Super Rugby Pacific 2023

[Kiwias]

And speaking of emerging talents, how good is Cam Roigard?

I didn't watch the game... how did he go? He's getting noticed more and more, there's a small crew at work who like to pick the game apart, a few of them are mentioning him now.

He has the most well-rounded, test-ready skill set of any uncapped halfback I've seen in recent years.

I'd second that

[Kiwias]

It is fun watching two Aussie teams battling it out. Reds start well and now the Rebels are scoring seemingly at will.

[Kiwias]

And now it is all the Reds.

I hate seeing a "tackler" dive like that onto the try scorer on the ground. Should have been a YC

[dkm57]

Watching the match with interest. started off with bloody awful passing tackling not much better before settling down and some of the handling became brilliant.

Just a question, are forward passes not a thing in SR Pacific? I lost count and gave up.

[Kiwias]

A very harsh call to deny the Reds a try.

[Biffer]

That’s a nonsense decision by the TMO. There was no effect of that hold. Nonsense.

[Kiwias]

That’s a nonsense decision by the TMO. There was no effect of that hold. Nonsense.

I agree but seeing as I am backing the Rebs, I am happy with it.

[Jock42]

A very harsh call to deny the Reds a try.

I think it's the right call. I'd probably be pissed off if I was a reds fan but you can't say 100% that the rebel player wouldn't do enough to stop the try.

[Kiwias]

JOC has stopped running at the line the way he did in the first half

[Kiwias]

A very harsh call to deny the Reds a try.

I think it's the right call. I'd probably be pissed off if I was a reds fan but you can't say 100% that the rebel player wouldn't do enough to stop the try.

I reckon the Rebs player had shifted his weight to the open side and had bugger-all chance of getting back in time. Stupid play by the Reds forward though.

[Dan54]

I can remember what that felt like when Pinetree and Lochore retired in 1971. THe next year was weird.

Was strange, but Lochore actually retired in 1970, was hauled out in 1971 for 1 test (bloody stupid I thought when it happened), but we had already got over his retirement, and he was No8 anyway, so never really a locking partnersip.

Calling him out of retirement and forcing him into lock was a disgraceful act. I did not mean to claim he and Pinetree were a locking partnership. The lock I really loved watching in the late-60s~early-70s was Sam Strahan.

Funny with Strachan as a lad I saw him play a game in Levin, and will always remember how big his boots were when he came out of dressing shed. Still sticks in my mind!

[Grandpa]

Was strange, but Lochore actually retired in 1970, was hauled out in 1971 for 1 test (bloody stupid I thought when it happened), but we had already got over his retirement, and he was No8 anyway, so never really a locking partnersip.

Calling him out of retirement and forcing him into lock was a disgraceful act. I did not mean to claim he and Pinetree were a locking partnership. The lock I really loved watching in the late-60s~early-70s was Sam Strahan.

Funny with Strachan as a lad I saw him play a game in Levin, and will always remember how big his boots were when he came out of dressing shed. Still sticks in my mind!

Is Sam Strachan related to Ant Strachan at all?

[Gumboot]

Blues vs Force coming up soon.

Blues: 1-Joshua Fusitu'a, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Ofa Tuungafasi, 4-James Tucker, 5-Cameron Suafoa, 6-Anton Segner, 7-Adrian Choat, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Stephen Perofeta, 11-Mark Telea, 12-Harry Plummer (c), 13-Bryce Heem, 14-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-Tom Robinson, 20-Sam Darry, 21-Taine Plumtree, 22-Taufua Funaki, 23-AJ Lam

Western Force: 1-Angus Wagner, 2-Folau Fainga'a, 3-Santiago Medrano, 4-Felix Kalapu, 5-Jeremy Williams, 6-Michael Wells (c), 7-Tim Anstee, 8-Rahboni Vosayaco, 9-Gareth Simpson, 10-Bryce Hegarty, 11-Toni Pulu, 12-Hamish Stewart, 13-Sam Spink, 14-Zach Kibirgie, 15-Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16-Tom Horton, 17-Marley Pearce, 18-Siosifa Amone, 19-Ryan McCauley, 20-Ollie Callan, 21-Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22-Bayley Kuenzle, 23-George Poolman

[Guy Smiley]

That’s the Blues backline we’ve been waiting for

[Kiwias]

Calling him out of retirement and forcing him into lock was a disgraceful act. I did not mean to claim he and Pinetree were a locking partnership. The lock I really loved watching in the late-60s~early-70s was Sam Strahan.

Funny with Strachan as a lad I saw him play a game in Levin, and will always remember how big his boots were when he came out of dressing shed. Still sticks in my mind!

Is Sam Strachan related to Ant Strachan at all?

Sam Strahan (without a 'c') is not related to Ant Strachan (with a 'c').

[Guy Smiley]

Finished some chores and opened a stream in time to see one of the all time best tries I’ve ever seen.

[Kiwias]

Funny with Strachan as a lad I saw him play a game in Levin, and will always remember how big his boots were when he came out of dressing shed. Still sticks in my mind!

He was as big as Pinetree though he did not look it.

[Gumboot]

Blues win 30-17. The Force did a great job of disrupting their ball for much of the game, but job done.

[Guy Smiley]

Blues win 30-17. The Force did a great job of disrupting their ball for much of the game, but job done.

Ended up quite an entertaining game to watch. Good to see Zarn back in action and looking ok for the run. Dodgy hair do though. Perofeta delivered an excellent performance at 10... I was more interested in those two than anyone else really so just watched the game as entertainment.

