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We preview the best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this weekend.
Super Rugby: Blues vs Brumbies (Friday July 8, 3:35pm HKT)
For the first month or so of the Super Rugby season the Brumbies seemed a lock to win the whole thing. While they’ve since been overtaken in most people’s estimations by about four of the New Zealand sides and the Lions, they still might do it. A win over the Blues in Auckland this weekend would see them well-placed to hold off the Waratahs and top the Australian Conference. From there they’d be a serious dark horse come the playoffs. But the Blues are probably the most unpredictable side in the competition – they very nearly toppled the Hurricanes in Wellington last weekend, and a repeat performance could see them rain on the Brumbies parade this Friday.
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Super League: Hull FC vs Leeds (Saturday July 9, 2:55am HKT)
Only three weeks to go until Super League XXI cleaves clean in two, with the top 8 progressing to the Super 8’s and the bottom 4 forced to scrap it out with the top 4 teams from the Championship. Hull FC and Leeds Rhinos sit at polar opposite ends of the table – Hull, along with Wigan, are the competition frontrunners, heading straight to the bright lights of the Top 8 regardless of their next three games. The Rhinos, even if they win their next three, are destined to battle it out with Championship scum in the Qualifiers.
Super Rugby: Jaguares vs Highlanders (Sunday July 10, 5:40am HKT)
The Highlanders continue their round-the-world tour this week in Buenos Aires, where they face a Jaguares side looking to go back-to-back after seeing off the Bulls last weekend. While their first Super Rugby season has been largely disappointing, the Jaguares have been hard to beat at home – their only losses, to the Sharks, Stormers and Chiefs, have been by margins of 3, 5 and 4 points respectively. If the Highlanders can sneak out of Argentina with a similar result they’ll be more than happy.
NRL: Panthers vs Sharks (Sunday July 10, 2:00pm HKT)
The looming spectre of Origin III on Wednesday makes this less straightforward than it appears – in fact, bookies have the 9th-placed Panthers are firm favourites to prevail against the table-topping Sharks. The league leaders haven’t lost a game since Round 3, though they were taken to golden point by the Warriors a couple of weeks ago and only escaped thanks to a wobbly James Maloney field goal. The Panthers playoff chances took a hit last week with a loss to the Tigers; if they can end the Sharkies’ streak at Pepper Stadium they’ll be right back in the mix, and deservedly so.
NRL: Raiders vs Cowboys (Monday July 11, 5:00pm HKT)
Ricky Stuart’s Raiders gave their legendary mascot Victor the Viking a 600th game to remember last weekend, coming from 22-0 down to take the game to golden point, where a horrendous field goal attempt bounced freakishly into the arms of Jordan Rapana for the winning try. A beautiful moment of rugby league, though not so much for the hard luck Knights. The Green Machine’s luck extends to the NRL draw – this weekend they host an Origin-depleted Cowboys outfit, against whom they’ll be looking to firmly cement themselves in the Top 8.
Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments