It's nearly over and they've been pretty well beaten...
Rugby 2017 Discussion
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It's nearly over and they've been pretty well beaten...
Score?
31-10 I think it was, but Kings got a try at the death so it was potentially looking worse.
The Cheetahs haven't been particularly competitive either but for the sake of the Pro14, hopefully both South African teams will be better next season.
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For so long New Zealand vs South Africa/ RSA vs NZ was the non Wallabies test i would look forward to most. Yesterday, it almost felt like the rivalry was ended, or at best, it was in need of some serious re invigoration.
More farcical happening related to flights for Leinster 
https://www.balls.ie/rugby/cian-healy-cape-town-flight-373913
https://www.balls.ie/rugby/cian-healy-cape-town-flight-373913
Crazy that they actually turned the plane around. Surely they would just tell him to close it for two minutes and then that's it.More farcical happening related to flights for Leinster
https://www.balls.ie/rugby/cian-healy-cape-town-flight-373913
Yep, wonder if there's more to this. Seems very strange.
First impact by a SA team in the Pro 14 as Cheetahs hammer Leinster, unfortunately in front of another poor crowd apparently.
Glasgow also hammer Munster, not a great evening for Irish teams, only Ulster winning.
Glasgow also hammer Munster, not a great evening for Irish teams, only Ulster winning.
Hopefully the away team doesn't lose in Bloemfontein next weekend when Australia play South Africa. On another note, I don't know how much of the Aviva Premiership you watch but Peter Stringer, who turns 40 in December, was playing for Worcester in their 24-19 loss to Gloucester yesterday. Donnacha O'Callaghan also played for Worcester and was sin binned. Talk about a blast from the past.
Two of the fittest lads I ever saw play the game. Neither of them ever touched a drop of alcohol and were both looking after their diet, bodies and fitness regimes long before it was fashionable to do so over here. No surprise to see such longevity from either of them.
We've been found out by the better sides a few times recently. We haven't lost many games and look like world beaters against the average and smaller sides but the properly good sides seem to have found us out. That's Saracens, Scarlets and now Glasgow who have put us to the sword in the last few months.
We've been purring about the quality of our squad but in hindsight, going to Glasgow without any of our internationals was a bit silly. Tyler also needs to sort his kicking out because it's been shocking so far this year. 6 kicks from 15 will get us nowhere fast.
I'd read articles about the two of them, fair play to them. Serious achievement to still be able to do that!
I never took any notice of that before, was it ever this bad? He's really off the boil, just when Irish eligibility is around the corner too.
He's never been the greatest kicker in the world but last year he had an 85% strike rate in the league. He's at 40% so far this season.
There was a funny moment just before the second half when the Supersport commentator said "Great excitement here in Bloemfontein" because the Cheetahs were winning with the cameras looking on at an almost empty stadium. Something weird is happening with sports attendances in SA recently. Both rugby and football are struggling to attract the usual crowds. I don't know if it's the state of the economy, the product on show or the fact that all these games are on TV but clearly the powers needs to do more to attract people to the stadiums.
Looking like ex Western Force coach Dave Wessels will be off to Munster to replace Rassie Erasmus as head coach. Wessels work at the Force impressed many this year, see how he fares in Europe in a job where silverware will be expected.
He seems like a good fit - he's worked with Rassie before and Force fans seem to speak highly of him. I'm just glad we're getting someone in now to spend some time handing over with Erasmus before he goes. I heard a rumour that Wessels might bring young Adam Coleman with him which would be great news for our worrying second row situation.
Exactly this, that's the best of a bad situation hopefully
I've just read a report that this guy is spoken for
Yeah he's a done deal to Rebels. Says there was interest from Europe but he felt he owes Aussie rugby and would have regretted it forever if he didn't stay to see where his career there went. I imagine he has his eye on replacing Cheika at some stage.
Interestingly. reports in Ireland say the IRFU are still in talks with the one candidate they've been talking to all along. They even had a dig at the Independent on twitter for getting the Wessels story wrong. Wonder who the feck we're getting?
Sorry chaps, i was bit hasty in saying Wessels was off to Munster and made it sound like a formality. Some Western Force fans will be far from chuffed about Wessels joining the Rebels, they would have preferred to see him join Munster i suspect.
