Posts made by Daffy Jaffy

Connacht have announced the signing Bay of Plenty number eight Abraham Papali’i ahead of next season.
New Zealander Papali’i arrives from Bay of Plenty where he was a key member of the squad that won the Mitre 10 Cup Championship last year. The Auckland-born duel code player started his rugby union career with North Harbour before being recruited into the New Zealand Warriors (rugby league) pathway. In 2015 Papali’i signed a two-year contract with the Sydney Roosters of the Australian National Rugby League.

Following his time with the Roosters, Papali’i joined Lézignan Sangliers in the premier French Rugby League competition before the 6’4″ number eight returned to New Zealand and successfully restarted his rugby union career with Bay of Plenty.

“I am delighted to welcome Abraham to Connacht Rugby,” he said.
“Abraham is a powerful number eight who has all the attributes to become a really valuable player for us while furthering our options in the back-row. I know every Connacht supporter will be excited to see what he can offer.”

Full replays of the first two rounds here (until they get taken down by copywrite?) -
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ou2TJg3Ad00j9Sws0ZNxw/featured

 Auckland Premier first round results. 
     Te Papapa:      3  vs  80 	Marist: 
Eden: 	24  vs  18   Grammar TEC: 
Waitemata:     17  vs  13     Papatoetoe: s
Otahuhu 	6  vs  44       Pakuranga: 
Suburbs: 	20  vs  20	Manukau: 
East Tamaki: 	6  vs  59     College Rifles: 
Ponsonby:     48  vs  16	  University:

Gallagher Chiefs:

1. Aidan Ross (31)
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho (28)
3. Nepo Laulala (33)
4. Mitchell Brown (38)
5. Tupou Vaa’i**
6. Luke Jacobson (22)
7. Lachlan Boshier (49)
8. Pita Gus Sowakula (20)
9. Brad Weber (77)
10. Kaleb Trask (4)
11. Sean Wainui (30)
12. Anton Lienert-Brown (74)
13. Quinn Tupaea (4)
14. Shaun Stevenson (48)
15. Damian McKenzie (76)

Reserves:

16. Bradley Slater (7)
17. Ryan Coxon (5)
18. Ross Geldenhuys (5)
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi (6)
20. Dylan Nel (1)
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (36)
22. Aaron Cruden (94)
23. Etene Nanai-Seturo (11)

Highlanders team: Mitch Hunt, Sam Gilbert, Rob Thompson, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith, Marino Mikaele Tu'u, Dillon Hunt, Shannon Frizell, Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (c), Ayden Johnstone.

Replacements: Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Jeff Thwaites, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Kayne Hammington, Teihorangi Walden, Vilimoni Koroi.

Some example matches of rugby's evolution through the decades -

2015 QF All Blacks v France masterclass with Brit commentary.

@Canes4life three more candidates from the 90's -
Inoke Afeake, Alex Telea, Karl Te Nana -

@Canes4life John Dougan, Ian Stevens, Jason O'Halloran, Mike Clamp, Laurence Hullena, Simon Mannix - 9 Stevens, 10 Dougan, 12 O'Halloran, 11 Clamp and you have a hella skillful almost All Black backline.

Ponsonby -
15 Bob Scott
14 B G Williams
13 Joe Stanley
12 Sam Tuitupou
11 Va'ainga Tuigamala
10 Carlos Spencer
9 Lyn Colling
8 Alby Pryor
7 Dave Gallaher (C)
6 Maurice Trapp
5 Andy Haden
4 Peter Whiting
3 Olo Brown
1 Peter Fatialofa
2 Ben Hathaway

16 Joe Royal (VC)
17 Keith Murdoch
18 Johnny Simpson
19 Ali Williams
20 Keith Nelson
21 Ofisa Tonu'u
22 Gareth Anscombe
23 Brian Lima
I just realised that Rieko Ioane misses out on my team. Maybe due to making the All blacks so young and playing so rarely for club these days. Mind you there are plenty of others not making it - Patrick Tuipulotu, Matthew Ridge, Craig Innes, Terry Morrison, Eric Boggs, Greg Burgess, Malcolm Dick, Vince Aso, Mark Brooke-Cowden, Isitolo Maka, Ron Rangi. I'll stop now. Not bad reserve props - two of the toughest sob's ever to play for the All Blacks!

Likewise did not know where to post this so here it is - a new rugby program on sky -

Sports commentators resorting to calling everyday life due to having nothing else to do -

Nigel Yalden: Super Rugby NZ Team of the Season after Seven Rounds -

1. Karl Tu’inukuafe (Blues) is back to full health and steadily returning to top form. He’s been excellent in his core rolls at scrum and lineout time, but to see him hitting rucks, defending around the fringes and carrying with vim and vigour has been especially pleasing given the illness he suffered from last year.

2. Codie Taylor (Crusaders) has been by far the most consistent of the New Zealand hookers. For the most part, he has been accurate in all the key roles of his position whilst mixing physicality and athleticism around the field. However it must be said that the lack of consistent play behind Taylor is very worrying, with the gulf widening over the first seven weeks of play

3. Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes) improvement as a rugby player has been clear for all to see. He’s the most dominant scrummager in New Zealand at the moment and compliments that with excellent athleticism and physicality in general play. Lomax is set to wear the All Blacks number three jersey for a very long time

4. Captaincy very much agrees with Scott Barrett (Crusaders). Adopting the leadership credo of the likes of McCaw, Read and Whitelock – try to be the best player on the field each week – has seen his play lift another couple of notches this season.

