Super 12 is BACK!

[Marcus]

Starts this Friday with the Waratahs against Auckland Blues at the SFS. On Saturday the Reds face the Brumbies at Ballymore.

Other matches,Chiefs v Highlanders, Cats v Bulls, Stormers v Sharks, Crusaders v Hurricanes.

This season it looks like teams will be pretty matched up, except maybe for the woefully Northern Bulls, who although they surprisingly won the Currie Cup last year, Super 12 is a new ball game and so no ones really going to be giving them a chance. But who knows, if their is any team that will completely surprise anyone.... its the Bulls.

Hope this is the Reds year.

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

NSW with Tuqiri and perhaps Blacklock getting a run will be hard to stop this year

Being the sports lover that i am, i glanced at the results of the trials and saw that Blacklock has returned to his try scoring days. The crowds were hugeee for the trials, 5,000 in Forbes, 7,000 @ Win Stadium and 11,000 at Newcastle

This week hey? God, it has snuck up on me. Any plans to move the NSW/QLD match to Stad Oz this year?

Cheers,
Moffo

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I wouldn't put too many hopes in NSW just yet, a brilliant back three doesn't make a champion side, just look at the Hurricanes... hopefully for NSW they can actually play up to potential.

 

[ozbash]

footy time !!! yeehaaaaa

blues v warratahs--warratahs
chiefs v highlanders--highlanders
Cats v Bulls ---cats
Stormers v Sharks --sharks
Crusaders v Hurricanes --crusaders !!!!
reds v brumbies --brumbies


this will possibly be the closest yet.

auckland will surprise, so could the hurricanes...

 

[SpaceMonkey]

God knows the "canes have threatened to be a good side for long enough. I agree with you about Auckland, they were starting to look ominous last year.

blues v warratahs--warratahs
chiefs v highlanders--cheifs
Cats v Bulls ---cats
Stormers v Sharks --sharks
Crusaders v Hurricanes -- Crusaders
reds v brumbies --brumbies

 

[CanadianSteve]

The Waratahs will have a rugby league flavour this season:

'Mungoes' to give Waratahs fresh attack
By Greg Growden
Friday, February 14, 2003 NSW will have a definite "mungo" flavour for the start of the Super 12 season, with at least five former rugby league representatives expected to play against the Auckland Blues in Sydney on February 21. After the Waratahs' final trial, against the Crusaders in Newcastle on Wednesday night, it appears certain former Kangaroo Mat Rogers will be joined in the backline by fellow high-profile league representative Lote Tuqiri. Rogers will hold on to the fullback spot, while Tuqiri will be one of the wingers. Duncan McRae, an Australian Schoolboys player before spending six years in the league ranks with South Sydney and Canterbury, held off a challenge from Rogers for the five-eighth spot with an assured effort at pivot against the Crusaders. On the reserves bench are likely to be two recent league recruits - former Cronulla Sharks first-grader Ryan McGoldrick and another Kangaroo winger, Nathan Blacklock.<br clear=all> Super 12 teams have had their occasional league crossovers, including Peter Ryan with the Brumbies and Willie Carne and Wendell Sailor for Queensland, but never such a proliferation as at NSW this season. Despite his lack of union experience, Tuqiri was always assumed to be an early-season prospect, but it wasn't expected McGoldrick or Blacklock would be fast-tracked into the Waratah colours. However, McGoldrick and Blacklock have been among the most impressive NSW players in their series of trials. Blacklock has scored tries in each of his appearances, and McGoldrick has shown he is a formidable midfield attacking prospect. On Wednesday night, McGoldrick played at outside-centre, looking extremely confident and well-balanced, mixing his options well, including one astute chip-and-chase. After the Newcastle trial, Rogers assured NSW followers that the Waratahs had not become a home away from home for frustrated league players. "We're all rugby players now, and that's the way we think," Rogers said. "It [rugby league] is something we don't talk about or think about." This story was found at: http://rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/13/1044927737334.html language=JavaScript>&lt;/SCRIPT> language=JavaScript1.1>&lt;/SCRIPT> language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://server-au.imrworldwide.com/a1.js"> &lt;/SCRIPT> &lt;APPLET codeBase=http://server-au.imrworldwide.com/ height=2 width=1 code=Measure.class>&lt;PARAM NAME="sr" VALUE="sr1024x768:cd16:lgen-ca:jey:cky:tz-5:ctlan:hpn">&lt;PARAM NAME="cid" VALUE="au_f2_RugbyHeaven-Printer">&lt;PARAM NAME="ref" VALUE="">&lt;/APPLET> language=JavaScript> &lt;/SCRIPT> &lt;COMMENT> &lt;noscript>

&lt;/noscript> &lt;/COMMENT>

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

Mungo is a really old term to describe league players. Its so old that i don't know the origin of it, but have always wondered. Maybe it should go in the ask us anything thread.

