Stormers v Highlanders

[Stargazer]

Geez, this TMO is also a cheat. Shows only one angle (a bad one) and says Senatla was onside. Ref asks for another angle and that one shows that Senatly was clearly offsied. Bloody hell; glad that Berry learned from last week's farce.

[Stargazer]

Hope Tom Franklin is okay. Head clash.

[Stargazer]

Another Stormers' try going to the TMO to check the grounding.
That's okay. Try awarded.

Stomers lead 5 - 3 with the kick to come.

[Stargazer]

I find it a bit strange that Franklin wasn't taken off for a HIA.

[Stargazer]

Matt Faddes, what the heck?

[Stargazer]

TMO checking Faddes' tackle. Tip tackle, Stormers' player landing on his head. Not much force in it.

Yellow.

[Stargazer]

Stormers' fans booing; obviously wanted red.

It will be interesting to see whether it will be a citing. May depend on whether the citing commissioner is South African?

[Stargazer]

DLB injured.

[Stargazer]

DLB stays on the field after some treatment of his knee. Or maybe he just needed to catch his breath.

[Stargazer]

Damn. Try Kolisi.

[Stargazer]

Highlanders are missing too many tackles.

[Stargazer]

Hollinshead comes on for Faddes.

[Stargazer]

Struggling to stay awake. I'll watch the 2nd half in the morning.

[E African Troll]

Fresh Meat here

I watched the game and I was very disappointed with the Landers

In the space of a month, they've gone from an ascending team primed to make playoffs to a side who need BP wins & some favours to make Top 8

SA teams & Jaguares have exposed some limitations in Landers

0pts from 2 games in SA is diabolical

[Duluth]

The Highlanders defence in the middle of the field made some basic errors. Plenty of easy clean breaks for the Stormers.

The Highlanders ill discipline cost them again. Although the penalty count was even its where/when they conceded them that was important.
The whining from Whitelock and Smith would have made it enjoyable for the Saffa fans

A good game from Berry. He's still early in his career but he'll over take Gardner as the best Aussie ref soon

[Chris B.]

@Jaguares4real We've been getting some previews of what next year will be like in recent weeks.

Highlanders without Ben Smith.

Crusaders without Franks, Whitelock and Read.

Chiefs without Retallick.

Blues without Michael Collins.

[E African Troll]

@Chris-B

Indeed

NZ and SA sides are being hollowed out

Highlanders have no depth in back row & outside backs in 2020 for example

Super Rugby in 2020 will be a very open competition

Long term I cam see Crusaders & Jagaures being the best teams as they can retain their experienced players & keep adding young talent every year

With a round robin stage + more games vs AUS & NZ sides Jaguares enjoy playing against they'll continue to impress

SA sides have packs that can bludgeon & stifle Jaguares

[Chris B.]

@Jaguares4real Right now, there's a pretty decent chance of the Crusaders and Jaguares finishing 1 and 2 for the regular season.

The Jaguares have one of the easier finishes to the regular season - but, probably can't afford a slip up, because the Brumbies have an even easier finish.

[Stargazer]

@Jaguares4real said in Stormers v Highlanders:

@Chris-B

Indeed

NZ and SA sides are being hollowed out

From what I understand, Aussie sides & Jaguares are also losing important players to the NH.

Highlanders have no depth in back row & outside backs in 2020 for example

The Highlanders have plenty of depth in the back row; several loosies will be keen to get more game time next year: Frizell, Hunt, Mikaele-Tu'u to name a few. Outside backs need some young/new blood, although they already have McKay.

[Chris]

@Chris-B Yep that's how I see it.The Brumbies I think with an easy finish are the only other shot at 2nd .
It will be hard to go to Buenos Aries and win the QF or SF.