Gone. The Force is with the players. So unlike Australian rugby. We have been here before; wild Horses, and all that.

“Player power has resulted in the Western Force parting ways with coach Richard Graham, with a three-pronged team to take the reins for the remainder of the Super Rugby season.

Graham was initially slated to see out the season with the Force despite announcing earlier in the week he would join the Queensland Reds as head coach from next year.

A number of Force players were unhappy with the situation, and put pressure on the board to cut ties with Graham before next week’s home clash with the Stormers.

Graham conducted a training session on Friday morning but, just hours later, was told his services were no longer required.”

Force defence coach and former rugby league star Phil Blake, who is also skills coach at the Wallabies, will join Nick Stiles and Andrew Scotney on a “coaching panel” for the rest of the season.

Captain David Pocock and club stalwart Nathan Sharpe will also provide “additional resources”, according to a Force statement.

The dramatic development only adds to the Force’s woes in what has become a forgettable season.”

Hustlin & Ploddin

iamjonnyking

“The Highlanders have been boosted by confirmation that former All Blacks first-five Mike Delany will join their campaign after being freed by his Japanese club.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has been sweating over the availability of Delaney, a former Highlanders and Chiefs player, to join them and ease a crisis at No 10 following injuries to Colin Slade and Lima Sopoaga.

Delany’s Japanese club the Panasonic Wild Knights gave him the clearance today.

Delany played nine games for the Highlanders in 2008 before heading to the Chiefs in 2009 where he made 22 appearances over three seasons.

He headed to Japan at the end of the 2011 season after playing one test for the All Blacks against Italy at the end of 2010.

The Highlanders have also brought in another former player, loose forward Hale T-Pole.”

Coming off the Blogging Benches with a Blinder.

I did chortle with that header. At least one of us did!

To start week 8 in #supeRUG 2012, we return to the Garden of Eden, where the Blues are in need of a good weeding. Time to prune.

After a week where racial taunts put the Lam on a spit and where Captain Kevvy called for a little less Pow [Piri Weepu], if the Blues are unable to get a win over the Sharks, somebody really needs to make a scene.

The Teams:

BLUES - 1. Tony Woodcock, 2. Keven Mealamu (capt), 3. Charlie Faumuina, 4. Filo Paulo, 5. Liaki Moli, 6. Luke Braid, 7. Daniel Braid, 8. Chris Lowrey, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 11. Rene Ranger, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 13. Benson Stanley, 14. Hadleigh Parkes, 15. Rudi Wulf.

RESERVES - 16. Tom McCartney, 17. Tevita Mailau, 18. Ali Williams, 19. Peter Saili, 20. Piri Weepu, 21. Michael Hobbs, 22. George Moala.

SHARKS - 1. Dale Chadwick, 2. Craig Burden, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 4. Steven Sykes, 5. Anton Bresler, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 7. Jean Deysel, 8. Keegan Daniel (capt), 9. Charl McLeod, 10. Patrick Lambie, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 12. Tim Whitehead, 13. JP Pietersen, 14. Louis Ludik, 15. Riaan Viljoen.

RESERVES - 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Jandre Marais, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Jacques Botes Charl McLeod, 21. Meyer Bosman, 22. Frederic Michalak.

Expecting the Blues to make some sort of statement, and a winning one, at that.

As this is the Friday night match, iamjonnyking will be offering his very own words in an audio commentary.

You, yes, you, are invited to join in, on this occasion.

HERE

What Say You?

Hustlin & Ploddin

iamjonnyking

This night of #supeRUG continues in the Western Island, post the final whistle in the Canes v Sharks, with a double act, on either flank.

We start on the East Coast, where the Champions from 2011, return to their throne.

The Teams.

REDS - [1] Ben Daley, [2] James Hanson, [3] James Slipper, [4] Rob Simmons, [5] James Horwill (c), [6] Beau Robinson, [7] Liam Gill, [8] Scott Higginbotham, [9] Will Genia, [10] Sam Lane, [11] Rod Davies, [12] Ben Tapuai, [13] Aidan Toua, [14] Dom Shipperley, [15] Luke Morahan.

RESERVES - [16] Albert Anae, [17] Greg Holmes, [18] Radike Samo, [19] Van Humphries, [20] Eddie Quirk, [21] Nick Frisby, [22] Dallan Murphy.

BRUMBIES - [1] Ben Alexander, [2] Stephen Moore, [3] Dan Palmer, [4] Leon Power, [5] Sam Carter, [6] Peter Kimlin, [7] Ita Vaea, [8] Ben Mowen, [9] Nic White, [10] Christian Lealiifano, [11] Joe Tomane, [12] Pat McCabe, [13] Andrew Smith, [14] Henry Speight, [15] Jesse Mogg.

RESERVES - [16] Anthony Hegarty, [17] Ruaidhri Murphy, [18] Scott Fardy, [19] Michael Hooper, [20] Ian Prior, [21] Zack Holmes, [22] Tevita Kuridrani.

REFEREE - Steve Walsh 

Assistant Referee - Angus Gardner 

Assistant Referee - Rohan Hoffman

TMO - Steve Leszczynski

The Reds have had a horror run with injuries and the road, which has been brutal in the previous three starts. They will be thankful for Suncorp, but will know the Brumbies will be all “jaked” up for this contest.

The Brumbies have been better than most pundits predicted, but this “could” be the contest where it goes a little flat in the bottom. While the Reds are still missing many, they should have plenty of support from the faithful still living off last season, and will be desperate to return their season, sunny-side, up.

Reds by 10.

What Say You?

