Rob McCusker wants a bit of Robbie Diack

Super Rugby Review Round 12

Blue 18-17 Stormers

When you are 15 - 3 up with 20/30 minutes to go you, don't expect to be hanging on in the end. The Stormers dominated the first half and would have been upset to have gone in behind. Missed tackles cost the Blues and let Jean de Villiers bring the Stormers to within a point. Elton Jantjies was given a hospital ball after numerous phases at the end to try and land the drop goal to win

Rebels 33 - 39 Chiefs

The Chiefs are making a habit of seemingly putting games to bed before switching off and letting opposition back into the game. Margins of 24 -5, and 29 -12, made the Chiefs feel like they were home and dry, before the Rebels fought back and were camped on the Chiefs line at full time trying to sneak an unlikely win.

Highlanders 25-22 Chiefs

At the start of this game, Brad Thorn was a Super Rugby winner, a Tri-Nations winner, a State of Origin winner, a NRL winner, a Rugby World Cup winner and a Heineken Cup winner. But he still had to taste victory with the Highlanders. That has changed now, thanks to the try of the season, finished off by Colin Slade:

Western Force 11 - 11 Reds

The Force are the Reds' bogey team, and this showed again this weekend. Digby Ioane showed that he will be missed when he leaves at the end of the season with 17 runs and 12 tackle busts.

Southern Kings 10 - 72 Waratahs

What we were expected from the Kings, next week is important for both teams, for the Kings to prove that was a once off, and for the Tahs to prove it wasn't. As for the performance, After 3 minutes Israel Folau had 5 tackle busts and 30+ points. He finished with a try, two try assists, 16 runs, 16 tackle busts, 7 offloads, 2 linebreaks and 3 linebreaks created for a haul of 92 points. If you have an hour of your life (14 minutes), watch the highlights

Bulls 48 - 14 Hurricanes

The Bulls spanked the Canes in a game that showed even the most experienced can make a bad tackle that knocks them out. Best wishes to Conrad Smith on a speedy recovery. Just like with the previous game, I'll let the highlights do the talking.

Brumbies 23- 30 Crusaders

Crusaders and Dan Carter ruined George Smith's record breaking night with a fine performance, as Israel Dagg responded well to being benched.

So What does this mean for the Fantasy League?

It's not often I'm upset with 396 points, mostly because it's not often that I get that high.

Super Irish this week featured all 9 players getting above 300, 8 of which were above 370, with 5 above 400. With the average throughout the competition and a huge 379, you know it was a high scoring week, mostly down to one Israel Folau.

The Dream team of the week had a monsterous 850 points between them, with 9 getting above 50 points. A number of these players rocket into the Overall Dream Team.

Things are getting tight again in Super Irish, with 130 points separating 1st and 4th, with Simon Farrell, Peter Corley and Murray Kinsella coming up behind. The battle to avoid last place has been reduced to 33 points.

Twit vs Tweeter Results

(8(-)) Average 379 - 396 Ball Handling Hooker (2(up 1))

(1(-)) Poseidon's Belvedere 415 - 321 Ireland's Answer (3( down 1))

(7(down 2)) Les Mecs 372 - 447 The Westhies (4(up2)) -featuring an extremely lucky Connacht Man, who thanks to Rod Davies not playing, meant that Israel Folau and his 90 points were subbed in.

(5(down 1)) GlasUlsterman NSW 413 - 432 Multiple Scoregasms (6(1 up))

Joe Schmidt: The reaction

In all the hoopla about the Lions, a major story nearly passed us by, Joe Schmidt will lead Ireland to the World Cup in 2015

But what does this mean for Ireland?

This for one: 

Schmidt's teams are known for impressive backline tries, but it's the use of ball handling forwards that are the fulcrum to the success.

Each member of the team is comfortable with the ball, and while they have devastating moves, they play heads up rugby, are patient and take their opportunities.

