Rugbydump's Super Rugby Pick of the Week - Round 3

Boom love it. Adam Thomson is such an athlete. And Masaga, just give him the ball in space

nice slide at the end! Great game from SBW, can't wait for the RWC!!

Sonny Bill started the game horribly making bad passes and lacking vision, but I was impressed, he ended the game brilliantly!

i don't want to be negative,but to be honest,i just can't understand some of the defence in this clip.i'm well aware of the general inside-out defensive rule,but if you pause for example at around the 45 second mark,there are about 10 rebel defenders marking 5 chiefs attackers.it's like they're saying,we don't want you to score,but if you do it has to look good and be on the outside of a 4 man overlap.there are a couple of other examples as well.

i'm not trying to start a 'NH defense is terrible'thread,as there are plenty of instances of good defending as well.i jwould just like to hear any thoughts or comments on this type of defense

Leeners93, um, do you think they did that deliberately?! They were sucked in from the earlier build up. It's not a 'tactic', or a 'type' of defense lol. It's called being out on your feet, or at sixes and sevens even.

Good take by Donald for that try too, behind him

Rokocoko seems to have so much time on the ball, it's ridiculous.

@Leeners93
Remember that defense always looks bad in a highlights reel showcasing the best tries, because defensives are now so good that tries are rarely scored without a defensive mistake. It's sort of ironic really; the better defenses get, the worse they seem on highlights...

7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!7th!!! !!!! !!!!

Anyone know the name of the song?

@Leeners93 If you look in the try zone, you will see both the numbers 10 and 12 "running" to get back into the play. They were both involved in the initial tackle, and then they were just lazy not getting back into their defensive position.

9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YEAH!

Chris, you always say the most homosexual things. Per se.

@ResidentTroll = Funny bastard.

Back to the rugby... Masaga is so good, he needs a Allblack re-call.

You can't coach that shit!!

Leeners, the defence was scrambling because the Cheifs had generated good go forward ball.
One of the best ways to break a defence is to play at a high speed. If you can clear the ball out of the ruck very, very quickly, make your passes fast and have guys running off the ball alot, so they are in position for the attacking play, defences simply do not have time to adjust and set their lines.
It's how SH international teams consistently break down NH defences. Play at speed, and all the structure goes out of the game, the defences simply don't have time to set.
It's why S15 produces more tries, it's played at a higher speed.
The European teams love structure, and if you can keep the game slow and kill the ball, that can be very effective.
Although in my opinion, it also makes the game very boring and cycnical.
The ref plays a big part in it.
If a ref doesn't tolerate cheating at the ruck and offside defending, the game can be sped up.
If a ref allows the ball to be killed cynically, the game slows right down. Defences are always set and the game becomes a turgid affair. Lots of forward hit ups that make little ground and lots of kicking.

Strauss's beard = AMAZING

I know this is just highlights, and you can never gauge the feel of a whole game from just the highlights, but is EVERY try in Super Rugby scored from loose play? Do they create more loose play than us NHers?

Jono, I agree and I've thought this for so long, they should really have little tolerance for having hands on the ball, slowing the play. The Irish do it wonderfully, timing it exactly soas to not get penalised, and release just as the ref calls no hands please, as do the English a huge amount too (and the others probs too, although I've not personally seen it from them as much, maybe didn't see it). If it weren't tolerated so much,and therefore penalised more so, then the game in the NH would develop more tempo (despite an increase in the number of penalties initially). Well, that and moving the season to summer....

Agreed alexander. Zero tolerance is the best way.
If a guy is playing the ball illegally jsut penalise him. Don't give him a warning and allow him time to stop cheating. He's already broken the rules (knowingly and cynically). Penalise him.
If he keeps doing it, yellow card him.
I garuntee you he'll stop doing it.
That's what has happened (for the most part) in the SH. And it has made for a better game.

And Smellnerfherder, often yes tries are scored from broken play.
Becuase it's very, very hard to score through a defence that's set.

But the key is to break up the defensive structure and patterns by producing a few quick rucks, and get them backpeddaling. Then make a break, and the defence is scrambling. That's when most tries come.

Some of you have got it spot on. You guys have to realize you didn't see the other 3,4,8, even 12 or more phases where the defense was solid, and no mistakes were made. You only see the try and maybe a couple phases before that.

Great stuff though, RD. Adam Thompson was in touch though, if you saw on the replay. IMO anyway

If a guy is playing the ball illegally jsut penalise him. Don't give him a warning and allow him time to stop cheating. He's already broken the rules (knowingly and cynically). Penalise him.
If he keeps doing it, yellow card him.
I garuntee you he'll stop doing it.

Or, just bring back proper rucking and problem solved. I'm just saying is all.

