Super rugby week 4

Just a thread for those of us following the game down under:

The story so far (http://www.superxv.com/):

Conference leaders.
1. Brumbies - Australia
2. Chiefs - New Zealand
3. Bulls - South Africa

Wild card teams
4. Blues - New Zealand
5. Sharks - South Africa
6 Reds - Australia
7. S.Kings - South Africa
8. Waratahs - Australia
9. Rebels - Australia
10. Highlanders - New Zealand
11. Crusaders - New Zealand
12. Stormers - South Africa
13. Hurricanes - New Zealand
14. W.Force - Australia
15. Cheetahs - South Africa

The games this weekend are
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Rebels v Reds
Highlanders v Cheetahs
Brumbies v Waratahs
Stormers v Chiefs
Kings v Sharks
Blues v Bulls
BYE: Force

Didn't see the games last week. Obviously all unbiased fans will be cheering on the men in gold as we take apart the Crusaders on Friday.

My picks
Heart say says canes, brain says dastardly men in red
reds should be to strong for the rebels
Highlanders at home to beat the cheetahs
Brumbies look a level above the rest of the Aussie teams
Stormers Chiefs should be a cracker. Stormers at home
Sharks to beat the kings. Kings will probably be SA's celler dwellers
Blues to beat the Bulls. Should be a great game.

Watch out for Dominic Bird for Canterbury. He's a big unit out of Hawkes Bay.

We've got a thread already running lion.

https://www.606v2.com/t40682-2013-super-xv-fixtures-results-table

I'll go saders, reds, highlanders, brumbies, chiefs, sharks and blues.

I'll go Canes, Reds, Highlanders, Brumbies, Chiefs, Sharks and Blues too.

nganboy wrote:I'll go Canes, Reds, Highlanders, Brumbies, Chiefs, Sharks and Blues too.

Ditto.

Well what a weekend for SA rugby! Highlanders, Chiefs and Blues smashed and Kings give decent effort against the Sharks. Not looking too bad for the meat eaters. Looking a bit bad for NZ.

nganboy wrote:Well what a weekend for SA rugby! Highlanders, Chiefs and Blues smashed and Kings give decent effort against the Sharks. Not looking too bad for the meat eaters. Looking a bit bad for NZ.

it's just one weekend's results mate, won't read too much into it.

The Stormers could just as easily have lost, the Cheetahs played against a Highlanders team that made far too many mistakes and the Bulls disn't play the best Blues team.

I am still quite satisfied with those results though.

Chiefs pick up a LBP and a TBP away in Cape Town against the Stormers. That is a decent return, I suspect both sides will be happy with what they got from that game.

Biltong wrote:

nganboy wrote:Well what a weekend for SA rugby! Highlanders, Chiefs and Blues smashed and Kings give decent effort against the Sharks. Not looking too bad for the meat eaters. Looking a bit bad for NZ.

it's just one weekend's results mate, won't read too much into it.

The Stormers could just as easily have lost, the Cheetahs played against a Highlanders team that made far too many mistakes and the Bulls disn't play the best Blues team.

I am still quite satisfied with those results though.

Frankly good to see the SA sides performing. I was impressed by many individuals out there. Reminds me of the levels SA really have.

By the way...Hope youve put some clients on the backburner this week Biltong...could be a record week on the International board with a 606v2 worst (or best depending on your point of view) case scenario end to the 6N- England vs Wales.

I notice the all time record posters on the boards coincided with the AB England match aftermath....might be beaten here...

Taylorman wrote:

Biltong wrote:

nganboy wrote:Well what a weekend for SA rugby! Highlanders, Chiefs and Blues smashed and Kings give decent effort against the Sharks. Not looking too bad for the meat eaters. Looking a bit bad for NZ.

it's just one weekend's results mate, won't read too much into it.

The Stormers could just as easily have lost, the Cheetahs played against a Highlanders team that made far too many mistakes and the Bulls disn't play the best Blues team.

I am still quite satisfied with those results though.

Frankly good to see the SA sides performing. I was impressed by many individuals out there. Reminds me of the levels SA really have.

By the way...Hope youve put some clients on the backburner this week Biltong...could be a record week on the International board with a 606v2 worst (or best depending on your point of view) case scenario end to the 6N- England vs Wales.

I notice the all time record posters on the boards coincided with the AB England match aftermath....might be beaten here...

yep, expecting the doodoo to hit the fan, most likely will start tonight.

Sharpened my red pen and warmed up the fingers.

As far as the SA teams, I was busy writing a little piece and was selecting my Bok Barometer team similar to what Super sports wrap does on a weekly basis.

Here are the guys who did best in their positions this weekend.



1. Beast Mtawarira (Sharks)
2. Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)
3. Frans Malherbe (Stormers)
4. Anton Bresler (Sharks)
5. Andries Bekker (Stormers)
6. Siya Kolisi (Stormers)
7. Lappies Labuschagne (Cheetahs)
8. Pierre Spies (Bulls)
9. Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs)
10. Johan Goosen (cheetahs)
11. Habana (Stormers)
12. Damien de Allende (Stormers)
13. Jean de Villiers (Stormers)
14. Gio Aplon (Stormers)
15. Zane Kirchner (Bulls)


Some make the team purely because others didn't perform.

Good side though I can still see Steyn returning in one form or another. How would Spies go as captain? I think the captaincy for this type of team should go back to the pack where it belongs. Best I've actually seen from Spies so hopefully he goes on this year. Habana is out for a while isnt he?

I thought the Bulls backs (and a couple of forawrds in there) were superb in moving the ball wide. 3 tries went the full width before going over.

Yes Habana is out for most of the year from reports.

I am not convinced with Spies as a captain. I am hoping Schalk Burger returns soon.

One thing I have made my mind up this past few weeks is that Kolisi is much better than Marcel Coetzee, he is stronger with ball in hand, has more pace, actually looks for the gap, and looks for support runners.

He doesn"'t easily miss a tackle and is bloody strong for his size.

Taylorman wrote:By the way...Hope youve put some clients on the backburner this week Biltong...could be a record week on the International board with a 606v2 worst (or best depending on your point of view) case scenario end to the 6N- England vs Wales.

I notice the all time record posters on the boards coincided with the AB England match aftermath....might be beaten here...

No doubts, mate. The old expression about how when it rains, it pours? Well, oh baby, a hurricane is coming............

Yeah some of the Welsh posters really get heated dont they...well we're all a bit like that now and then. What a week these boards will be. Might just close off and watch the aftermath...