Hustlin & Ploddin

iamjonnyking

It’s been a very Good Friday, which will prove so inside the Bullring, in New Plymouth, this night, in #supeRUG.

iamjonnyking is “planning” on calling it live, 7:25pm, NZ time, as the match goes live moments following. As always, you are welcome to join me - LIVE.

An important match for both sides, but one senses that it is most pivotal for the young Canes side, needing to right the ship after getting Cheetah’d, with the Bye coming next weekend, making this a 2 for 1, deal.

A win tonight will set their ship for calmer waters.

Not long now.

The Teams!

HURRICANES - [1] Ben May, [2] Dane Coles, [3] Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, [4] James Broadhurst, [5] Jason Eaton, [6] Jack Lam, [7] Karl Lowe, [8] Faifili Levave, [9] TJ Perenara, [10] Beauden Barrett, [11] Julian Savea, [12] Tim Bateman, [13] Conrad Smith (c), [14] Cory Jane, [15] Andre Taylor.

RESERVES - [16] Motu Matu’u, [17] Michael Bent, [18] Jeremy Thrush, [19] Mark Reddish, [20] Chris Eaton, [21] Tusi Pisi, [22] Charlie Ngatai.

SHARKS - [1] Dale Chadwick, [2] Craig Burden, [3] Jannie du Plessis, [4] Steven Sykes, [5] Jandre Marais, [6] Marcell Coetzee, [7] Willem Alberts, [8] Keegan Daniel (c), [9] Charl McLeod, [10] Frederic Michalak, [11] Lwazi Mvovo, [12] Tim Whitehead, [13] JP Pietersen, [14] Louis Ludik, [15] Riaan Viljoen.

RESERVES - [16] Bismarck du Plessis, [17] Wiehahn Herbst, [18] Anton Bresler, [19] Jean Deysel, [20] Jacques Botes, [21] Meyer Bosman, [22] Marius Joubert/Paul Jordaan.

REFEREE - Glen Jackson 

Assistant Referee - Garratt Williamson

Assistant Referee - Mike Fraser 

TMO - Richard Kelly

The Bench for the Sharks is impressive, but I’m thinking the Canes in a close one. They should be primed for the occasion. The playing environment should encourage their activation, with some local players wanting to impress in their Taranaki home, with such just enough - call it by 4 - to help them rise to the occasion.

Enjoy.

Hustlin & Ploddin

iamjonnyking

Source

These words have been offered by a New Zealand scribe… and I quote

Botha, Matfield and Rossouw: just whispering their names used to cause small children to scream with fright.

The three big men, menacing in their own unique way, were the heart of the mighty Bulls pack.

They are gone, but one monster remains.

His name is Pierre Spies, the 108kg giant who was famously converted from the wing to No8, and has the ability to terrorise opposition back rowers with his pace and inside backs with his intimidating bulk.

On his day, Spies can present a frightening sight for his opponents, especially when he strikes the ball at pace and dips his head like a human battering ram.

What’s the answer to stopping him?

I can’t help but think of some of my compadre’s in the Republic, who would be more than willing to offer an answer to this question, which I believe would go something like the following…

BUILD A RUCK!

Hustlin & Ploddin

iamjonnyking

#supeRUG starts this Thursday night, in Easter weekend action takes on a Rebellious note early, as the Melbourne side look to beat the Blues and Bryce, this very night.

iamjonnyking is planning on bringing a live audio commentary, so stay tuned on the tweeting timeline as we get closer to kick-off - 9:40pm, NZ time.

REBELS: [15] Kurtley Beale, [14] Lachlan Mitchell, [13] Mitch Inman, [12] James O’Connor, [11] Mark Gerrard, [10] Danny Cipriani, [9] Nick Phipps, [8] Gareth Delve (c), [7] Michael Lipman, [6] Jarrod Saffy, [5] Hugh Pyle, [4] Luke Jones, [3] Rodney Blake, [2] Adam Freier, [1] Nic Henderson.

RESERVES: [16] Ged Robinson, [17] Laurie Weeks, [18] Alister Campbell, [19] Tim Davidson, [20] Richard Kingi, [21] Julian Huxley, [22] Lloyd Johansson.

BLUES: [15] Rudi Wulf, [14] Lachie Munro, [13] Benson Stanley, [12] Ma’a Nonu, [11] Rene Ranger, [10] Gareth Anscombe, [9] Alby Mathewson, [8] Brad Mika, [7] Daniel Braid, [6] Chris Lowrey, [5] Ali Williams, [4] Filo Paulo, [3] Charlie Faumuina, [2] Keven Mealamu, [1] Tony Woodcock.

RESERVES: [16] Tom McCartney, [17] Tevita Mailau, [18] Liaki Moli, [19] Dan Pryor, [20] Piri Weepu, [21] Michael Hobbs, [22] Hadleigh Parkes

REFEREE - Bryce Lawrence 

Assistant Ref 1 - Andrew Lees 

Assistant Ref 2 - James Leckie 

TMO - Matt Goddard

Taking a tail of the tape, both backlines have the ability for an expression-session, and considering where both sit on the table, they will likely be inclined to move it. The Rebels pretty-boys look to be at their perky-best in this supeSeason of 2012, while the Blues welcome back the Ranger of Danger, Hot ROD, and a Wulf-pack of One, Rudi.

If the Blues can dominate up front, with their Row of Fatties, finally lined up, this could prove decisive. In saying that; the way events transpire with AAMI, expect some to and fro, back and go, with the final result, left until at the least the 80 has expired.

What Say You?

Hustlin & Ploddin

iamjonnyking

Source