^^^^
Dont think Thomson was actually in touch, but it was real close. What I couldnt believe was the ref didnt go to the tmo. Assistant ref must have just come from specsavers to have so much confidence in his eyesight!

Canterbury have a nasty 10, 12, 13.

Could be the AB line-up, Carter, Fruean, Williams, not to mention Mcalister, Smith, Nonu!

AB's just have such an abundance of talent at the moment. Only backs line that can get close in terms of talent is the Aussies.......

All Black backline will be interesting this year. Do they go with the obvious genius of Sonny-Bill and Freuen? Or the proven talent of Nonu and Smith?

As for the wings - Sivivatu? Rokockococococococo? Dagg? Corey Jane? Gear? Masaga? Nani-Williams as an outside bet?

And fullback - Dagg or Mils?

The only thing that is for certain in their backline is that Dan Carter will be class, and their scrumhalf will be average.

Jono et all

It's true we love structured play in the NH but there is also another factor which is the lenghth of the season.
You simply cannot play 26 regular season games (in France) at the tempo that the game is played in the South. That would just be asking the players to get on the juice...
Cobversely, it will be interesting to see if all the teams manage to sustain this kind of speed now that the season is much longer in S Rugby...I think we may see a return to a more set piece/structure oriented game in the more conservative teams as the season progresses, and also next year.

Coco, the season is, at most, 3 games longer.

And it has not dropped off at all in speed of play.

But fair point about the length of season in the north, I'm sure that doesn't help.

the major difference is the speed at which the ball gets recycled in the super 15. The ball is moving so quickly from ruck to ruck that its alot easier to get caught out of position on defense.

hopefully mcallister can keep playing good rugby at 10 so we dont have to rely on donald as our ab's 10 backup.

this clip miss the the rene ranger 2nd try, where mcalister break from the midfield. brilliant. i do think mcalister is a good no10, but i think he is better in 12 due to his tackle breaking ability. and his kicking is not as good as carter either

@ Wolfman: Also Toeava and Ranger are in the lottery as well. I really think, Fruean should be an All Black

As for the video: Great clip and some really good tries. But every game at some point you can count on the lions' defence to be highly average. Big Joe just jogged through, that was ridiculous. McAllister had a very good game.

Wow I haven't watched much Lions rugby this year, but from that clip their playing style seems the same as last year - lacking any sort of direction. The poor guys need someone to take charge at the breakdown and subsequent recycling (scrummie).

Leeners93

Well done for noticing that the Rebels, in their third ever competitive match, are not as well drilled as the other sides.

For me the big difference is the ability of SH forwards to get to rucks quickly. The backs are also willing to get in there and secure the ball like loosies. The guys making the breaks can keep going in the knowledge they won't get isolated and lose the ball.

Keep attacking with speed, power and skill and there is no defence that can hold out forever.

"Strauss's beard = AMAZING"

^This. Wish Humphreys still rocked his chin suburbs. It's a scientific fact that a beard will give you rugby superpowers.

It's also a shame, like Ben said, that you can always count on the Lions to fall apart in defence. It's a shame, since they somehow give even big-name teams a run for their money in terms of scoring tries, but they give them up so easy as well.

They seem to just coast through the season on bonus points. Unfortunate...

Dear Masaga: thanks for not dancing around like a ninny so much this season. I can actually appreciate the guy when he scores tries now.

Strausss beard is like an extra loose forward and line-out option.

When Richie McCaw goes to bed, he first has to check underneath it for Strauss' BEARD!

Thanks for the sentiments

The RFU missed a trick here:

----

English officials have ruled out the possibility of hosting the Crusaders clash against the Sharks at Twickenham on 26 March.
The RFU released a statement, saying they did consider the Crusaders request of playing their sixth round home game at the London-based stadium, but couldnt accept it because of logistic and planning problems.
Given we are keen to help support the people of Christchurch as they recover from the dreadful events of the last few weeks this was something we looked at seriously, even given the short time-frames involved, said a RFU spokesman in a statement.
Unfortunately in the end it has just not proved possible to do this given the operational challenges involved and in particular the transport, policing and security issues that would arise from the clash with the Harlequins game on the same day less than one mile away.

----

Surely a country about to host the Olympics can host two rugby games in the same neighbourhood? I'm sure plenty of Londoners would like to see a Super Rugby game live.

"Surely a country about to host the Olympics can host two rugby games in the same neighbourhood? I'm sure plenty of Londoners would like to see a Super Rugby game live."

Most Londoners wouldn't even know what Super Rugby is, the majority of the public are football fans.

The stadium would be 1/3 full at the most, even if the tickets were priced as low as they are in New Zealand.

