The start of the long awaited long competition has finally arrived and what better way to start it than with a derby. Follow our live scoring here.
The Highlanders travel to Wellington and take on the Hurricanes.
This season I will be sticking my neck out a little and actually making predictions rather than asking questions.
Let’s hope I do better than I do on Superbru.
As is usual derby matches can serve up anything. I believe there is a set menu for this game however and the only winner to be served up will be the Hurricanes.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson
ARs: Garratt Williamson, Glen Jackson
Venue: Westpac Stadium – Wellington
Kick-off: 08:35 RSA Time
Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Mark Reddish, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 James Broadhurst, 3 Michael Bent, 2 Andrew Hore (captain), 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Faifili Levave, 19 Serge Lilo, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Andre Taylor.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 James Paterson, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Kade Poki, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 David Te Moana, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (captain).
Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 John Hardie, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Siale Piutau.

About an hour to go and then its the real rugga under way! 🙂
Go Landers! Set an early marker for the underdog
IT’S HERE 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛
Come on Lads….first scrum ! 👿
Whoooo-Hooooooo!!!!!!! The day has arrived!!!!! 😀
@Ice (Comment 5) :
…make sure you’re cheering on the right team ! 😉
Go Canes! (SB)
Go H’landers! (LMS)
😈
Go canes got you on SB by 10 and on LMS so please don’t let me down
gee nearly forgot about lms 😳 had to do my pic like 05h00 this morning
@robdylan (Comment 2) : nooo nooo – i have Rebels for the weekends upset. sorry hertford 😳
actually you’re not Hertford anymore, are you 🙄
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 6) :
Can you log in to skype for a quick chat?
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 7) : that’s risky considering that the management has taken away the lifeline 😈
@rekinek (Comment 9) :
If there is going to be an upset it will be the Rebels or the Cheetahs IMO.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 10) : this is not a dating site 😈
wrong thread i know but going camping so please keep the updates on our home game i don’t think they will have tele maybe but taking the LT with so will peak in now and then
enjoy the week end and
GO SHARKS GO
go canes make me proud on lms please don’t want to be dead in the 1st round
@rekinek (Comment 11) :
i think he is wanting the Highlanders to win becasue it will eliminate a bunch of the opposition. 🙂
He chose the Reds on LMS. ALSO risky though.
@rekinek (Comment 13) :
@rekinek (Comment 13) : Haha 🙂
@Ben (Comment 17) : morning Ben
@rekinek (Comment 13) : Hehehehehe
All Kiwis BEHAVE like girls but not all kiwis are girls. 😛
@rekinek (Comment 11) : I didnt pick them, picked Reds but I do like a good masacre 😈
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) : the one i’m going to get worried about is the lions game when it comes time to choose will they win or will they loose one never knows with that bunch
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) : i also have reds . thought it was the safest pick 🙄 🙄
but you never know in the first round.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : very confusing indeed 🙄 🙄
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 20) : and who does not 😈 (we killer sharks 😆
@chaz (Comment 18) : Morning Chaz. Should have got yourself a drifta to take with you!
Good morning. Let’s gooooooo !!!!
@rekinek (Comment 22) :
That is why I elected to use one of my byes first up. to gauge the form.
@Ben (Comment 25) : should have but i think there will be a tel e in the bar i dame hope so got my new jersey pack in and ready to roll
oh and my signed black on looks just great 😛
ok guys i off will chat on monday enjoy all the great rugga
who has TV for this game?
Canes all the way today.
@chaz (Comment 28) : Wanted to talk to you about that signed jersey. I want to borrow it permanently please! 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : why didn’t I think about it … oh wait …. it would be far too much NOT stressful 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 30) : I do! 🙂
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 6) : silence is an answer? Right? 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 30) : that’s a very pertinent question 😯 not me 🙁
@KSA Shark © (Comment 30) : I Do!
LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
@rekinek (Comment 33) :
Hehehehehe. At my age I need to AVOID stress. 🙂
@Ben (Comment 34) : @Original Champion (Comment 37) :
Can you guys do commentary. I need to pick my daughter up. 🙁
@KSA Shark © (Comment 39) : Sure…
@Original Champion (Comment 37) : beer cold yet??
Its not an answer but an admission of guilt. I think.
Glad to see Naas is back. Actually someone who knows something about rugby unlike freaking ashwin willemse
@Ben (Comment 40) :
Excellent.
i’ll be back as soon as i can.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 44) : Take your time. Don’t worry about it.
@Ben (Comment 45) : It’s only 75kms away. I’ll be back in a jiffy. 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 46) : Going in your chopper?
Poor crowd for an opener.
Super rugby 2011 is under way people! Woooohoooo
How many?
@Speed7 (Comment 48) : It is NZ. 😈
Morning all, on the road so keep any updates coming please 😉
Less than the group that’s setting up the U2 rig in Greenpoint. That’s 6000.
Penalty to the canes. Cruden misses a regulation shot.
Scores still 0 0
@Speed7 (Comment 48) : Kiwis are saving thheir money for WC 😈
As commented by KSA Shark
It’s rugby tiiiiime!!!! 🙂
@McLovin (Comment 51) : and they are said to be rugby crazy nation 🙄 🙄
@rekinek: true that.
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 52) : Helloo, long time no see 🙂
Pretty scrappy so far
Score?action?
Yes I know it NZ. Thought they might be more keen in a WC year.
good morning guys.it is finally here…i got canes by 9 on sb and canes in lms.lets go whoo hoo
No score yet guys
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 59) : I’m playing co-pilot so don’t have to fight KSA for access
Can’t wait for thw first big hit of the new superrugby season .
@bergshark (Comment 61) : 0-0
7min
Penalty to landers. Sopoaga converts.
Highlanders 3
Hurricanes 0
9mins
No score yet 🙂 time ??
good morning guys.it is finally here…i got canes by 9 on sb and canes in lms.lets go whoo hoo.
@mclovin:@Ben: thanks. (Sopoaga?? New player?sr debut?)
@juba_fan: good morning
@bergshark (Comment 71) : Yeah 20 year old flyhalf
3 all now, 13 minutes
Cruden misses another penalty
come on canes.you can do it
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 65) : The bastard 😉 😆
@ben:thanks for the info.how is cruden looking out there?
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 55) : morning 😛
glad i dont have cruden in my fl
come on you LANDERS!
I want to play them this year so we can see which side has the best front row in the competition.
Only way that’s gonna happen is if they make the knock-outs.
Now Sopoaga misses a penalty.
@juba_fan (Comment 80) : isn’t he supposed to be the next dan carter …
@Ben:sounds like his goalkicking isn’t going well.
Great try to Sopoaga
@rekinek:they were saying the same thing about bleyendaal last year (u20 world champs).
@juba_fan (Comment 80) : oops… I think I do
Great run from cowan popping the ball to his fh without looking for an easy counter in for Sopoaga
maybe but not yet
Go H’landers!! For LMS!! 😈
I actually like the way cruden plays,though he is only like 1.75 m tall _plenty skill(perhaps not so much the goalkicking today)
Conversion was missed.
Hurricanes 3
Highlanders 8
23 mins
Sopoago has scored a try and pen on sr debut:sounds like he is having a good one .
Yup, I do have Cruden.
I also have Lionel Mapoe in my team… now why the hell did I do that?
@Ben (Comment 92) : i see lander’s kicker also not on song.
@bergshark (Comment 93) : He’s looking alright. Cowan gave him the try on a plate basicly
@robdylan (Comment 94) : you’re weird.
@rekinek (Comment 97) : I am a bit, yup…
@rekinek (Comment 95) : Yeah that try should have been converted hey.
Cruden done anything yet,except miss some kicks @ goals?
Early in the game but not looking too good for SB picks so far 🙄
@bergshark (Comment 100) : Made 1 nice line break that was stopped eventually.
Pen to canes. And now nonu gets a yellow card.
Pen to landers goes over.
Canes 6
Landers 11
31 mins
@Ben (Comment 103) : Ooooo that could just help the Highlanders even more …. As commented by KSA Shark 😉
come on canes.its the first time i play lms and it would really suck to go out on the first game
@juba_fan (Comment 106) : 😈 yeah these guys are mean, no more lifelines in LMS either, good luck ….
They got cool logos though 😛
First yellow card of new sr season to nonu.wonder who will get the first red?
Good Morning All,
On the evidence thus far the opening round matches is going to be dominated by rusty play and the refs whistle …
Perhaps in one of those aussie derbies?maybe tahs vs reds?
ya, was about to ask Ben. Is it a nice game to watch ?
@bergshark (Comment 108) :
I knew I should have gone with Conrad Smith instead on FL .. 🙄
@rekinek (Comment 111) : Not really…
@csb (Comment 109) : Hope for your team yet 😈 … As commented by KSA Shark
come on guys
@rekinek (Comment 111) :
Not really a very stop start affair ..
Half time
Canes 6
Landers 11
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 114) :
😆 please can you ask him, which address I can post a jersey for him 😉
all i need is 14 points for the canes and nothing for the landers then im sorted
Nonu se Ma’a….I do have him and Conrad in my FL…
@Ice (Comment 120) :
I just hope he comes back on and makes up for it with a couple of tries ..
chatta later 😀
2nd half under way
Go Canes, just for my Bru. 😎 Though would like to see Landers beat Canes, just think Canes will pull away in the 2nd half.
Forgot, YEAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Rugby is back.. 😎
Morning everyone.
Did these okes play any warm-ups? 🙄
Very scrappy. 😐
Nonu in trouble.
Nonu 2nd yellow and its a red! Take that nonu you dirty prick!
Nonu second yellow and first red. What a tool. 👿
Now REALLY – Nonu, jou MA’A!!! 👿
Red for Nonu.
@Ice (Comment 130) : 🙂
Morning all!!
What did Nonu do?
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 133) : First yellow was for infringing at the ruck and 2nd yellow was for a shoulder charge.
@Puma (Comment 132) :
I am not living in CT – otherwise that sentence might have been a few words longer…
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 133) :
hey Mom! 😀
this is not looking gud for me
@McLovin (Comment 129) :
Thats gonna cost ..anyone know off hand how many points are deducted on FL ..?
Thompson is having a blinder!
Wanted to watch the 2nd half but the Supersport website is messed up. 👿
Hey everyone…
Sopoaga having a horrible day with the boot!
Cane`s showing no respect for my SB !!!
Hurricane . . . Hurricane!!
@Ice (Comment 135) :
Hi!!
@blackshark – the lurker (Comment 138) :
How you?
@Ben (Comment 134) :
Needs his head read! and so early in the season 😯
@Ice (Comment 135) : hehehehe
Pen to canes.
Canes 9
Landers 11
62 mins
Thing is Sanzar tried to convinced us that the fans wanted more derbies. That’s why I find the crowd so dissapointing.
Pen to landers. Robinson converts.
Canes 9
Landers 14
64 mins
@Original Champion (Comment 140) :
Haha I’m sure the first of many disrespectful teams 😐
@ Speed – perhaps in Oz…?
@Speed7 (Comment 143) : Allot of canes fans there today! Oh no wait, that’s the empty seats.
The Canes need a penalty and the Landers need to score a unconverted try and Bru is in business
@csb (Comment 137) : yellow -10 pointa, red -20 points
So glad I didn’t choose canes for my lms!
Yellow card for landers. Mitchell in the bin
Bugger yellow for Mitchell.. 14 vs 14 for rest of the match ..
14 vs 14 for ther rest of the game.
come on canes just a converted try
@Ben (Comment 154) : That will level it out.
Really scrappy game this.
Looking forward to the next game already.
@Puma (Comment 157) : Can only get better after this mess.
Time left?
Highlanders have been brilliant at the breakdown today and thus they lead!
Mistakes at crucial times is costing the Canes the game.
