This video should excite any Clermont fans among you.

Recently, the Clermont Ferrand based club announced the signing of Fijian born former New Zealand U20 and Sevens star, Waisake Naholo, to replace the outgoing Toulon bound winger Napolioni Nalaga.

A player of Nalaga’s calibre will be hard to replace, but, as this video proves, Naholo is certainly capable of replicating or even surpassing Nalaga’s imperious Clermont record.

Initially stepping the Reds’ Campbell Magnay, Naholo evades two more tackle attempts before diving to score the games decisive try in the corner.

Clip Credit: Le Rugbynistere-Daily Motion

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In a tackle any back row would have been proud of, Western Force winger Marcel Brache felled Will Genia with aplomb in last weekend’s Super Rugby clash between the Queensland Reds and the Western Force.

Running the ball from a quick line out in typical proactive Genia fashion, the diminutive scrum half was rocked backwards by the power and peerless technique of Forces’ winger, Brache.

Youtube Credit: Western Force

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Highlanders V Crusaders

The good news for the Crusaders is that they probably can’t play any worse than they did in their opening loss to the Rebels. Their error count was through the roof in a listless display. They have made five changes to the starting side including the return of Israel Dagg while Colin Slade is at 10 with Dan Carter sidelined with a leg injury.

Hard to get a read on the Highlanders who will have seven debutants in the squad for their first outing of the season. It may take the Crusaders another week to get up to pace with the Highlanders to benefit.

Prediction

Crusaders are notorious slow starters, and the Highlanders are playing at home. The bookies have the Crusaders as favourites, but I’m going to tip those from the south in a bruising encounter. Highladers by 4.

HIGHLANDERS: Ben Smith (co-capt), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Shaun Treeby, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu (co-capt), John Hardie, Elliot Dixon, Joe Wheeler, Tom Franklin, Ross Geldenhuys, Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck.
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Kane Hames, Ma’afu Fia, Mark Reddish, Dan Pryor, Fumiaki Tanaka, Jason Emery, Marty Banks.

CRUSADERS: Israel Dagg, Robbie Fruean, Kieron Fonotia, Ryan Crotty, Johnny McNicholl, Colin Slade, Mitchell Drummond, Luke Whitelock, Matt Todd (capt), Richie McCaw, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Joe Moody, Nepo Laulala, Dominic Bird, Jordan Taufua, Billy Guyton, Tom Taylor, Nafi Tuitavake.

Reds V Force

All eyes will be on Reds five-eighth James O’Connor, who makes his first appearance of the season along with fellow big name recruit Adam Thomson. Queensland will be hoping the former golden boy can spark the attack, which was put under immense pressure in their drubbing by the Brumbies.

But the Force are flying high after putting the defending champion Waratahs to the sword in Sydney. They showed plenty in attack against NSW, scoring four tries, and they haven’t lost to the Reds in their last five matches. That could be extended to six.

Getting my weather girl on

This game is no certainty to go ahead, severe tropical cyclone Marcia is baring down the eastern coast line of Australia, and is expected to hit Brisbane right around kick-off on Saturday night. A call on whether or not the game will go ahead will be made at 8am local time in Brisbane (+10 GMT).

Prediction

Recent developments in regards to Karmichael Hunt, the Reds challenge is not only to shake off last week’s thrashing at the hands of the Brumbies, but also to get concerns about their vice-captain out of their heads.

On the other hand the Reds can only play better than they did last week, but the wet weather will play into the hands of the Force, who like to play a tight, forward dominated game. Force by 8.

REDS: James Slipper (capt), Saia Fainga’a, Sam Talakai, Marco Kotze, James Horwill, Adam Thomson, Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, James OConnor, Lachie Turner, Samu Kerevi, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Chris Kuridrani, 15 TBA (likey to be JJ Tuilagi).
Reserves: James Hanson, Ben Daley, Sef Faagase, Tom Murday, Curtis Browning, Nick Frisby, Sam Johnson, Campbell Magnay.

FORCE: Zack Holmes, Luke Morahan, Kyle Godwin, Junior Rasolea, Marcel Brache, Sias Ebersohn, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Chris Alcock, Angus Cottrell, Adam Coleman, Sam Wykes (capt), Tetera Faulkner, Nathan Charles, Francois van Wyk.
Reserves: Heath Tessmann, Chris Heiberg, Oliver Hoskins, Steve Mafi, Brynard Stander, Ian Prior, Luke Burton, Mitchell Scott.

Stormers V Blues

It’s danger time for the Blues, as they head to the Republic for two weeks after losing their season opener at home against the Chiefs. And it won’t be a toothless Stormers outfit awaiting them either. The men from Cape Town knocked over the much-hyped Bulls last week to get their season off to a flyer.

Springbok and Stormers prop Frans Malherbe makes his return from injury, while Test flanker Siya Kolisi and winger Kobus van Wyk may also make their returns. The Blues have an exciting backline, but they failed to fire last week, and the side conceded more clean breaks, metres and offloads than any team in the comp.

Prediction

The Blues will have it tough in Cape Town. If the Stormers perform the same way they did against the the Bulls last week, the Blues will be up against it. The bookies have the Stormers as a heavy favourite, and so do I. Stormers by 12.

STORMERS: Cheslin Kolbe, Johnny Kotze, Juan de Jongh, Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen (capt), Michael Rhodes, Rynhardt Elstadt, Ruan Botha, Jurie van Vuuren, Vincent Koch, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble, Wilco Louw, Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Huw Jones

BLUES: Charles Piutau, Ben Lam, Hamish Northcott, Francis Saili, Tevita Li, Ihaia West, Jimmy Cowan, Jerome Kaino (capt), Brendon O’Connor, Steven Luatua, Hayden Triggs, Josh Bekhuis, Angus Ta’avao, James Parsons, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Matt Moulds, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Braid, Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Bowden, Lolagi Visinia.

Sharks v Lions

The Lions came into 2015 with their typical promising signs of change, but in round one they once again failed to back it up with a loss to the Hurricanes. On the other hand the Sharks – who finished third last year – fell to South Africa’s least favoured team the Cheetahs.

However they finished very strongly and it was only a knock-on over the tryline in the 79th minute that cost them a win, so expect the Sharks to dust themselves off and bounce back here. That said, if they do fall to their perennial underachieving countrymen there will be a lot of worried Sharks fans. And rightly so.

Prediction

On paper, you’d have the Sharks in an easy one, but the boot of Marnitz Boshoff may change that. The Lions will have to work for a full 80 in defence to stand a chance. Sharks by 18.

SHARKS: SP Marais, Odwa Ndungane, Waylon Murray, Heimar Williams, Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Tera Mtembu, Renaldo Bothma, Marcell Coetzee, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lubabalo Mtyanda, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis (capt), Dale Chadwick.
Reserves:Kyle Cooper, Thomas du Toit, Matt Stevens, Marco Wentzel, Jean Deysel, Conrad Hoffmann, Fred Zeilinga, Andre Esterhuizen.

LIONS: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Howard Mnisi, Courtnall Skosan, Marnitz Boshoff, Ross Cronje, Warren Whiteley (capt), Warwick Tecklenburg, Derick Minnie, Franco Mostert, Martin Muller, Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Jacques van Rooyen.
Reserves: Robbie Coetzee, Schalk van der Merwe, Julian Redelinghuys, JP du Preez, Ruaan Lerm, Faf de Klerk, Elton Jantjies,  Harold Vorster

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It’s back! Super Rugby is finally back!

After a long Southern Hemisphere summer, with nothing better on TV than cricket, Super Rugby kicks off season 2015 with fixtures that include some massive local derby matches, such as Reds v Brumbies, Blues v Chiefs, Sharks v Cheetahs and Bulls v Stormers.

Crusaders V Rebels

The Crusaders are set to roll out the heavy artillery as the seven-time Super Rugby champions prepares to host Melbourne in Christchurch on Friday night.

Stung by three successive pre-season trial match losses, slow starts to the season is nothing new for the Crusaders. Coach Todd Blackadder has confirmed they will be playing, Wyatt Crockett, Richie McCaw, Ryan Crotty and Dan Carter against the Rebels.

However, while those four will be a boost to the Christchurch based team, they’ll still be without All Black stars,  Kieran Read, Israel Dagg, Sam Whitelock and Andy Ellis.

On the other hand, Melbourne will have almost a full list to choose from as it chases its first win abroad.

The Rebels have repeatedly gone close to snaring their first scalp in both New Zealand and South Africa but are yet to break through.

While little can, or should be read into pre-season form, the Rebels have had a far better start to the season, which included a 25-18 win over the Reds, where as the Crusaders fell to the Queensland team 35-12.

However, that positive momentum may count for little against a Crusaders team which is yet to show their full-strength team.

Prediction

Lets not beat around the bush. While many pundits will try to make much of trial matches, this is the first match played in anger, you can’t really take on board any more facts than the class of the two teams, and where the match is played. Crusaders by 12.