Heaslip's first try here shows the level of support that the ball carriers have, the intention to keep the ball alive when it's on, and not to do something courageous when it's not.

This is what Rob Penney has been trying to do with Munster, and possibly with a mix of Ulster, Leinster and Connacht players, Ireland can achieve ball playing forwards, driven by Jonny Sexton, Ian Madigan, Paddy Jackson, Ronan O'Gara and Ian Keatley to ensure that the right options are taken.

Schmidt makes great use of his bench, and isn't afraid to pick players to suit certain games. The use of Isaac Boss in more attritional games over Reddan, with Reddan coming on is most seen here. 

Against Toulouse in the Heineken Cup semi final, Cian Healy went on a great run which swung momentum in Leinster's favour at a key moment in the match. Healy was subsequently taken off, and Heinke van der Merwe delivered a massive scrum which firmly put Leinster in the driving seat. Schmidt trusts his players to make key moments in game like that, which bodes well for those stuck on the bench in the last 6 Nations like Dave Kilcoyne and Sean Cronin.

Jordi Murphy, Brendan Macken and Eoin O'Malley are three youngsters that Schmidt wasn't afraid to use at high levels of the Heineken Cup. Schmidt will be prepared to use young performers like Ian Madigan, Tommy O'Donnell, Robbie Henshaw, Kieran Marmion or Iain Henderson.

The future is bright for Irish rugby.

Lions Reaction

I wasn't planning on writing a piece about this, but some things can't go without a rant.

While I may have guessed 31 out of the 37 going, a lot of poor decisions were made.

Central to my frustration is the inclusion of Dylan Hartley, which I am not alone in, and said so in advance:

It will be a relief for everyone Hartley and Ashton won't be going. They'd be very annoying for the more cultured, learned Lions on tour.
— Whiff of Cordite (@WhiffofCordite) April 30, 2013

Realistically, as long as Ashton and Hartley don't go, I'll be quite happy.
— BallHandling Hooker (@BHHooker) April 29, 2013

Dylan Hartley is a good player, and on reflection, possibly isn't the worst player that has ever, or will ever play for the Lions. 

But the Lions aren't picked solely for their playing credentials. 6 weeks with completely new teammates need good personalities, likeable people and the success on the field is directly related with team harmony on it.

Team harmony is something that will be helped by situations with this: 

Hartley's record includes: 

• 26 week ban for gouging two different players in the same game, 
• 8 week ban for biting
• 2 week ban for elbowing

Hartley's inclusion comes ahead of Rory Best, Ken Owen, Richardt Strauss, Ross Ford, Sean Cronin and Dougie Hall.

It's something I really can't fathom. He isn't the hooker that is strong at ball-carrying and handling.

Rugby Onslaught summed it up well 2 years ago. 

Other less important issues:

Matt Stevens inclusion is a surprise, they might be hoping that his experience will help. Surprised not to see Euan Murray or Mike Ross in there, but it's ok.

Mako Vunipola is an impact player, but is unfit and a horrible scrummaging.

Richie Gray was a name that was a certainty a year ago. He is one of the most out of form players in the world right now. Strange call, but if he's a good player if he can get back to it.

2 Outhalves is a strange call, but was well flagged. Seems strange not to have a back up utility player to cover in the mould of Twelvetrees, Madigan, Hook, Laidlaw or Goode. The options were there. 3 Fullbacks and 2 outhalves seems daft.

I still wouldn't have picked Jonny Wilkinson, good kicker, good defender. Offers nothing else. The game has moved on from then.

Only one recognised Inside Centre is a worse call than the Outhalf position.

Overall the backline looks a bit ordinary. The best explanation of it is:

Really feel the #LionsSquad is missing too many players with a bit of #Woshkabomy.@mattrcnm am I using it right?
— Cillian Hogan (@Cillian_Hogan) April 30, 2013

With no Zebo, or Wade, or Ian Madigan, there seems a lack of spark. Let's hope I'm wrong.

