RugbyHeaven Aus ignores the Super 14 ladder and ranks the teams on how they are really travelling. The pool is still murky and there is only one round of form to make a judgment on.
1. Sharks – Current ladder position: 7
The Sharks were RugbyHeaven’s favourites at the start of the year and an away win against the Stormers only confirms their status.
2. Crusaders – Current ladder position: 6
Undoubtedly not the same side of recent years. But how far have they fallen? The jury is still out.
3. NSW Waratahs – Current ladder position: 4
Question marks remain after the win against the Hurricanes, but a bonus-point win away from home against a top-four favourite, plus a friendly draw, sets them up nicely.
4. Blues – Current ladder position: 2
Another strong performance. Injury hit and down at half-time, the Blues showed class to secure maximum points away from home.
5. ACT Brumbies – Current ladder position: 5
Came back from a 19-0 deficit against the Highlanders to notch up a bonus-point win. A good result even though the performance was patchy.
6. Bulls – Current ladder position: 1
They are on top of the ladder but had one of the easiest assignments in round one. Definitely a better team than they were last year.
7. Stormers – Current ladder position: 10
There is no shame to losing to the Sharks. The men from the Cape are still RugbyHeaven’s smokies for the finals.
8. Chiefs – Current ladder position: 13
Notoriously poor starters to the Super 14, but a narrow loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch is not a bad result.
9. Hurricanes – Current ladder position: 9
The loss against the Waratahs was not a disaster but nor is it the result that many pundits expected. Their credibility as title challengers was seriously dented but good news awaits with the return of Piri Weepu and Conrad Smith.
10. Highlanders – Current ladder position: 8
Blew a 19-0 lead last week to lose by just two points. The two bonus points is, well, a bonus but the injury to All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan is anything but.
11. Force – Current ladder position: 12
Not only continued their bad habit of losing games at Subiaco Oval, but blew a handy half-time lead as well. Coach John Mitchell has rung the changes for the Cheetahs clash.
12. Lions – Current ladder position: 3
They won on the high veldt last week but only narrowly beat the lowly Cheetahs. A sterner tests awaits in Durban on Saturday night.
13. Reds – Current ladder position: 14
The only team not score a bonus point in round one. Losing by the 13 points to the Bulls was substantially better than the last time they visited Pretoria, but silly mistakes still cost them dearly.
14. Cheetahs – Current ladder position: 11
Continued their bad habit of losing games by narrow margins. Such profligacy cost them dearly in 2008 and they seem almost certain to finish among the cellar dwellers.
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close. although the crusaders could drop down as they have a tough draw and weren’t all that convincing. they will have to rely on incompetent refs to keep them in second.
@try time (Comment 1) :
I agree with MOST of what these guys say but am not sure how they decide on the positions.
The Stormers (only one I think they have wrong) need to be higher IMO, but then in the comments they say the Stormers should make the semi’s, ❓
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : agree and i would also lift the lions. they have a very good draw and should win some big games going on current form. people are judging loffie on the past performances, but we must remember he promised a three year plan so this is the year his head is on the block, so expect him to put his all into winning.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : i think the stormers will just miss the semis this year. they have lost one of 6 homes and have a tough 5 week tour overseas. the sharks game showed some issues at depth.
@try time (Comment 4) :
issues at depth for Both US and them though. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : The difference is that we didn’t get tested at depth. They did and were found wanting. When we are tested, that will be the true test.
Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3
@try time (Comment 4) :
I think a lot rides on that Bulls game…
@Baldrick (Comment 6) :
Sounds like that Symonds drunken interview where he used the word ” tangent” 10 times in one sentence. 😆
@blackshark (Comment 7) : funny thats exactly what i thought when i wrote that.
@try time (Comment 3) : i am hoping that the lions can do this year what the sharks did in 2006. That was a really young team, remember barritt, murray, pietersen, noble, etc. all only came in that year and were green as hell, but we almost made the semi’s.
so i really hope the lions pull it off, just not this weekend 🙂
@knersboy (Comment 10) :
Let’s not fall into the “The Lions are a young team” routine again please. 😉 It seems Loffies constant brainwashing over the last few years has worked. 😉
The Lions are by no means a young team OR an inexperienced team.
I’m so happy the Super 14 is here. There is a glut of rugby on offer.
Even watched Supperrugby last night. 😯
@McLovin (Comment 12) :
😯
How did you get that? They don’t have Kyknet on DSTV Africa so I don’t get it. 😳
@knersboy (Comment 10) : i have said that this could be the year the lions use their wooden spoon for walloping teams. they have the team, they just need some better coaching and some luck on the injury front.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) : It’s all one mediazone. Not live obviously, but it’s all there, the OZ/NZ shows as well.
Quite enjoy watching the shows from the other countries and get their take on things. 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) : i never realised saudi got dstv. i knew parts of africa did. ha now i know why you get to see more than rob. how did rob get to see the sharks game if it wasn’t on sky?
@McLovin (Comment 15) : One or two Stormers toppies phoned up heavy upset with the ref. 🙄 I reckon they take their rugby just a tad too serious. 😆
@McLovin (Comment 15) :
Ahhhhh, that explains it then.
I can’t use media zone, connections here are way to slow. 😳
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) : I have a ref question if you don’t mind. One of the main bones of contention from the two angry ooms was the lead up to the John Smit try.
They said the Sharks took a quick tap after the ref marched the Stormers back 10m and he reckoned they are not allowed to do this as the Stormers should have been allowed to retreat 10m first before the took the free kick.
But what they didn’t mention was that the Stormers were marched back not because the Sharks took an initial quick tap and they weren’t 10m back but because a Stormers player threw the ball away.
So I reckon the ref was right to allow the quick tap form the ‘2nd’ freekick. Or am I wrong?
@McLovin (Comment 19) :
spot on.
You are not allowed to take a SECOND quick tap. And that wasn’t a second quicktap, the first tap (quick or slow) was never taken.
The important thing is? Was the guy sober when he called in? 😉 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) : He was livid, on the verge of a stroke. Could barely get his words out properly. 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) : Oh and thanks.. 🙂
@McLovin (Comment 21) :
And what did the guys in the studio say?
maybe the guy who called in is one of the guys who lost his LMS lifeline becasue of the Stormers losing. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 11) : reckon a lot depends on “my name is earl” rose. maybe karma will force him to make up for all the bad things that he has done in the past….
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : They didn’t have the footage of the whole run up to the try available at the time. Could only show the try to conclude it was definitely grounded properly and a try.
But Joost promised to look at the footage as soon as it’s delivered to his lawyers. 😉
@McLovin (Comment 21) :
Sort of like THIS guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_l-3IK21QE
I think this guy DID have a stroke afterwards. 😆
@McLovin (Comment 25) :
I 😆 😆
he was apparently in there TWICE to review the footage according to an article on N24. What a man wouldn’t do to watch porn. 😛 😳 😛
@McLovin (Comment 19) : any refereeing decision that favours the Sharks is a de facto correct decision.
Honestly, McLovin, I expected more of you! 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) : Will check that out when I get home. The internet police at my work frown upon youtube. 👿
@robdylan (Comment 28) :
@McLovin (Comment 21) : I think I know that guy’s brother… he supports the Bulls
@McLovin (Comment 29) : forken Turkish thought police have blocked Youtube altogether 🙁
@robdylan (Comment 32) :
Bwhahahahahahahhaha
WELCOME TO MY WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 32) : Shocking, I tell you. 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : Surely they can just give him a copy?
@McLovin (Comment 35) :
he doesn’t want his wife to see it. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : I see ol’ Stief also offered Joost some advice. Apparently they are dik chommies.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) : Fokkit that was funny
@McLovin (Comment 17) :
Nico from Parow.
I have a swollen uvula this morning. It’s bloody annoying
@Salmonoid (Comment 39) : You know him? Every time I watch he seems to be get through. He is one of the main reasons I couldn’t bare to watch it anymore. Always rings up and bitches about the ref. And is usually wrong. 😐
@McLovin (Comment 41) :
Dont know him personally, but his rant left an impression. 😆
Some lady from George even phoned in offering him advice on how to avoid a stroke – Kalmeer.
@Salmonoid (Comment 42) : Was quite funny. 🙂
man – that was VREK funny. I don’t generally enjoy Mr Simpson’s “work”, but that was good.
Has he done anything to annoy Joost recently?
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Sounds uncomfortable. 😕
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) :
Brilliant, N
Whackheads “the Carl Niehaus Song”
http://www.highveld.co.za/podcast/podcast_whackheadswindow.asp
@robdylan (Comment 32) : whats the turkey from doing in turkey.
@Salmonoid (Comment 47) : hey thats political. why you get special priviledges.
The best thing about that oom with his soap is the way he winds up before he says “NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!”
Not so obvious on the first listen but if you listen a 2nd time it is hilarious. I have it on MP3 in my car, nothing calms road rage as well as Whackhead. One of the best CDs i ever bought that
@robdylan (Comment 40) : @try time (Comment 48) : sorry that was meant to read”what is rob the turkey doing in turkey” and with a swollen uvula you must be finding itv hard to gobble.
