Rugby Thread

[Small Town Values]

2017/18 - Aviva Premiership - Best Tries, RND 19:

 

 

 

(Nowell Try -  Voted the best of the round)

 

Edited April 17, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

Great game at the AJ Bell on the weekend. Very nice come from behind victory for the Sale lads.

Just before FT there was an absolutely brutal 3-way collision between Faf de Klerk, Danny Cipriani, & Dan Robson. Cips bore the brunt of it.

 

[Small Town Values]

2018 - Vodafone - Super Rugby - Rnd 9 - Results / Rnd 10 - Fixtures:

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(Rnd 9 - Results)

https://sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/fixtures/

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(Rnd 10 - Fixtures)

https://sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/fixtures/

(Times Listed Are AEST - Check Local Guides / Listings)

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(Standout Game of Round 9)

 

 

(Rebels v. Jaguares)  

 

 

Edited April 18, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

News - Rugby Sevens - 2018 - Gold Coast - Commonwealth Games / Results:

Kelly Brazier the hero as New Zealand women's sevens team win gold at Commonwealth Games

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/commonwealth-games/103118175/kelly-brazier-the-hero-as-new-zealand-womens-sevens-team-win-gold-at-commonwealth-games

Quote

 

Kelly Brazier is not the quickest member of the New Zealand women's sevens team, but the hero of Sunday's extra-time thriller says her fitness got her across the line for the match-winning try.

The 28-year-old ran 80 metres to score after the final hooter of extra time as the Kiwis beat arch rivals Australia 17-12 in the gold medal match at the Commonwealth Games on a sweltering Sunday afternoon at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast.

 

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NZ men's sevens join NZ women in winning gold on the Gold Coast

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/commonwealth-games/103118245/nz-mens-sevens-join-nz-women-in-winning-gold-on-the-gold-coast

Quote

 

A newfound togetherness is behind the New Zealand men's sevens team's resolute defensive displays at the Commonwealth Games.

The team shutout Fiji 14-0 in the gold medal match in hot conditions at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast on Sunday evening to cap a tournament where they conceded just four tries in five matches.

 

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(Final Standings)

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Womens:

NZL  - Gold

AUS - Silver

ENG - Bronze 

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Mens:

NZL - Gold

FIJ - Silver

ENG - Bronze

Edited April 18, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

Sale travelled to Newcastle for the battle of the North, & the game produced can only be described as a ripsnorter. 

Well done,  Falcons. 

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2017/18 - Aviva Premiership - Best Tries, RND 20:

 

 

 

(Woodward Try -  Voted the best of the round)

 

 

Edited April 20, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

2018 - European Champions / Challenge Cup - Semi Finals:

 

(Reminder)

Domestic leagues take break over the weekend, & European rugby resumes in their place.

(Check Local Guides / Listings For Details) 

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My Winners:

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(Challenge SF)

1) Newcastle 

2) Pau

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(Champions SF)

1) Scarlets

2) Racing 92 

 

 

Edited April 18, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

2018 - Vodafone - Super Rugby - Rnd 10 - Results / Rnd 11 - Fixtures:

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(Rnd 10 - Results)

https://sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/fixtures/

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(Rnd 11 - Fixtures)

https://sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/fixtures/

(Times Listed Are AEST - Check Local Guides / Listings)

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(Standout Game of Round 10)

 

 

(Brumbies v. Jaguares)

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

2017/18 - Champions Cup - (Semi Finals) - Results / Highlights -  (Final) - Fixture:

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(SF Results)

*****

(SF 1)

(Match Report)

http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/37575.php

(SF 2)

(Match Report)

http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/37580.php

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(Final Fixture)

(Match Centre)

http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/match_centre_champions_cup.php?section=overview&fixid=235906

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(SF Highlights)

 

 

(SF 1)

(SF 2)

 

Edited April 26, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

2017/18 - Challenge Cup - (Semi Finals) - Results / Highlights -  (Final) - Fixture:

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(SF Results)

*****

(SF 1)

(Match Report)

http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/37569.php

(SF 2)

(Match Report)

http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/37574.php

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(Final Fixture)

(Match Centre)

http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/match_centre_challenge_cup.php?section=overview&fixid=235913

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(SF Highlights)

(SF 1)

(SF 2)

 

Edited April 26, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

Quote

 

My Winners:

Newcastle (Wrong!)

 Pau (Wrong!)

 Scarlets (Wrong!)

 Racing 92 (RIGHT! LOL)

 

Awful predictions... Went with Scarlets believing they were the only team with the formula to upset Leinster. Not this year. The Dublin lads are unstoppable.

Give me...

Leinster in the Champions, & Gloucester in the Challenge final. 

 

Edited April 26, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

News:

Northampton Saints, Wallabies star Rob Horne forced to retire due to nerve damage

http://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/23272825/northampton-saints-wallabies-star-rob-horne-forced-retire-due-nerve-damage

 

 

Quote

 

Northampton Saints' Wallabies centre Rob Horne has been forced into retirement just seven days after suffering nerve damage to his right arm.