Final Lions Squad

There are no more matches. No more games to "stick your hand up for selection".

Garbhan Hogan, Dermott McMorrough, Leo Hynes, Eric Conway, Ciaran Neilan and myself are competing to see who gets the most correct players in Gatland's squad.
5pts for captain, 2pts for correct player, -1 for incorrect, with a minimum of 35 players picked.

Here are the 37 men I would have in the Lions squad, plus extras.

Lions Squad 2013

I would pick Paul O'Connell as captain, but Gatland is going to go with Sam Warburton.

Loosehead:

Cian Healy and Gethin Jenkins, (Tough choice no.1) with Ryan Grant edging out Mako Vunipola and Paul James and Andrew Sheridan unavailable. Gone for Grant's overall great form in 2012/13 and better scrummaging than Vunipola.

Hooker:

Rory Best and Richard Hibbard, (Tough choice no.2) and Tom Youngs will edge out Richardt Strauss and Ross Ford, no matter what I want. Still think Strauss would be better.

Tighthead:

Adam Jones and Dan Cole are joined by (Tough choice no.3) Mike Ross, with Euan Murray missing out. I think the scrum nerd will appeal to Rowntree.

Second Rows:

Paul O'Connell, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans and (Tough choice no.4)  Jim Hamilton beating Geoff Parling  joined by (Tough choice no.5) Tom Croft, with Hines unlikely to be available and Donnacha Ryan just missing out.

Blindside:

Sean O'Brien and (Tough choice no. 6) Dan Lydiate, with Chris Robshaw just missing out.

Openside:

Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric.

No. 8:

Toby Faletau, with Jamie Heaslip sneaking in by the skin of his teeth.

Scrumhalf:

Mike Phillips and Ben Youngs , with (Tough choice no. 7) Conor Murray beating  Greig Laidlaw who is
so unlucky to miss out.

Outhalf:

Jonny Sexton and (Tough choice no. 8) Rhys Priestland recovering and overtaking Owen Farrell after the semi-final. Biggar is close too.

Inside Centre:

Jamie Roberts is joined by (Tough choice no. 9) Owen Farrell, beating Brad Barritt, James Hook and Ian Madigan, Billy Twelvetrees

Outside Centre:

Brian O'Driscoll and Manu Tuilagi, with Jonathan Davies sneaking on to cover at 12.

Back Three:

Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Alex Cuthbert, Simon Zebo and Tommy Bowe are joined by (Tough
choice no.10 & 11) Rob Kearney beating Stuart Hogg, and Sean Maitland beating Tim Visser.


Standby: Paul James, Ross Ford, Euan Murray, Donnacha Ryan, Nathan Hines, Chris Robshaw, Johnnie Beattie, Greig Laidlaw, Danny Care, Ian Madigan, James Hook, Tim Visser, Stuart Hogg

Garbhan’s Lions Squad – 2013

Captain: Paul O’Connell (it should be BOD)

Loose-Heads:

· Cian Healy
· Gethin Jenkins

Hookers:

· Rory Best
· Richard Hibbard
· Richardt Strauss

Tight-Heads:

· Dan Cole
· Adam Jones
· Mike Ross

2nd Rows:

· Paul O’Connell
· Donnacha Ryan
· Alun Wyn Jones
· Nathan Hines
· Joe Launchbury

Backrows:

· Sean O’Brien
· Jamie Heaslip
· Justin Tipuric
· Toby Faletau
· Johnnie Beattie
· Tom Wood
· Sam Warburton

Scrumhalves:

· Danny Care
· Ben Youngs
· Greg Laidlaw

Fly-Halves:

· Johnny Sexton
· Owen Farrell

Centres:

· Brian O’Driscoll
· Manu the Samoan lad
· Jamie Roberts
· Billy Twelvetrees

Back 3s:

· Rob Kearney
· Leigh Halfpenny
· Stuart Hogg
· George North
· Simon Zebo
· Tommy Bowe
· Sean Maitland

Ciaran’s Lions Squad – 2013

Fullbacks: Kearney, Halfpenny, Goode. 

