumbies number eight Ita Vaea has been suspended for one week after being found guilty of foul play by a SANZAR Judicial Hearing.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey may be forced to turn to Sydney club rugby again to shore-up his depleted stocks as five players are in doubt for their crunch Super Rugby game with the Highlanders on Saturday.
Brumbies and Wallabies lock Mark Chisholm has been ruled out for the rest of the season including the Rugby World Cup with a knee injury he sustained in Super rugby.
The Reds brutal 14-22 loss to the Brumbies could have a bigger impact than initially thought as half of their backline is in doubt for their match against the Force.
Reds (11) 14 / Brumbies (19) 22 (Final Score)
The Reds hosted the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The lowly Brumbies toppled the Log-leading Reds, at home… with an 8 point win, denying the Reds even a single Log point.
Bulls (13) 23 / Waratahs (6) 17 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls hosted the Waratahs at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match Thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Waratahs made quite a game of it and worried the Bulls throughout the match but in the end the Bulls won by 23 / 17, a slender 6-point margin.
Mission accomplished, 4 points in the bag for the Bulls, pity about the one point for the Waratahs.
Rebels (3) 3 / Stormers (16) 40 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels hosted the DHL Stormers at AAMI Stadium, Melbourne at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Melbourne Time). This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
Mission accomplished for the Stormers, leaving the 4th try very late, but importantly getting it when it mattered.
Highlanders (14) 14 / Force (3) 21 (Final Score)
The Highlanders hosted the Western Force at Carisbrook Stadium, Dunedin at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ local time). This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Highlanders were simply blown off the field in the second half by a very gutsy Western Force side. Ideal result for the sides from South Africa with aspirations for the play-off’s.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announced for week 16 of Super Rugby 2011.
SANZAR has announced the referees for week 16 of Super Rugby 2011.
Reds (7) 17 / Crusaders (10) 16 (Final Score)
The Reds hosted the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 08:10 SA Time, Sunday morning. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Reds flyhalf, Quade Cooper, slotted a penalty in the 80th minute to secure a 1-point lead and eventual win. It was a hard and brutal match but the relatively low scores both sides just do not do justice to the open and flowing game presented by these tow sides on the day.
Sharks (13) 26 / Waratahs (11) 21 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Waratahs at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Sharks left it late but ground out the necessary win, moving them to No 5 on the Combined Log.
Brumbies (3) 3 / Stormers (6) 16 (Final Score)
The Brumbies hosted the DHL Stormers at Canberra Stadium, Canberra at 11:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
In the ugliest game of the whole season, the DHL Stormers ground out a win, only one try scored in the whole match.
The DHL Stormers road to the play-off’s is still safe.
Hurricanes (10) 34 / Force (18) 28 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes hosted the Western Force at FMG Stadium, Palmerston at 09:35 SA Time. This was the match Thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
After a diabolical start, the Hurricanes rallied to grit out a bonus point win against a gutsy Western Force side.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they are announced for week 15 of Super Rugby 2011.
SANZAR have released the match officials for the fifteenth Round of the 2011 Super Rugby tournament and Steve Walsh has the big one on Sunday between the Reds and Crusaders.
This weekend has six matches, one on Friday and four on Saturday and one on Sunday.
The Blues, Chiefs and the Rebels have the bye this weekend.
The prospects of three teams from either New Zealand or South Africa making Super Rugby’s six-team playoffs is firming, as is the embarrassment of Australia having just one.
Cheetahs (21) 41 / Rebels (7) 21 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs hosted the Melbourne Rebels at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Cheetahs were too strong for a game Melbourne Rebels side, but the game was eventually marred by an overzealous Refree, dishing out one Red Card and a few yellows, like they were Smarties.
Force (10) 13 / Brumbies (10) 13 (Final Score)
The Western Force hosted the Brumbies at NIB Stadium, Perth at 14:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
They say a draw is like kissing your sister, well this game was bad enough that it was rather like kissing your UGLY sister.
Waratahs (29) 29 / Lions (5) 12 (Final Score)
The Waratahs hosted the MTN Lions at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney at 11:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
By halftime the Waratahs had done enough for a bonus point win, the only score in the second half coming via a lone converted Lions try.
As we are moving towards the business end of the Super Rugby Conference rounds, the supporters will start to work out what the possible permutations are for teams to reach the play-off rounds, where 15 teams will be reduced to only 6.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they are announced for week 14 of Super Rugby 2011.
The Brumbies have named their team to face the Western Force this Saturday with Rocky Elsom making his first start of the season.
Reds flyhalf, Quade Cooper, has signed a further one-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union which keeps the influential playmaker in Queensland for at least 2012.
Brumbies punished with icy night drill
Tony Rea’s post-match verbal attack was nothing compared to what he put his players through last night.
Waratahs out to rediscover their ‘beautiful’ game
Coach Chris Hickey believes his team can rekindle their expansive style of play as the finals approach.
Ioane becomes new focus
Wallabies fear they will lose spectacular utility back Digby Ioane
Jake White says four-year term is key
Jake negotiated another 4 year deal
With the Superugby season getting into the business end of the season, every weekend you will have major deciding clashes. Everyone might differ which one is the most important and this article is written from a South African perspective.
This weekend’s action starts with one of the biggies, the Blues and the Stormers, on Friday, and ends with the Sharks versus the Bulls in Durban on Saturday evening.
SANZAR have released the match officials for the fourteenth Round of the 2011 Super Rugby tournament and Steve Walsh has been replaced.
Bulls (40) 47 / Rebels (3) 10 (Final Score)
The Bulls hosted the Melbourne Rebels at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Bulls blitzed the Melbourne Rebels in the first half, scoring 6 tries to none, but the second half was a dour affair with lots of replacements disrupting all rythm in the game and therefor the second half only produced 7 points for each of the 2 sides.
Job done and mission accomplished by the Bulls, 5 Log points in the bag.
Brumbies (10) 20 / MTN Lions (12) 29 (Final Score)
The Brumbies hosted the MTN Lions at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, at 11:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
For once the MTN Lions played clever and constuctive rugby, doing the right things at te right time! Better defence, good and solid all round performance by the Lions.
Reds (27) 37/Blues (14) 31 (Final Score)
The Reds host the Blues at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match is broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD en CSN on TV in SA.