I think the author is confused.

True, the Wales v SA game was one that only a Saffer purest could enjoy as SA won 😛

However, the final was contested by two of the best defensive teams i.t.o. tries conceded at the RWC. And they went hammer and tongs at it, trying to break each other’s defensive line. At one time England went through about 20 phases attacking the Bok goalline.

Playing in a final, where points matter, not tries, of course they are going to kick their penalties but in the end the England wall broke and the Boks scored two great tries.

How was that cheating?

Is it cheating to play your published left wing on the right? Or your inside centre to outside? Or move your flyhalf to fullback during the game?

The match 23 was published and they used them, just in a different order

LOL

Warren Whiteley failed a fitness test due to a knee injury

Lions – revised: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Elton Jantjies, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Kwagga Smith (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Franco Naude, 23 Tyrone Green.

Big blow

Of course

2.0 being even odds it’s not as generous as it might seem but the Stormers have won their last 7 games at home against the Bulls so one can see why the bookies have them as slight favourites

The betting odds around the Saders Lions are quite interesting, especially if you play the margins. And big money to be made on very little down should the Lions upset the Saders
Crusaders 1.02 to 1.08
Lions 8.0 to 13.0
Handicap: Crusaders -11 to -31
Lions to win by 13 or more – 34.0
A whitewash
Saders: 56.0
Lions 751.0
The Saders are resting some players and the Lions, apart from resting Monster Marx, made some interesting selections
– Combrinck at fullback where many believe he should have been playing all a long but haven’t, backed up by the DMacesque rookie Tyrone Green.
– Jantjies getting another start at 12, outside a virtual rookie who just stepped off the plane
– a rookie back-up hooker
– a 20 year old rookie, who played U20 for Scotland and SA, as back-up loosehead
But in the end the game is going to be about attitude. Do the Lions believe they can “win it for the Gipper”? Will the Saders go on the field believing it’s just another walk in the park?
Last week 87% of Superbru punters backed the Chiefs to win, this week 94% back a Saders win.
12 of the Saders played in last year’s final, 11 of the Lions
Last year the Lions had more than enough possession (56%) but couldn’t use it. Their mauls were countered and they made some silly mistakes. I suspect they will have enough possession again this week, just depends how they use it.
One of the key battles will be the 22 year old refridgerator, Carlu Sadie, coming up againstthe All black Joe Moody
Just what upsets are made of ????
Lions (went for the Saders on Superbru), the Clan, Canes, Tahs, Bulls and Pumuares

Definitely tongue in cheek

TBH though, I’ve always had a problem with people selectively quoting verses out of context from the Bible, especially since the verses are often contradicted elsewhere, as is the case with the one Folau quoted

Maybe it’s time for the Bible, Quran, Torah and other religious script to be rewritten to become more socially acceptable so as not to upset the people who don’t really believe in what they say anyway.
– replacing the creation with the Evolution and Big Bang theories
– removing all concepts of sin, heaven or hell, and
– clearly marking all “miracles” as possible fiction/fairy tales
should be a good start

Run to the play-offs:

1 Saders (34) – Lions (H), Sharks (H), Bulls (A), Stormers (A), Blues (H), Chiefs (A – Suva), Rebels (H), Bye

2 Canes (27) – Chiefs (H), Rebels (H), Blues (A), Jaguares (H), Bye, Sharks (A), Lions (A), Blues (H)

3 Rebels (24) – Bye, Canes (A), Reds (H), Bulls (H), Sunwolves (A), Tahs (H), Saders (A), Chiefs (H)

4 Bulls (23) – Stormers (A), Tahs (H), Saders (H), Rebels (A), Brumbies (A), Blues (A), Landers (A), Lions (H)

5 Lions (22) – Saders (A), Bye, Tahs (H), Landers (H), Sharks (A), Stormers (H), Canes (H), Bulls (A)

6 Sharks (22) – Tahs (A), Saders (A), Chiefs (A), Bye, Lions (H), Canes (H), Jaguares (A), Stormers (A)

7 Tahs (20) – Sharks (H), Bulls (A), Lions (A), Reds (A), Jaguares (H), Rebels (A), Brumbies (H), Landers (A)

8 Blues (20) – Bye, Brumbies (A), Canes (H), Chiefs (H), Saders (A), Bulls (H), Reds (A), Canes (A)

9 Jaguares (19) – Brumbies (H), Stormers (H), Landers (A), Canes (A), Tahs (A), Reds (A), Sharks (H), Sunwolves (A)

10 Stormers (19) – Bulls (H), Jaguares (A), Bye, Saders (H), Landers (H), Lions (A), Sunwolves (H), Sharks (H)

11 Brumbies (19) – Jaguares (A), Blues (H), Sunwolves (H), Bye, Bulls (H), Sunwolves (A), Tahs (A), Reds (H)

12 Reds (18) – Bye, Sunwolves (H), Rebels (A), Tahs (H), Chiefs (A), Jaguares (H), Blues (H), Brumbies (A)

13 Landers (18) – Sunwolves (A), Chiefs (H), Jaguares (H), Lions (A), Stormers (A), Bye, Bulls (H), Tahs (H)

14 Chiefs (17) – Canes (A), Landers (A), Sharks (H), Blues (A), Reds (H), Saders (H – Suva), Bye, Rebels (A)

15 Sunwolves (11) – Landers (H), Reds (A), Brumbies (A), Bye, Rebels (H), Brumbies (H), Stormers (A), Jaguares (A)

Seems the Lions will be without head coach, Swys de Bruin, for some time. He returned home due to medical reasons – seems to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown

Translated quote from the Afrikaans Sunday tabloid:
Straeuli, in the light of De Bruin’s well-being, and the treatment he could get here as well as the healing environment of his family, told the Lions coach to fly back to New Zealand from New Zealand immediately.