Funny stuff… can’t stop listening to them…
you can see it is wednesday. all rugby blogs are full of everything but rugby on wednesdays.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) : I wonder what he stroked 😉
@try time (Comment 51) : that started off stoopid and then actually got funny.
Reminds me of the saying about the blind squirrel… 🙂
@try time (Comment 49) :
Hey its only a song – didnt listen to the words yet. I just hope they dont make Rob want to reach for the soap. 😉
I’m glad to see the correct team is winning on our poll. 😛
@try time (Comment 53) :
And you’d think that would actually be a rugby day as it is usually the start of the team announcements.
grumble mutter no politics etc
Just back from lunch… so what’s new??? 😎
7. Stormers – Current ladder position: 10
There is no shame to losing to the Sharks. The men from the Cape are still RugbyHeaven’s smokies for the finals.
Oh well, at least they know their rugby!!!
@wpw (Comment 60) :
But you been gone for like 4 hours???????????
I see you had a full lunch. So that’s not what’s new. 😆
Here
checkout Whackhead and Joffey dressed as Lions cheerleaders at the Lions Cheetahs match
@KSA Shark © (Comment 63) :
😯 😆
I think I’m seeing things. I’m sure ‘someone’ made a comment about another man’s nice arms? And now it’s gone.
@Salmonoid (Comment 64) : I wonder if the two of them are auditioning for CapeFM. 😉
@McLovin (Comment 65) :
Wasn’t me.
i didn’t see it.
may it was your subconcious. 😆
@McLovin (Comment 65) :
What are you talking about bru??? 😈
@wpw (Comment 68) :
Ah I see a Stormers fan was the culprit…………………. 🙄
WHY ain’t I surprised?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 67) : @wpw (Comment 68) :
😈 
😈
@wpw (Comment 61) : what’s a smokie?
@robdylan (Comment 71) :
In CT a ‘smokkie’ is a shebeen.
I assume it means ‘bet’ for a place in the finals…
I know, they are on some serious shit!!!
The Blues will be VERY dangerous when they have a full squad to select from. Guys like Rokocoko, Ali Williams, Rudi Wulf and Jerome Kaino were all missing, yet they still managed to pick up a bonus point win.
Waratahs, deespite losing a number of key players still look powerful but I’m not sure about the depth of their squad. Rob Horne, only 19, looks like a superstar in the making. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the Wallaby team this season.
All in all, it looks very wide open as teams like the Lions have improved from last season and are capable of knocking over some of the favourites!
I do not agree that the Sharks are the best team after round 1…
If that was mostly based on their pre-season ranking then I will agree as round one did nto show enough to discredit or credit any teams…
Hey Shaksworld ADMIN…
SuperBru and a few other sites have the LIONS as second…now it does not matter as the Blues and LIONS have exactly the same stats (e.g. points dif, try’s for, try’s against, etc, etc)…however should the fact that the LIONS scored the most points in week one not count in their favour…I mean that would be the deciding criteria for a quarter final spot should there be a deadlock like this…NOT ALPHABETICAL….
Please…JINNE…
This looks much more accurate…
Polls
Which SA team impressed most in Round 1?
Lions (45%, 21 Votes)
Sharks (38%, 18 Votes)
Bulle! SNORK SNORK! (13%, 6 Votes)
Stormers (4%, 2 Votes)
The Currie Cup side (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 47
@Hmmm (Comment 76) :
Yip 47 voters… wonderful coverage there Hmmy…
That poll anyway says more about how one-eyed Cubs fans are than about their rugby knowledge… 😉
@VinChainSaw (Comment 77) :
Well Winnie…here is the update *it is now 49 voters) and just by the by…it is from a Sharks site!!!!!!!
Polls
Which SA team impressed most in Round 1?
Lions (47%, 23 Votes)
Sharks (37%, 18 Votes)
Bulle! SNORK SNORK! (12%, 6 Votes)
Stormers (4%, 2 Votes)
The Currie Cup side (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 49
@Hmmm (Comment 78) : dude – we all know that you have figured out how to vote multiple times
@robdylan (Comment 79) : 😆
LMS, FL , SB…all done. 😎
Sharks forever!
@robdylan (Comment 79) :
Now if only he could figure out how to increase his comment count without talking to himself. 😀
Ok- I’m off for a while…later…
@robdylan (Comment 79) :
Nope I do not not how to vote multiple times…
@blackshark (Comment 82) :
Well I could talk to you…but I might just get bored… 😉
And I hardly ever check the user comments count…
I am just around the top 5 by accident and because I commentated on here in last years comp…