Wings: Zzzebo, North, Bowe, Cuthbert.

Centres: GOD, Tuiliangi, Davies, Roberts.

Tens: Sexto, Wilko, Farrell, Mad dog.

9’s: Murray, Philips and that young fella Youngs.

Props: Healy, Cole, Ross, Jenkins, Jones.

Hookers: Best, Hibbard, Youngs.

2nd row: O’connell, Wyn Jones, Ryan, Gray, Toner.

Flankers: SO’B, Warburton, Robshaw, Tipuric, O’Mahony, Lydiate.

8: Heaslip, Falalalateau.

Capt: One more year.

Total: 38

Eric's Lions 2013 (37)

Forwards (20)

Props (6) - Healy, Jenkins, Ross, A Jones, Cole, Corbisiero

Hookers (3) - Best, Hibbard, Youngs

Locks (4) - O’Connell, Parling, Wyn-Jones, Gray

Flankers (5) - O’Brien, Tipuric, Warburton, Robshaw, R Jones

No.8 (2) - Faletau, Heaslip

Backs (17)

Scrumhalf (3) - Youngs, Murray, Phillips

Outhalf (3) – Sexton, Farrell, Madigan

Centre (4) – Tuilagi, Davies, O’Driscoll (Tour captain), Roberts

Wings (4) – Bowe, Cuthbert, North, Wade

Fullback (3) – Kearney, Hogg, Halfpenny

Ireland: 12

England: 9

Wales: 14

Scotland: 4

Dermott’s Lions Squad – 2013

Props:

Healy, Jones, Jenkins, Cole, Murray, Grant

Hookers:

Best, Hibbard, Youngs

2nd Rows:

O'Connell, Wyn-Jones, Evans, Parling, Ryan

Blindside:

O'Brien, Falatau, Croft

Openside:

Warburton (C), Robshaw, Tipuric

No. 8:

Heaslip

Scrumhalves:

Philips, Youngs, Laidlaw

Fly-Halves:

Sexton, Biggar, Farrell

Inside Centres:

Roberts, Madigan

Outside Centres:

O'Driscoll, Davies, Tuilagi

Wingers:

North, Zebo,Cuthbert

Fullbacks:

Halfpenny, Kearney, Hogg

Leo’s Lions Squad – 2013

Full-backs:

Halfpenny
Kearney
Hogg

Wings:

Cuthbert
North
Visser
Zebo

Centres:

O'Driscoll
Tuilagi
Roberts
Davies

Outhalfs:

Sexton
Farrell
Biggar

Scrumhalfs:

Phillips
Youngs
Laidlaw

Backrows:

Faletau
Heaslip
O'Brien
Warburton
Tipuric
Robshaw

Second Rows:

O'Connell (Captain)
Al Jones
Parling
Evans

Looseheads:

Jenkins
Sheridan
Healy

Hookers:

Best
Hibbard
Strauss

Tightheads:

Cole
Jones

Super Rugby Review Round 11

Super Rugby Reviews will be very short for the next few weeks, perhaps just some video highlights;

Hurricanes 16-18 Stormers

Stormers win by 2, thanks to a Bryan Habana charge down of a conversion, worth checking out.

Reds 12-11 Blues

Chiefs 37-29 Sharks

One of the most bizarre games I've seen.

Brumbies 41-7 Force

The Brumbies mauled the Force.

Bulls 30 -19 Waratahs

Cheetahs 26-12 Southern Kings

Cheetahs continue their impressive season

Crusaders 30-26 Rebels

The Rebels give the Crusaders a scare on Carter's return.