None of the parties with whom Rapport spoke yesterday wanted to clarify De Bruin’s medical condition. Rapport’s information is that it is a nervous complaint following prolonged pressure. The Lions have recently been through a difficult time following some sad performances, especially with the game they lost against the Sharks.

De Bruin yesterday in response to questions from Rapport for the first time since he returned lifted the veil over his dramatic departure from New Zealand just days before the Lions would take the Chiefs into a Super game.

“I give you my 100% guarantee that there is no break between me and anyone at the union or in my team,” De Bruin told Rapport.

“There is no interference (with team choices), no prescription and no pressure from their (De Bruin’s employers’) side.”

“My team realizes what I am going throughand fully support me. It’s out and out a personal, medical issue that I get professional help for.

“It was our team doctor who, after I talked to my wife and Rudolf first, recommended that I come home to get the necessary professional help here. It would have been best for me and for the team at this stage. ”

I have to look after myself if I want to be a good leader for my team on the road ahead.

Lions coach Swys de Bruin has returned home for personal reasons while defence coach Joey Mongalo returned home to face an internal disciplinary hearing after being found guilty, and receiving an unrevealed sentence, in a Sydney court for indecent assault in 2018

Conditioning coach Cash van Rooyen takes over as head coach for today’s game

Stopgap only. Although Kwagga can play an open, linking game when Swys starts Kwagga and Schoeman the backrow is unbalanced, especially when he plays James Venter, another small opensider, off the bench as well

Of the players on tour I would start 6 Kwagga, 7 Brink, 8 Dayimani with Schoeman on the bench. Swys will probably go 6 Schoeman, 7 Brink, 8 Kwagga with Dayimani on the bench

Saders, Rebels, Chiefs, Brumbies, Sharks, Bulls

The Saders and Rebels are the two consistent sides in the comp so far and should win at home

Both the Chiefs and the Blues seem to be on the up and up so i’m going with the home side.

The Lions is a better team than they showed last week but their forwards need to get into game from the start but it’s an inexperienced pack with only 2 of last year’s regular starters available – Marx and Kwagga. I don’t like going against them but I don’t think their pack is working at the moment

The Sharks should win it. Although they have been very inconsistent the Pumares are missing to many key players and always struggle in SA

The Bulls have some key players back and should be too strong for the Reds

LOL

Hurricanes, Reds, LIONS, CRUSADERS, BLUES, REBELS, Jaguares

The Stormers and Bulls have selected B/C teams. And they’re not good enough to win with their B/C teams

The Lions are experimenting so their game is a coin toss

Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Lionel Mapoe, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Ruan Vermaak, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx (captain), 1 Sti Sithole
Substitutes: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Stephan Lewies, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Hacjivah Dayimani, 23 Sylvian Mahuza/Wandisile Simelane
Sharks
15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Lwazi Mvovo, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (captain), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Philip van der Walt, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Kobus van Wyk, 23 Aphelele Fassi
Sharks players currently banned
Jeremy Ward – to 19 April
Marius Louw – to 13 April
Akker van der Merwe – to 19 April
Chilliboy Ralepelle awaiting results of tests on his B-sample

No argument from me

A few points:
1. It’s a WR regulation (Reg 8) not law that regulates player eligibility
2. A player can change the country he represents provided (Reg 8.7)
– he is a national (citizen) of the new country
– he hasn’t played international rugby for at least 3 years
– he qualifies through their Olympic team

I don’t get this sudden Sunwolves love. It was a mess from the start when there was little support from the Japanese clubs and they struggled to put a squad together to the point where they’ve now become a dumping ground for primarily unwanted Kiwi players. They should never have been part of SR. And neither should the Kings have been, before I’m accused of Saffer bias.

The Super Rugby mess came about when the powers that be changed to focus of the competition from being a premier competition to a development competition.
Australia wanted to develop rugby in Western Australia and Victoria, SA wanted to develop rugby in the Eastern Cape, Aus and NZ wanted to involve the PIs and Japan, SA wanted Argentina in, Aus didn’t have a first class level domestic competition, SA and NZ did
And the mess just snowballed because each of the original SANZAR partners had alternative objectives.
And what’s wrong with demanding that Japan pay their share of the costs of running the competition? Japan isn’t a SANZAAR partner, the other four unions are and it’s the RC combined with SR that generate the TV monies that primarily cover the costs

From reports it seems the AP comp proposed will be in partnership with Twiggy

Great news.

Hopefully the Asia Pacific competition can come off the ground

Unlike the Lions, the Sharks will kick their goalable penalties. The Rebels need to sort out their discipline. Last week they were lucky to get away with only two yellow cards, 3 or 4 would have been more deserved according to reports and comments

Funny enough, earlier this year Munster go 15-0 penalties even though they had less tha 60% possession and territory. And nobody bitched.

The Rebels need to sort out their discipline