We might see ex All Black Brad Thorn coaching the Queensland Reds next season if reports linking him as Nick Stiles replacement turn out to be true.
Pro 14 Round 5:
29 Cheetahs v Ospreys Toyota Stadium 17:00
29 Glasgow Warriors v Benetton Treviso Scotstoun Stadium 20:35
29 Leinster v Edinburgh RDS Arena 20:35
29 Scarlets v Connacht Parc Y Scarlets 20:35
30 Munster v Cardiff Blues Irish Independent Park 14:30
30 Zebre v Ulster Stadio Lanfranchi 15:35
30 Newport Gwent Dragons v Kings Rodney Parade 20:35
29 Cheetahs v Ospreys Toyota Stadium 17:00
29 Glasgow Warriors v Benetton Treviso Scotstoun Stadium 20:35
29 Leinster v Edinburgh RDS Arena 20:35
29 Scarlets v Connacht Parc Y Scarlets 20:35
30 Munster v Cardiff Blues Irish Independent Park 14:30
30 Zebre v Ulster Stadio Lanfranchi 15:35
30 Newport Gwent Dragons v Kings Rodney Parade 20:35
Rte and the Independent are hilarious. They got stung by jumping the gun on Wessels so they're being bitchy now and suggesting van Graan was our number 2 target despite the fact we interviewed him 6 weeks ago and apparently before we interviewed Wessels.
Spelled his name wrong too... bit of a mess really.
I just read a few rumours that we were actually looking at bringing them both in as a duo. Interesting if true and I wonder if we'll now be looking for someone else to come in alongside van Graan? To be honest, I'm most worried about who is going to take over from Nienaber because defence has been our biggest weapon since he came in.
Teams for RSA vs AUS in Bloemfontein
South Africa: Andries Coetzee, Dillyn Leyds, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Uzair Cassiem, Francois Louw, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth (captain), Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Rudy Paige, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende.
Australia: Israel Folau, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Kurtley Beale, Reece Hodge, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper (captain), Jack Dempsey, Adam Coleman, Izak Rodda, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio. Replacements: Stephen Moore, Tom Robertson, Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Simmons, Ned Hanigan, Lukhan Tui, Nick Phipps, Samu Kerevi, Henry Speight.
Kick-off: 5pm (local time)
Prediction: Wallabies to win by 7-14 hopefully
South Africa: Andries Coetzee, Dillyn Leyds, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Uzair Cassiem, Francois Louw, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth (captain), Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Rudy Paige, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende.
Australia: Israel Folau, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Kurtley Beale, Reece Hodge, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper (captain), Jack Dempsey, Adam Coleman, Izak Rodda, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio. Replacements: Stephen Moore, Tom Robertson, Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Simmons, Ned Hanigan, Lukhan Tui, Nick Phipps, Samu Kerevi, Henry Speight.
Kick-off: 5pm (local time)
Prediction: Wallabies to win by 7-14 hopefully
The game was played in front of another poor crowd.
Considering that it was played at the same venue as the Wallabies test tomorrow, it would have been a good idea idea to have it as a curtain raiser for the test match.
Great marketing for the fairly new competition to the market.
As a Kiwi, I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I really haven't been paying attention to the Super Rugby so far - but Wow, the ABs are way too dominant atm. We really need AUS and RSA to up their games.
Good win for the Cheetahs. The commentators were talking about some player for the Ospreys getting bit by a lion. Not sure if they were making a bad joke or if that really happened.
Ach, cruel again for Connacht vs Scarlets. Great fight. There were 40pts in the first half 
Edinburgh just scored about as close to an own try as you're likely to see in rugby. Fullback running back to field a kick under pressure, shits himself and tries to kick it over his shoulder to touch from under his own posts.
Manages only to land the ball a couple of feet from the touchline where a Leinster player is there to fall over the line!
Manages only to land the ball a couple of feet from the touchline where a Leinster player is there to fall over the line!
Fairly incredible
Plus one of their own players ended up badly crocked too. The kick went about 20m laterally and 1m forward And now I have a headache from listening to an hour and a half of Irish!
I worry the Rugby Championship won't be worth watching if Australia and South Africa can't lift their game. The tournament can't continue to be basically over by the mid way point or two thirds of the way through. It doesn't do anybody any good in my view.
fecking hell could've been a lot worse