rugby league challenge cup semi finals 31-7-15

RUGBY LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP SEMI FINALS

Rugby league is slightly different to rugby union as one of the main differences is that you have got 6 tackles a where you have to bring a man down to the ground. After your 6^th tackle you give the ball to the opposition so on the if the team with the ball usually kick it into the opposition  line another thing is the forty twenty where if you kick the ball from your own forty and into the position twenty metre line you get the ball. If the opposition touch the ball in any way and you are able to control it then you start at 0. The challenge cup is the English Knockout competition 

LEEDS V ST HELENS

Leeds Rhinos will be without forward Stevie Ward (ankle) but Joel Moon returns from his own ankle problem.

Rhinos skipper Kevin Sinfield is set to play in his 11th and final Challenge Cup semi-final while prop Jamie Peacock is playing in a 10th last-four tie.

St Helens have hooker James Roby fit again and he is the only change to the squad, replacing Lewis Charnock.

Saints finished one point and one place behind Leeds after the first 23 matches of the season.

Leeds have won both meetings between the sides so far this season - they were 41-16 winners at Langtree Park in April and beat last year's Grand Final winners 46-18 at home at the start of July.

Saints are looking to reach a Wembley final for the first time since 2008, while holders Rhinos are aiming to reach their fifth final in six years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/33689223

Leeds Rhinos: Carl Ablett, Paul Aiton, Tom Briscoe, Rob Burrow, Adam Cuthbertson, Brett Delaney, Mitch Garbutt, Ryan Hall, Ash Handley, Zak Hardaker, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Jimmy Keinhorst, Kylie Leuluai, Danny McGuire, Joel Moon, Jamie Peacock, Kevin Sinfield, Brad Singleton, Kallum Watkins.

St Helens: Kyle Amor, Travis Burns, Matty Dawson, Mark Flanagan, Josh Jones, Joe Greenwood, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Mose Masoe, Mark Percival, Adam Quinlan, Greg Richards, James Roby, Andre Savelio, Adam Swift, Luke Thompson, Jordan Turner, Atelea Vea, Alex Walmsley, Luke Walsh.

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/live/match/44100/preview

WARRINGTON V HULL KR

Coach Chris Chester has recalled scrum-half Albert Kelly after he missed last week's league game at St Helens with a leg injury and is set to pair him with newcomer Dane Chisholm, who made his debut in that 52-12 defeat at Langtree Park.

Chester also brings back winger Ken Sio and second rower Kevin Larroyer for the trip to Headingley, with Greg Burke making way.

Hull KR: Maurice Blair, John Boudebza, Dane Chisholm, Ben Cockayne, Kieran Dixon, James Donaldson, James Green, Graeme Horne, Albert Kelly, Kevin Larroyer, Shaun Lunt, Tyrone McCarthy, Josh Mantellato, Tony Puletua, Liam Salter, Ken Sio, Dane Tilse, Adam Walker, Kris Welham.

Warrington Wolves: Roy Asotasi, Ryan Atkins, Daryl Clark, Ben Currie, Brad Dwyer, Anthony England, Rhys Evans, Ben Harrison, Chris Hill, Joel Monaghan, Richie Myler, Gareth O’Brien, Gene Ormsby, Kevin Penny, Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford, Ashton Sims, Gary Wheeler, Sam Wilde

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/live/match/44101/preview

27-7-15 rugby 4 nations match 2 result

SOUTH AFRICA V NEW ZEALAND

MC CAW TRY MEENS ALL BLACKS ARE GREATEST GOING INTO WORLD CUP

Richie McCaw's late try proved decisive as the All Blacks fought back to beat the Springboks 27-20 in an absorbing match at Ellis Park, Johannesburg.

New Zealand was 20-17 adrift with six minutes left when McCaw darted over from a slickly-worked line-out routine.

Lima Sopoaga added the conversion and a late penalty to earn the visitors a flattering score line.

Tries from Smith and Coles gave New Zealand the chance to set up for this impressive win

Willie le Roux and Jesse Kriel's tries had given the Springboks an important win over the All Blacks going into the world cup i9n a few weeks.

But the All Blacks once again showed that they had that important trait you want a good team to have and that is Luck as they managed to win this important game.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/33666749

ARGENTINA V AUSTRALIA

BONUS POINT AUSSIE WIN LEAVE DREAM TIE ON 8^TH AUGUST

Australia scored three second-half tries to defeat Argentina in Mendoza and set up a Rugby Championship title decider against New Zealand.

The Wallabies had led 8-6 at half-time due to a Tomane try but the match itself at this stage was not that interesting  before Dean Mumm, Tevita Kuridrani and Adam Ashley-Cooper crossed the line.

The bonus-point victory moves Australia level with the All Blacks with nine points at the top of the table.

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/33667509

Here is the 4 nations table as it stands 

Team	Played	Won	Lost	For	Against	Bonus point	Points
Australia	2	2	0	58	29	1	9
New Zealand	2	2	0	66	38	1	9
South Africa	2	0	2	40	51	2	2
Argentina	2	0	2	27	73	0	0

24-7-14 4 nations match 2

SOUTH AFRICA V NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand  team starts Sopoaga has been preferred to Beauden Barrett in the No 10 jersey. Though this will be his first taste of international rugby he is partnered by Highlanders team-mate Aaron Smith in the half-backs, which will help him settle into the New Zealand team on Saturday.

