Super 15 2012

[NotreDameRFC]

Season starting soon......


Some faces have left Super rugby some have moved to other clubs... don't have anything on SA transfers....

INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS - Those not playing in Super 15 2012

NEW ZEALAND
John Afoa - Ireland
Stephen Brett - Japan
Aled de Malmanche - France
Kahn Fotuali'i - Wales
Luke McAlister - France
Mils Muliana - Japan
John Schwalger - Frace
Sitiveni Sivivatu - France
Rodney So'oialo - Japan
Dwayne Sweeney - Japan
Joe Rokocoko - France
Brad Thorn - Japan
Neemia Tialata - France

AUSTRALIA*
Mitchell Chapman - Japan
Mark Chisholm - France
Francis Fainifo - France
Matt Giteau - France
Luke Rooney - France
Julian Salvi - England
Tyrone Smith - Japan


DOMESTIC - Those Playing for different sides in Super 15 2012.

NEW ZEALAND*
Aaron Cruden - Chiefs*
Hosea Gear - Highlanders*
Andrew Hore - Highlanders
Ma'a Nonu - Blues
Piri Weepu - Blues


AUSTRALIA
Adam Ashley-Cooper - Waratahs
Fotu Auelua - Brumbies
Salesi Ma'afu - Force
Ben Mowen - Brumbies
Ian Prior - Brumbies
Siliva Siliva - Brumbies
Kimami Sitauti -Brumbies
Joseph Tomane - Brumbies

[Bosco]

Did James O'Connor not move to the Rebels?

[NotreDameRFC]

true bosco with kurtley Beale....... my mistake....

[Bosco]

Cool, I thought this was a list you got from somewhere, Kudos for making it out yourself

[Mickc10]

Sonny Bill Williams joined the Cheifs as far as I know. Think they could be this season surprise package!

[NotreDameRFC]

Hard too see Bulls being as competitive as before... got this list of players departed from their website


Bakkies BOTHA*(RC Toulon, FRA)
Gary BOTHA*(Stade Toulousain, FRA)
Fourie DU PREEZ*(Suntory Sungoliath, JPN)
Derick KUUN*(Retired)
Victor MATFIELD*(Retired)
Jaco PRETORIUS*(Retired)
Bees ROUX*(Bordeaux Bègles, FRA)
Danie ROSSOUW*(Suntory Sungoliath, JPN)
Gurthro STEENKAMP*(Stade Toulousain, FRA)
Gerhard VAN DEN HEEVER*(Stormers, RSA)
Jaco VAN DER WESTHUYZEN*(Retired)
Stefan WATERMAYER*(Ospreys, WAL)


That's some amount of beef lost from the pack......not sure even Crusaders or Toulouse could remain competitive after losing that amount of talent.

[NotreDameRFC]

Opening Fixtures ( home team first)


Fri 24 Feb 2012 Blues v*Crusaders

Fri 24 Feb 2012 Brumbies v*Force

Sat 25 Feb 2012 Bulls v*Sharks

Sat 25 Feb 2012 Chiefs v*Highlanders

Sat 25 Feb 2012 Waratahs *v*Reds

Sun 26 Feb 2012 Stormers*v*Hurricanes

Sun 26 Feb 2012 Lions v*Cheetahs


bye for Rebels.

[Old Dog]

Nice one by the 'canes (courtesy of Planet Rugby).

Two sets of fans who were rewarded this weekend were the fans of the Crusaders and Hurricanes in the tiny New Zealand village of Mangatainoka.
The Hurricanes staged their third annual pre-season fixture there, this year on a local villager's farm and with spectators seated on an array of scaffolding which the 150 proud inhabitants of the brewery village had been beavering away to set up free of charge.
The match against the Crusaders was not without some silverware, with the "Great Big Tui Cup" - a stainless steel trophy made from a 30-litre keg - on offer to the victors. Ten All Blacks were on show, as well as all four of the Whitelock brothers, who grew up just a half-hour down the road.
8,000 people went through some 20,000 cans of beer on a piece of farmland softened by 100,000 litres of water for the game (the farmers know how to get a perfect pitch ready), but the stat that mattered most was the score, with the Gret Big Tui Cup going to the visiting Crusaders who won 19-10.
Still, for those 8,000 people, it was one of those great rugby days: no gimmicks, no sideshows, just 40-odd top-quality rugby players on a patch of grass in the country and a bucketload of beer. It still can't be beaten.

