The first week of the Super Rugby Finals Series is complete and the winners of the two Super Rugby Qualifiers, Crusaders and Sharks, are confirmed away participants for the Super Rugby Semi-Finals.
New Zealand Conference champions the Chiefs will host the Crusaders in Semi Final 1 in Hamilton.
While top-of-the-table finishers and South African Conference champions the Stormers will host the Sharks in Semi Final 2 in Cape Town.
2012 Super Rugby Finals Series
SUPER RUGBY SEMI-FINALS
Semi Final 1:
Friday, 27 July, 2012
Chiefs v Crusaders
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand
Kick off (1935 local, 1935 NZT, 1735 NSW/ACT, 0935 SAT, 0735 GMT)
Semi Final 2:
Saturday, 28 July, 2012
Stormers v Sharks
DHL Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa
Kick-off (1705 local, 1505 GMT, Sun 29 Jul 0305 NZT, Sun 29 Jul 0105 NSW/ACT, 1705 SAT)
SUPER RUGBY QUALIFIERS RESULTS
Saturday 21 July, 2012
Crusaders versus Bulls, 28-13
AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
Saturday 21 July, 2012
Reds versus Sharks, 17 – 30
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
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Koos
July 21st, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Have the Saders ever lost a final?
They’ve only ever lost semis.
I predict the Chiefs choke and the final will be in CT.
July 21st, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 5:43 pm:
Yup, last year in fact.
July 21st, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Reply to Morné @ 5:59 pm:
Before that they lost to the Blues and Brumbies in 2003 and 2004 in finals. (Super 12)
July 21st, 2012 at 6:04 pm
In fact, Crusaders last won the Super Rugby comp in 2008…
July 21st, 2012 at 8:48 pm
I know they won in 2008.
But I didn’t recall, aside from last year, that they had lost finals.
Thanks though.
You agree it’s Saders / Stormers in CT then?
July 22nd, 2012 at 2:17 am
The Bulls were outclassed and even if Papier was stricter with the offside line and Mccaws shenanigans, they would have still lost due to giving away too much possesion. On the other hand the Sharks got lots of ref love in their game.
The Sharks are the dark horse and the way they threw the ball around the Stompies poepolle are knuiping.
Chiefs Sharks final anyone?
July 22nd, 2012 at 9:21 am
Stompies poepholle is still in the running – what does that say about your team – excrement, or just passed kak….
July 22nd, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Rat Race shaping up for a photo finish.
Reply to Bekke @ 9:21 am:
Mate you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. Remember reality has this funny habit of biting people in the arse
July 22nd, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Setting up? I’m talking of history mate! Or are you dreaming that the Bulls or Lions will still feature this coming weekend? Bizarre…
July 22nd, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Reply to Bekke @ 2:11 pm:
I am not referring to any specific team. Your general trend of comments over the past weeks have been that the Stormers could and can do no wrong. As one of their supporters I am not happy with what they brought to the table and they might still be there, but if they dont step up 200%, the Guppies are going to beat them. But that is just me, I dont smoke the good stuff.
July 22nd, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Impressive win by the Sharks, but has any team ever won a game after 2 ocean crossings?
I think not. There is a movie, “An ocean to far”.
The final at Newlands between two relatively fresh teams will be a good one. All SA should root for the Stormers and the Chiefs this week.
July 22nd, 2012 at 7:04 pm
Reply to Bekke @ 2:11 pm:
I have to agree with Deon
Your general trend of comments are starting to get under people’s skins, and that is even hardcore Stormers fans like KingPaul and Deon.
I suggest you tone down your vitriol.
July 22nd, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Ag, Bekke is maar net bietjie vuilbek.
En effens blind oor die Briesies.
Anyway, as a Stormers supporter I won’t
cry if the more deserving Sharks beat
them at Newlands.
At least they play a multi-skilled game
of rugby.
July 22nd, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 8:07 pm:
yes I agree but that will end the SA chance of winning the S15! No way the Shaks can fly back to NZ for the Final and hope to win!
Stormers v Saders in CT should be a nail biting final!
July 23rd, 2012 at 12:34 am
I counted 21 knock-out games since 1996 in which one of the teams had to cross the ocean.
Only 4 times did the travelling team win:
The Sharks in 1996, Highlanders in 1999, Crusaders in 2011 and now again Sharks.
