Super Rugby News

[Stargazer]

Alex Ainley has re-signed with the Highlanders for one year.

[Stargazer]

Kane Hames and Sosefo Kautai have re-signed with the Chiefs until 2019, with Nepo Laulala and Atunaisa Moli signing for the next three years.

http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/479-potent-props-hames-laulala-kautai-and-moli-re-sign-with-gallagher-chiefs

[Stargazer]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/94750746/from-southland-to-the-wallabies-for-first-fiveeighth-wharenui-hawera

[taniwharugby]

Yalden has just posted this, so this means the Sharks - LIons result is irrelevant to the 1st round of finals?

[Bovidae]

The Lions beat the Sharks 27-10 so finished 1st.

I was hoping that the Stormers-Chiefs game would be a 6 am KO.

From a Chiefs perspective, I'd be wanting the Lions to beat the Sharks again and the Landers to upset the Crusaders. That would mean that a Chiefs win in Cape Town gives us a home SF vs the Highlanders. A small bonus for all the travel.

[taniwharugby]

@Bovidae surely, ideally (good planning-wise) if the Chiefs beat Stormers, they would stay in SA for the next match given the all SA affair in the other final, otherwise, if they win, come back to NZ and win, potentially back to SA for the final.

THat scenario is much better for thier chances of beating the Lions than the way it is likely to play out if they win

[Bovidae]

@taniwharugby The next step in my master plan is that the Canes, who should beat the Brumbies, then go to Jo'burg and beat the Lions. They would host the final but would have a return trip to SA to contend with.

[Chris B.]

@Bovidae Why not have the Brumbies upset the Canes....

Lions* could march to the title with victories over the Sharks, Brumbies and Stormers!

I'm getting my bitter asterisk in early.

[NTA]

Every club needs someone like Hodgson.

[Tim]

Interesting to see the Force thrash the Waratahs.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/94774199/retiring-captain-matt-hodgson-tears-up-as-western-force-beat-nsw-waratahs

[Nepia]

@Tim The Tahs really are mud this year. Special Agent Gibson is on track.

[Chris B.]

@Nepia said in Super Rugby News:

@Tim The Tahs really are mud this year. Special Agent Gibson is on track.

Surely a dead man walking?

[NTA]

@Chris-B. Had the full support of the board or something. Sure he'll be fine

[jegga]

Should probably be worried that the aussie teams are so appalling but then I remember the John O'Neill eras and I have no fucks to give.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/94776931/kiwis-25-aussies-0-winless-hopeless-australians-suffer-seasonlong-rugby-drought

[Stargazer]

This is from a SANZAAR post on FB:

QUARTERFINAL 1: Brumbies Rugby v Hurricanes, Friday 21 July, 9.45pm

QUARTERFINAL 2: BNZ Crusaders v Pulse Energy Highlanders, Saturday July 22, 7.35pm

QUARTERFINAL 3: Lions v The Sharks, Sunday July 23, 12.30am

QUARTERFINAL 4: Stormers v Chiefs Rugby, Sunday July 23, 3am

.
This is not from SANZAAR but I found it useful:

[canefan]

Top qualifier without facing a single NZ side? Rubbish. Here's to the canes running rampant on the veldt and putting these pretenders in their place!

[Tim]

How is home advantage decided in the semifinals?

[hydro11]

@Tim said in Super Rugby News:

How is home advantage decided in the semifinals?

The top ranked of the two teams.

[taniwharugby]

So it is:
Top SA 1 Lions vs 3rd SA/Arg/Jap
&
Top Aus Brumbies vs 2nd NZ/Aus Hurricanes

top SA 2 Stormers vs 3rd NZ/Aus Chiefs
&
Top NZ Crusaders vs bottom NZ/Aus HIghlanders

[No Quarter]

The Saders vs Landers game is shaping up to be an absolute cracker. I'm sure a few Cantabs will be a bit worried about that - losses to the Lions, Canes and Landers to finish the season after going unbeaten for so long would be pretty difficult to stomach.