Super Rugby

[Banquo]

Peyper is a massive homer so far- ludicrous appointment.

[Banquo]

needs to be a red I'm afraid- he makes the right call, fair play.

[rowan]

Lions get a red card and it remains 3-15 at the break. Crusaders are just too good.

[Banquo]

Lions get a red card and it remains 3-12 at the break. Crusaders are just too good.

red card has shifted the balance; the Lions were breaking a lot of tackles, but making errors both forced and unforced at the wrong time. Difficult to see the Lions capitalising on (altitude) fatigue like they did last week with a player down.

(and the Crusaders are excellent)

[rowan]

3-22. No comeback today. That red card was it. Just a matter of how much the Saders win their 8th title by now...

[rowan]

Lions not giving up, and score their first try midway 2nd half. 10-25. Another try would make it interesting.

[Banquo]

Indeed. Crusaders still dropping off first up tackles and its now costing, Altitude is a bu55er

[rowan]

Lions answered the call. That's another try. 17-25 needing two scores in the last 5 minutes plus stoppage time. Seems the travel and rarified air have finally caught up with the Saders. They'll hang on though.

[Banquo]

daft pen. This will go down to the wire- fantastic from Lions.

[Banquo]

Crusaders making crucial steals and turnovers to stop Lions momentum. Great win away at altitude, but great fight from Lions man down.

Crotty really is a good player, does so many good things.

[rowan]

Yes, could have been a very different story but for the red card. Saders do it again. title 8 in the bag. The Real Madrid of Rugby!!

[rowan]

& you thought the Canes fans got carried away!

[rowan]

It's gets worse

[canta_brian]

Was the red card justified? I tend to see these things as a player ending up under a player more than someone taking someone out intentionally. Obviously the opportunity for serious injury means cards, but sometimes I wonder if it does merit the section from a foul play pov

[Banquo]

Was the red card justified?

yes

and I say that as someone who thinks Rugby has gone OTT on high tackles etc.

[canta_brian]

Was the red card justified? I tend to see these things as a player ending up under a player more than someone taking someone out intentionally. Obviously the opportunity for serious injury means cards, but sometimes I wonder if it does merit the section from a foul play pov

It was a red card offence and reds have been brandished for that kind of thing before.

Don't get me wrong, I was happy to see the crusaders win obvs. I just wondered if I was being 1 eyed when shouting send him off, and wondering if they were penalising the lions for fear of being accused of bias.

Huge congrats to the saders. I hope this format never produces such an unjust home advantage again.

[rowan]

Somebody put this on the Zimbabwe Rugby Facebook Forum. Not too realistic

[rowan]

More realistically I think the Sunwolves will be dropped after the World Cup, and the tournament will return to a 14-team round-robin. not saying that's what I want, by any means, but I think they'll have to abandon the conference system if they can't do a better and fairer job of scheduling both regular season and playoffs fixtures.

[canta_brian]

Super Rugby team of the year announced.

Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers)
Samu Kerevi (Reds)
Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes)
James Lowe (Chiefs)
Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)
Augustine Pulu (Blues)
Amanaki Mafi (Rebels)
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
Jaco Kriel (Lions)
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)
Guido Petti Pagadizabal (Jaguares)
Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)
Malcolm Marx (Lions)
Jacques van Rooyen (Lions).

So that would be 0 Crusaders.

Fair enough. They did lose 1 game after all.

[rowan]

Named by who?

[canta_brian]

http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/n ... -the-year/

[rowan]

Bizarre. Which Crusaders would you have had in there?

[canta_brian]

Just noticed it's one of those fukin stupid stats generated lists. So if you are in a team that is well organised, shares the workload and has good depth (a winning team) then you're unlikely to make the list.

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

[rowan]

You have the mind of a 12-year-old, Cashead.

[rowan]