[Kiwias]

Blues win 30-17. The Force did a great job of disrupting their ball for much of the game, but job done.

Ended up quite an entertaining game to watch. Good to see Zarn back in action and looking ok for the run. Dodgy hair do though. Perofeta delivered an excellent performance at 10... I was more interested in those two than anyone else really so just watched the game as entertainment.

Yes, Perofeta did look good at 10, so it will be a shame when he is shunted back to 15 next week to accommodate BB

[Dan54]

Calling him out of retirement and forcing him into lock was a disgraceful act. I did not mean to claim he and Pinetree were a locking partnership. The lock I really loved watching in the late-60s~early-70s was Sam Strahan.

Funny with Strachan as a lad I saw him play a game in Levin, and will always remember how big his boots were when he came out of dressing shed. Still sticks in my mind!

Is Sam Strachan related to Ant Strachan at all?

Don't think so Grandpa. never heard of any connebtion.

[Dan54]

Blues win 30-17. The Force did a great job of disrupting their ball for much of the game, but job done.

Ended up quite an entertaining game to watch. Good to see Zarn back in action and looking ok for the run. Dodgy hair do though. Perofeta delivered an excellent performance at 10... I was more interested in those two than anyone else really so just watched the game as entertainment.

Yes, Perofeta did look good at 10, so it will be a shame when he is shunted back to 15 next week to accommodate BB

Yep, but how well Perofeta would play next week can be up for grabs, he struggles to get starts there in the Naki team, mush as I a fan.

[Kiwias]

Ended up quite an entertaining game to watch. Good to see Zarn back in action and looking ok for the run. Dodgy hair do though. Perofeta delivered an excellent performance at 10... I was more interested in those two than anyone else really so just watched the game as entertainment.

Yes, Perofeta did look good at 10, so it will be a shame when he is shunted back to 15 next week to accommodate BB

Yep, but how well Perofeta would play next week can be up for grabs, he struggles to get starts there in the Naki team, mush as I a fan.

He needs to be given the 10 jersey and left with it. Jumping between 10 and 15 is not going to help him grow

[Grandpa]

Funny with Strachan as a lad I saw him play a game in Levin, and will always remember how big his boots were when he came out of dressing shed. Still sticks in my mind!

Is Sam Strachan related to Ant Strachan at all?

Sam Strahan (without a 'c') is not related to Ant Strachan (with a 'c').

Ah thank you!

[Torquemada 1420]

MP making a decent fist of this one so far. Of course, they'll blow out in the 2nd half.

[Torquemada 1420]

O'Keefe has allowed at least 1/2 a dozen illegal rips on the floor in this one as well as a Lander's boot kicking a ball from a ruck that prevented a MP try scoring chance.

[Kiwias]

A delightful pass from RMo to put Fainga'anuku through the gap for a try

[Kiwias]

Drua kicking the shit out of the Rebels, leading 26 - 7 after 27mins

EDIT: make that 31 - 7, kick to come, taking a Rebs lineout and storming through weak defense

[Gumboot]

Match of the round kicking off in Kirikiriroa in about 10 minutes...

Chiefs: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-John Ryan, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 6- Samipeni Finau, 7-Sam Cane (CC), 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber (CC), 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Daniel Rona, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Aidan Ross, 18-George Dyer, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Pita Gus Sowakula, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Bryn Gatland, 23-Liam Coombes-Fabling

Blues: 1-Jordan Lay, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Cameron Suafoa, 5-Sam Darry, 6-Anton Segner, 7-Dalton Papalii (c), 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Harry Plummer, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-AJ Lam, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Ofa Tuungafasi, 18-James Lay, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Tom Robinson, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Corey Evans, 23-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens/Zarn Sullivan

[Gumboot]

There are great match-ups across the park tonight, but I'm especially keen to see if Norris can handle Laulala in the scrum.

[Kiwias]

The advantage is utterly stupid. Barrett was across the goal line and had ample time to ground the ball for the try, yet they come back for a penalty to the Blues after BB steps on the dead ball line, because "the Blues were still under advantage".

What more advantage do they need?

[Insane_Homer]

It's a principle of the game you stupid fucking commentator, the game is played by players on their feet.

PRINCIPLE
The game is played only by players who are on their feet.

[Gumboot]

Good first half.

Segner's looking bigger and faster than last year. Clarke's defence continues to be shithouse.

[Gumboot]

Vaa'i also playing well coming back from injury. He's a real talent imho, and so fortunate to have BBBR mentoring him.

[Torquemada 1420]

Good first half.

Segner's looking bigger and faster than last year. Clarke's defence continues to be shithouse.

Worst I can recall from such a big lad.

[Gumboot]

And he has a mere 4 tries from 15 tests. Useless.

[Torquemada 1420]

I should have checked the weather forecast. Monsoon conditions no use for Blues who aren't much cop at rolling up sleeves.

[Torquemada 1420]

And he has a mere 4 tries from 15 tests. Useless.

Quality logic that sir. Penaud is arguably the best attacking winger in world rugby at present but he's a turnstile defender.

[Torquemada 1420]

Pffft. Scrum was the right option then.

Really can't understand what it is the Blues and ABs continue to see in Christie.

[Kiwias]

Good first half.

Segner's looking bigger and faster than last year. Clarke's defence continues to be shithouse.

Maybe he bulked up for the switch from 7 to the blindside.