How did i pick a team that has Ben May starting at tighthead to win the NZ conference?

Short lineout, questionable front row. Don't like Proctor at fullback.

@tim and douglas isn't quite 2m either, same as Lousi...but its all good, they have Ardie.

What are the odds on Blade Thomson injuring himself again?

Not impressed by either props, but they don't have good propping stocks anyway. Fidow is promising but it's his first year, so lots to learn.

I'm quite excited to see Evans in the starting line-up and in the 8 jersey. Also glad they went with West at 10 instead of JGB.

Still wondering whether it will make difference to play Jules at 14 instead of 11. Is it because Goosen is preferred at 11 and not 14?

Proctor at 15 was predictable; not his preferred spot, but he's the best they currently have to play at fullback as he has played there before.

Now about that 23 jersey ... secretly hoping for Lam to catch a stomach bug. I want Lowe in that jersey, dammit. (I'm afraid it won't be the last time you'll see me make a comment like that)

Are we at peak Magpies? 3 in the team, wow, there must be a lot of injuries in the Canes at the moment.

I'm unsure what the coaches see in west. For me he is no more than an impact players. And if the starter was injured early preferable when back move Jodie to 1st. But the team has another option (JGB) who is surely a better starting option and was in great form in last years NPC. After being a bit rubbish the year before. But I will watch West closely but don't expect much. I just hope he's not only at best average as he mostly was for the Blues.

Another selection i will watch closely is Aso at center. My view he's a wing (and a good one) not a center. I would either prefer Goosen at center as he played in last years NPC. And improved out of sight as the year progressed. Or Proctor and maybe Goosen at FB

Smith needs to step up at LH as there is no one else who is up to the required std (May at LH replaced by Eves was not bad last year though). And hopefully Fidow steps up too. Otherwise prop could be a major weakness this year. We relied mostly on JTA often lasting almost the whole game last year. May seems better at LH than TH.

@stargazer said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Now about that 23 jersey ... secretly hoping for Lam to catch a stomach bug. I want Lowe in that jersey, dammit. (I'm afraid it won't be the last time you'll see me make a comment like that)

I'm not that impressed with Lam. He was better for wellington at FB last year but he seems a bit limited. Maybe NPC is his level. But I haven't a clue what Lowe's like

@stargazer said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Still wondering whether it will make difference to play Jules at 14 instead of 11. Is it because Goosen is preferred at 11 and not 14?

Jules wanted to give 14 a go as he feels its his natural side. Although he was poor playing this side in last years NPC. But fair enough give him a go and see how he performs. but sadly he may be finished now as a top level player.

Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain ), 11 Johnny Kotze, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Rudolf Snyman, 3 Frans van Wyk, Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Nic de Jager, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, Divan Rossouw.

Mmmmm.....if Bulls keep this tight, they might push the Canes to the end. Still reckon the Canes to win it, but only at the end.

What the...didn't Boyd get his selections arse-about-tit last year too... Or was that Robertson? Proctor to centre, Aso to 14, Savea to 11 and Goosen to 15 (or even JGB).

At least then you have 3 players in their best positions and someone more familiar with the position at the back.

Wow Bulls looking the better of the two teams so far. Playing with far more viggar and getting stuck into the Canes faces. But also some awesome interpassing between the Bulls forwards. The Mitchelle factor already paying dividend.

HT Bulls 16 - 12 Canes

Also Bulls should've been more ahead, but the TMO got it wrong and juding the Bulls players knocked, where by the TMO footage you could see the Canes player dislodging the ball.

@g-man I disagree entirely. It was a clear knock-on. Correct decision.

@g-man said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Wow Bulls looking the better of the two teams so far. Playing with far more viggar and getting stuck into the Canes faces. But also some awesome interpassing between the Bulls forwards. The Mitchelle factor already paying dividend.

HT Bulls 16 - 12 Canes

Bulls are looking good. And they need to get Barrett on ASAP in the 2nd half as West is a bit limited. its bringing back horrible memories for me of Gopperth
as our first (and before that Howell although at least his defense was good). Back in the bad old days when the Canes had mediocre first 5's and becasue of thsi ad nil chance of ever winning super rugby. Fortunately we have both Barrett's now and maybe JGB (if he can play at his last years NPC level).

@stargazer said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@g-man I disagree entirely. It was a clear knock-on. Correct decision.

How much you wanna bet? Clear Canes hand slapping the ball out.

Should be a try.

Bullshit.

