Guinness Pro 14: Round 2

[Leonormous Boozer]

Pfft pretty sure that chant originated with the Aussie fast bowler Glenn McGrath .

Who? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McGrath_(footballer)

 

[SomeOke]

Who? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McGrath_(footballer)

I stand corrected haha, didn't watch much Irish football in my youth oddly.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I will say Zebre aren't rubbish. Whether or not my brain is functioning when I say it is another matter! I'm certainly not serious about them having a winning tour of SA.

The Edinburgh side is looking about as strong as they can muster with a debut for Fruen and a start for Hamish Watson, so I'll be popping along for my first live taste of the Pro14 and to check out Henson's dodgy new haircut in the flesh.

Glad to see Cockerill putting out a strong side for this one, to me the Conferences mean games against teams in your own conference are even more importance in the race for the top 3. If you win, you not only pick up points for yourself, you damage the chances of your rivals.

James Davies out for 12 weeks for Scarlets for shoulder surgery. A shame as he was a one man highlights reel against the Kings. Zebre must now have a chance!

 

[dullonien]

James Davies out for 12 weeks for Scarlets for shoulder surgery. A shame as he was a one man highlights reel against the Kings. Zebre must now have a chance!

Such a shame for Davies, key player for the Scarlets. Luckily they've got an able deputy in Will Boyde. They've also got a handful of players who are strong over the ball. They don't want any more key injuries before Europe though!

 

[SomeOke]

Such a shame for Davies, key player for the Scarlets. Luckily they've got an able deputy in Will Boyde. They've also got a handful of players who are strong over the ball. They don't want any more key injuries before Europe though!

Yeah that dude is insane, he may have a face only a mother could love, but the lad could play.
Was about to be a glory whore and support them as my foreign team as well .

I know I should probably support the teams with a high concentration of Saffers like Ulster but bugger the ex-pats (while acknowledging their reasons are totally valid and I would probably do the same in their position).

 

[Amiga500]

That was born in the schoolgrounds of St. Mary's college, it's public domain now.

#Devastated.

There goes my plans to become a multi-millionare.

Plan B - Euromillions it will have to be!

 

[Groundhog]

Not our first string by any stretch of the imagination but good firepower on the bench, our full first choice front row will ready to tear up if needed. Extremely rapid back three by our standards (shout our to Anthony Horgan) but we'll see if we have the centres to use them. Both big bashers but I hear Farewell has nice hands in spite of that. 9/10 axis has given me PTSD in the past but they're both on quite a decent run of form last season so we'll hold our breath. I hope Ketley at least had his kicking boots. Glad Bleyndaal didn't let it affect his general play but his kicking was awful last week. Now would be a good time for O'Donnell to get his form because there's a lot of guys snapping at his heels and he'll struggle to be first choice I feel.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Tommaso Allan playing at 12 again for Treviso even though Marty Banks is out crocked. Really concerned by this as Allan looked really solid at 10 for Italy against Australia and I thought he'd made a lot of progress. So now we go dicking about with his starting position. Almost as bad as putting Gori on the wing last week. What are you doing Kieran Crowley!?

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (c), 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robbie Petzer, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Charles Marais

Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Armandt Koster, 20 Gerhard Olivier, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Ryno Benjamin

Is Petzer a genuine fly half?

ToH starting at fullback for Connacht so hopefully they'll be a bit more creative in the backs (if it isn't driving rain at 45 degrees).

 

[saulan]

Is Petzer a genuine fly half?

ToH starting at fullback for Connacht so hopefully they'll be a bit more creative in the backs (if it isn't driving rain at 45 degrees).

I mean he could be, but I've never heard of him before. Does not bode well really.

 

[Groundhog]

Connacht

15. Tiernan O'Halloran
14. Darragh Leader
13. Tom Farrell
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. James Cannon
6. Sean O'Brien
7. Jarrad Butler
8. John Muldoon

Replacements
16. Dave Heffernan
17. Denis Coulson
18. Conor Carey
19. Quinn Roux
20. Eoghan Masterson
21. Caolin Blade
22. Steve Crosbie
23. Eoin Griffin

Southern Kings

15. Masixole Banda
14. Yaw Penxe
13. Berton Klaasen
12. Luzuko Vulindlu
11. Sibusiso Sithole
10. Kurt Coleman
9. Godlen Masimla
1. Schalk Ferreira
2. Michael Willemse (captain)
3. Rossouw de Klerk
4. Jurie van Vuuren
5. Dries van Schalkwyk
6. Khay Majola
7. Victor Sekekete
8. Andisa Ntsila

Replacements
16. Stephan Coetzee
17. Luvuyo Pupuma
18. Martin Dreyer / Entienne Swanepoel
19. Bobby de Wee
20. Siyabulela Mdaka
21. Rudi van Rooyen
22. Oliver Zono
23. Jacques Nel

Pretty good Connacht team, should do the business I feel. Exciting players in Healy, O'Halloran and Aki,. Really good front row, I know nothing about the Kings' scrummaging but that's one of the best scrummaging units in the league Connacht have. Good second row and I have no idea on Butler so won't comment on backrow. Decent bench too. Hopefully it doesn't **** down, but I bet it does.

 

[SomeOke]

Cheetahs team looks better at a glance, Blommetjies back at his favoured position at 15, Petersen back at his favoured position on the wing, and arguable their worst player gets replaced with a close to international standard centre (and their captain) in Francois Venter released from the Bok squad for their Australasian tour.