^^
Judging by the amount of people here who constantly lament the lack of exposure to Super Rugby in the NH, drawing a decent crowd shouldn't be too tricky. Besides the Kiwi and SA expat communities in London could fill the stadium by themselves.

I agree with Katman, this is a massive missed opportunity. Shame they couldn't get it organised, but I accept it's not an easy task at short notice.

Don't know where the anonymous poster above me lives, but South-west London is a hotbed of rugby. Not only that, but it probably has the highest concentration of Australians, Kiwis and South Africans in the whole country. I think the local population would bloody love to go to this game. I would definitely go to this - ticket prices permitting, but presumably some of the gate receipts would go towards the recovery fund, so would be more willing than usual to part with my cash.

By the way, does anyone know how the Pacific Barbarians v Oz 15 fund-raising match for Queensland floods & NZ earthquake went last weekend. Would have been up for that one too but couldn't make it.

Don't be silly, waiters and barmen can't afford tickets to rugby matches. That rules out all of the Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans.

"Don't know where the anonymous poster above me lives, but South-west London is a hotbed of rugby. Not only that, but it probably has the highest concentration of Australians, Kiwis and South Africans in the whole country. I think the local population would bloody love to go to this game. "

Is that why only 30,000 showed up to watch the Barbarians v South Africa? Even with fairly reasonable ticket prices?

The Baa-baas were made up of mostly SH players that day too, O'Connor, Rokocoko, Ashley-Cooper, Nonu, Mitchell, Giteau etc.

^^Arsenal were playing Fulham on the same day SA took on the Barbarians, with more than double the attendance.

Besides, a half full Twickenham is still three or four Aviva Premiership crowds.

katman > Who said it would be half full?

Leicester Tigers average 22,000. Based on your clairvoyance skills and invented numbers of "half full", that means Twickenham's capacity has grown to 120,000+

Coincidence i think not
Strauss big strong hairy
Chabal big strong hairy
Strauss = chabal?

30,000 for SA v Barbarians sounds quite a decent crowd to me, for a game not played in SA or where the majority of the Baa-baas players that day were from. Yes, I realise that means less than half-full but it's still not bad.

This match would have more of a draw because of the earthquake appeal (I'm assuming there would be a big fundraising element) and in this particular world cup year I think the chance to see players like Carter, McCaw et al without having to travel to the other side of the world is pretty compelling.

Whatever, I would definitely go to this.

How about this then, if you're worried about the stadium not being full - put it on at the Madejski, even easier for me to get to! Make it a double-header following on after Irish v Exeter......

Sadly Chabal's superpowers seem to be on the wane, so it's reassuring to see someone taking up the big strong and hairy mantle.

30 000 strong after three weeks of England selling out the stadium is damn good! It's not cheap to get to an international these days.

30,000 turn up to see a bunch of kiwis and aussies play saffers in a non-competitive match is damn good.

It was a whole week or two since they got to watch the All Blacks, Wallibies and Sprigboks in a real match at Twikenham.

An awesome idea would have been to move the Quins game to twickers and have a Prem, S15 double header. That would get 80,000 through the gate.

de malmanche could and should be playing for Wales!

---

English officials have ruled out the possibility of hosting the Crusaders clash against the Sharks at Twickenham on 26 March.
The RFU released a statement, saying they did consider the Crusaders request of playing their sixth round home game at the London-based stadium, but couldnt accept it because of logistic and planning problems.
Given we are keen to help support the people of Christchurch as they recover from the dreadful events of the last few weeks this was something we looked at seriously, even given the short time-frames involved, said a RFU spokesman in a statement.
Unfortunately in the end it has just not proved possible to do this given the operational challenges involved and in particular the transport, policing and security issues that would arise from the clash with the Harlequins game on the same day less than one mile away.

----

This basically reads; 'Sorry what's happened to you guys but we couldn't be arsed to atually organise anything and it might nick a few fans from the Quins game'.

I think there's quite a few people who would have gone, especially if takings went to help Christchurch. Twickenham is just off a major motorway so the likelyhood is you'd get quite a few people form outside London as well. Usual RFU though, only focus on the easy option.

@ all the sarcastic comments

quick ball creating an overlap is one thing,but having 4 men on the outside is a joke,no matter how quick the ruck ball.

@laz
"inside-out defending" is a type of defensive tactic.maybe you shuold learn more about rugby before you "lol" again at something you don't understand

* should

that Burgess try is just Gareth Edwards vs the barbarians

actually,i just watched the clip again and at the final ruck before the chiefs try the ball was in the ruck for about 8 seconds.not very quick ball actually

RememberTheMer >

Only 25,000 turned up to the last Bledisloe Cup game in HK and the locals didn't have any other major internationals to shell out for in the weeks before.

