SupeRugby 2024...

[Enzedder]

I cannot see the Chiefs busting a gut in this one - Reds are our bogey side from Oz and we will need to have our best players on the park, not in the wards.

No red cards please.

[Kiwias]

I cannot see the Chiefs busting a gut in this one - Reds are our bogey side from Oz and we will need to have our best players on the park, not in the wards.

No red cards please.

They are guaranteed 4th spot win, lose, or draw. Even a bp win would not put them ahead of the Brumbies, so they really have no motivation to go all out for the win. If my calculations are accurate

[Enzedder]

Can we just default this game before that cunt in yellow manufactures some red cards?

[Gumboot]

Blues lead 12-7 at HT.

Carn Chiefs!

[Jethro]

I cannot see the Chiefs busting a gut in this one - Reds are our bogey side from Oz and we will need to have our best players on the park, not in the wards.

No red cards please.

They are guaranteed 4th spot win, lose, or draw. Even a bp win would not put them ahead of the Brumbies, so they really have no motivation to go all out for the win. If my calculations are accurate

Brumbies would need to get zero points from their match and the Chiefs get the BP win.

Looks like the Chiefs will be taking on the Reds in the quarters ... at home.

[Kiwias]

I cannot see the Chiefs busting a gut in this one - Reds are our bogey side from Oz and we will need to have our best players on the park, not in the wards.

No red cards please.

They are guaranteed 4th spot win, lose, or draw. Even a bp win would not put them ahead of the Brumbies, so they really have no motivation to go all out for the win. If my calculations are accurate

Brumbies would need to get zero points from their match and the Chiefs get the BP win.

Looks like the Chiefs will be taking on the Reds in the quarters ... at home.

Well spotted. The Chiefs beat the Brumbies in R2, so would jump ahead of them with the same points total. But that is not going to happen.

[Kiwias]

Chiefs score at the death, robbing Blues of the bp and #1 spot. Canes top dogs

[Gumboot]

Well done Blues, always looked like winning that.

[Ogre]

Chiefs score at the death, robbing Blues of the bp and #1 spot. Canes top dogs

Woof.

[MungoMan]

Chiefs score at the death, robbing Blues of the bp and #1 spot. Canes top dogs

Woof.

'canes looking very hard to beat.

[Torquemada 1420]

'canes looking very hard to beat.

I see what you did here.

[Gumboot]

Now that the Supe regular season's done and dusted, I thought it might be a fun exercise to compare the top 10 try-scoring NZ wingers.

Reece 12 tries (from 13 games...at a strike rate of a try every 1.08 games)
Tele'a 9 (12...1.33)
Narawa 9 (8...0.88)
R-Kneepkens 8 (14...1.75)
Rayasi 8 (10...1.25)
Moorby 6 (12...2.0)
Rona 6 (11...1.83)
Tavatavanawai 5 (14...2.8)
Nanai-Seturo 5 (13...2.6)
Clarke 4 (12...3.0)

Reece has been in brilliant form, and Narawa's strike rate is remarkable considering how long he was sidelined with injury. Tele'a's also had a great season. You'd think this trio is making it easy for the ABs selectors, if they're picking purely on form.

On the other hand, another serious contender who gets rave reviews every week, for fielding high kicks and making half breaks etc, is ranked dead last for total tries scored and for strike rate... even behind half a dozen other blokes who rarely rate a mention in media selection speculation. Said contender also has an abysmal scoring record at test level, with a mere 6 tries from 20 games.

Call me old-fashioned, but I'm rather partial to a test wing who knows how to find the line and finish the job. That's why you're at the end of the chain, son.

[/rant]

[Enzedder]

First QF in the Tron tonight 7pm

Gallagher Chiefs team to face the Queensland Reds:
1. Aidan Ross
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
3. George Dyer
4. Jimmy Tupou
5. Tupou Vaa’i
6. Samipeni Finau
7. Luke Jacobson (captain)
8. Wallace Sititi
9. Cortez Ratima
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Rameka Poihipi
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Emoni Narawa
15. Shaun Stevenson

Reserves
16. Bradley Slater
17. Jared Proffit
18. Reuben O’Neill
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20. Simon Parker
21. Xavier Roe
22. Quinn Tupaea
23. Daniel Rona

Unavailable for selection: Kaleb Trask, Malachi Wrampling, Gideon Wrampling and Josh Lord.