[Bosco]

Have been to Mangatainoka, class place

[NotreDameRFC]

Nice one by the 'canes (courtesy of Planet Rugby).

Two sets of fans who were rewarded this weekend were the fans of the Crusaders and Hurricanes in the tiny New Zealand village of Mangatainoka.
The Hurricanes staged their third annual pre-season fixture there, this year on a local villager's farm and with spectators seated on an array of scaffolding which the 150 proud inhabitants of the brewery village had been beavering away to set up free of charge.
The match against the Crusaders was not without some silverware, with the "Great Big Tui Cup" - a stainless steel trophy made from a 30-litre keg - on offer to the victors. Ten All Blacks were on show, as well as all four of the Whitelock brothers, who grew up just a half-hour down the road.
8,000 people went through some 20,000 cans of beer on a piece of farmland softened by 100,000 litres of water for the game (the farmers know how to get a perfect pitch ready), but the stat that mattered most was the score, with the Gret Big Tui Cup going to the visiting Crusaders who won 19-10.
Still, for those 8,000 people, it was one of those great rugby days: no gimmicks, no sideshows, just 40-odd top-quality rugby players on a patch of grass in the country and a bucketload of beer. It still can't be beaten.

Great story.....and a great crowd... strangely enough Canes have been struggling with attendances ..averaging about 13-14000.....last few seasons

[NotreDameRFC]

Bulls new jersey.... a move away from the norm

[stickman_sa]

I know that he's still something of a persona non grata in these parts, but here's an interesting interview snippet with Schalk Burger.



Unless your Afrikaans is up to scratch, you'll probably want to skip to 1:27, which is when they start speaking English... He talks a bit about his disciplinary record and taking "a hard look" at himself after the disappointment of 2009.

[garryowen2323]

Haven't seen much of Super rugby over the years (couldn't afford Sky!!). But now I'm in Sydney I've just bought Waratahs season ticket. Friendly match against Tonga tonight and then season opener against the Reds next weekend. Should be a cracker of a game!!

[NotreDameRFC]

Haven't seen much of Super rugby over the years (couldn't afford Sky!!). But now I'm in Sydney I've just bought Waratahs season ticket. Friendly match against Tonga tonight and then season opener against the Reds next weekend. Should be a cracker of a game!!

there is a curtain raiser to that tahs reds game... Sydney league game.... Balmain are playing.. Chabal rumoured to.be starting for them

[Viigand]

That Bulls jersey is awful..looks like they've moved kit suppliers from Gilbert to Puma.

[garryowen2323]

there is a curtain raiser to that tahs reds game... Sydney league game.... Balmain are playing.. Chabal rumoured to.be starting for them

I saw that alright. Should be interesting! Waratahs weren't great tonight but typical preseason game. All the lads with niggles (Elsom) were rested. AshleyCooper made his debut and played well. Scrum half Sarel Pretorius was best player on pitch, very impressive. Berrick Barnes's groin tightened and was taken off as precaution after 30 mins or so. Reds on Saturday will be different story! Was talking to one fella in stand who said Dan Vickerman is expected to announce his retirement this week too.

[fullback15]

I saw that alright. Should be interesting! Waratahs weren't great tonight but typical preseason game. All the lads with niggles (Elsom) were rested. AshleyCooper made his debut and played well. Scrum half Sarel Pretorius was best player on pitch, very impressive. Berrick Barnes's groin tightened and was taken off as precaution after 30 mins or so. Reds on Saturday will be different story! Was talking to one fella in stand who said Dan Vickerman is expected to announce his retirement this week too.

According to sky he is due to return in April!

[godisbod]

According to sky he is due to return in April!

Stuart Barnes reckons that for the first time Europe's best (leinster) would defeat the super 15 champs. In other words the blue magic are the best team on the planet. Lets face it, he knows a thing or two about rugby. What do ye all think?
Would be a great match up anyhow.

