If it didn’t feel like Super Rugby was just around the corner before the weekend started, it sure does now, with a couple of sides getting their warm up campaigns underway on Saturday.
The newly-formed Melbourne Rebels played their first-ever competitive match against a spirited Tongan side in Melbourne – in front of an encouraging crowd of 8 000 fans. It has been suggested that a fair few of those who turned out were actually rooting for the Tongans, but the fact that a brand new team can get that many bums on seats for a warm up game probably bodes pretty well for the future of big rugby union in the region. The game was divided into four 20-minute chukkas, with the home sides chopping and changing personnel regularly throughout. The Tongans – based on a platform of forward dominance – managed a 13-12 half time lead .
That was to be the final score for the visitors, though, as the home side ran rampant in the second half en route to a 43-13 win. The Rebels’ tries were scored by Cooper Vuna, who recorded a hat-trick, along with Afusipa Taumoepeau, JP Du Plessis, Lachlan Mitchell and Peter Betham. Taumei Hikila scored the Tongans’ only try.
Closer to home, the Stormers fielded two weakened sides against the Western Cape’s top Varsity Cup sides, Stellenbosch and UCT on Saturday. The matches, played in incredibly warm conditions in Riebeeck West. The first side to play was held well by Maties – ending the first half 14-19 down, before pulling away in the second half to win 38-19. The second side downed UCT by 52 points to 3, scoring 8 good tries in the process.
Stormers coach Alister Coetzee used the matches as an opportunity to assess some of the younger players on the fringes of his squad and was reportedly very pleased with what he saw.
Jeez and I heard somewhere that rugby is australia’s 4th fav sport so 8000 isn’t to bad at all!
So the rebels did get a du plessis. just not one everyone was expecting.
@Ben (Comment 1) : but you do question how they expect to fund 5 teams with it being so far down the pecking order.
eeeeaaaahhhhhh its Rugby again
Looks like to me that Maties are in good form with all the new team mates don’t you think
@try time (Comment 3) : yeah and that’s why they are moaning about the super rugby format and wanted it to change and so it did to suit the aussies!
@Ben (Comment 5) : i also wonder where they are going to get all their players. maybe a pacific islands team was the way to go. but it matters not, the more diluted the aussie teams the easier it is for the sa teams to beat them.
@try time (Comment 6) : But it would be sad if the aussie teams were to pull out of super rugby it just wouldn’t be the same anymore then.
@Ben (Comment 7) :
agree with you on that i rather see the new comers go and leave the Aussies in
I’m so glad the Super 15 is about to start, it’s felt like a very long off season!!
@MB1810 (Comment 9) : you can say that again it was hell on earth no rugby etc
Go STORMERS!!!
Tickets Secured! 1 Feb, Sharks vs Lions hehehe
” It`s getting close now “
@Original Champion (Comment 12) : you mean sharks vs mtn lions.
@try time (Comment 14) :
mtn is a great sponsor for the lions. mountain lions.
@Ben (Comment 7) : true
@try time (Comment 15) : They have mountains up there
@Original Champion (Comment 17) : they’re 2000m above sea level, does that count?
@try time (Comment 18) : I guess at a push you could count their mine dumps?
@Original Champion (Comment 19) :
. and in a few years time they will be toxic swamp lions.
what i would love to know is the answer to the deadline of beast or isnt going to the lions , that reyneke and de klerk eluded to??
@sharks_lover (Comment 21) : once beast has been listed on the sharks official super 15 squad for the season, i don’t think he can play for another union. so sharks must submit their 30 man squad soon.
@try time (Comment 22) : actually that didn’t work last season with alberts. oh well we just have to rely on the fact that he is still in durban (ok rustenburg at the moment) and he hasn’t turned up to a lions training session.
@try time (Comment 23) : lol try time , fact is beast is staying a shark
me thinks de klerk and co are just making up stories again as their pride was hurt
they again lost a battle to the sharks
@sharks_lover (Comment 24) : no pun intended of course?
@sharks_lover (Comment 24) : heres an answer to one of my own questions
Article rank 17 Jan 2011 Daily NewsCRAIG LEWIS Beast spurns Lions’ big bucks for Shark tank
Its updated to last weeks ravings from manie Reyneke that it’s all upto Beast now
Well beast again confirmed his intentions
, not that we didnt know it , maybe Reynecke and deKlerk will get the hint now ??? 
@Original Champion (Comment 25) :
Jp du plessis watch this boy Go!!!!