Two games in which one team had a return trip across the ocean. Highlanders in 1999 and Crusaders last year. Both times the travelling team lost.
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:10 am
Reply to Timeo @ 12:34 am:
All that needs to be said.
Reply to Boertjie @ 8:07 pm:
Steeds onnodig om so aan te gaan selfs met sy eie span se ondersteuners.
For my cash I would prefer for the Stormers to win because based on their form they deserve it. All season people have been moaning about them – even their own fans – but at the end of the season here we are… #1 team at the top of the table above all the Kiwi and Australian sides and the South African sides… the Stormers with the rugby that everyone hates.
So detractors should honestly reassess their criticism.
The Stormers lost just two games the whole season.
Except for Week1 they have NEVER been able to field their actual First XXII with injuries ravaging the team.
For my cash this weekend my money will be on the Stormers and NOT the Sharks.
As I’ve said to Shields many many many times before.
Fans support winners.
Australian whingeing about “style” is just because they’re losers and losing fans to other sports.
Similar to Stormers.
Since 1999 successive coaches have tried with running rugby and fleet footed backs and the like with only one semi success… the away semi in 2004…
Now they adopted a winning style of rugby instead of a pretty one they’re taking criticism…
FFS
2010 – final
2011 – semi final
2012 – semi final
This is the best period of rugby in the Super Tournament EVER for the Stormers…
This also coincides with the Stormers adopting a more conservative tight style of rugby.
July 23rd, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 11:10 am:
Very well put, and I can’t agree more.
I also feel that the pressure is really on at Newlands to win a trophy this year, no excuses. This might have prompted Coetzee to go even more conservative this year compared to the previous two years, along with the injury list from hell that they had to cope with, keeping it simple helped a lot. With their type of game it made it easier for young, new players to slot in seamlessly, due to the fact that the structures are so clearly defined.
And then there is the mental aspect, and boy did it come through this year. The sheer bloody mindedness of this Stormers team in winning games they should by logic have lost if the stats are looked at, makes this team at Newlands a huge obstacle for a rampant Sharks team on the back of travelling across numerous timezones.
However, well done to the Sharks. They are the South African I love to watch when they are playing their imperious type of rugby. A Sharks team in full song is a great sight to behold.
The form of the Sharks in the latter stages of the competition combined with the Stormers form makes me very excited for the Rugby Championship.
July 23rd, 2012 at 2:01 pm
@ #16 and #17 – well put. You gentlemen make a lot of sense but as a Stormers supporter, I feel a strange indifference to who wins at Newlands on Saturday. Must have something to do with my admiration for the way the Sharks have played of late and a dissatisfaction with the Stormers winning ugly week after week and disregarding the old WP running rugby tradition. That Stormers defence is awesome but watching JP and Mvovu weaving and sprinting for the line is even more awesome. Having said that, full credit to Alistair and his men – at least they had the foresight to try something different and win. It is going to be another great weekend of rugby.
July 23rd, 2012 at 3:51 pm
# 16 DavidS
I agree. This young Stormers team have shown a lot of guts to end at the top of the table.
Guys like Siya Kolisi driving attacking players back gave me just as much pleasure as any Gio Aplon try. Major injuries to the loose trio robbed the Stormers of their major momentum gathering ball carriers, and i believe that hampered their attacking play even more.
# 13Boertjie
To say the Stormers are not deserving is a little dishonest in my opinion. To win 14 from 16 games is not easy by any means and deserve a little more respect. Most Stormers supporters can’t even remember what it feels like to win a major trophy, and their team gave it their all to be in for a shot at the title this year. Gun hulle hulle plek in die son.
The Sharks deserve a lot of credit for their great play against the Reds, and they will be hard to beat even at Newlands. They are a good team and if they beat the Stormers they will be a great ambassador for South Africa in the final.
May the best team win, regardless of what type of rugby they chose to play.
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Reply to Vetgesmeerde Blits @ 3:51 pm:
The Reds need the combo of Higginbottom, Genia, Cooper and Ioane to fire. They just had two of those on Saturday.
On SB and on RR and in the threads I predicted the Reds would receive a spanking.
I am not all that impressed with their win at Ballymore. It was a formality for them in all honesty.
The Aussie sides this season are hyper kak.
This is the same Sharks side that lost to the Lions in Joburg.
I’m giving this game to the Stormers.