Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 27

Thread: Super Rugby Final 2015

  1. #1
    Immortal Contributor The InnFORCEr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    West Leederville
    Posts
    16,871
    vCash
    3102000

    Super Rugby Final 2015

    Why rugby romantics should be hollering for the Highlanders

    TONY SMITH
    Last updated 10:52, July 2 2015


    OPINION: Capital dwellers, English rugby refugees and other johnny-come-lately bandwagon jumpers are hooting that the Hurricanes will have it all their own way in the Super Rugby final.

    Southern folk choking on their cheese rolls have just two words to say about that kind of claptrap: Alex Ainley.

    Forget the fancy-dans in the Hurricanes' backline, with their carefully coiffed hair and colour co-ordinated eye-liner. The first all-New Zealand Super Rugby final since 2006 will be decided by the dust-up between the packs. And that's where Ainley and the other unheralded Highlanders forwards come in.

    After taming Brodie Retallick and his Chiefs comrades and a Waratahs pack replete with Wallaby internationals - and biltong-munching breakaway Jacques Potgieter - their Canes counterparts should hold few fears for Jamie Joseph's yeomen eight. These Highlanders heavies wear their "lack of All Blacks tag" like a bloodied badge of honour.

    The Highlanders must be the first-choice for floating fans and rugby romantics. Supporters have always related best to teams which exude work ethic, with blue-collar players who look like they've stepped straight off the terraces.

    Take Ainley. The "rookie" lock turns 34 this month but he's appearing in a final in his first year in the top tier after 10 years as a rugby pro. With his battered beak, Ainley looks like he's gone 10 rounds with one of the few heavyweight boxers still capable of lasting that distance. It's not too big a leap of faith to imagine him sitting beside you in a Swanndri in the stand, a can of Speight's in his meaty paw.

    Ainley, carved from the same teak-tough mould as coach Joseph, won't take a backward step to the big boppa ball carriers in the Hurricanes pack, like James Broadhurst, Brad Shields and late developer Victor Vito. Nor will props Josh Hohneck and Brendon Edmonds, who have come into their own this season, along with durable Southland loosie Eliot Dixon.

    Everyone was raving about Dane Coles last weekend, but is the All Blacks' hooker any more mobile than Liam Coltman?

    It says much for the Highlanders' systems and increased player depth that they can pluck an openside flanker out of Dunedin club footy and not skip a beat against the Waratahs' vaunted Michael Hooper.The Highlanders, much more than the Hurricanes – whose support has waned in the hinterlands beyond Wellington – have united an entire region.

    It doesn't matter that only Ben Smith is a bona-fide born and bred southerner. His team-mates may hail from Fiji, Samoa, Nelson, Wellington, Waikato, Hawke's Bay and Kyoto, but they will put their bodies on the line for the blue, gold and maroon jersey (or that garish green garment) as willingly as the All Black fullback.

    Southern people are this nation's friendliest folk and warmly embrace anyone prepared to buck the usual migratory trend by moving south of the Waitaki River's verdant banks.

    The Forsyth Barr faithful has taken this Class of 2015 to their hearts as instantly as they adopted blow-in scarfies like Marc Ellis, Taine Randell and Josh Kronfeld.

    Recent attacks on the Highlanders' so-called negative tactics are both unreasonable and unconscionable. Critics have failed to acknowledge someone in the southern side's boot room, whether it be Joseph himself, Tony Brown or Scott McLeod, is pretty savvy at sussing opposition frailties and exploiting them.

    Claims the Hurricanes have a demonstrably better backline also lack rhyme or reason. Yes, Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu are still the best midfield in the world, but Malakai Fekitoa has the footwork and speed to befuddle both All Black greybeards. Richard Buckman, best known as a Hawke's Bay wing, was also simply sensational in Sydney at second five-eighth.

    Can anyone seriously suggest the Highlanders are serial dullards? Don't they have the competition's top try scorer? Haven't they already dotted down seven times in the Super Rugby playoffs?

    Don't they boast Ben Smith and Aaron Smith? Common names, uncommon talents.

    And whatever the ticket touts scalping on the Cake Tin concourse are charging, the duel between Julian Savea and Waisake Naholo will be worth the inflated price of admission. If the Hurricanes can get the ball off the Highlanders' pack.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/o...he-highlanders


    I do hope the Hurricanes "win it for Jerry", but for the sake of some last minute points and the TAB odds, I have to go Highlanders!!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?

    Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!

    Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!

  2. #2
    Champion MI5_Dog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Rockingham
    Posts
    1,728
    vCash
    5000000
    I'm going for the Highlanders

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  3. #3
    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Rockingham
    Posts
    20,508
    vCash
    1296000
    Highlanders would have to be the smart money.

    not that I know ANYTHING about smart money!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    C'mon the

  4. #4
    Immortal Contributor The InnFORCEr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    West Leederville
    Posts
    16,871
    vCash
    3102000
    Super-duper Rugby final spectacle awaits

    Daniel Gilhooly
    July 3, 2015, 10:32 am


    The weather, the rosters and the pre-match banter all point to the same thing.

    The 20th Super Rugby final between the Hurricanes and Highlanders will be a spectacle worthy of a season in which attacking rugby has held sway.

    Two franchises long regarded as under-performers will square off for a maiden title, with the winners to be crowned the competition's eighth champion and the fourth from New Zealand.

    No final has featured teams who have scored as many points as the Highlanders (509) and Hurricanes (487).