@stargazer said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Bullshit.

a VERY CLEAR NO REASON TO DISALLOW IT TRY AND HAS BEEN DISALLOWED. Why can't they find some decent refs who understand the rugby rules

It is Rasta. It is not a try.

Jules looks lost. Sad to say but it seems his time might be over. Bring Barret on at 1st and Lam at FB. Shift sso to wing, Proctor to center and Lam to FB

Great try BB. West still on the field, so unsure who went off. Goossen was replaced by Lam (unless the broadcaster got that wrong). Is BB playing fullback?

Easy try by BB.

Team.try.

Well done West. Just handed the Bulls a try to put them in front

But what is he doing on the field still. He's clearly not up to this level. the Canes coaches seem to have lost it. world best 1st at FB ....

Well that was dumb from Lousi.

Stupid from Lousi. Retaliating and grabbing his opponent around the neck. Idiot. Could have been worse than just a reversal of the penalty.

Dumb both ways.

@stargazer said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Stupid from Lousi. Retaliating and grabbing his opponent around the neck. Idiot. Could have been worse than just a reversal of the penalty.

Especially at this stage of game

Why is West playing? He was crap at the Blues now we have to put up with it.

:::

:::

Thanks for coming to Loftus. Unfortunately someone has to lose. Luckily it wasn't my team. Bulls are looking better this season.

@winger said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@stargazer said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Bullshit.

a VERY CLEAR NO REASON TO DISALLOW IT TRY AND HAS BEEN DISALLOWED. Why can't they find some decent refs who understand the rugby rules

It's all in what the ref was asking.

Now now bash reffing is only reserved for us Saffa's. Go back to your we-are-innocent attitudes.

Anyways good luck in Argintinia to the Canes.

@mencey Because he's still better than Garden-Bachop and BB hadn't played any preseason game. No doubt, BB will start next game.

@justanotherfan said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Thanks for coming to Loftus. Unfortunately someone has to lose. Luckily it wasn't my team. Bulls are looking better this season.

Going to be there for the Lions game. Going to be a cracker.

What a frustrating game to watch.

Proctor at FB when he's clearly not a FB (hes a good center though). Aso at center where he struggled.(he's a wing not a center). Savea just making up the numbers at wing. and West showing he not even close to good enough at this level but he was kept on to lose the game for the Canes by doing an idiotic chip kick . rather than take him off and replace him with Barrett. but its not West to blame. JGB should have started based on NPC form. I wonder though if the coaches even watched the NPC.

and also a clear Canes try disallowed due to inept reffing. But its idiotic selections that lost it. So I'm unsure what has happened to the Canes. the coaching team used to be good but this is a concern. Its bordering on 'lost the plot and haven't a clue' territory

@g-man

It was a clear try. It wasn't even debatable. And I hate bad reffing even if it benefits my side. and in this case there was no excuse. It was even worse than the welsh no try verse England decision.

@stargazer said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@mencey Because he's still better than Garden-Bachop and BB hadn't played any preseason game. No doubt, BB will start next game.

On NPC form last year JGB was very good. After a no better than adequate 2016 NPC. He was a key player in the Canterbury thrashing

@g-man said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@justanotherfan said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Thanks for coming to Loftus. Unfortunately someone has to lose. Luckily it wasn't my team. Bulls are looking better this season.

Going to be there for the Lions game. Going to be a cracker.

Yeah. There are some great match ups. If Bulls can pull it off it would be great start for season.

@african-monkey He gave away two stupid penalties in the Blues 22 for shoulder charging players off the ball. Seems an easy target for niggle.

Seemed odd to me to play Proctor at fullback and Aso at centre.

Pretty frustrating game, as they often are in SA. We mixed some good in with some really dire shit, and only have ourselves to blame as that game was there for the taking against a pretty limited Bulls side.

Proctor at FB and Aso at centre looked wrong before the match, and so it proved. No idea what the logic was there but Aso was poor and Proctor wasn't able to get into the game.

West put in a very similar performance to what he did time and time again for the Blues - a mix of good and bad, and didn't provide a lot of direction. The sooner one of the Barretts is at 10 the better, as West is really an impact player at best.

Jules is just completely ineffectual these days isn't he? I wouldn't even start him TBH, and I've been a huge fan in the past.

The TJP no-try was just crazy. If they want fans to be invested in the game then they have to, at the very least, get the most basic stuff right. That kind of call brings the game into disrepute and makes you want to switch off, as why would you waste your time watching that level of incompetence?

Anyway, not a total disaster as it's our first proper hit out, but I really hope the coaches take the lessons on board and don't repeat the same mistakes, as we've thrown away easy points there.