You're dreaming if you think Twickenham would even be half full for a Super rugby match when there are plenty of "rugby fans" in the UK who wouldn't even be able to name more than 2 or 3 teams from the competition (due to lack of interest, lack of TV coverage and unsociable kick off times).

Can anyone tell me what has happened to Sky's "Super 14 Show" with Alex Payne and James Gemmell, it seems to be gone (Im living in ireland), used to be a great way to start a sunday watching all the highlights from the SH ( cos it's immeasurably better). Please tell me it's on somewhere under a different guise because I cant find it!!!

You're dreaming if you think Twickenham would even be half full for a Super rugby match when there are plenty of "rugby fans" in the UK who wouldn't even be able to name more than 2 or 3 teams from the competition (due to lack of interest, lack of TV coverage and unsociable kick off times).

As an American who gets little exposure to rugby on media within my own country, I can say that's a damned shame if that's true. With as easy as it is for you guys to see rugby over there, you'd think people would branch out a bit and watch games from both hemispheres.

Plus, with sites like RugbyDump, you'd think more people would be exposed to rugby, wherever it's played, all over the world.

Hong Kong, despite all the brits who may live there, probably doesn't have nearly the same rugby following as a single suburb of London or any town up in the Midlands.

If the game got plenty of advertising, and it were a charity-type expo match, how could it not bring in a good crowd? Jesus, if I were living in England and had the choice between seeing the Quins and a Super Rugby match, I wouldn't think twice about choosing the latter (not that they'd even have to choose; as others mentioned, it could've been a double-header).

I guess there's no use arguing about it if it's not going to happen...but seriously, RFU...wtf.

Although, just because it isn't at Twickenham doesn't mean it can't be somewhere else...

Thats why I suggested a double header with a Premiership team. Well I guess you wouldn't turn up so 79,999 then.

P.S. Do you know how many Kiwis, Saffers and Ausies live in London at any given moment?

Man, it's not a good time to not be an All Blacks fan... SBW, Masaga, Nanai Williams, Freuan, Poki, Smith, Cowan, Robinson, Ranger, Dagg, Maitland, Nonu, Whitelock...

Just 7 backs fit on a team? Shit...

Loved the Highlanders game, kept me on my toes all 80 minutes of it.

Ah, I forgot, just what a shocker Daniel Halangahu had at fly half... get well soon, Berrick

And, again I forgot Muliaina, Carter, Jane, Toeava, McAlister, Sivivatu...

enough said

"P.S. Do you know how many Kiwis, Saffers and Ausies live in London at any given moment?"

There must be none because they're always banging on about how great their own countries supposedly are, oh wait...

Don't worry mate we get around, but usually come home. We find the relentlessly positive, optimistic attitude of chaps like yourself too much.

For those who wanted to know the name of the background tune, it's The Aston Shuffle - Your Love

Can't wait to see Juggernaugter's face when the All Black lose the world cup this year.

@ all the sarcastic comments

quick ball creating an overlap is one thing,but having 4 men on the outside is a joke,no matter how quick the ruck ball.

@laz
"inside-out defending" is a type of defensive tactic.maybe you shuold learn more about rugby before you "lol" again at something you don't understand


Leeners, if you lsiten to the commentary, he says "they are streching them left and right".
That's because the Cheifs went for a play down the right initially, then spun the ball to the opposite side, then went back to the left touchline.
Each time they did they made ground and upset the defensive structure.
The Rebels had shifted to cover a play down the right, and were short on the left. So the Cheifs had a big overlap (but the Rebels covered it).
But they made good ground and the Rebels (who had been run around the whole game by a better outfit with alot more experience), couldn't form a good line when the Cheifs went left again.

It's another way to stretch a defence, use the whol width of the pitch.
It's something you can only do if you've already got good go forward ball and a very skilled, quick passing backline.

The Rebels couldn't do it the whole game, but the Cheifs (who have been notably skilled in their backline play the last couple seasons) could.

The point is, this is what happenes when you play fast and with an emphasis on backline skill.

The play in S15 is faster, and it does affect defensive structure.
This is basically indisputable.

"Thats 7 and a half from the Russian judge"

fair enough :)

fair enough

furry muff

muffy fairy

Anonymous said...
"P.S. Do you know how many Kiwis, Saffers and Ausies live in London at any given moment?"
There must be none because they're always banging on about how great their own countries supposedly are, oh wait...

Oh wait .. maybe that's how they know because they make a point to check out the alternatives.

"Oh wait .. maybe that's how they know because they make a point to check out the alternatives."

That makes no sense, you wouldn't move somewhere after a holiday (and realising you hated it).