Horne, 28, required six minutes of treatment before being carried off on a stretcher against Leicester at Welford Road last Saturday, having run into Tigers No. 8 Sione Kalamafoni at kick off.

The Australian, who was captaining Saints for the first time, was taken to hospital and following further tests at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore he has been advised to stop playing.

"It is with great sadness that Northampton Saints can today confirm that due to an injury sustained in the club's fixture against Leicester Tigers, centre Rob Horne has been forced to retire from rugby," read a statement released on Northampton's official websiteSaturday morning.

"After undergoing tests, leading neurological consultants from The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (Stanmore) confirmed that Horne has suffered career-ending nerve damage to his right arm."

 

~~~

(Only 28. Very sad way to end a career. Hopefully his arm recovers well enough as to not hinder him in life after rugby).

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Bok legend Bryan Habana announces retirement

http://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/23301342/bok-legend-bryan-habana-announces-retirement

Quote

 

Bryan Habana, the World Cup-winning winger for South Africa, announced his retirement from the game on Tuesday, saying he wished his career had 'ended differently'.

Toulon's Habana, who won the World Cup with the Springboks in 2007 and is the joint-highest try-scorer in the tournament overall, announced his retirement via his Instagram account.

The 2007 IRB Player of the Year, who has been out with a knee injury for much of the past year, wrote: "The inevitable moment has come knocking on my door and I've welcomed it in for a drink.

"It's been more than a year of hoping, trying, pushing and willing to get back on the field for one last time, to taste the sweet victory or encounter that gut-wrenching despair.

"To hear the roar of the crowd or grab the pill out of the air. To make that last bone crunching tackle or score that last game winning try.

"But it's unfortunately just not to be. I, like most, would have liked my career to have ended differently, but sometimes things don't turn out quite the way we hope for."

~~~

(One of the best wingers of the modern era. The complete player. And, a future HOFer).

 

 

Edited April 26, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

2018 - Vodafone - Super Rugby - Rnd 11 - Results / Rnd 12 - Fixtures:

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(Rnd 11 - Results)

https://sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/fixtures/

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(Rnd 12 - Fixtures)

https://sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/fixtures/

(Times Listed Are AEST - Check Local Guides / Listings)

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(Standout Game of Round 11)

 

 

(Bulls v. Highlanders)

 

 

Edited May 2, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

Articles / Opinions (South African Perspective):

(#1)

Super Rugby is dead - RIP:

https://www.sport24.co.za/Columnists/GarrinLambley/super-rugby-is-dead-rip-20180423

Quote

 

Let's not beat around the bush: Super Rugby is dead.

Deader than dead. Morsdood if you prefer the delightful Afrikaans translation. No amount of resuscitation will ever revive it, no matter what organisers and broadcasters will have you believe.

The basis for proof of life in any tournament in any sport is spectator involvement at stadiums and/or on their couches in front of the telly.

Fans through turnstiles keep tournaments going. The day they stop attending or flick channels to Comedy Central is the day that tournament flatlines.

Saturday, April 21 in Durban was the day Super Rugby was read its final rites.

Once the biggest clash on the rugby calendar, the Sharks v Stormers showdown failed to register a blip on the radar.

 

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(#2)

Fans have spoken: 10 reasons Super Rugby is dead:

https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/fans-have-spoken-10-reasons-super-rugby-is-dead-20180424

Quote

 

Sport24 readers were asked to email their own reasons for the perceived demise of Super Rugby.

The response was overwhelming, and it is clear that South African Super Rugby fans have had enough. 

Below a list of the 10 most common reasons (from the many, many more) that were submitted.  

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1. Ticket prices

This was a problem that many Sport24 fans voiced, particularly those with families.

"There are so many sponsors in the game currently, from DHL to SAB and many in between but none of them seem to get the fact that, especially in South Africa, tickets are expensive. The reason why we are seeing so many clubs and regions (Border financial woes, Bulls financial woes) is that ticket sales have slipped," writes Ethan White.

Llewelyn says: "If they made them cheaper then more people would come, simple. Offer discounts too and rather fill up the ground."

Jacques du Preez says he spends over R400 to travel to one game, which includes tickets, food, parking and petrol. He adds that he cannot afford to go to every game.

 

 

Edited May 11, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

2017/18 - Aviva Premiership - Best Tries, RND 21:

 

 

(Homer Try -  Voted the best of the round)

 

 

Edited May 11, 2018 by Marc MacGyver

[Small Town Values]

2018 - Vodafone - Super Rugby - Rnd 12 - Results / Rnd 13 - Fixtures:

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(Rnd 12 - Results)

https://sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/fixtures/

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(Rnd 13 - Fixtures)

https://sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/fixtures/

(Times Listed Are AEST - Check Local Guides / Listings)

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(Standout Game of Round 12)

 

(Chiefs v. Jaguares) 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 11, 2018 by Marc MacGyver