NEW YORK, NY: The Super 15 final is the main event this weekend. However there are also promotion/relegation matches for S15, Womens Nations Cup matches to review and preview, along with big developments affecting USA Rugby. So lets break the line and begin the Weekend Rugby Preview.
Chiefs vs Brumbies: The Chiefs are looking to repeat their 2012 success, a Chief-peat, if you will. The Brumbies are looking to continue their meteoric rise back to the top of the Super Rugby food chain. With the Brumbies coming back from South Africa this week, the Chiefs at home and many Chief stalwarts leaving for Europe after this match, it’s an easy pick. Chiefs all the way!! Need more cowbells!! . Here is the info:
Where:
Hamilton, NZ
Venue:
Waikato Stadium
When:
Saturday, August 3rd
Kickoff:
7:35pm NZT
5:35pm AEST
3:35am USEST
Match Officials:
Referee: Craig Joubert (SA)
AR1: Garrat Williamson (NZ)
AR2: Chris Pollock (NZ)
TMO: Vinny Munro(NZ)
Coaches:
Dave Rennie – Chiefs
Jake White – Brumbies
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Lelia Masaga/Robbie Robinson, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Matt Vant Leven, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Toby Smith
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Bundee Aki, 22 Robbie Robinson/Patrick Osborne.
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Clyde Rathbone, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (c), 7 George Smith, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 Fotu Auelua, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Andrew Smith, 22 Joe Tomane.
Kings v Lions: The South Africa Super Rugby conference is the only conference with a promotion/relegation match. This will be the final match in a home and away series to decide who plays Super Rugby next season. The Kings will be without their 1st and 2nd choice captains due to injury and leading points scorer and FH. The Lions team will look to go for the kill, carrying a 7 point lead from the first leg. Here is the info:
Where:
Johannesburg, South Africa
Venue:
Ellis Park
When:
Saturday, August 3rd
Kickoff:
3:00pm GMT
1:00am NZT
1:00pm USEST
Match Officials:
Referee: Stuart Berry (SA)
AR1: Jason Jaftha (SA)
AR2: Marius Jonker (SA)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (SA)
Coaches:
Johan Ackermann – Lions
Matt Sexton – Kings
Teams:
Lions: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Dylan des Fountain, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Willie Britz, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg, 20 Guy Cronje, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Chrysander Botha.
Kings: 15 SP Marais, 14 Scott van Breda, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Hadleigh Parkes, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 6 Cornell du Preez, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Darron Nell (ca), 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Charl du Plessis, 17 Hannes Franklin, 18 Steven Sykes, 19 Devin Oosthuizen, 20 Nicolas Vergallo, 21 Wesley Dunlop, 22 Shane Gates.
J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s: The premier domestic club 7s continues with Group B & C action. This is a 7s competition between all the teams of the Aviva Premiership, allowing the teams to display their academy and some fringe national team talent. Here are the results from Thursday and the schedule for the weekend:
GROUP A
Thursday 1 August
Kingsholm, Gloucester Rugby
Standing: Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester Rugby, Worcester Warriors
GROUP B
Friday 2 August
Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton Saints
Teams: Leicester Tigers, Newcastle Falcons, Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks
KO: 7.15pm (GMT)
GROUP C
Saturday 3 August
Allianz Park, Saracens
Teams: Harlequins, London Irish, London Wasps, Saracens
KO: 7.15pm (GMT)
Womens Nations Cup: The University of Northern Colorado is hosting the the senior women’s portion of the Nations Cup. England sent a developmental side that was beaten by Canada on Tuesday, with the US dispatching South Africa. This weekend will see old rivals mix it up in both matches. Here Tuesdays results and the weekend fixtures:
30 JUL 2013
Canada 29 – 25 England
USA 35 – 22 South Africa
03 AUG 2013
England – South Africa
USA – Canada
Mike Friday Resigns: In a bit of a shock, Kenya 7s head coach Mike Friday resigned on Monday. Despite his success with the program and taking it to new heights like a 5 place finish in the series, there appeared elements in the KRU that he rubbed the wrong way. Our friends at Ultimate 7s covered the resignation.
USA CIPP: CIPP is USA rugby’s national insurance registration program. Our friends at Thisisamericanrugby.com, broke the news. It appears that there a 3 options due to CIPP’s raising cost, 1)Drop it 2) Increase the deductible 3) Charge member more. You might have an idea but USAR has told members, suggestions not wanted.
USA Rugby Club 7s Championship: The USA Club 7s Championship are next weekend in Pittsburgh. There will be some great rugby on display and a lot at stake. To check out the article, predictions, and debate, including the thoughts of a current USA Eagle, click here.
That is it for now, feel free to comment below, look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page and follow us on Twitter @RugbyWrapUp, @JunoirBlaber, @Declan Yeats, @ckuxmann and @Ebstide52, respectively. And until the next time… stay low and keep pumping those legs.
