Wales vs Springboks: Rugby World Cup 2019 semi-final preview and prediction
The second semi-final of the 2019 RWC sees the enigmatic Springboks tackle Wales for a spot in the final. Sport is a funny thing.…
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@SkyNewsAust Producer/Journalist • Media and Comms @Sydney_Uni • Sports nut (Philadelphia 76ers / Hobart Hurricanes / NSW Waratahs) Twitter: @nick_kelland
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The second semi-final of the 2019 RWC sees the enigmatic Springboks tackle Wales for a spot in the final. Sport is a funny thing.…
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Robert Du Preez was immense for the Sharks. I’m not sure the Naisarani and Coleman inclusions would have changed a heap, but I agree on the Genia, DHP front. Forwards were evenly matched up I thought, though.
Agreed, they could be undefeated, or have only dropped one. Frustrating indeed. But a solid win on Saturday.
Super Rugby Power Rankings 2019: Round 6
I still have the image of the Reds’ first 50 minutes against the Sunwolves, and they have slid above the Brumbies to be fair.
The Rebels were utterly dominant in their first half last game, and could have won both games in RSA. A couple of poor weeks from here would see a decent slide, though.
Appreciate the feedback!
Super Rugby Power Rankings 2019: Round 6
My last two articles have been nothing but full of praise for QC.
I think he is the form 10 in the country – and have said that numerous times. It is worth to note his perceived faults. Like I’ve noted Foley’s seeming loss of acceleration off the mark, and inconsistent goal kicking – or Lealifano’s inability to play flat at the line when his side doesn’t have front foot ball.
Super Rugby Power Rankings 2019: Round 4
Will even out as the competition progresses. Drops in places owing to the bye are natural in the earlier rounds – but will have little to no impact down the track. Bear with it!
Super Rugby Power Rankings 2019: Round 4
I only shifted the Rebels last week and the Tahs this week down to that spot to allow for a more in-depth/fair look at the teams above. When we are 8/9/10 games into the season – then the Bye week will have little to no impact. With such a small sample size, however, in week three – it is purely to allow for more fair assessment of the teams who have just played.
Super Rugby Power Rankings 2019: Round 3
Only sit them 13th because of the BYE. Same as the Rebels the week previous who are undefeated.
Super Rugby Power Rankings 2019: Round 3
One way to look at it, yes. The Crusaders beat the Canes by 20-odd the week before, and only beat the Reds by 10 (who sit 13th on this list with no wins) on Saturday. To be fair – I think almost any team in the competition would have beaten the Brumbies on the weekend with the way they played.
Super Rugby Power Rankings 2019: Round 3
Crusaders look to be the standard again this year, and being 2/2 naturally slipped up to first.
I’ve explained other selections and staggers below in another reply – but I imagine as the ladder thins out slightly and becomes more consistent – so too these rankings.
Rewarding teams based on W/L stats as well as the significance of respective wins or defeats explains these rankings (and some peculiarities) through the first two rounds.
Thanks for the feedback – keen to hear your thoughts as the season continues.
Super Rugby Power Rankings 2019: Round 2
The first few weeks will definitely be a feeling out period – but I’ve explained my thought process above in another reply.
Agree it will become more consistent ans the season progresses.
Thanks for the feedback!
Super Rugby Power Rankings 2019: Round 2
Fair feedback!
For the first couple of rounds I decided to stagger the rankings based predominantly off ladder position combined with the gravity/significance of victories/losses.
Obviously that may make for some slightly weird reading in the first few rounds – however my mindset was that I didn’t want a team with one win but looked great in a second round loss above a team with two unconvincing and gritty wins in their first two games.
As the season progresses these rankings will no doubt settle.
I’d be keen to hear your feedback in coming rounds! Appreciate it.
Super Rugby Power Rankings 2019: Round 2
Full Time
80‘ – MATCH RESULT: The Queensland Reds were too good for the Sunwolves, running away with it in the second half. The final scoreline read 48-27.
Reds: 48
Sunwolves: 27
Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog
76‘ – TRY SUNWOLVES – JABA BREGVADZE
The Reds are sitting on their heels now, and Bregvadze takes full advantage, a short unders line, and he flies through a hole off the little short ball from his inside man.
Runs 22m untouched to score – Parker knocks it over.
Reds: 48
Sunwolves: 27
Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog
72‘ – TRY SUNWOLVES – RYOTO NAKAMURA
Hayden Parker is having a stellar game, and chips over the top now, regathering his own stab. The ball shifts left, where Little is taken into touch. He grabs it and throws it in quickly where Nakamura collects and scores around all the Reds kind of standing around looking confused.
Parker’s kick is on the left edge – he nails it, obviously…
Reds: 48
Sunwolves: 20
Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog
68‘ – Nice break from the Sunwolves through Little down the right edge, but the ball is dragged into touch, and the Reds attack up the middle.
Reds: 48
Sunwolves: 13
Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog
63‘ – Sunwolves on their own 10 with Tanaka shifting right. Two more carries up the middle, before the ball turns over. Sorovi shifts to Hoopert, and the Reds are in possession 10m out – big chance.
Reds: 41
Sunwolves: 13
Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog
58‘ – TRY REDS – DUNCAN PAIA’AUA
It’s stinking of last weeks second half, now.
Paia’aua dots down after the work on the inside from Timu and Stewart. Little pop pass, and it’s a simple overlap for the Reds inside centre to dot down and score.
Kick is 5m in from the left edge, and Lance just pushes it left.
Reds: 41
Sunwolves: 13
Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog
56‘ – Penalty Reds
Offside Sunwolves, playing it on the ground.
Lance will chew off some distance to the right edge.
Mafi and Hoopert check in, whilst Timu returns from his time out in the naughty chair.
Reds: 36
Sunwolves: 13
Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog
53‘ – TRY REDS – ETO NABULI
It’s a double for Nabuli, but that was all Duncan Paia’aua. He stripped in the midfield, and goose stepped his way through the middle. Went 30m untouched, before turning the ball back inside to Nabuli who scores under the posts.
Kick is a regulation one.
Reds: 36
Sunwolves: 13
Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog
Lineout Reds around halfway off the clearing kick from Emery.
Sorovi checks in for McDermott.
Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog
49‘ – Back and forth here, and it ends with a Reds penalty, Little not rolling away.
Lance kicks to the sideline around halfway for the lineout.
Reds: 29
Sunwolves: 13
Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog
45‘ – Yellow Card Reds – Caleb Timu
Yellow card comes after Timu collars Parker onto the ground, then dives on him with no arms. It’s head on head contact, but only a yellow?
The inconsistencies in refereeing decisions here are pretty strange…
Reds: 29
Sunwolves: 13
Reds vs Sunwolves: Super Rugby live scores, blog
Respectfully disagree. The (defensive) performance of the Tahs season, but the Crusaders certainly looked a shadow of the side that has dominated the first six weeks of this competition. A lot of uncharacteristic mistakes.
They’ll bounce back, and the team sitting second has won three games by a score, or less. So can’t justifiably put them up to first yet.
Appreciate the feedback!!
Super Rugby Power Rankings 2019: Round 6