All Things Rugby

'Rugby is a game for barbarians, played by gentlemen' - Oscar Wilde

Anyway, big games in the final round of Air New Zealand Cup this week as 6/7 teams are vying for 4 spots. The biggest game is without doubt Canterbury V Southland in Christchurch. Not only is it 1 V 3 on the table and Southland needing to win to guarantee their semi final spot, but the prestigious 'Log of Wood' (Ranfurly Shield) is on the line. Canterbury are running hot at the moment but are considerably weaker with the loss of Carter, McCaw, Thorn, Flynn and Read to All Black duties.

Southlands best chance of winning the shield (had it in the 50s, briefly), but would give them imense confidence and momentum going into the semis.

I'll be there, GO THE STAGS!!!!

Score: Southland 9-3 Canterbury (3-3 HT) I am absolutely stoked at this result, better than the ABs winning a WC (should that ever happen again).

A fairly wet night meant handling errors aplenty for both sides and a lack of flow in the game.. Canterbury had all the possession and territory in the first half but could only manage a drop goal against the best defense in the competition. Second half was a more even affair with Southland taking all their opportunities (barring a late droppy which hit the uprights).

The win moves the Stags to second, pending the result from the Tasman V Wellington match. Go TASMAN!

Semis this weekend, coincidentallyhe same matches as last year. Canterbury V Hawkes Bay and Wellington V Southland.

My picks:

1st Semi - Canterbury hosting Hawkes Bay
Last time they met Canterbury won but 27-20 under a lot of controversy. A try should have been awarded to Hawkes Bay late on in the piece.
Prediction: Hawkes Bay coming off a couple of strong performances, should be far too strong for a depleted and disheartened Canterbury.

2nd Semi - Wellington hosting Southland
Last time they met Wellington got the points winning 32-13. Score didn't give a fair reflection of the game with Wellington scoring three fortuitous tries from intercepts and charge downs. Also were awarded a fourth try, when the player clearly knocked the ball on. Wellington are the perennial chokers of the competition.
Prediction: Southland (biased i know) have the best D in the comp and should be able to hold out Wellington. Southland have a massive amount of momentum after their historic win last week.

That is all, Go the STAGS!!!

I play rugby.

Well i'm sure you'll all be disappointed to hear that Southland lost to Wellington on Saturday night. Being a passionate Southland supporter, I may have broken a few things after the game. That is all i will say on the subject.

I however did enjoy the ABs beating the Wallabies over in Japan. Correct me if i'm wrong but i think that makes it 4-0 for this season?

We suck tim, its cricket season anyway. Move on.

Are the blackcaps ready for another thumping?


Also Peter hines try was a try, he basically put it down with two hands, comfortably. The NZ player hit him high aswell, i dont even know why he went to the video ref. This opinion is completely unbiased.

look the thread name is all things rugby and there certainly wont be a cricket thread that anybody actually uses so take this^^ else where

I said 2 lines about cricket, please get over it.

I understand you don't like cricket, I get it.

Love Rugby !!! Bring on the spring tour

Wallabies Vs England - Who will win ??

England easy, your wallabies are awful. lol

Fortè wrote:

England easy, your wallabies are awful. lol

True - they are awful at the moment. But are they awful enough to be beaten by the current English side...... im anticipating a slim Wallabies victory.

I will be backing the Wallabies. Dislike England the most out of any rugby team.

Giteau will just run circles around Wilkinson all day and Ashley-Cooper will crash his way through England's defence with ease from the back. Although the forward battle could be different, but stoked to see George Smith back in the 7 jersey.

Fortè wrote:

I will be backing the Wallabies. Dislike England the most out of any rugby team.

Giteau will just run circles around Wilkinson all day and Ashley-Cooper will crash his way through England's defence with ease from the back. Although the forward battle could be different, but stoked to see George Smith back in the 7 jersey.

