Super Rugby Final and bits and pieces from Leinster and Munster!

 

 Jamison Gibson-Park

Super Rugby concludes on Saturday, with a fitting final, the best two teams, with nearly a clean sheet to pick from. Are the Lions going to regret sending a second string team to Argentina, thus coming second in the league and having to travel for the final? The Lions beat the Chiefs in New Zealand this year, so they can win big matches away, but the Hurricanes have to have the advantage, not having that grueling travel over to New Zealand.

The final in Super Rugby is normally won by the home team, so do the Lions have any chance of winning? The Canes discipline is pretty brutal, I'd nearly guarantee that they'll give away a yellow card there, and their scrum was under serious pressure last weekend. If the Lions can capitalise on that they could win, but it's a tall order. Anyway it'll be a great opportunity ot see players like Beauden Barrett, Ardie Savea, Elton Jantjies and the Lions pack do their thing.

Meanwhile in Ireland, Leinster have put in planning application to redevelop the Anglesea stand at the RDS and increase the capacity by 3000. For Leinster fans there's an opportunity to see new recruit scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park if he makes it off the bench for the Hurricanes on Saturday.

At Munster, new recruit Sam Arnold has picked up an injury while it must be really frustrating to have Peter O'Mahoney, Tyler Bleyendaal,  Francis Sailiand Mark Chisholm in various stages of recovery.

6 Aug 2016
07:35 (GMT)     Super Rugby     Hurricanes  v   Lions

Super Rugby semi finals - rugby on another level!

 

Two semi finals on Saturday, and I can't say enough about the quality of the matches. It's not like rugby you're going to see anywhere else, except maybe from the All Blacks.

There's three things which set it apart. The first the speed at which everything happens - it's absolutely blistering, the speed of the attacks, the pace at which the defense comes up, and the transition from attack to defense. The fitness of the players is just amazing. Then there's the ferocity of the defense, the hits going in are just absolutely bone crunching. Finally, it's the mixed skill set - you're watching a South African team attacking with a prop and a lock in the line, and they're passing smoothly and off loading in the tackle - do not adjust your sets, this is not a test!

The Chiefs gave it their all in Wellington, but they were just 5-10% off, kept on fluffing their lines right at the last minute. The Hurricanes just bided their time, and picked them off on the break. Beauden Barrett is the epitome of bodacious, he has an uncanny knack of making the right decision, and serious speed when he needs it.The only worry for the Canes might be their scrum, which looked really creaky, and their discipline - two yellow cards is not good enough.

Meanwhile in Joburg, the Lions played the Highlanders at their own game, attacking with skill, intensity and pace. Elton Jantjies was pretty ordinary in my opinion against Ireland - he was in jaw dropping form on Saturday - he might be the best attacking fly half the Springboks have ever had. And the Lions were nothing short of sensational, best game by a South African team I've ever seen in 13-14 years of watching Super Rugby. Janties is well backed up by Faff de Klerk. The Highlanders tried until the end, but like the Chiefs were 5% off the pace

Saturday, July 30   
   
Hurricanes 25 - 9 Chiefs
Lions 42 - 30 Highlanders

Super Rugby semi finals, and an update on Schmidt Watch!

 

Super Rugby hits the semi finals this weekend, with matches in Wellington and Johannesburg. First up is the all New Zealand affair of the Hurricanes and the Chiefs. The Canes have all the advantages - they hammered the Sharks last week, so spirits are high, and they're at home for the second week in a row. The Chiefs meanwhile, while not being exactly taxed by playing the Stormers last weekend, have just basically flown around the world in the last week, which isn't the best preparation for a sharp physical  on form side like the Canes. So the Canes for me.

The in Joburg it's the Lions entertaining the Highlanders. The Lions produced a massive performance last weekend to dispose of the Crusaders, slept in their beds this week, and will be well up for this match. If they win, it'll be their first final. The Highlanders had a tough away match with a lot of travel last weekend, and back that up again. So travel is going to be a factor, a huge factor, again home advantage is going to do it for me in this match.

Finally, in Schmidt watch, the plot thickens, with Steve Hansen signing up for another two years with the All Blacks. And who knows, he could sign up for another four years after that. So does Joe take up a Super Rugby position, a step backwards, and play the waiting game? He has personal family reasons as well, and whatever he chooses, he's done so well by Ireland. But it probably swings the possibility of staying slightly more likely.

Super Rugby semi-finals   
Saturday, July 30   
Hurricanes v Chiefs   
Lions v Highlanders