The High Five: Super Rugby Final
The Crusaders have won the 2017 Super Rugby title after defeating the Lions by 25-17 in Johannesburg, scoring three tries to two in the process.
Diggercane
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A Rotundity and happy ex hooker who just loves Rugby really, oh and my kids and Kendra of course who lets me watch as much Rugby as I want, mostly. Follow Digby Ross on Twitter @Diggercane.
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Great to be eight! Crusaders conquer Lions to take another title
The Crusaders have been crowned Super Rugby champions for 2017 after defeating the Lions at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg by 25 points to 17 in a hard fought and composed performance in front of over 60,000 fans.
Lions vs Crusaders highlights: Super Rugby Final live scores, blog
Match result: The Crusaders have been crowned Super Rugby champions for 2017 after defeating the Lions at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg by 25 points to 17 in a hard fought and composed performance in front of over 60,000 fans.
The High Five: Super Rugby semi-finals
Our grand finalists have been found for Super Rugby 2017 with the Lions hosting the Crusaders next weekend at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg.
Lions defeat Hurricanes in entertaining Super Rugby semi-final, will play Crusaders in final
A second half blitz has seen the Lions defeat the Hurricanes by 15 points in a highly entertaining Super Rugby semi-final.
Lions vs Hurricanes: Super Rugby semi-final live scores, blog
Match results: The Lions have put up a comprehensive second half display, running on five tries to one, turning a 12-point halftime deficit into a 15-point victory to book their place in the Super Rugby grand final against the Crusaders next week.
Crusaders book place in Super Rugby grand final
The Crusaders have become the first team to book their place in the Super Rugby grand final with a 14-point victory over the Chiefs in Christchurch.
Crusaders vs Chiefs: Super Rugby semi-final live scores, blog
Match results: The Crusaders have produced a defensive master class to qualify for the Super Rugby final, defeating the Chiefs by 14 points in Christchurch.
The High Five: Super Rugby Quarter Finals
The Super Rugby quarter finals have now been completed and while the results went the way of the betting odds and the favoured teams won through, it certainly was not all one-way traffic as many were expecting.
Stormers vs Chiefs Highlights: Super Rugby quarter-final scores, blog
Good morning and welcome to the fourth Super Rugby quarter-final as the Stormers welcome the Chiefs to Newlands. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1am (AEST).
Lions vs Sharks Highlights: Super Rugby quarter-final scores, blog
Good evening and welcome to Super Rugby’s third quarter-final as the table-topping Lions play host to their South African rivals the Sharks. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10:30pm (AEST).
The High Five: All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions, third Test
The British and Lions have drawn the curtain on their 2017 New Zealand tour, drawing the third Test match against New Zealand in a tense and enthralling affair in front of over 48,000 fans at Eden Park in Auckland, the match ending in a 15-all draw.
Highlights: It's a draw! 15-15, All Blacks and Lions can't be split
The All Blacks and British and Irish Lions have drawn the third Test at Eden Park in a tense and thrilling encounter 15 points apiece, and have subsequently drawn the 2017 Lions series.
All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International Rugby Third Test live scores, blog
Match result: The All Blacks and British and Irish Lions have drawn the third Test at Eden Park in a tense and thrilling encounter 15 points apiece, and have subsequently drawn the 2017 Lions series.
The High Five: Hurricanes vs British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions have completed their mid-week schedule on the 2017 New Zealand tour, playing out a thrilling 31-all draw with the Hurricanes in Wellington at a sold out Westpac Stadium.
Hurricanes vs British and Irish Lions: International rugby live scores, blog
The British and Irish Lions play their last non-Test opposition for the 2017 tour this evening, visiting Wellington to play the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 5.35pm (AEST).
The High Five: Wallabies vs Italy
The Wallabies have stumbled to an entertaining, error-ridden victory over Italy at Suncorp Stadium in the Brisbane sun by 40 points to 27.
The High Five: All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions First Test
The All Blacks have drawn first blood against the British and Irish Lions overcoming their rivals by 30 points to 15 in an intense, fast and bruising encounter at Eden Park in Auckland in front of over 41,000 fans.
All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions highlights: International rugby scores, blog
Match result: The All Blacks are just one win away from denying the British and Irish Lions another Test series triumph in New Zealand, downing them 30-15 in an absorbing opening Test at Eden Park.
The High Five: Chiefs vs British and Irish Lions
The Chiefs have succumbed to the British and Irish Lions in Hamilton, comfortably beaten by 34 points to 6 by their more experienced and composed opposition, with the Lions defence again proving too difficult to overcome.
Was a great piece PP, thank you.
Excellent as always Nick, cheers.
The Wallabies forwards need to be accountable and go back to the future for Bledisloe 3
Geez its good fun this game of ours isn’t it?
No doubt Moungas time will come, thought it would be after the WC personally but lets see what happens. Its great to see the options develop and present themselves and that proposed starting line up allows such options as Macca on the bench or even other possibilities, great position to be in.
Certainly starting is a different kettle of fish and I think it should be remembered that BB often provided the same impetus from the bench 2012-2015 so it will be intriguing to see what they do from here, it has to worth trying at some point though it worked out ok with RM on the bench too. Would be happier to see a final centre combination settled on personally, so much change for the last few seasons, though a bit injury induced also but I believe this is important to nail down so close to the WC.
Glad also to see BB defence recognised, his cover defence and workrate often goes unnoticed and is invaluable to me, would be difficult to find space at the back with B Smith and BB roaming, perhaps another tick in the box.
Great piece again, thank you Nick.
Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga: How the All Blacks pieced the jigsaw together at Loftus
I don’t really know Geoff, I have always been a team sport kind of fellow, both in playing and sports viewing but thinking about it, I do not even know who last won the Davis Cup or even the last winner that I can remember.
