Starting of our Super Rugby weekend is a great match up between two New Zealand teams, one team looking to get back in the playoffs and another looking to finish the season on a high note.
The Highlanders have had a few off weekends with losses to Blues and Chiefs, and will be hoping to get it right in their fourth New Zealand derby in as many weeks. They have lost influential Adam Thompson to injury, but still have a strong pack, and with Kade Poki back on the wing, I think we will see the ‘Landers returning to winning ways.
The Hurricanes see two of their top players back in selection contention, with Piri Weepu finally recovering from his broken ankle and will surely get some game time from the bench. Ma’a Nonu is back in the centres after a few weeks off and will inject pace and penetration in the backline.
It will be a tight game, but the Highlanders at home will want it more. Kick off is at 09H35 on Friday morning.
Highlanders: 1 .Jamie Mackintosh (C), 2. Mo Schwalger,3. Chris King, 4 . Tom Donnelly, 5. Josh Bekhuis, 6.Jarrad Hoeata, 7 . Alando Soakai, 8 .Nasi Manu, 9 . Jimmy Cowan (VC), 10 .Lima Sopoaga, 11 . Telusa Veainu, 12 . Matt Saunders, 13.Kendrick Lynn, 14 . Kade Poki, 15 . Ben Smith
Replacements: 16. Jason Rutledge, 17. Bronson Murray, 18. John Hardie, 19. Nick Crosswell, 20. Aaron Smith, 21. Ben Atiga, 22. Robbie Robinson/Tony Brown
The Highlanders have everything to play for as they have shifted back to mid table after a few bad results and will be desperate to get back into playoff contention.
Hurricanes team : 1. John Schwalger ,2. Andrew Hore (c) ,3. Neemia Tialata ,4. Jason Eaton ,5. James Broadhurst ,6. Faifili Levave ,7. Jack Lam ,8. Victor Vito ,9. Chris Eaton ,10. Aaron Cruden ,11. Hosea Gear ,12. Ma’a Nonu ,13. Jayden Hayward ,14. Alapati Leiua,15. Andre Taylor
Reserves :16. Dane Coles ,17. Anthony Perenise,18. Jeremy Thrush ,19. Mark Reddish ,20. Piri Weepu,21. Julian Savea ,22. Beauden Barrett
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Close game but HH’s Boys will pull it through IMO
Hertford’s Highlanders by 3 😛
So we need to cheer Canes is it??
I think I Superbrued for Landers by 11 – tough now 😆
I hope somebody’s going to be watching 😎
Go Landers!
Cruden vs Sopoaga!
@rekinek (Comment 3) : it shouldn’t have toooo much of an effect on the SA teams.
Highlanders for me on SB as well.
@rekinek (Comment 4) : I’ll be doing updates.
Weepu will make a difference when he comes on IMO
Highlanders by 6 for me 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) :
Im also in the area, but will leave the updates for you..
Highlanders by 6 for me, please..
Shouldn`t we pull for the Highlanders?
Surely they`re easier to overcome than the Tah`s ?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : weepu vs cowan – who will wear AB’s jersey no 9 – may be interesting to watch.
I have got the hurricanes by 8 🙂
@Original Pierre (Comment 11) : we’ll see how we do against the tahs o 28th, won’t we. It’s been a while since we beat them.
Do you remember this game in 2009 when Stef missed the ball when trying to kick it out and they scored to seal the game? brrr
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 10) : ok, please
@Poisy (Comment 13) : are you the odd one ? 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) : and thank you in anticipation 😛
@rekinek (Comment 16) : I’ll be the lucky one if I’m right 😉
@rekinek (Comment 14) : And last year when Beale slapped the ball when we shouldve score 🙄
It seems to be raining there..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 20) : damn it,perhaps superbru should give us weather predictions for each match alongside our picks :'(
@Poisy (Comment 21) :
In New Zealand the default wil always be rain!! lol..
The rain will definitly take away from the Hurricanes’ potent backline..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 22) : lesson learned :,(
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 19) : “brrr” some more 🙄
Just finishing my Cashew beef then i’ll turn the TV on. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) :
Sounds good!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) : cashew beef for breakfast 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) : well, times up, put down the meat and switch on 🙂
The Highlanders flyhalf is an exciting looking player!
Hurricanes kick off, playing right to left
@rekinek (Comment 16) : Nope, I also got the canes to win!
Rain not stopping the Canes from running the ball at the Landers..
First penalty to the Canes, Landers offside..
Canes having a shot at goal
2min
pouring with rain
Starting XV Cruden over
Highlanders 0 – 3 Hurricanes
3min
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : that was quick.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : Sorry Squad Cruden not Starting XV Cruden 🙂
@rekinek (Comment 37) : Ran it into the Landers 22 and won a PK for offside by the Landers.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 38) : I opted for SBW and Fruean as the Starting XV centers. 😎
Landers LO 5m from Canes line and the ref Penalises them for players infront of the ball.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 33) : They certainly seem to like the rain running it nicely.
Pitch looks GOOD though.
Finally Lavave knocks on 5m from the Landers line
Hurricanes running everything and running it well
Canes wasted a good overlap there . . .
@KSA Shark © (Comment 42) : if not for the knock they would have had a 3 man overlap and scored.
Highlanders 0 – 3 Hurricanes
11min
@rekinek (Comment 28) : 10:30 for me. Breakfast was peanut butter toast a few hours ago 🙂
@franshark (Comment 29) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 41) :
Pitch looks like it is holding up nicely..
Canes def the more dominant team at the moment.
Dirty Highlanders throwing punches again. 🙄
matt Saunders for the Landers off with a nice cut above the eye. 🙁
Let’s see if my Highlanders Suberbru fluke continues!
Entertaining match so far though..
Glad I can watch..
Lineouts are a disaster with the wet ball..
@McLovin (Comment 48) : 🙂
I was actually expecting a “Highlanders get what was coming to them” comment seeing as it was one of them bleeding 🙂
Go Canes!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 47) : amazing how the wide angle shots make it look like an awesome evening and only the closeups showing the rain.
Multiple phases for the Canes and they are on the Landers 22
18min
Canes knock on, not sure of the phases count but more than 7 IMO.
Landers scrum just outside their 22
@KSA Shark © (Comment 55) :
Good point..
@KSA Shark © (Comment 55) : I think the rain might actually have stopped.
STEAM coming of the players looks awesome 🙂
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 51) :Rich, that “Glad I can watch..” Part is too much info….. For us working people.. 🙁
@Ben (Comment 50) : did you pick Landers to win?
Ref to Nonu: You cannot come in there the ruck had already formed.
Nonu: Are you SERIAAAAS?? I was the tackler.
😆 😆
@rekinek (Comment 61) : Yes I did.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 62) :
Highlanders 0 – 3 Hurricanes
22min
Territory
Hurricanes 61
Highlanders 39
@franshark (Comment 60) :
Sorry dude..
Vito from inside his 22 off the back of the scrumm runs to the Landers 22 before being tackled.
Canes 5m out now
@Ben (Comment 63) : that was mean 😆
Nonu stopped short after doing excelletn work to evade a tackle.
TMO for try after that
TMO action is around the poles.
replay after replay
No try
Scrum attacking ball (last team going forward)
1st scrum collapses.
I’m expecting a try here.
@rekinek (Comment 68) : Lol, you know what happens next! 🙂
Canes move it right and recycle to the left.
Tackled 1m from the line and then hold on to the ball on the ground.
PK Landers to bring relief.
The Highlanders wing is called Porky. 😯 Shame poor guy.
Landers stuff up a try with an open tryline..
The Landers flyhalf making an awesome break!
Come on Highlanders!!
Cowan throws a inside backwards pass into a hurricane 7m from the line.
Ref calls them back for a PK to the Highlanders
PK missed ?????????? 44% kick rate for the guy 😯
Highlanders 0 – 3 Hurricanes
29min
Just as I’m about to say that the score isn’t really an indication of the quality of play and Sopoaga knocks on. 😕
Vito drops a Highball on his 10m line and the Hurricanes have to scramble to save a try as they dot it down eventually.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 81) : Attacking Scrum 5 Highlanders because the Hurricanes carried it over
Nasi Manu picks and goes off the back of the scrum and it is knocked from his grasp over the line.
