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We preview the best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this week.
International League: Kangaroos vs Kiwis (Friday May 6, 6:05pm HKT)
The NRL takes a break this week, but for good reason – we’ve got a Trans-Tasman test to enjoy. For so long a fixture dominated by the Kangaroos, Friday night’s test sees the Kiwis going for their fourth win in a row over the Aussies, something they haven’t achieved for over 50 years. They go in without a slew of experienced test veterans and a rookie captain in Storm prop Jesse Bromwich, while the Kangaroos look strong across the park. It’s back to being the underdog for the Kiwis, not that they’ll mind too much – some of their greatest test wins have come with the odds stacked against them.
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Top 14: Grenoble vs Bordeaux (Saturday May 7, 2:45am HKT)
The middle of the table is where the action is with just four rounds remaining before the Top 14 playoffs. Bordeaux are still very much in the quarterfinals picture, but need to make every game count from here on in. They sit 7th on the table with 57 points, just one behind Castres and four behind Toulouse. If they can overtake either of those two, they’ll be in. With 47 points Grenoble are a longer shot – they need to win at least three, probably all of their last four to make a late charge. A win this weekend would be the first step.
Super Rugby: Chiefs vs Highlanders (Saturday May 7, 3:35pm HKT)
As soon as the final whistle blew on the Highlanders hard fought win over the Brumbies in Invercargill on Saturday night, Aaron Smith was already looking forward to this game. “I love playing the Chiefs,” he said in his post-match interview.
Like the Highlanders, the Chiefs’ win over the Sharks was built on a solid defence rather than the attacking style they’re known for. This weekend could see both teams revert to type – perhaps figuring attack is the best form of defence. That would certainly make for an enticing battle of the fullbacks between All Blacks incumbent Ben Smith and the Chiefs’ rising star Damian McKenzie.
Aviva Premiership: Harlequins vs Chiefs (Saturday May 7, 10:30pm HKT)
Heading into the final week of the Aviva Premiership regular season most of the playoff pieces have already fallen into place. Saracens, Chiefs, Wasps and Tigers have already secured their places into the semis and London Irish have already booked their relegation ticket to the Greene King IPA Championship. All that’s left to play for this week is 5th and 6th place, and qualification to the 2016/17 European Cup. Harlequins currently cling to 6th by a point over Sharks, and risk being pipped of they can’t get a result against Chiefs. And although Chiefs are already booked a playoffs spot, they still have plenty to play for – beating Harlequins would guarantee them a home semi final.
Asian Championship: Malaysia vs Sri Lanka (Sunday May 8, 4:20pm HKT)
The Asian Rugby Championship kicked off last weekend with Japan handing South Korea an 85-0 thrashing in Yokohama. This weekend the Division 1 tournament begins, with the winner progressing to a promotion / relegation playoff against the bottom-placed Championship side (either South Korea or Hong Kong). Host country Malaysia – promoted after winning Division 2 last year – open their campaign on Sunday afternoon when they play last year’s Division 1 winners Sri Lanka. Nicknamed The Brave Elephant Tuskers, they should provide a tough introduction to Division 1 footy for the Malaysians, who have no known nickname.
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Comments on RugbyPass
It’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
24 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
24 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
24 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
24 Go to comments