Very scrappy first half from us on Friday, gutted that our seasons over.

Can't help but feel about 4 of our games have been ruined by poor refereeing .

How the hell was Moore not carded for that act of thuggery. Disgraceful.

Not sure what Foxsports were thinking having an interview with Moore after the game literally a metre in front of the Caton St end. He rightfully copped it. :lol:

Well done to the Force for beating the Tahs. =d>

[size=7]Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver reveals Super Rugby expansion plans[/size]



Super Rugby is poised to move forward with a four-conference model in 2016 - with two based in South Africa.
Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver has revealed the announcement of an expanded and restructured model to take to broadcasters is only a fortnight away.
On the eve of an important meeting with provincial chief executives, Pulver has backed a Super 18 model for 2016 where Australian and New Zealand conferences would remain the same.
Australia's five teams would play two less "local derby" matches in a 15-game regular season but would strengthen their Anzac ties by increasing their four matches against Kiwi rivals to five.
Significant changes will be made in South Africa with their six teams, including the recalled Southern Kings, put in two pools with a new Argentine team and a final side, which the ARU hopes will be based in the Asian market.
Those two four-team conferences - including an overseas expansion team in each - will only face one of the two Australasian conferences each year, which reduces fears of an increase in travel.
"It's likely to be a four-conference model and this will be finalised in the next couple of weeks to be announced," Pulver said.
While the ARU chief executive is supporting SANZAR's in-principle expansion plans, they're unlikely to be applauded by his provincial counterparts.
Pulver has been under pressure from the franchises and the players' association to pull Australia out of South Africa-driven plans to increase Super Rugby from 15 teams to 17 or 18.
Political pressure for more black participation saw SARU demand the Port Elizabeth-based Kings, who were relegated last season, be reinstated for good.
With South Africa providing almost half of the broadcast revenue, governing body SANZAR has listened to their powerful voice, and New Zealand are opposed to breaking the partnership.
Plans for less local derbies in Australia - dropping from eight to six, and meaning one less home game every second year - has upset state officials who believe it will see them go bust.
Pulver said he understood the concerns but backed the proposed changes as the best model to improve the competition and importantly boost broadcasting revenue.
"I'm more than happy to go along with it," he said. "I think it will be a terrific structure for the game."
Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Jim Carmichael hoped Australian officials remained open-minded about expansion plans to ensure the best result for the cash-strapped code.
"We don't have a preferred model, as yet. We have a preferred position, and that is not to prejudice Australian interests in the competition moving forward," Carmichael said.
"I'm okay to come to the table and hear alternative views as long as we are able to review those and ensure it ultimately delivers for Australian rugby."
While the Reds, NSW Waratahs and Brumbies are unhappy about the loss of derby matches, Pulver said less was more for the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force.
"In Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra they work very well," he said. "In Melbourne and Perth those two franchises aren't too excited in home derbies."


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/australian-rugby-union-boss-bill-pulver-reveals-super-rugby-expansion-plans-20140430-zr1xu.html#ixzz30MUjKN6B


Sanzar confirms it has lost it's shit and Pulver shows how gutless he really is in standing up for Australian Rugby.

Yeah struck me as really odd for a code that is, sadly, falling by the wayside to be expanding so aggressively.

Personally I'd prefer Super Rugby be a kind of champions league..but anyway, who are the favourites for the Asian team, Hong Kong and Japan?

Japan would be front runners. Pampas XV will be the argentinian team.

Embarrassing thought the dark days were behind us, let the clean-out begin.

Apparently the whole Kangaroos v Wallabies + English Super League concept is back on the table, with ARU pushing hard cos they think they can bank $10-15m from it.

Ref was a joke.

Was going mental after that match winning try :) ,

thought we fucked it up tonight.

That was probably our best piece of play all season, pick and drive for 50 meters is unreal. Shipperly was great, horwill didn't have his best game to say the least, I think I counted 4 turn overs. And work at the breakdown and line out was also probably our best all season.

What's your thoughts on James O'connor possibly signing for next season?

I personally would like to see it happen, and I think having Horwill, Genia around him would sort him out off the pitch, but there is the temptation there with Quade, although I think he has grown up and is past the childish stuff.

Make it happen I say.

Thought Shipperly let in a fairly simple try tonight, needed to mark up on the scrum, basic stuff really.

Horwill hasn't been the same for a couple of years now, doesn't have that running game anymore.

Liked the look of that big Fijian Centre off the bench.

I'd take O'connor particularly as Harris is leaving, would be great at 12 to take some pressure off Quade.

10 Quade
11 Digby (one can hope) [-o< [-o< [-o<
12 JOC
13 Feauai-sautia
14 Davies
15 Toua

Would be a killer backline.

Toua, Harris, Davies, Shipperley all gone for next season. Kerevi, Kurindrani & JJ will have to step up next season,we better sign Tomane, Hunt & JOC as well.

Honey Badger gone. :(

It's about time the ARU got their head out of their Arse and started letting players go. Cummins is out for personal reasons but so many more are going to be off in 2015.

Plus this whole getting Singapore and Japan in SR while grassroots here continues to be fucked is going full retard.

Any word on the reason yet? Damn shame that he'll miss the WC.

His dad has prostate cancer and two of his siblings both have Cystic Fibrosis, he's moving to Japan so he can earn enough to pay for all their treatment needs.

Very admirable, and disgraceful on the part of the ARU to block him from playing in the WC when they are paying him and other players well below the market rate.

I figured it was something like that. Jesus Christ that's rough.

If that's the reason, that's pathetic from ARU.

To be fair, it's a blanket rule.

It's an outdated rule from an organisation that's terrified of becoming irrelevant.

Hard to say its outdated if its what keeps professional rugby alive in Australia.

Players are leaving anyway. Wallabies jersey isn't enough to stop them leaving anymore.

Oh for sure, but it'll always be a factor for those who don't have colossal offer from European or Asian rugby clubs.

It's a stupid rule. Why should the Wallabies be made up of the best players playing in Australia? Should be the best players full stop.

Coz they'd all go abroad for the $$$ I'd imagine.

Still don't understand the rule though.

-PB

Wheres that gif of Nick Cummins's kick against the Lions? Its one of the funniest Rugby Union moments in history

I speak of this kick of course->
[youtube]epJErtWfJ90[/youtube]

What a character he is though ;)

The biggest Bledisloe match in a decade is about to kick off. Carn the Wallabies!!

Kurtley Beale at 10 is a shocking call.

Great game.

Farken All Black's defence. :(

Would have preferred Foley to start but have to say Beale played a pretty damn good game. Folau played his worst game in rugby and White just isn't test standard. Hooper had one of the most inspirational games I've seen from a Wallaby. Bring on the graveyard!