Just FYI Steve, leaguies have a few replies to the 'mungo' taunt, mainly 'leather patches', 'toffs' and 'twinkies'

Cheers,
Moffo

 

[CanadianSteve]

I assume it's not a flattering term. Is that article, with the use of the term mungo, supposed to be a knock at league?

 

This message has been deleted by the author.

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

I think its more of a light hearted jibe, but still, its a term that union people have long used to degrade league players/fans. (Much like league fans do with the phrase 'leather patches').

But in the final washup, i think its just a bit of fun. It would still be interesting to know the origins of the phrase, im sure i've read it before but i can't remember it

Cheers,
Moffo

 

[imported_fat_mike]

mungo was former kangaroo and bears great ken irvines nickname

 

[imported_fat_mike]

not sure why he was called this and not to sure if has anything to do with it being a term used by union people when reffering to league

 

[ozbash]

Doug Howlett has been confirmed at fullback for the Blues opening Xtra Super 12 match against the Waratahs in Sydney on Friday night.
The brilliant All Black wing had a solid game in the No 15 jersey in the Blues practice match against the Reds last week and coach Peter Sloane is obviously looking for extra thrust through the midfield with Howlett likely to provide thrust in that area.
Sloane has gone for Malili Muliana at centre instead of Rico Gear who is coming off injury and will start from bench, and the brilliant Fijian flyers, Rupeni Caucaunibuca and Joe Rokocoko have been listed on the wings.
The Auckland inside back combination of Steve Devine, Carlos Spencer and Sam Tuitupou has been retained.
Sloane has caused a mild surprise in the loose forward combination with skipper Xavier Rush starting in his favoured No 8 position and Rob Cribb to play from the bench.
Justin Collins will wear the No 6 jersey and new All Black Daniel Braid will debut for the Blues on the openside flank.
Sloane has preferred Ali Williams and Troy Flavell as the locking combination and he has retained the front row who played for the All Blacks against Wales last year, Kees Meeuws, Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock.
The only player not available through injury is fullback/wing Shannon Paku while the Blues have released Nick White, Vula Maimuri, Angus Macdonald, Lee Stensness and Jason Shoemark to play for the Development XV against the Hurricanes Development XV at Waitemata Park on Saturday afternoon.
The team is. -
15 Doug Howlett, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Malili Muliaina, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Rupeni Caucaunibuca, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Steve Devine, 8 Xavier Rush (captain), 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Justin Collins, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Troy Flavell, 3 Kees Meeuws, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: 16 Derren Witcombe, 17 Deacon Manu, 18 Bradley Mika, 19 Ron Cribb, 20 David Gibson, 21 Orene Ai'i, 22 Rico Gear.

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

Take a squizz at the Waratahs team for tonight:

Rogers - League
Tuqiri - League
Burke - Not sure on this one, but didn't a M.Burke play for Easts in the early 90s?
Grey
McGoldrick - League
McRae - League
Whitaker
Lyons
Waugh
Hassanein - League
Van Humpheries
Bowman
Noriega
Frier
Dunning
Elsom - League
Baxter
Cannon
West
Sheedy - League
Turinui
Thaiday - League
Blacklock - League

What an 'interesting' state of affairs

Cheers,
Moffo

 

[imported_Kurt Angle]

There was a Burke playing for Manly in RL in the late 80's, early 90's.

I can't confirm whether his name was Matt. I think he did play in the 1987 premiership side.

Different person all together

 

[ozbash]

gee, the Waratahs have got a very likely looking team alright.

dark horses and possible finalists ??

 

[imported_Lord Ted.]

Just watched a bit the game (Waratahs v Blues).
Absolute f**king rubbish.
If it is not a lineout, it's a scrum, if it is not an injury,it is a video refs call.
Conditions crook,but why they call it a game has got me beat because it is basically in a continuous mode of stop.

 

[pepe]

spot on ted,i lasted about 20 mins into the first half and that was enough for me,the super 12' does'nt hold any appeal for me,i'll watch the internationals but that's aboutit for me.

pepe

 

[Ms.Storm]

I like to watch the Super 12's but tonight I just could not get my head around the 2 early games.

I really thought the Tahs would do a lot better.
Could be they will be on the look out for more League players if they keep losing games

 

[legend]

Sucked into the Waratahs and Tuqiri. They now head over to South Africa for two games and if they lose one, they will miss the semis IMO, robbing Lote of some much needed exposure.

I'd laugh my arse off if the Wallabies pick Roff and Tune as their starting wingers for the RWC. What a waste of money it will have been on Wendell, Lote and Blacklock.