startledwombat says...

@ jaystarr - you might have taken my message the wrong way.

I haven't seen the weekend's games. Seriously. I'm looking forward to the midnight Monday highlights package, to watch on this coming Tuesday evening. On Saturday I had a prior commitment involving some rare whisky. Pop "Black Bowmore whisky 1964" into your search engine and then let's discuss priorities.

You'll find that after the Stormers beat the Highlanders at Dunedin's new Mortgage Stadium or whatever it's name is, I boldly predicted that the Stormers would win the S15. That was back in April. I've seen no reason to change my view.

PR's write-ups of the weekend's two matches, and the postings made by PR members, all seemed to me to avoid the topic of what the games were like as a spectator spectacle. So my question was serious. In the end I phoned New Zealand for an answer - the reply was yes, well worth watching, for both matches.

Posted 14:18 22nd July 2012

carpelone says...

Does anybody know a website for downloading/steaming of rugby games?

Posted 12:25 22nd July 2012

new_j4a says...

@papachinzo, you seem to have a problem with any ref that isn't Irish....see below:

papachinzo says.. only the welsh refs get away with helping their sides (James Jones, even Nigel Owens is guilty of doing it [In the World Cup, of all places]).

papachinzo says...I'd say the Irish referees are getting slightly frustrated, especially Rolland. He's gone a long time now without officiating a top level Final...

This raises the obvious question: why don't you confine your attention to Irish rugby at the level that it is only reffed by Irish refs....schoolboy level? Or alternatively you could stumble off back to hurling or Gaelic football where you are probably closer to understanding the Laws...if indeed there are any?

As a matter of fact, it is ignorant fans like you and the Oz commentators that are harming the game.

Posted 09:00 22nd July 2012

Trinats2 says...

The conference system is flawed. Reds should have played in Durban and had an Aussie Ref !!! Just stirring.

Reds were crap, Sharks were good, bottom Line. Maybe on a different night or if the TMO had of been asked "was a try scored" instead of "Did Ioane ground the ball" TMO actually said there was a try scored but if you are asking me if Ioane grounded the ball, there was inconclusive evidence, therefore no Ioane did not score a try ( Incorrect question from kaplan, which is probably why Kaplan has been dropped from the IRB panel for Refs) And his refusal to use cards after repeated warnings, is the reason why the crowd booed Kaplan.

On to the booing, it's OK for fans to show their frustration by booing just as it is acceptable to cheer with their approval. At least no one from the crowed tackle the Ref or spat and threw a bottle !!! Kaplan is usless and let the Reds away with a lot too, however he didn't have an influence on the outcome, sharks were too good on the night.

Gutted this morning, and the Bro outlaws are unbearable, typical saffa bad winners/losers, but the Reds will bounce back next and hopefully hot have the disrupted year they have had this year.

Someone mentioned "no depth in the Reds" ??? Reds were at one stage down to their 5th flyhalf (6th if you include Giena) and made it to the finals. Reds (and the wallabies) have the youngest team so come next RWC I'm sure there will be plenty of depth !

And to answer someones question about Higgers retaliation, the sharks player racked his face (which was not picked up by Durban born Joubert or Kaplan !!)

Once again well done Sharks, play like you did last night and you'll become the second team to lift the Super 15 trophy.

Is it possible for Giena to be included twice in the team of the week ???? At 9 and at 10 !!! Higgers is a shoe in for the 8 spot.

Posted 08:13 22nd July 2012

JayStarr says...

Amazing Sharks - brilliant.

Do not underestimate just how good this was people. To have to fly accross the Indian ocean and all the way to the most eatern part of Australia, and play the defending champions at their fortress, after they've been building up momentum of their own over the last few weeks, and beat them THAT convincingly - incredible.

And why? Because unlike last year, they went with the right attitude.

I take my hat off to you Sharks. If you play such positive rugby against the Stormers and win, I wouldn't even mind too much. I want rugby like that to be seen as "winning rugby".

Posted 04:21 22nd July 2012

ruckingkiwi says...

Thanks to the Sharks I am $425 wealthier today. Very generous odds but it's a hard place to go and win. Well played Sharks and a good season for the Reds given their injury toll. Don't think it'll happen but Chiefs Sharks final would be my preference.

Posted 01:45 22nd July 2012

Waz4before says...

Damn the Sharks were good, incisive in attack astonishingly robust in defense. Sat behind the goal at the half hour point me (and my fellow Reds fans) actually counted the number of Sharks players to make sure thy didn't have 16! They didn't of course but we checked anyway ;-)

Very impressive performance from the Sharks, and to concede so much terretory and possession, especially in the second half, and still look comfortable is the sign of a very good side.

It could have been different of course but sport is simple: you either do it or you dont and on the night the Reds didnt so I'm looking forward to seeing how the Reds fill some gaps in the team and build on 2 successful seasons; I can at least enjoy the rest of the finals wih my fingernails intact - hope it goes to one of the Saffa sides, good to rotate the trophy but to be honest I wouldn't like to try and pick a winner from the 4 remain sides!

Posted 00:37 22nd July 2012

isthatrightref says...

Karma wins again... Rids didn't deserve a home playoff, should've been in Cheechee getting their asses handed to them by McCheat & Co, but getting blown away by the Shorks is almost as fitting.

Why did Genia go to 10 when Lucas went off, surely bringing Tapuai on & Harris in would've been the go? After that Rids were never going to be able to target the Sharks ruck defence... and as for the pass to McLeod, haven't seen one like it since Carlos in RWC '03!

Good to see the master baiter taking it on the chin, no whinging about injuries, suspensions, hoodoo grounds, refs/TMO's... from him anyway, shame about some of the others (and was that booing I heard? Surely not, I'm sure I read somewhere that only kiwi crowds do that).

Rids did well to win their conf given their injury woes - hard enough to deal with at the best of times, harder still when you don't have much depth to begin with - but the guys forced to step up will be better for it in 2013 & beyond.

Never thought I'd say this but: go the mighty Shorks... next week anyway.

Posted 00:15 22nd July 2012

kevkaiora says...

Reds won the aust conference

Brumbies next best

when it came to the real games ,not a lot better than brumbies the week before

Excuses are exactly that

Agree with Ramage , Sia Finger , cheap shots ,

those smug ,cheap shot commentators from fox have very selective eyesight and memories

The Sharks outplayed them ,out enthused them ,and didnt let their own mistakes get in the way off their game

The crusaders had a saffa ref , and !!

Sharks to beat Stormers

Crusaders to beat Chiefs

thats my plan

Then a awesome Sharks v Crusaders

a Eighth title to the Crusaders

Posted 23:41 21st July 2012

Irish_bok1 says...

Wallaroo keep your head held high, truly sportsmanlike response.

Win like a winner and lose like a winner

Posted 23:24 21st July 2012