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Super Rugby Semi Finals: Things you need to know
Two massive games take place tonight in Super Rugby, with the winners to face off next weekend in the final. Firstly the Crusaders welcome the Chiefs to Christchurch, then later on the Hurricanes roll into Johannesburg to take on the Lions.
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Here’s a few things that could play a part in the results tonight:
- The Crusaders and Chiefs literally hate one another. There’s rivalries, then there’s this. Chiefs coach Dave Rennie was asked this week if a ‘hatred’ existed between the two sides, and was remarkably honest in saying that this perception was ‘pretty accurate’. He went on to say “In the end, they’ve won so many titles and I guess we wanted to really stand up to them six years ago. There have been some titanic clashes – they’re always physical, all the Kiwi games are.” This echoed the admissions of former Chief and co host of The Short Ball Mils Muliaina, who said this week that the hatred stems from ‘the Blues not being good enough to have a rivalry with anymore’. Ouch.
Listen here:
- The Hurricanes don’t mind playing at Ellis Park at all. The last time they were there, the Super Rugby champs racked up a half century against the team they’d eventually beat in the final. The Canes ran in eight tries that day in Johannesburg, and pose a much greater attacking threat than the team the Lions beat last week, the Sharks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0Tz3krSs5E&t=1s
- Charlie Ngatai is back. The highly rated midfielder returns to the number 12 jersey for the Chiefs, after yet another long lay off with injury. A strong performance here could see Ngatai figure in the All Blacks‘ plans for the rest of the season, and his line-breaking ability could cause some real problems for the Crusaders tonight. If he does, it’ll take a lot of pressure off Damian McKenzie, who seems to have been at the heart of everything the Chiefs do this season.
- This is the first time the Lions will play a New Zealand team this year. Much has been made about the 2017 draw and how the Lions have managed to avoid the tough NZ conference till now. They will be relying on the usual combination of travel fatigue and altitude, plus the ability to kick goals from virtually anywhere in front of their own 40 metre line. However, at least one Canes player has figured out the benefits of the kick-friendly altitude as well, so maybe TJ Perenara might find himself getting handed the tee at some stage.
@Tj_Perenara stepping up.
#LessssGoooo pic.twitter.com/zCi5nNrbjM— Beauden Barrett (@beaudenbarrett) July 25, 2017
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
5 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
5 Go to comments