[fullback15]

Stuart Barnes reckons that for the first time Europe's best (leinster) would defeat the super 15 champs. In other words the blue magic are the best team on the planet. Lets face it, he knows a thing or two about rugby. What do ye all think?
Would be a great match up anyhow.

i think he is due to return in April

[godisbod]

i think he is due to return in April

In April? Do you mean from Loman's?

[garryowen2323]

2 completely different games of rugby in NH and SH. Don't think we'll ever trully know until they start up a World Club Final like in the rugby league with Leeds and Manly. It's going to be weird watching SH rugby for a change!!

[NotreDameRFC]

Stuart Barnes reckons that for the first time Europe's best (leinster) would defeat the super 15 champs. In other words the blue magic are the best team on the planet. Lets face it, he knows a thing or two about rugby. What do ye all think?
Would be a great match up anyhow.

i think Leinster would do the reds in Dublin and vice versa.... i think the gap has closed in last 3/4 years..... besides winning title last year .. i think Crusaders are still the best S15 down there and not the reds.....
to be honest i wouldnt fancy reds to win in Dublin toulouse limerick or clermont

[NotreDameRFC]

Blues 18 Crusaders 19 FT from Auckland and without Carter and McCaw... ominous sign.

[Viigand]

Ah crap, I thought that was on tonight.

[NotreDameRFC]

Ah crap, I thought that was on tonight.

sorry Viigand... hope you hadn't it recorded

[garryowen2323]

Brumbies fall over the winning line too. Lawrence finally penalises Pocock. The Saffies will love that!!

Roll on Waratahs v Reds tomorrow night now! And Chabal for Balmain of course. He's already thrash talking!!

[NotreDameRFC]

0-0 @ ht Bulls v Sharks.....Leinster legend Steven Sykes lining out for Sharks

[supiebrian]

While the S15 rightly gets a bad wrap on here primarily because of the Australian and to a lessor degree the NZ franchise's tendency to try and play RL, I personally can sit and watch the SA franchises kick lumps out of each other all day long.

The Bulls vs. Sharks game was by no means a quality game of rugby and the handling errors from both sides, particularly the Bulls, is not someone that you would expect at this level, however the pace and physicality that SA rugby is played at is in my book great entertainment.

The other big positive about the S15 is the willingness of the franchises to blood young talent. Just in this game alone you had; Venter (20) and Sadie (23) starting in the centre for the Bulls, while for the sharks you had a young LH prop Chadwick (21), a blindside flanker Coetzee (20) and the "veteran" Lambie (23) at outhalf.

McGahan has been rightly praised for the trust he has placed in youth, particularly this season, what a shame Kidney isn't as brave.

For what it is worth, a SA head coach coupled with Axel looking after the forwards and Howlett looking after the backs would be a great coaching ticket for Munster and the right balance. No more bloody Aussies please.

[garryowen2323]

Agree with you to a point there supiebrian. Think people are being harsh on Kidney regards blooding the kids. Bulls/Sharks blooding youngsters is equivalent of Munster/Leinster blooding youngsters. Kidney I think should be compared as a national coach to the SA national team. World Cup starting 15 this year pretty much the exact same as 4 years ago and I'd say deVilliers was in fact way worse than Kidney for giving youth a chance (bar Lambie who I think is unreal!)

Anyway off to see Chabal and Waratahs v Reds now. Will post a report later! Slan anois.

[supiebrian]

Agree with you to a point there supiebrian. Think people are being harsh on Kidney regards blooding the kids. Bulls/Sharks blooding youngsters is equivalent of Munster/Leinster blooding youngsters. Kidney I think should be compared as a national coach to the SA national team. World Cup starting 15 this year pretty much the exact same as 4 years ago and I'd say deVilliers was in fact way worse than Kidney for giving youth a chance (bar Lambie who I think is unreal!)

Anyway off to see Chabal and Waratahs v Reds now. Will post a report later! Slan anois.

Take your point re Kidney and DeVilliers. Just literally walking out the door myself to see that game also. Gladly I can enjoy the reds this year seeing that we don't have to endure That clown Cooper.