The Rugby Thread

[PET]

It was without a shadow of doubt the best England have played in the last 12 months or so.
They were at nearly full strength and their supreme line speed caused Ireland huge problems - they just did not expect it.
A wonderful achievement playing away and puts the Championship back to the bookies - I am already boiling the LEAKS !!

[PET]

It was without a shadow of doubt the best England have played in the last 12 months or so.
They were at nearly full strength and their supreme line speed caused Ireland huge problems - they just did not expect it.
A wonderful achievement playing away and puts the Championship back to the bookies - I am already boiling the LEEKS !!

[pharvey]

I am already boiling the LEEKS !!

Well, at least you'll have the basis of a decent soup to commiserate a "Red Rose Loss"....

[PeteC]

A few brief insights concerning Super Rugby before it gets going that may help if not familiar:

The New Zealand Conference the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Highlanders vie for first place each season. It could go to any of them although the order I have is a good guideline as of the moment. The Chiefs are like a wild card. They can put up 40 points in a half and fall apart in the second half. Hopefully they have gotten over this inconsistency this season, we'll see.They finished above the Highlanders last season. The Blues are rebuilding with new coaching and players. More than likely they will end up at the bottom once again.

The Australia Conference I would watch the Warathas, Rebels, Brumbies, Reds and Sunwolves from Japan in that order.

South Africa Conference is a toss up between the Lions, Jaguares (Argentina) and Sharks IMO. See last season's final standings on an above post.

[dtaai-maai]

England 44 - 8 France

Not bad, not bad at all... It all got a bit boring on the hour mark. England took their foot off the gas, but the French still couldn't score.

Who's next up? Oh yeah, the Welsh boys. I hear they're on a pretty good run, and they managed to sneak past the French and the Scots in their last couple of games. They must be feeling very confident...

[pharvey]

England 44 - 8 France

Not bad, not bad at all... It all got a bit boring on the hour mark. England took their foot off the gas, but the French still couldn't score.

Who's next up? Oh yeah, the Welsh boys. I hear they're on a pretty good run, and they managed to sneak past the French and the Scots in their last couple of games. They must be feeling very confident...

Firstly, Wales haven't played the Scots yet and on our two displays so far, I'm not confident in the least DM. Fair play to England, but the French were appalling - worse indeed than they were against Wales last week. Big changes need to be made there whether it's management or players.

As Gatland says, if we (Wales) play at the same level against England, it's going to be an embarrassment. That said, it's going to be a very different team than was fielded against Italy - I just hope it's a very different playing mentality also! The lost bonus points are going to be telling at the end of the day.

Ireland still not looking the team of a few months past, but a good win against a battling Scottish side who look far from the "Wooden Spooners" I predicted prior to the start of the championship.

Lest we (or rather you ) forget.....

[PeteC]

Just made my picks and I could have them all right, or all wrong. It's a crap shoot these first few matches before we see who is better, worse or the same as last season. There is no skill involved at all making picks these first few rounds. Pete

Here's the Super Rugby pool. Some of been sent email invitations based upon history with Superbru.


Join Hua Hin Forum Super Rugby Predictor league on @Superbru! You can find the pool here:

https://www.superbru.com/superrugby/pool.php?p=11982865

Code: eerylyra

[Big Boy]

I know absolutely nothing about this rugby, so I made my picks about 4 hours ago, based entirely on the advice in your post.

[PeteC]

I know absolutely nothing about this rugby, so I made my picks about 4 hours ago, based entirely on the advice in your post.

You'll do as well as me or anyone at this point. If you have TRUE keep an eye on channel 669 in coming days. Most or all matches should be on live and as repeats throughout the week following.

[PeteC]

Super Rugby friendly tip.

Damian McKensie for the Chiefs is not playing against the Highlanders due to an ankle injury. Not even on the bench. In 8 out of 10 matches he's the dynamo that powers the Chiefs through his play making, passing and individual scoring. He can put up 21 points in 10 minutes, as he usually does the extra point and penalty kicking as well. Pete

[PeteC]

The Highlanders were lucky after a questionable red card at 69 minutes. The Brumbies are just as sloppy and disorganized as last year. No idea if they've had a coaching/staff change during the off season, but it appears that they need one.

Big day tomorrow with many matches to close out Round #1. Pete

[PeteC]

Super Rugby standings Round #1

php0ERii5PM.jpg (17.7 KiB) Viewed 225 times

[pharvey]

Super Rugby standings Round #1php0ERii5PM.jpg

Christ.... Goes to show how much I've lost touch with this tournament.

[PeteC]

It's a 5 month season. Plenty of time.

[pharvey]

A few more pieces of eight for the coffers.....

"New Zealand great Dan Carter will return to Racing 92 as an injury replacement for the rest of the season.

The former All Blacks fly-half, 36, has been released by Japan's Top League champions Kobelco Steelers.

Carter, who played for the French Top 14 club from 2015-18, will cover for Racing's Pat Lambie, who has been forced to retire because of concussion.

Racing announced the double World Cup winner's return on their Twitter account by saying: "He is back.""

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/47274263