That said I've never heard of Robbie Petzer either and he doesn't even have a Wikipedia entry, neither of which bode well. Still a better Cheetahs side, I suspect they will be somewhat competitive, Munster by 10 perhaps? I don't know too many players in their side, other than Taute, and a couple of their forwards (while Taute is a good player he doesn't necessarily fill me with fear, I'd rather have Venter by a large margin). Also Zebo on the bench which makes me worry about how much quality Munster has on their wings.

Kings opting for continuity, since they don't really have the option that's fair, Connacht should sort them out, as a fan I'll just be hoping for improvement, an improved defensive effort and stronger line-outs would make me happy. I don't know how strong Connacht is but I presume they'll win fairly easily.

Still excited for the games, hopefully the Bokke win so I won't have to deal with too much depression tomorrow.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

I mean he could be, but I've never heard of him before. Does not bode well really.

checked his twitter, hasn't tweeted in like four years and his profile pic is pretty douchey... he did have 10 in his handle soooooooooooo yeah

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

kinghorn is such a talent.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Max points prior to South Africa. Keep it UB lads!

 

[Hound]

Connacht

15. Tiernan O'Halloran
14. Darragh Leader
13. Tom Farrell
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. James Cannon
6. Sean O'Brien
7. Jarrad Butler
8. John Muldoon

Replacements
16. Dave Heffernan
17. Denis Coulson
18. Conor Carey
19. Quinn Roux
20. Eoghan Masterson
21. Caolin Blade
22. Steve Crosbie
23. Eoin Griffin

Southern Kings

15. Masixole Banda
14. Yaw Penxe
13. Berton Klaasen
12. Luzuko Vulindlu
11. Sibusiso Sithole
10. Kurt Coleman
9. Godlen Masimla
1. Schalk Ferreira
2. Michael Willemse (captain)
3. Rossouw de Klerk
4. Jurie van Vuuren
5. Dries van Schalkwyk
6. Khay Majola
7. Victor Sekekete
8. Andisa Ntsila

Replacements
16. Stephan Coetzee
17. Luvuyo Pupuma
18. Martin Dreyer / Entienne Swanepoel
19. Bobby de Wee
20. Siyabulela Mdaka
21. Rudi van Rooyen
22. Oliver Zono
23. Jacques Nel

Pretty good Connacht team, should do the business I feel. Exciting players in Healy, O'Halloran and Aki,. Really good front row, I know nothing about the Kings' scrummaging but that's one of the best scrummaging units in the league Connacht have. Good second row and I have no idea on Butler so won't comment on backrow. Decent bench too. Hopefully it doesn't **** down, but I bet it does.

Brumbies fan here... Butler was a tweener stuck in the not uncommon limbo of being the second best Brumbies openside. Much like Colby Fainga'a before him.

He was rock solid when given the opportunity at Super Rugby level without ever setting the world on fire (largely because the shortage of opportunities rarely lets those guys truly get comfortable) and was competition-best with Liam Gill and Leali'ifano in the NRC.

The quicker pace that some of the new laws seems to have brought in to Aviva/Pro 14s so far should suit him to a T as well.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Leinster were poor for around 65 minutes in their 37-9 win over Cardiff Blues. Turned on the afterburners in the last 15 minutes with Barry Daly and Nick McCarthy scoring a couple of fantastic tries.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Isa Nacewa cited for his clothesline tackle which saw him sin binned. Could and perhaps should have been a red card.

Rob Kearney looks unlikely to make the trip to SA. If Nacewa is also out, it leaves Leinster short of fullback options. Joey Carbery if fit will likely fill in there. Dan Leavy also limped out. Given the backrow depth, may be wiser to leave him at home for the next two games also.

 

[CaledonCol]

kinghorn is such a talent.

Followed on to a cracking game he had against Cardiff. Embra win by 4 tries to 0 but gave away too many penalties . SA ref had a good game on the whole but his decision to yellow card Weir was somewhat harsh . Squad looking a lot sharper than for a long while .

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Edinburgh very sporadic against Dragons - asleep at the start and in the middle of the second half, but peppering the game with some lovely attacking play (largely from Kinghorn). Poor crowd and lack of atmosphere underline the size of the project facing Cockerill but there was enough there for the fans to go home happy (I certainly enjoyed the experience). Fruean understandably rusty, but came onto a game towards the end and shows promise.

Huge TMO call to chalk off a lovely try by the Dragons (I also liked the SA ref crew though).. I think they were very unlucky and the match would have been very different had it stood as the Dragons were coming back into it. They look solid in the pack and with two very good wingers (Ashton Hewitt pretty much evaded the first tackle every single time). I think they might surprise a few mid-table sides this year and finish around 5th in their conference.

Again an IRFU ref in a match with an Irish side, this time refusing a borderline decision to send of Nacewa for the clothesline (I'd have come down on the side of a red personally). Is Brace from Northern Ireland, and therefore considered neutral? It's a bit infuriating given that the Pro14 is publicly talking about ref neutrality. They need to "walk the walk".

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I can't see Isa getting cited. My first instinct was red but after watching the replay I think yellow was fair. He hit Cuthbert's arm and rode up, had Cuthbert been a couple inches shorter he'd have been flirting with a direct hit and a straight red though.