WEST GHANA/USA – Yesterday, we gave you the Northern Hemisphere’s RWU Fall Rugby Preview. Obviously, there’s a lot more going on there because of the change of seasons; one hemisphere’s rugby is just starting and the other’s is at a minimum. Yet there is still some serious rugby going on Down Under, and today we’ll look at the Southern Hemisphere Fall Rugby Preview. That includes: The ITM Cup, Currie Cup and Australia.
Okay… Now that you’re done staring, let’s break it down quickly…
Country: New Zealand
ITM Cup
League: ITM Cup (Formerly the National Provincial Championship)
Defending Champions: Canterbury and Manawatu Turbos
Season Length: August 23, 2012 – October 26, 2012
Thoughts: Two conferences with two separate championships. I see the Hawke’s Bay Magpies taking the Premiership Conference and Manawatu repeating as Championship Conference winners.
Country: South Africa
League:Currie Cup
Defending Champions:Lions (Golden Lions RFU)
Season Length: August 10, 2012 – October 13, 2012
Thoughts: Much like the ITM Cup Super Rugby has caused this once great domestic comp to be altered. It now consists of the 5 teams that form the base of the s15 franchises and the promoted team from the Currie Cup 1st Division. I see either the Lions repeating of the Blue Bulls (who have been throwing around money for talent like they are the NY Yankees of SA Rugby) taking this.
Country: Australia
Australia doesn’t have a nationwide premier rugby tournament. Each Province has its own premier level tournament.
League: ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union – Premier Division Northern Territory Rugby – A Grade NSW Rugby – Premier QLD Rugby – Premier Rugby WA – Premier South Australian Rugby – Premier Tasmanian Rugby – Victorian Rugby – Premier
The ARU Website only informs of the schedule and results, so it is impossible to predict who will win.
That is it for now, please leave your thoughts below and look for us on the Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page or on Twitter @JunoirBlaber and @RugbyWrapUp, respectively. And as always, stay low and keep pumping those legs.