The pair guided the Otago-based side to their maiden Super Rugby title this season and will be looking to cement their places as the first-choice pairing to defend New Zealand's trophy at the World Cup later in the year.

Broadhurst slots into the second row where he partners last year's Player of the Year Brodie Retallick.

While for South Africa  Jean de Villiers still out and Victor Matfield picking up an injury in last week's loss to Australia, Meyer has handed the captaincy to No 8 Burger.

It will be Ruan Pienaar and Handre Pollard who take on the new-look All Black half-backs, while South Africa’s young midfield combination of Pollard, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel this week earned high praise from Steve Hansen, who referred to them as ‘the way forward’ for South Africa

the two sides have met 89 times since their first encounter in 1921, with the All Blacks claiming 51 victories to the Springboks’ 35.

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Lood de Jager, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 7 Francois Louw, 8 Schalk Burger (c).

Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Lionel Mapoe.

New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 1 Tony Woodcock, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 James Broadhurst, 6 Liam Messam, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 8 Kieran Read.

Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Victor Vito, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Malakai Fekitoa.

ARGENTINA V AUSTRALIA

Australia  has convinced head coach Daniel Hourcade to make changes to his line-up, the most notable of which is the decision to drop Marcelo Bosch.

The centre has to make do with being named amongst the replacements for this weekend as Horacio Agulla – normally more at home on the wing – starts in Argentina's midfield next to Juan Martin Hernandez.

Prop Ramiro Herrera is another player to drop down to the bench, with Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro replacing him in the front row, while Rodrigo Baez comes in for flanker Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, who returned to Toulon last week for the birth of his second child.

"We've tried to balance the physical aspect without altering the team structure too much," Hourcade said.

Lock Rob Simmons and No 8 Ben McCalman were both injured against the Springboks – former skipper James Horwill and Scott Higginbotham are their respective replacements in the pack.

Coach Ewen McKenzie has also opted for a 6-2 split on the bench, with Rob Horne selected as the utility back ahead of Kurtley Beale, who was allegedly involved in an in-flight row with a member of team management on the journey to South America

Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Juan Imhoff, 13 Horacio Agulla, 12 Juan Martin Hernandez, 11 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Benjamin Macome, 6 Rodrigo Baez, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Mariano Galarza, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy (c), 1 Marcos Ayerza.

Replacements: 16 Matias Cortese, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Ramiro Herrera, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Marcelo Bosch, 23 Jeronimo De la Fuente.

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps; 1 James Slipper, 2 Saia Faingaa, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Sam Carter, 5 James Horwill, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 8 Scott Higginbotham.

Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Jake Schatz, 21 Matt Hodgson, 22 Nic White, 23 Rob Horne.

4 nations Australian miracle

AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA

CARNEY HELPS PULL OFF AUSSIE MIRACLE

 South Africa’s Habana score the first 3 points of the match after 15 minutes as this seemed to be a bit of a cagey match.

South Africa’s Habana then scores a second penalty from long range to make it 6 points to 0. It looks like South Africa is in control.

Good set move from the scrum and a couple of passes and Adam Ashley Cooper makes a brilliant run to score a try for Australia and they convert it to take the lead

Beautiful kick up in the air and a Flick pass to Leru who puts the ball down in the corner to give South Africa back the lead on 38 minutes. What a conversion from Habana from the edge of the pitch how did he get that one over. I guess we will never know.

Half time Australia 7-13 South Africa

South Africa score an early with a quality runs down the wing and gets a try converted by Habana  

Australia score a penalty

The power and will to get the ball from the scrum ball gives Australia a chance in this match converted now Australia are only down by 3  

Good move and passing and running gives carny a chance but he goes sown about half a metre before the line but rotates and they have to go up to the video ref seconds to go and he says that it is a try and Australia win the match by 2

nz v argentina 4 nations warm up

I will try to look at matches preceding the Rugby World cup starting with New Zealand v Argentina. 

CREVY TOP CLASS BUT NEW ZEALAND IN LEAGUE OF THEIR OW

NZ 39 -18 ARGENTINA

New Zealand tries gave them the advantage at half time. The first from Richie Mc Caw got from a line out and forced over to give New Zealand the lead. The second was a good move moving from one side of the pitch to the other and put into the corner by Nonu in the last minute of the half conversion scored by Dan Carter. Both teams scored a couple of penalties each New Zealand’s came from Dan Carter and Argentina scored 2 penalties also.

A very good set move which started from a scrum lead to a simple try scored by Chris Pitau just after half time Dan Carter scores the conversion.   New Zealand just missed on the chance to score try moments later and Argentina seems to have a few problems at this time. Argentina then have the ball and Reed just grabs it off them like it is nothing and just runs in the try.  Crevy scores a try from a line out and it did look like they could go more than 90 degrees at one point put Crevy put the ball down for the try.  Crevy then scores a second nearly the exact same move as the first for Argentina. Taylor scores a try from a scrum and New Zeland create another one and from this Taylor scores a try. Carter converts.