Super Irish

An astonishingly high scoring round, with the competition average at a huge 339. 6 of 9 teams were above that with another team on 331. There were no positional changes in the table, but the Hogan's made ground on the teams ahead of them. Things are beginning to get close again.

Twit vs Tweeter:

(3) Ball Handling Hooker 346 - 400 Les Mecs (5)

(4) GlasUlsterman NSW 346 - 378 Poseidon's Belvedere (1)

(7) Multiple Scoregasms 320 - 339 Average (8)

(6) The Weshties 339 - 376 Ireland's Answer (2)

High scoring week, a look at the total scores, shows that if this was a regular league, a lot of positional changes would happen.

Fantasy Cup

Ball Handling Hooker lost to The Meat (346-457)

Poseidon's Belvedere lost to Ozusa (378 -401)

valid_team_name lost to leeds united (331 - 377)

GlasUlstermanNSW lost to The Numpty's (346-425)

Ro_Murph lost to Rouse (206-381)

Multiple Scoregasms lost to Taylor's Terriors (320 -393)

and we are all knocked out.

Ulster Contracts

Other Irish Contracts:

Connacht
Leinster
Munster
Irish elsewhere

Expiring
Declan Fitzpatrick Tighthead June 2014 Club: Dungannon Ireland
Robbie Diack Blindside June 2014 Ireland / South Africa

Unknown
Paddy Jackson Out-half Club: Dungannon
John Burns June 2013 Development Hooker

Full-backs
Jared Payne June 2016 Ireland
Ricky Andrew June 2017 Club: Ballymena Ireland
Louis Ludik June 2016 NIQ South Africa

Academy:

Peter Nelson Club: Dungannon

Wingers

Tommy Bowe June 2018 central Club: Belfast Harlequins Ireland
Craig Gilroy June 2016 Club: Dungannon Ireland
Andrew Trimble June 2015 central Club: Ballymena Ireland

Academy:
Rory Scholes Club: Belfast Harlequins

Outside Centres

Darren Cave June 2018 Club: Belfast Harlequins Ireland
Mike Allen June 2015 Club: Belfast Harlequins Ireland

Inside Centres

Luke Marshall June 2016 Ireland

Stuart McCloskey June 2017 Ireland
Stuart Olding June 2019 Club: Belfast Harlequins

Out-halves
Ian Humphries June 2016 Ireland

Scrum-halves

Ruan Pienaar June 2017 South Africa NIQ
Michael Heaney June 2015 Ireland
Paul Marshall June 2017 Club: Ballymena Ireland

Loosehead

Callum Black June 2015 Ireland/USA
Ruadhri Murphy June 2016 Brumbies Ireland
Academy:
Kyle McCall Club: Ballynahinch Ireland

Hookers

Rory Best Hooker June 2016 CENTRAL Club: Banbridge
Rob Herring June 2015 Ireland

Academy:
Jonny Murphy Club: Banbridge Ireland

Tighthead

Jake Caulfield June 2015 Club: Malone Ireland/England
Ricky Lutton  June 2016 Ireland
Dave Ryan June 2016 Ireland/USA/Italy
Wiehabn Herbst June 2017 SA/ Project Player

Second Row

Iain Henderson June 2018 Club: Ballynahinch Ireland
Dan Tuohy June 2018 Ireland
Lewis Stevenson June 2016 Club: Malone Ireland
Neil McComb June 2015 Ireland

Academy:

James Simpson Club: Ballynahinch Ireland
Alan O'Connor Club: Malone Ireland


Blindside

Mike McComish June 2015 Ireland

Academy:
Conor Joyce Club: Malone Ireland
Neil Faloon Club: Ballynahinch Ireland

Openside

Chris Henry June 2017 Club: Malone Ireland

No. 8

Nick Williams June 2016 New Zealand NIQ
Roger Wilson June 2015 Ireland

Academy:
Sean O'Connell Club: Belfast Harlequins Ireland