Golf certainly does a better job in catching the casual observer such as myself and certainly examples such as this makes me want to take in more. If that was the sort of spectacle you would expect from Golf each week I would be tuning in. Great fun.
The Wrap: All Blacks seal 16th title as Wallabies stare down wooden spoon
Thanks Spiro.
‘Why was Michael Hooper, a short man even if he were a back, played as a jumper at number 2 in the lineout?’
Not sure that’s a question for the Wallabies Spiro, he did take four balls cleanly, more a question for the Bok lineout and why they allowed it.
Cheika's hapless Wallabies are the real victims of the 2004 Brumbies player-power push
Thanks Geoff.
The Ryder Cup was certainly my sporting highlight of the weekend, brilliant stuff and from one who is no golfer to boot.
The Wrap: All Blacks seal 16th title as Wallabies stare down wooden spoon
I certainly did, amongst other things, was a great honour 😉
To recap from Geoffs piece, it was a great Test weekend, a bit of Jambalaya, a dollop of chowder and a couple of kgs of mussels, yum cha, a bit of Mitre 10, a whole lot of beer, some finer spirits, sangria and margaritas, chess, last card, too many shots, a chat with Jeff Wilson, wives interrogated for information regarding their lesser halves, promises of classical victory celebrations reneged upon, spoilt children and of course a game in the middle of it, along with an awful lot of Rugby talk!
The best part was probably finding out that Harrys lucky beanie is a fraud 🙂 But good on him, he took the risk and got to see something pretty rare and special to him, you may have noticed from his earlier comments 🙂
Why the rivalry between the All Blacks and Springboks is alive and well
Thanks you Nick, great again.
Was an excellent match and great to be there and the result, along with the Pumas form brings a bit of edge back into the remaining away matches for the ABs. Bring it on!
Why the rivalry between the All Blacks and Springboks is alive and well
Confidence in his skill set to make the pass, if that makes sense.
The mindset behind Izzy's
No, I agree with you James, think it is just a confidence issue for him but I don’t really know, just a thought.
The mindset behind Izzy's
Yeah, I just think that it he has more confidence in breaking the line than passing off his weak hand. Am just guessing and I would add, running is what he has probably been told to do.
The mindset behind Izzy's
Probably Cullen.
He would have scored though 😉
No I cant Fionn, am simply stating that I am not sure it was a selfish play though as above, you would expect this area to have been worked on. More weight as to why he should stay on the right wing I guess.
The mindset behind Izzy's
Maybe James, dunno.
My thoughts are he may have taken his best option for him because his pass of the weak hand isn’t great, thoughts?
The mindset behind Izzy's
Congrats on 10 years Brett, well done mate.
Fan abuse is never great, but the message to the Wallabies is clear
Yes, it was a bit dusty on it come Sunday night!
The Wrap: Dyantyi and Lavanini ‘slide the doors’ for the All Blacks and Wallabies
Come now, don’t be mean to Chook! 😉
The Wrap: Dyantyi and Lavanini ‘slide the doors’ for the All Blacks and Wallabies
It was, great Test weekend, a bit of Jambalaya, a dollop of chowder and a couple of kgs of mussels, yum cha, a bit of Mitre 10, a whole lot of beer, some finer spirits, sangria and margaritas, chess, last card, too many shots, a chat with Jeff Wilson, wives interrogated for information regarding their lesser halves, promises of classical victory celebrations reneged upon and of course a game in the middle of it.
Do love Test weekends. 😉
The Wrap: Dyantyi and Lavanini ‘slide the doors’ for the All Blacks and Wallabies
He was covered on the outside if he stepped, Whiteley just showed the determination typical of the Boks that night.
A couple of crazier moments, Faf reclaiming his own bomb that travelled 5m, the scrum penalty against the Boks after they decimated the AB scrum and Harrys lucky beanie being found out to be a fraud. 😉
The Wrap: Dyantyi and Lavanini ‘slide the doors’ for the All Blacks and Wallabies
Great wrap again Geoff, thank you.
It was an excellent occasion on Saturday night and I was fortunate to spend it in good company. Mr Jones and Mr Tragic certainly know their stuff and their way round the bar! 🙂
I have been fortunate that the last two games attended in Wellington have been gripping contests throughout the full 80 and while the results has not been ideal, live test matches are still the ultimate and to see what it means to the opposition fans on both occasions adds to the occasion. Been a long time since I have seen AB fans celebrate test wins in such fashion so hopefully we can shake the lethargy of recent years and start to really get excited again.
Understandable that there were a few grumbles regarding missed opportunities for the ABs but one really does have to tip their hat to the grit and determination of the Boks in the tackle and while big men such as Du Toit and Mostert are rightly recognised for their huge work rates it was the little guys that I felt made some real telling contributions, Dyanti as you have pointed out but also running down McKenzie (he is crazy fast), Kolbe taking Ioane head on and Faf, the little energizer bunny who needs to sign a shampoo endorsement as his mane perfectly shimmers under light were all fantastic on defence. In many ways, the Boks managed to do what the ABs have done on many occasions, punishing errors and living on scraps.
It was a mighty Bok performance, the game statistics were unbelievable! Congrats to them and their long suffering fans, hopefully a sign of better times to come (but not too much luck of course!)
Of course we wait and see whether the Boks can back up this superb effort but in their favour of course is a return to their home shores and I for one cannot wait for Pretoria.
Congrats to the Pumas and fans as well, gives the RC a good shake up, certainly there would have not been too many predicting a set of away wins this round!
The Wrap: Dyantyi and Lavanini ‘slide the doors’ for the All Blacks and Wallabies
I agree.
I also have been credited often with straight forward intelligence, it just seems easier
The Wallabies forwards need to be accountable and go back to the future for Bledisloe 3