    Both haven't just beaten opponents in the last month, they've run them ragged, playing the high-octane style seemingly required in 2015.

    Conservative rugby has struggled for traction so neither team sees a reason to change in Wellington on Saturday.

    What's more, icy temperature and rain in the capital on Friday is scheduled to clear.

    Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd says they won't make the mistakes of other teams who have assumed they can rein in the Highlanders' unique style.

    "They've got a fair old box of tricks on attack, so I'd be surprised if you don't see something a little bit zany from them at some stage," he said.

    While Boyd's Hurricanes packed too much power and speed for a wary Brumbies in last weekend's 29-9 semi-final triumph, Highlanders counterpart Jamie Joseph masterminded a 35-17 heist against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.

    Having devised a kick-heavy approach to upset the rhythm of the defending champions, Joseph and assistant Tony Brown are promising more party tricks against the top-qualifiers.

    "There will be a few surprises, we will try to do that. Brownie is really good at that," a smiling Joseph said.

    Two backlines bristling with match-winners will provide the fireworks.

    Departing midfield backs Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith are the brains trust outside gifted playmaker Beauden Barrett while wingers Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder have beaten defenders for fun all season.

    Halfback Aaron Smith is the heartbeat of the Highlanders attack but there are serious strike weapons further out in Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo and Malakai Fekitoa.

    History favours the Hurricanes.

    The home side has won the last seven finals and 16 out of 19 in total.

    Their 15 wins from 17 games this season is a Super Rugby record and they are laden with All Blacks.

    That contrasts with a Highlanders side who thrive on battling the underdog status.

    Their most capped international is reserve halfback Fumiaki Tanaka with 44 Tests for Japan.

    However, Boyd says the visitors don't have a mortgage on togetherness, pointing to the appearance of Hurricanes players who thanked and fed hundreds of fans braving freezing weather to queue for match tickets this week.

    "None of them were forced to do that," Boyd said.

    "They paid for the pizzas themselves so that tells you something. They're keen to give back to the community that's got in behind and supported them."

    https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...ctacle-awaits/

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?

    Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!

    Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!

  5. #5
    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Earth Capital
    Posts
    21,468
    vCash
    460000
    I'd love to see the Highlanders win but I reckon it will be the Hurricanes by the length of the cake tin.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  6. #6
    Player
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    359
    vCash
    5000000
    Lets GET IT ON NZ! Go the Canes. How good to have Milner-Skudder and Savea v Naholo and Osborne. This should be an awesome game. Fekitoa to put on some bone crunching tackles!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  7. #7
    Immortal Contributor shasta's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Mandurah
    Posts
    15,726
    vCash
    5470000
    Outstanding so far. Highlanders just hit the lead. Hope they stay there. The WF of the NZ conference.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David


  8. #8
    Champion SinBin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    1,430
    vCash
    5000000
    Sign up Marty Banks now!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  9. #9
    Immortal Contributor shasta's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Mandurah
    Posts
    15,726
    vCash
    5470000
    Bit of a sad farewell for Conrad Smuth. But a great day for Arron Smuth and Bin Smuth. Shows that a franchise that's been shafted by the powerful Unions for two decades can overcome in the end. Even with a team of "second stringers" - if the coaches can get them to play for each other. Hope it doesn't take twenty years all the time though.

    2 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  10. #10
    Veteran SNOB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Carramar WA (gods country)!
    Posts
    4,061
    vCash
    3481639
    What a great game of rugby. Might have to move to NZ! 😉

    2 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    May the FORCE be with you!

  11. #11
    Senior Player Macattack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    647
    vCash
    5000000
    Highlander's coaching staff deserve a fair chunk of the credit for a great win - some outstanding game plans helped a lot, particularly the last two games. Good plans executed very well by the players, great effort and a highly entertaining final, fantastic intensity! we really enjoyed watching it

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  12. #12
    Champion Tonkar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    west Kulin / East Wickepin
    Posts
    1,370
    vCash
    5000000
    A great display of open rugby by both teams Congrats to The Highlanders and the Hurricanes for a great show
    . Sorry to be negative but I dont even think our Wallabies could beat either S15 finalist of 2015.. The Wallaby Coaches need to rethink the team and the player selection... If not its going to be a long slow loosing RC and World cup campaign....

    3 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  13. #13
    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Rockingham
    Posts
    20,508
    vCash
    1296000
    Quote Originally Posted by Tonkar View Post
    I dont even think our Wallabies could beat either S15 finalist of 2015.. The Wallaby Coaches need to rethink the team and the player selection... If not its going to be a long slow loosing RC and World cup campaign....
    it won't take that long, we won't even be getting out of the pool stages.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    C'mon the

  14. #14
    Immortal Contributor jono's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    10,554
    vCash
    5000000
    Top game. 'Landers well and truly had the cane's number.
    Will be some sore blokes this morning. Some of the passages of play were absolutely frantic

    3 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  15. #15
    Immortal Contributor jono's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    10,554
    vCash
    5000000
    Also, dixon's try? Thoughts?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Super Rugby 2015 - Week 8
    By Bill Guptahouse in forum TAB
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-04-15, 17:29
  2. Super Rugby 2015 - Week 7
    By Bill Guptahouse in forum TAB
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 26-03-15, 15:23
  3. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 29-10-14, 09:10
  4. 2015 Super Rugby Fixtures
    By Darren in forum Site News, Suggestions and Troubles
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 22-10-14, 19:46

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •