Southern Hemisphere

Tough because they not only want to finish ahead of the three chasing New Zealand franchise teams, but they must stay ahead of the talented Emirates Lions from Johannesburg. The Crusaders main opponent on the standings ladder, however each will not face each other in regular season.

Anton Lienert-Brown left an offer with the Crusaders on the table to stay with the Chiefs through until 2020 – signalling thanks to the club who first gave him his first big break in Super Rugby.

Super Rugby Round 12 produced most of the expected results, except for the Southern Kings upset win over the Sharks. In their third year of competition it was the Kings first triumph over a fellow South African franchise. Whether you love them or hate them, we have to doff our caps to Head Coach Deon […]

On a cold and misty night in Christchurch; the Crusaders managed to maintain their unbeaten run by winning a scrappy game against the Hurricanes. Ending 20-12, just a single try was scored in a match that went well against the script of almost every prediction. The Hurricanes were poor, well below the level of what […]

Now, to look at the forecast for Round 12. The official match packs from SANZAAR shows that eight games will be enjoyed across all conferences (BYE: Chiefs, Stormers, Sunwolves, Waratahs). Three out of those four sides had losses last week, so a rest is well deserved to recharge the batteries.

Super Rugby Round Eleven left South African rugby fans with more questions than answers. Again.

Two of the Chiefs senior men stood out from the rest – once again – to reaffirm just how big a loss they will be in the future. Those two men are halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow, and winger James Lowe. One an All Black, and the other desperately unlucky not to feature under Steve Hansen’s regime. […]

More matches, more clashes & more fantastic footy–that is the plan with the Super Rugby Round Four ‘Forecast’. The climate is right for some great matches

As ever in Super Rugby, arguments will be made against the quality of the Lions due to the fact that they won’t play any New Zealand franchise in the regular season. They, however, can only ‘play who SANZAAR put in front of them’ and the dominant Emirates Lions look once again to be contenders for the title. They were denied in the grand final last year, against the Hurricanes and whilst bigger tests await them in 2017, they impressed in Melbourne across the squad.

But more so, the Barrett men are making the cross-field kick a ‘tool of choice’ to get quick, and expertly-directed ball out wide. It is deceiving many defenses and putting doubt in their opponents minds. But most of all, it is putting smiles on fans of the Hurricanes; and of all quality rugby union fans faces.

A huge task is still ahead, more so for the returning Ngatai and Harris. But after bringing ‘the Super Rugby show’ to Chiefs country, all of them know that it is the main goal for now. To both enjoy the game, and to improve. They all have the same objectives–to see the Chiefs perform. Do that, and the smiles on fans faces is all the proof needed.

The All Blacks and Steve Hansen’s multiple choices are an ‘wonderful type of headache’ to have, and one which most head coaches would want every day. Ardie Savea will play again at number 8 against the Stormers tonight, and can show us if he is ready to take the spot as the commander of the pack.

In a ground-breaking concussion study by the University of Otago, researchers have been given an opportunity to get inside the heads of Otago rugby players. Dr. Danielle Salmon, from the Otago University School of Physical Education and Exercise Sciences and her team place small ‘acceleromitors’ behind the ear of players to measure the force and […]

More so than in the rounds proceeding, a higher frequency of inter-conference and cross-continent matches is giving fans a fair indication of the real standings. The ‘combat and confrontation’ is both exciting and educational too–fans and commentators now finding out who are the leaders, and who are the followers by Super Rugby Round 11.

Silently ruing a missed opportunity at the weekend, the Chiefs will welcome back some familiar names to the squad ahead of their clash against the Reds in Round 11 of Super Rugby. With one week to go until the bye; Chiefs coach Dave Rennie confirmed that Charlie Ngatai is in contention to play in the […]