Hurricanes 5m scrum
@KSA Shark © (Comment 79) : 😯
😯 8m from the line Cowan chips over the Hurricanes backs (I thought he stuffed up)
And SMITH SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sopoaga converts
Highlanders 7 – 3 Hurricanes
37min
His name is pronounced the same as Tana Umaga where the missing “n” becomes audible 😛 “Sopoanga”
@KSA Shark © (Comment 86) :
PK Landers after a up and under goes up and almost backwards by Jayden Hayward and no Canes players retreat.
Sopoaga slots it from the 10m line
HALF TIME
Highlanders 10 – 3 Hurricanes
Hurricanes are missing Cory Jane’s stability at the back.
Who is the Canes’ 1st choice 13? I think he is injured and cant remember his name 😳
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 90) :
Conrad Smith
go Landers!
And unjix Ben 😆
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 91) : Oh yeah! But why am I think it’s a Wolfe 😳
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 93) :
He looks like a wolf! haha
Second half has kicked off.. kicked out on the full by Landers
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 94) : Must be it
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 93) : is Rudi Wulf the player you are thinking of? he is playing for Toulon now.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 95) : And then Cowan passes 3m high to Sopoaga 😯
Sopoaga slots a PK
Highlanders 13 – 3 Hurricanes
43min
@KSA Shark © (Comment 97) : That’s the guy. Don’t know why I’m thinking about him though 😕
A little boring now, with the most interesting stuff the banter between Cowan and the ref.
PK Hurricanes just on the Landers 22 for hand in the ruck by the Landers
Cruden moves it back and slots the PK
Highlanders 13 – 6 Hurricanes
49min
Cruden puts it in touch inside the Landers 22.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 100) : cause you’re weird 😉
alternatively – It’s Friday the 13th 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 101) : what banter?
Sopoaga pulls a PK
Highlanders 13 – 6 Hurricanes
54min
@rekinek (Comment 106) : nothing we can hear, just according to the commentators.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 107) : i though Landers had 13 points just now 🙄
@KSA Shark © (Comment 107) : was the highlanders penalised for something that they deducted a point from them, 12=13 🙂
Weepu is back.
Now the tussle is going start 😉
@franshark (Comment 110) : must be cowan’s behaviour
@franshark (Comment 110) : ❓ 😉
@rekinek (Comment 106) : The scrum collapsed, so Cowan told the ref that the hooker’s neck was “no good”. He seems to have been right, because the hooker got replaced shortly thereafter.
Highlanders rumbling it up slowly with pick and go’s around the edges before knocking it on 🙁
@rhineshark (Comment 114) : thanx.
hmmmmmm….. no good
Territory AND possesion
Highlanders 51
Hurricanes 49
Come on Canes!!!
Thrush dishing out a nice shoulder charge on Rutledge 😳
@rekinek (Comment 116) : Cowboy talk 😆
@rekinek (Comment 105) : 😯
Canes are excellent at butchering tries. 🙁
Cruden kick pass out wide
Gear gathers and then the inside pass goes astray just outside the Landers 22.
@rhineshark (Comment 122) : good to have a speciality. 😆
Canes forward pass
Handling Errors
Canes 10
Landers 6
@KSA Shark © (Comment 123) : great blue eyes
@rekinek (Comment 124) : 😆
I need a Landers try here to make sure i get the closest pick margin.
Got Landers by 7
lets just hope i’m right
Go Landers
70min
Highlanders 13 – 6 Hurricanes
Thanks
@KSA Shark © (Comment 128) : I need two tries by the canes, to ensure that for me!
Hurricanes on attack inside the Landers 22.
7m away from the line about 4 phases already
I see a draw coming.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 130) : ok game over full time heeeee
i’m spot on gee where is the 80 min
PK goes the wrong way after a canes player gets tackled down to his knees gets up and carries on driving without releasing the ball.
Hurricanes opt for scrum
@McLovin (Comment 134) : nooooooooooooooo 🙁
its my B day so Chaz must get what she wants
come on Landers play for time 🙂
Vito off the base of the scrum stopped 2m out
Landers (Cowan) offside under the poles
Canes go for scrum again.
