Super 15 2011

Kiwi Wozzie Jaapies are Funny ...


Former Western Force and All Blacks coach John Mitchell has been stabbed at his apartment in South Africa after mistaking an intruder for his practical-joking flatmate.

Mitchell was stabbed twice, once in the upper arm and once in the thigh, during a scuffle with the intruder in his Johannesburg home, New Zealand news website Stuff reports.

Mitchell has only recently moved to South Africa since leaving Perth after finishing his coaching contract with the Force.


A spokeswoman for Mitchell's Lions rugby team, Krystle Geach, said that Mitchell had been at home with his flatmate and fellow coach Wayne Taylor when he heard a strange noise.

"Mitch heard someone coming into the room. He thought it was Wayne, because Wayne has quite a dry sense of humour, so he tackled the guy," Ms Geach said.
"But it was an intruder, who stabbed him in the arm and the leg." Mitchell was taken to hospital, but was released after having his wounds stitched up, Ms Geach said.

"He is otherwise OK, a little bit shocked but OK. He will be back at work tomorrow."

However, Taylor was still feeling guilty that Mitchell thought he would sneak up on him, she said.

"He's a little bit shocked too."

Both men were placed in temporary accommodation while local police investigated the break-in at their Hyde Park apartment.

Mitchell’s mobile phone and laptop were stolen by the intruder.

The Kiwi had been contracted to coach the Johannesburg-based team the Lions in the Super 15 competition next year after spending four years coaching the Perth-based Western Force.

He was appointed All Blacks coach in 2001 and led to Tri-Nations titles in 2002 and 2003 as well as regaining the Bledisloe Cup off Australia in 2003.

He was fired after the All Blacks failed bid to win the Rugby World Cup in 2003 and replaced by Graham Henry.

He was the Force's inaugural coach, but despite four seasons based in Perth was unable to deliver success for the club.

AAP

LOL Rebels. Scored a donut.

Stupid sodding system they are using this year

which system , taips?

Welly well well. The Rebels weren't too rebelious. Tahs snot them 43-0 overnight in front of 25,000 optimistic Vomits and a few Dubbers.

Welcome back Red

The 3 sections, playoffs, basically the whole thing.

Hehehe, oops. Was still rubbing the sleep out my eyes obviously.

Mebee Cheese can merge them.

Disappointing start by the Rebs. They looked good early with most of the possession but Beale & Mitchell run over them in the end.

Great finish in Eden Park earlier today. I like the format tho I'd prefer if every team played all other teams at lease once.

Invader Zim wrote:Great finish in Eden Park earlier today. I like the format tho I'd prefer if every team played all other teams at lease once.

Well as the format totally suits the Aussie teams, you would.

How does it favour us?

Well for one all the other Aussies teams are guaranteed 10 points against the Rebels. and probably another 10 against the force.

It also cuts the Aussie tour to SA down to 2 games while we have to go for 4 weeks to Aus and NZ

Well for one all the other Aussies teams are guaranteed 10 points against the Rebels. and probably another 10 against the force.

So we're advantaged cos we're on the whole crap ?

Yeah for us

It also cuts the Aussie tour to SA down to 2 games while we have to go for 4 weeks to Aus and NZ

Huh? You go Aust/NZ for 4 week; we go RSA/NZ for 4 weeks; Kiwis go AUS/RSA for 4 weeks...

Invader Zim wrote:

Well for one all the other Aussies teams are guaranteed 10 points against the Rebels. and probably another 10 against the force.

So we're advantaged cos we're on the whole crap ?

Yeah for us

It also cuts the Aussie tour to SA down to 2 games while we have to go for 4 weeks to Aus and NZ

Huh? You go Aust/NZ for 4 week; we go RSA/NZ for 4 weeks; Kiwis go AUS/RSA for 4 weeks...

Do you understand the new system? The chances are that 3 Aus teams will make the play offs because of your crap teams. The whole system has been skewed in your favour.

Yeah, apart for the force is a quick trip to NZ with no jet lag involved.

Do you understand the new system?

Yeah and are you seriously suggesting that 2 of the 3 'wildcards' will be Australian cos the Force and Rebels are crap? What about your Lions FFS they didn't win a single game last season. Surely all the other Yarp sides have that advantage?

The actual system is slightly different to what I was told it was .