5. Like Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues) increased comfort as captain of the Blues has seen him deliver the type of performances that teams expect of their international players. His physicality often sets the tone for his side’s defensive efforts while he’s just a strong and busy on attack.

6. Tom Robinson (Blues) continues to get better and better at this level. He’s a consistent lineout winner, defends and cleanouts strongly and gets through a tonne of other work around the field. Honourable mention for a Rookie of the Year candidate in Cullen Grace (Crusaders) for his power start to his inaugural season at this level

7. Whilst he’s wearing six, I think we can all agree that Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs) is playing an openside role and doing so exceedingly well. His presence at the breakdown, particular late in a couple of tight games, has been superb, as is his ability to turn those attendances into turnovers. He doesn’t mind a tackle, good support runner and carries well when required to.

8. Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) was chosen ahead of Akira Ioane on form and has justified that decision with every start he has made. He has all the physical attributes that you look for in a number eight and a top notch work rate to take full advantage of his size, speed and skill

9. I can’t split Brad Weber (Chiefs) and Sam Nock (Blues). Weber has been more overt in his contributions while Nock is in career best form at this level – I suspect either answer is the right one

10. Aaron Cruden (Chiefs) return to Super Rugby has been excellent. From the moment he run out following halftime of the opening game at Eden Park, his class, demeanour, skill and experience has shone brightly while his braveness as defender remains as staunch as ever; it’s also very clear that he’s enjoying his rugby

11. Mark Telea (Blues) is at the head of the field for NZ Super Rugby rookie of the year. What’s not to like about his play? He runs with purpose, has a magnificent fend, makes great decisions and can finish while defensively his positional play and tackling is top drawer.

12. Plenty of contenders in this position but its Jack Goodhue (Crusaders) for mine. The vast majority of his work, with or without the ball, has been impeccable and his left footed kicking game has given the Crusaders nice options in that regard too. That said, New Zealand is loaded with good second fives as TJ Faiane (Blues) Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes) and Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs) are in great form too

13. Braydon Ennor (Crusaders) edges out Rieko Ioane (Blues) in a tough call. Ennor’s body of work over the season has been more accurate though as stated in the most recent Team of the Week, Ioane, whilst still prone to the odd rush of blood, is providing a lot for those around him on attack since moving into centre and helping lead the backline defence.

14. Sevu Reece (Crusaders) has been consistently effective as part of the defending champs attack. He’s always a threat when he gets the ball in hand whilst also defending his position well.

15. David Havili (Crusaders) has started this season in the sort of form that saw him earn All Black honours in 2017. He’s been influential on attack, provided great organisation and communication on defence and provided steady goal kicking.

Mark Telea with 21 more defenders beaten than the next best player in the comp.

https://www.youtube.com/user/DeliveryWax/videos
This You Tube channel has hundreds of old archive games for you to watch while your in quarantine - many have french commentary and some grainy picture quality though - some examples

@Canes4life They won't come to the Blues. Billy would struggle to make the 23, we have Hoskins at 8 and Akira on the bench!

Wasn't it Sowakula?
@booboo From Stuff this morning -

There was some confusion around who the clutch final penalty was actually against, as Chiefs No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula had also made a late shot on Hurricanes prop Alex Fidow and that was the one replayed on the TV coverage, however it was actually Chiefs prop Reuben O'Neill who was the man pinged by referee Jaco Peyper, for a grass cutter tackle on Hurricanes flanker Vaea Fifita.

@OomPB said in Sharks v Stormers:

Ernst van Rhyn

What can you tell us about Ernst van Rhyn OomPB. He impressed me when he came on against my Blues the other week. I am pleased he's got a start this week.

Wales v Scotland teams -

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg (c), 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Ali Price, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Sam Skinner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Stuart McInally, 1 Rory Sutherland
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Willem Nel, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Kyle Steyn

15 Tyrone Green, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (c), 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ruan Vermaak, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Frans van Wyk, 2 Jan-Hemming Campher, 1 Dylan Smith
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Len Massyn, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Shaun Reynolds, 23 Andries Coetzee

Have not seen much of Joe Walsh. Here are some good clips of him playing for the Stags.

Big Karl has played all 6 games also, so I guess he is not on the '6 games in a row max' All Blacks rest protocol? Unless they have allowed him one more game so that the team doesn't have to be without both top props at once (especially with Hodgman also out).
Interesting both this game and the Chiefs v Canes (Jaco Peyper) have SA refs.

Referee Marius van der Westhuizen
AR1 Jaco Peyper
AR2 Ben O'Keeffe
TMO Glenn Newman

Gotta love a showboating number ten. He scored anyway though!

@Machpants This tweet that Marler sent to Folau makes more sense now -

.

@JoeMarler
️ @IzzyFolau

Rugby Europe Championship games this weekend live link for anyone interested.
https://www.dailymotion.com/RugbyEurope

This headline from the Daily Telegraph. The rest of the article is behind a pay wall but doesn't sound good.

OPTUS TO LAND RUGBY RIGHTS IN DISASTROUS RA DEAL
Three weeks after putting their broadcast package to the open market, Rugby Australia has not had a single offer, leaving Optus to snap up the broadcast rights in a new low for the game.

Mallett and de Bruin analyse the Stormers loss to the Blues