@chaz (Comment 137) : Happy happy. 🙂
Vito breaks left this time and the highlanders get a hand inbetween but Canes hold on to it.
Landers turn it over and Cowan clears with the boot.
@chaz (Comment 137) : Congratulations!!!!!!! Happy Birthday
Canes run it up and Nonu passes forward.
Highlanders 13 – 6 Hurricanes
77min
come on time get over with the 80 mins please
@chaz (Comment 137) : Happy Bday to you Happy Bday to you 🙂
PS. you kicked me out from the first 10 😈 – you talk waaaay too much 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 143) :
Thanks my friend
@rekinek (Comment 146) : from what 1st 10 don’t get you but sorry i talked slower 😆
Thanks my sister
@McLovin (Comment 141) : thanks
@chaz (Comment 148) : check out user statistics ❗
Canes LO 8m out
1min to go
@KSA Shark © (Comment 151) : oooo
get that ball and kick it timb buck toooooooooooo landers now
Hooter goes.
Canes have the ball about 18m out now
I have Highlanders by 11 so by 7 will not be too bad please 😕
Canes 23m out now
stop them landersssssssssss
PK Canes
tap and go from 18m
shit nooooooooooooooooo come on landers pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
full points for me thanks Landers for my Gift
Highlanders ruck over and it goes out.
FULL TIME
Highlanders 13 – 6 Hurricanes
@rekinek (Comment 155) : 😆
Unbelievable!!!! 🙂
Congrats HH your team played well.
what the score it be?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 160) : Not a good start to the weekend, but I do maintain a winning streak on super picks!
Congrats to the landers
played well the last bit i saw
@KSA Shark © (Comment 160) : 😎
@Greg (Comment 165) :
What i want to know are the Lions going to win the Brumbies 😕
Congrats to Chaz(B-day) and H’landers(winning)
And I start the round with a margin point 😎
Well i got a MP but not the closest pick 🙁
@chaz (Comment 168) : Well I picked them to win, but then again, I also picked the canes 😥
@rekinek (Comment 150) : 😎 ok i shall will be waitng for you so we both can get our TC the same time 😆
@robdylan (Comment 164) : You shared closest pick with 3 other players on the Punters pool, with 13 on SW pool
@Greg (Comment 171) : sorry to say i went with the brumbies 😳 its a comp after all but i hope you can prove me wrong 🙂
@chaz (Comment 166) : happy b-day, celebrating another 21 :), and on the spot with pick. Have a blessed day..
Happy Birthday Granma Chaz! May the year ahead be full of fun, laughter, a Superugby trophy, a tr-nations trophy and a RWC trophy! 😉
Back in 15
@franshark (Comment 175) : @Ice (Comment 176) :
thank all yes i just wish i was 21 t day i feel like 18
let just hope we win all those trophys
would all the sharks be in the clouds
@KSA Shark © (Comment 177) : ya – please do – the next game is about to start so you have some commenting to do 🙂
@Ice (Comment 176) : remember to wish me the same. We may get it be the numbers 😆
I got the margin point 😎 like so many others 😈
@rekinek (Comment 180) : when is your b day
@chaz (Comment 182) : 17 July
@rekinek (Comment 183) :
my hubby is the same day
@chaz (Comment 184) : 😯 😀
@rekinek (Comment 180) : Happy happy for the 17th of July! May the year ahead be full of fun, laughter, a Superugby trophy, a tr-nations trophy and a RWC trophy!
@Ice (Comment 186) : Oh no 😕 There is this superstition in Poland that if you wish happy bday before the actual day it’s bad luck ❗ 🙄
Is this my Friday the 13th curse 😆
@Ice (Comment 186) :
Gee Ice take it back quick my sister
bad luck is for all the other teams 😳
Got the win and a margin point but I move 3 spots down 😯 👿 Got to get bonus and grand slam points.
For those concerend about the Waratahs game. DON’T BE
Kaplan is reffing we all know how the tahs feel about him 🙂
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 189) :
Is it just me or do the Canes only seem to lose when Nonu is playing?
@Ben (Comment 192) : Have not really been following their games, but interesting though