Our scrum should hold up well against theirs. Our breakdown (i.e our forward commitment to counter-rucking and protecting our ruck by commiting numbers) has always been a problem and England could trouble us their if they target it.

Our backline should shine. Hopefully we get our lineout right this week.

I was impressed with Pococks performance, but would rather see him come on with 20 mins to go than start. Hopefully thats what happens this weekend. Ashley Cooper is a line breaking machine. Hes like a young mortlock.

I love that Deans picked Quade Cooper. Hes a fine replacement for Berrick Barnes at inside centre. Hes got natural talent. Same with Digby Ioane. He was a beacon of light in a losing wallabies side last weekend.

Im with you in hating the English sporting sides.

I'm hanging out for the foward battle.

Our front row is pretty good currently, although they contribute nothing around the field. I remember last year, england called them out, and ben robinson put on a display that redefined scrummaging and towelled england up, he also towelled south africas 'beat' up.

ALthough the kiwi's are a bridge too far at the moment. I am hanging out for the scrum battle.

i play league but dont mind union

Fortè wrote:

I will be backing the Wallabies. Dislike England the most out of any rugby team.

Giteau will just run circles around Wilkinson all day and Ashley-Cooper will crash his way through England's defence with ease from the back. Although the forward battle could be different, but stoked to see George Smith back in the 7 jersey.

look its fair enough you dont like the english team but dont defame wilkinson, he is the greatest number 10 of all time! but im mildly biased in that i love the english team.
in saying that i think the wallabies will dominate, i doubt the english forwards will even hold their own tbh, apart from set pieces which are always impressive from the mother country. and as for that backs well unless big ben cohen appears from no where england will be totally fucked. I'll still be betting on them tho!

jaco1612 wrote:

he is the greatest number 10 of all time! but im mildly biased in that i love the english team.

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and guess that you forgot to put the above in italics.

beertank23 wrote:

I'm hanging out for the foward battle.

Our front row is pretty good currently, although they contribute nothing around the field. I remember last year, england called them out, and ben robinson put on a display that redefined scrummaging and towelled england up, he also towelled south africas 'beat' up.

ALthough the kiwi's are a bridge too far at the moment. I am hanging out for the scrum battle.

Agreed. We need some mongrel at the break down. Players like Brad Thorn, Bakkies Botha, they hit it without fear. We let players run one up and ..consequently turn the ball over. We stepped up against England last year, i wanna see it happen again.

jaco1612 wrote:

Fortè wrote:

I will be backing the Wallabies. Dislike England the most out of any rugby team.

Giteau will just run circles around Wilkinson all day and Ashley-Cooper will crash his way through England's defence with ease from the back. Although the forward battle could be different, but stoked to see George Smith back in the 7 jersey.

look its fair enough you dont like the english team but dont defame wilkinson, he is the greatest number 10 of all time! but im mildly biased in that i love the english team.
in saying that i think the wallabies will dominate, i doubt the english forwards will even hold their own tbh, apart from set pieces which are always impressive from the mother country. and as for that backs well unless big ben cohen appears from no where england will be totally fucked. I'll still be betting on them tho!

Its a shame the guy has been plagued with injury for as long as he has. England have certainly missed him.

Anyone interesting in gaming (COD4) tonight up to 0130hrs AEST, at which time the Rugby starts. I know i am.

haha i dont see why not, seeing as i dont have an active social life.

beertank23 wrote:

haha i dont see why not, seeing as i dont have an active social life.

Cool,

When your an old fart like me and have a missus, house and all the toys, partying to the wee hours of the morning every weekend isnt an attractive option to spend to every Saturday night. Particularly in my line of work.

Get another bike beer, the social life will come : camping, fishing, riding, surfing, 4wding, drinking, travelling.

See you tonight old man.

I'm 22.

beertank23 wrote:

I'm 22.

See you tonight old man

Go the Wallabies !! It was a good game. Ireland wont be a push over next week, far from it. Another nail biter i reckon.