I am loving the look of that bench. Unleash the beast Chiefs - it's serious time

[Jethro]

First QF in the Tron tonight 7pm

Gallagher Chiefs team to face the Queensland Reds:
1. Aidan Ross
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
3. George Dyer
4. Jimmy Tupou
5. Tupou Vaa’i
6. Samipeni Finau
7. Luke Jacobson (captain)
8. Wallace Sititi
9. Cortez Ratima
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Rameka Poihipi
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Emoni Narawa
15. Shaun Stevenson

Reserves
16. Bradley Slater
17. Jared Proffit
18. Reuben O’Neill
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20. Simon Parker
21. Xavier Roe
22. Quinn Tupaea
23. Daniel Rona

Unavailable for selection: Kaleb Trask, Malachi Wrampling, Gideon Wrampling and Josh Lord.

I am loving the look of that bench. Unleash the beast Chiefs - it's serious time

"It's go time!"

For those wondering the Chiefs are taking on the Red menace at home. Picking the Tribe in a close one else we will have to talk Enz down from the chook shed :)

Other games ...

Canes vs Rebs - are the Mexicans even interested anymore? Picking a Canes romp, though could be last game time for the Rebels. which might throw a spanner in the works.

Blues vs Drua - at Eden Park the Blues are going on a light training run, though given Fijian ill discipline could get physical ... queue Olivia Newton John (youtube it kids).

Brumbies vs Highlanders - the Clan have done well getting to the finals, can't see them upsetting the Ponies at home.

Actually calling the Chiefs v Reds the match of the quarters.

[Gumboot]

The Reds tend to play well against the Chiefs so I'm a bit nervous about tonight's game. Home team by 5.

Canes and Blues to both win comfortably, and the Highlanders to pull off an upset in Canberra.

[Guy Smiley]

Is this still going?

Pfffft

[Gumboot]

[Gumboot]

Carn, Chiefs!

[Gumboot]

Razzle dazzle

[OomStruisbaai]

Da Chiefs!

[Kiwias]

Blowing the Reds off the park.

[OomStruisbaai]

If they play like this, they will go all the way.

[Enzedder]

If they play like this, they will go all the way.

We have certainly lifted. I am soooo happy I would even be nice to Ali's Choice if he posted here

[Sandstorm]

I would even be nice to Ali's Choice if he posted here

Too far, bro.

[Gumboot]

Terrific stuff from the Chiefs. More, please!

[OomStruisbaai]

If they play like this, they will go all the way.

We have certainly lifted. I am soooo happy I would even be nice to Ali's Choice if he posted here

He is working in the garden this weekend.

[OomStruisbaai]

If you give DMac the amount of space , he'll kill you. He is such a great player.

[Enzedder]

Not a good start to the 2nd half

[Gumboot]

Much better by the Reds in the second half, but a good win to the Chiefs in the end.

[Gumboot]

QF2: Canes vs Rebels kicking off in Wellington shortly.

Hurricanes:
15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (c), 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Justin Sangster, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Reserves: 16 James O'Reilly, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Bailyn Sullivan, 23 Kini Naholo

Rebels:
15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Rob Leota (c), 7 Brad Wilkin, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Josh Canham, 4 Angelo Smith, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Isaac Kailea
Reserves: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20 Maciu Nabolakasi, 21 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 22 James Tuttle, 23 Nick Jooste

[Gumboot]

Ruben Love is out with a knee injury, but never fear - Harry Godfrey's here!

[Jethro]

Ruben Love is out with a knee injury, but never fear - Harry Godfrey's here!

Grasping that as a reason for the current score

[Jethro]

Tight game Canes 7 - Rebs 6 (35 minutes)

[Gumboot]

Canes ahead 14-6 at HT, but the Rebels are making life tough for them. Their defence has been outstanding.

[Gumboot]

Ruben Love is out with a knee injury, but never fear - Harry Godfrey's here!

Grasping that as a reason for the current score

Fair to say he's been a mixed bag so far.

[Guy Smiley]

Just got home after driving 400k from Northland... found a gift wrapped whisky in the letterbox and there's nothing wrong with that. Dinner's on, might have a very quiet, tiny little drink.

Go the boys!

[Jethro]

Canes 14-6 halftime

[Guy Smiley]

It burns me to say it but Jordie has become a fucking good player.

[Kiwias]

Canes are picking the gaps very well.

[Guy Smiley]

Rebels with a couple of sparkling tries in a couple of minutes