SuperRugby - Season 2012 Week1 (22/02/2012 14:02)

GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!

Super Rugby is back for another season and with kick-off now just a few days away it's time to get your fridge stocked and best lazyboy ready.

Here is some players to keep a eye out and why:

Ben Alexander (Prop, Brumbies)

Is there a better sight in rugby then seeing a fat guy celebrate after scoring a try? We certainly don't think so. Ben Alexander this season the Brumbies prop just loves scoring tries. Alexander managed seven five-pointers in 2010.

Bismarck du Plessis (Hooker, Sharks)

If you like WWE wrestling then you're bound to love Bismarck du Plessis. The Sharks hooker can do just as much damage with ball in hand as he can in defence, making him one of the most feared players in the game. John Smit's departure to England means Bismarck will finally have a mortgage on the Sharks No.2 jersey and considering he can play 80 minutes week in week out, he looks to be gold in 2012.

Andries Bekker (Lock, Stormers)

At 2.08m tall, it's hard to miss Stormers lock Andries Bekker. In fact, he's the tallest player to ever pull on a Springboks jersey. Why is that Fantasy Super Rugby you ask? Well, it basically means that Bekker is nigh on unbeatable at lineout time, especially once he is hoisted well above terra firma. The Springboks lock has become a lot more mobile around the paddock over the last couple of seasons, making him just about the complete package.

Adam Thomson (Flanker, Highlanders)

With an injury cloud hanging over the head of Liam Messam, we reckon his Highlanders counterpart Adam Thomson is the smart backrow option of 2012. Thomson was the standout performer for the first half of last season as the Highlanders surprised everyone to be in semi-final contention. The All Blacks backrower rarely misses a ruck and is a fine support player – evidenced by the six tries he scored in 13 games.

Sarel Pretorius (Halfback, Waratahs)

He may be wearing different colours and plying his trade on a different continent, but that shouldn't affect Sarel Pretorius. Well, that's what New South Wales Waratahs are certainly hoping anyway. Pretorius was the premier halfback in Super Rugby last season, as he crossed for nine tries and led the Cheetahs to surprise victories over the Waratahs and Crusaders. 
 

Sonny Bill Williams (Centre, Chiefs)

In what is looking like his final season of Super Rugby, Sonny Bill Williams has left Christchhurch to take up a spot at inside-centre with the Chiefs. Williams will join Aaron Cruden in a new-look Chiefs backline, but with plenty of skill inside and out, the New Zealand heavyweight champion is sure to create just as much havoc as he did at the Crusaders. He racked up 491 points last season and if the weather holds out in Hamilton, that mark could be eclipsed in 2012.

Kurtley Beale (Fullback, Rebels)

Just like Pretorius and Williams, Kurtley Beale will pull on a different strip in 2012 after heading south to join Melbourne Rebels. The 2011 John Eales Medallist was a shining light for the Waratahs last season, which makes it hard to understand why the Sydney-based franchise didn't open the cheque book to keep him. Still, Rebels fans are happy to have him and with James O'Connor also digging in at The Stockade, Beale has enough quality around him to dominate the Fantasy stats once again

TEAM FIXTURES FOR FIRST WEEKEND

 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24:

Blues v Crusaders, Auckland - 08:35

Blues:
15. Isaia Toeava, 14. David Raikuna, 13. Rene Ranger, 12. Benson Stanley, 11. Rudi Wulf, 10. Michael Hobbs, 9. Alby Mathewson, 8. Jerome Kaino, 7. Daniel Braid, 6. Chris Lowrey, 5. Ali Williams, 4. Anthony Boric, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. Keven Mealamu (captain), 1. Tom McCartney

Substitutes: 16. Pauliasi Manu, 17. Tevita Mailau, 18. Brad Mika, 19. Luke Braid, 20. Piri Weepu, 21. Hadleigh Parkes, 22. Sherwin Lee Stowers

Crusaders:
15. Tom Marshall, 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Robert Fruean, 12. Ryan Crotty, 11. Israel Dagg, 10. Tyler Bleyendaal, 9. Andy Ellis, 8. Kieran Read (captain), 7. Matt Todd, 6. George Whitelock, 5. Sam Whitelock, 4. Tom Donnelly, 3. Ben Franks, 2. Quentin MacDonald, 1. Wyatt Crockett

Substitutes: 16. Corey Flynn, 17. Owen Franks, 18. Luke Romano, 19. Luke Whitelock, 20. Willi Heinz, 21. Patrick Osborne, 22. Adam Whitelock

 

Brumbies v Force, Canberra - 10:40

Brumbies:
15 Robbie Coleman, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Jesse Mogg, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Ita Vaea, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Leon Power, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander

Substitutes: 16 Anthony Hegerty, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Scott Fardy, 19 Michael Hooper, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Zack Holmes, 22 Joe Tomane

Force:
15. Alifeleti Mafi, 14. Nick Cummins, 13. Winston Stanley, 12. Rory Sidey, 11. Napolioni Nalaga, 10. James Stannard, 9. Brett Sheehan, 8. Ben McCalman, 7. David Pocock (captain), 6. Matthew Hodgson, 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. Toby Lynn, 3. Salesi Ma'afu, 2. Nathan Charles, 1. Pekahou Cowan

Substitutes: 16. Elvis Taione, 17. Kieran Longbottom, 18. Phoenix Battye, 19. Angus Cottrell, 20. Justin Turner, 21. Ben Seymour, 22. Samu Wera

 

Bulls v Sharks, Pretoria - 19:10

Bulls:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Jaques Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling

Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 JJ Engelbrecht

Sharks:
15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Louis Ludik, 13. JP Pietersen, 12. Tim Whitehead, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Frederic Michalak, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Marcell Coetzee, 6. Keegan Daniel (captain), 5. Anton Bresler, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Dale Chadwick

Substitutes: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Ross Skeate, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Meyer Bosman, 22. Paul Jordaan

 

SATURDAY, FRIDAY 25

Chiefs v Highlanders, Hamilton - 08:35

Chiefs:
TBA

Highlanders:
TBA

 

Waratahs v Reds, Sydney - 10:40

Waratahs:
TBA

Reds:
TBA

 

Stormers v Hurricanes, Cape Town - 17:05

Stormers:
TBA

Hurricanes:
TBA

 

Lions v Cheetahs, Johannesburg - 19:10

Lions: TBA

Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Lappies Labuschagné/Philip van der Walt, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane

Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Pieter van Zyl, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Willie le Roux