I thought it was you play the other 4 teams from your own country twice and then you play the other nations all home or all away ie NZ plays in SA , SA plays in Oz , Oz plays in NZ (which means all teams in a conference have exactly the same draw) but that would be rotated every season

In 2010 with an even draw there were three Oz teams in the top 6
In 2009 there was one Oz team in the top 6 ...one in seventh spot on points difference and one in 8th spot by two points

The top team from each nation is guaranteed to make the finals ...which should also provide the winner of the comp ...if you have two teams from one country who are fairly even and they are the best teams in the comp they will win enough games to make the finals

Invader Zim wrote:

Do you understand the new system?

Yeah and are you seriously suggesting that 2 of the 3 'wildcards' will be Australian cos the Force and Rebels are crap? What about your Lions FFS they didn't win a single game last season. Surely all the other Yarp sides have that advantage?

Actually yes Tim.

If you anything about SA rugby, which you clearly farking don't, you would know how the Lions had changed through the Currie Cup and going into SuperRugby.

But hey, you come from Perth and know SFA about rugby so I will excuse you.

embee wrote:

The top team from each nation is guaranteed to make the finals ...which should also provide the winner of the comp ...if you have two teams from one country who are fairly even and they are the best teams in the comp they will win enough games to make the finals

Um not quite correct.

6 teams go to the finals. The winner of each country's section plus the next best 3 overall.

The Brumbies, Waratahs and Reds are virtually guaranteed 20 points already.

taipan wrote:Well for one all the other Aussies teams are guaranteed 10 points against the Rebels. and probably another 10 against the force.

It also cuts the Aussie tour to SA down to 2 games while we have to go for 4 weeks to Aus and NZ

taips, I'd suggest a bit of wait and see, although I'd agree others here that all teams should at least play each other once.

You suggest that the 3 Australian S12 provinces have an unfair advantage because the newer lot will be/are crap. That's a crock. The Lions have been a disgrace for 10 years and the Cheetahs are on the same path. For most of the S12 the Bulls played like poddy calves. No, I don't know a huge amount SA domestic rugby but I do know that the CC isn't any kind of guide to Super rugby.

The travel thing; your argument about jet lag is also a crock. The SA sides travel from west to east once and then back again. The others travel to SA once and then back again. No difference. The Force would have the most reason to bitch about time differences and body clocks.

Mick Sawyer wrote:

taipan wrote:Well for one all the other Aussies teams are guaranteed 10 points against the Rebels. and probably another 10 against the force.

It also cuts the Aussie tour to SA down to 2 games while we have to go for 4 weeks to Aus and NZ

taips, I'd suggest a bit of wait and see, although I'd agree others here that all teams should at least play each other once.

You suggest that the 3 Australian S12 provinces have an unfair advantage because the newer lot will be/are crap. That's a crock. The Lions have been a disgrace for 10 years and the Cheetahs are on the same path. For most of the S12 the Bulls played like poddy calves. No, I don't know a huge amount SA domestic rugby but I do know that the CC isn't any kind of guide to Super rugby.

The travel thing; your argument about jet lag is also a crock. The SA sides travel from west to east once and then back again. The others travel to SA once and then back again. No difference. The Force would have the most reason to bitch about time differences and body clocks.

Well time will tell.

Dunno if you saw the Lions/Bulls yesterday. The Lions should have won but for poor goalkicking. The reason for past poor seasons has been the leakage of players to other franchises but the structures have now been fixed.

Disagree with the comments about the CC. The latter stages are played by super rugby strength teams. I don't think you understand the intensity of the provincial rivalries in SA rugby. Imho that is what Australian rugby lacks. No domestic tournament,

Don't understand the poddy calves reference.

Force are leading the Reds. My tipping clean sweep is looking shakey.

Big Dog wrote:Force are leading the Reds. My tipping clean sweep is looking shakey.

Well there goes my theory.

Well anyway the Reds crept in.

And I see the Stormers got 4 points for not playing

Disagree with the comments about the CC. The latter stages are played by super rugby strength teams

taips, I wasn't laying sh!t on the CC, I was simply pointing out that it's not a consistent guide to prospects in Super rugby.

You said:

you would know how the Lions had changed through the Currie Cup and going into SuperRugby.

Free State & the Blue Bulls in the past have looked liked Kings in the CC & played liked princesses in S12/S14.

Poddy calves are those still on the mother's tits.