Highlanders have been pretty good at the breakdown but I think thats cause the Canes are commiting little players to it .
how much time left
@Ice (Comment 159) : 3 mins
Okay never mind the Bru, better for Sharks if Landers win this game. We don’t even play em. Unless they make a play off, which I think they wont. So Go Landers.
Score ?
We are in for a pedantic season from the refs ..
14 – 9 Landers 2 min Canes Hot on attack …and they knock on 😀
Canes fluff the ball on the landers try line.
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 165) : 9 14
@Ben (Comment 160) : They have been, that is where Canes have come short not having enough players there.
@Ben (Comment 169) : Thanks 😎
Last throw of the dice for Canes.
Terrible there by Canes. Just a really scrappy game this.
Let us see the Rebels against the Tahs. Has to be better than this.
@Puma (Comment 170) : Yip canes certainly don’t deserve a win here!
@ PUMA: BUT I DO!!!! 🙁
FULL TIME
CANES 9
LANDERS 14
Oopsie
🙄
There goes my SB…
And thats the match !
Highlanders win it 14 – 9 Scrappy scrappy game.
Lets hope the standard improves ..
What kind of fool kicks the ball away when it’s time up and you need a goal to win. 🙄 👿
Bad for SB but BRILIANT for LMS 😈
ok no more lms and first sb wrong.
I cannot believe my eyes!
LMS will be updated in the next 20mins, on the highway home…
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 180) : Can’t be that bad for SB, surely most people pick canes
Well done Landers.
Not a good start to the bru, but think this is a good result for our Sharks. Canes will get better as the season goes. So a loss for them maybe better for us.
Great start to the LMS! haha!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 186) :
20 people missing from the LMS already..
Thats 20% of the competition gone..
@Ben (Comment 184) : Just had a look on SW bru, everyone except about 4 had Canes. So not too bad we won’t lose too much there. In the other pools I am playing in everyone had Canes.
@Ben (Comment 184) : Only 6.79% picked the Highlanders.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 187) : Awesome! 🙂
Since when have the Supersport folks been wearing suits?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 187) : Its only easy if there are lifelines and defaults … As commented by KSA Shark
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 192) :
This season the LMS will be won after about 8 weeks of play..
@McLovin (Comment 191) :
Wonder if this will be the norm after the opening weekend’s play ..
“As commented by KSA Shark” huh????
Congrats to Hertford Highlander on a good win!
I don’t think he selected the win anywhere, wish could have been a master stroke!
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 192) :
Excuse my ignorance does LMS no longer have a lifeline .. 😕
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 193) : I plan on lasting a lot longer than that 😈 as commented by KSA Shark
@csb (Comment 197) :
No more lifeline and no more default pick.
If you do not select a winning team, you are DEAD..
@csb (Comment 197) : Sorry no lifelines, no default picks and a draw is a loss, you have to pick a WINNING team … As commented by KSA Shark
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 198) :
See you at the end of then.. lol
@Ben (Comment 195) : He is driving, I am playing secretary on the ipad, almost home and he can claim his own comments 😉
Holy crap the melbourne team looks like a barbarians team.
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 202) : oh I see your playing KSA Sharks says… 🙂
LMS
98 teams entered the game:
76 still alive.
22 out of the game.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 205) : Hehehe
@KSA Shark © (Comment 205) : I’m one of those who died 😳 I thought this game was the one to bank on, it was a fantastically gutsy performance from the highlanders, their flyhalf looks a very good player as well.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 205) : Eish. Bloodbath.
I’m gone if the Force beat the Reds…
@war1 (Comment 207) : in hindsight, maybe you should’ve picked the Tahs this round…
@robdylan (Comment 208) : You, me and about 20 others
@robdylan (Comment 209) : or maybe the highlanders 😆
@robdylan (Comment 208) :
Training wheels are gone. along with a whole host of players. 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 212) :
Maybe going for the BYE’s in the first three wounds will end up in having you win the whole thing.. interesting..
Wohoo! I knew the Highlanders and Jimmy Cowan would do it! Suck on that, world! 😛