CRUSADERS (1-15): Joe Moody, Ben Funnell, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Dominic Bird, Richie McCaw, Matt Todd (captain), Luke Whitelock, Mitchell Drummond, Daniel Carter, Johnny McNicholl, Tom Taylor, Kieron Fonotia, Robbie Fruean, Colin Slade.

Reserves: Codie Taylor, Alex Hodgman, Wyatt Crockett, Scott Barrett, Jordan Taufua, Billy Guyton, Ryan Crotty, Nathaniel Apa.

REBELS (1-15): Toby Smith, Pat Leafa, Laurie Weeks, Luke Jones, Lopeti Timani, Sean McMahon, Colby Fainga’a, Scott Higginbotham (c), Nic Stirzaker, Jack Debreczeni, Tom English, Mitch Inman, Tamati Ellison, Dom Shipperley, Mike Harris.

Reserves: Ben Whittaker, Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emile, Sam Jeffries, Scott Fuglistaller, Luke Burgess, Bryce Hegarty, Sefanaia Naivalu.

Reds V Brumbies

After the resurgence of the Reds over the seasons prior to last, many in Australia once considered this match-up to be the biggest, and most important in Australia. With the lack-lustre performance of the Reds in 2014, the gloss surrounding this match has some-what diminished for this season.

The Reds have left their bank manager a nervous wreck over the off season, with big name signings which include, Karmichael Hunt, James O’Connor, Adam Thompson, and ‘The Tongan Thor’.

With the kind of spending which hasn’t been seen in Brisbane for many years, the pressure is on Reds’ coach Richard Graham, a vast majority in Queensland seeing this year as Graham’s last chance. If he doesn’t perform in 2015, it may be the last we see of him for many years to come.

The Reds have had an up and down pre-season which included a loss to the Rebels, and a win over the Crusaders.

Much has been made over who will replace injured Reds fly-half Quade Cooper, but Rugby Leage/AFL/Rugby Union code-hopper Karmicheal Hunt has been given the nod for the opener in Canberra, after an impressive performance against the Crusaders at Ballymore last week, which left the Reds 28-0 up when he came off at half time.

So much has Hunt impressed, the Reds have handed him the vice captaincy in his first season back in rugby.

David Pocock has been named as the Brumbies’ run-on captain for the opener, although coach Stephen Larkham muddied the waters saying the entire squad was fit and available for selection.

That opens the way for Stephen Moore to make a surprising return off the bench as he makes his comeback from a knee reconstruction.

The Brumbies are coming off two losses in the pre-season trials, and this year will be a big test for the Canberra based franchise after losing stalwart forwards coach, and their co-head coach for the 2014 campaign, Laurie Fisher.

If the loss of Fisher has a detrimental affect on the Brumbies pack, it may force head coach, Stephen Larkham to change up the tried-and-true ‘Jake-Ball’ tactics, which have been the Brumbies trade-mark over the last few seasons.

Prediction

The Reds have an impressive line-up this year, and I have little doubt will perform better than they did in 2014. The Brumbies look strong, but may struggle with ‘Jake-Ball’ tactics after the loss of Fisher, Reds by 5.

BRUMBIES (1-15): Scott Sio, Josh Mann-Rea, Ben Alexander, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, David Pocock (c), Jarrad Butler, Nic White (vc), Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane, Christian Lealiifano, Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight, Robbie Coleman.

Reserves: Stephen Moore, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Jordan Smiler, Ita Vaea, Michael Dowsett, James Dargaville, Lausii Taliauli.

REDS (1-15): James Slipper (c), Saia Fainga’a, Sam Talakai, James Horwill, Marco Kotze, Curtis Browning, Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Karmichael Hunt, Lachie Turner, Samu Kerevi, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Chris Kuridrani, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.

Reserves: James Hanson, Ben Daley, Sef Faagase, Ed O’Donoghue, Adam Korczyk, Nick Frisby, Duncan Paia’aua, Campbell Magnay.

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Apparently, life at Toulon isn’t all rainbows, sunshine and million € contracts. Not only is Mourad Boudjellal threatening to tear up Leigh Halfpenny’s contract because the Welsh goal-kicking replacement for Johnny Wilkinson dared to sustain an injury.

Now, Boudjellal has threatened legal action over stars still on international duty in The Rugby Championship if they don’t return to Toulon to take part in this weekend’s Top14 competition.

Boudjellal is threatening Argentine star Juan Martin Fernández Lobbe and Springboks Bryan Habana and Bakkies Botha if they don’t return to play Brive this weekend.

According to ESPN, Boudjellal has threatened to not pay his stars if they refuse to return and has also issued an ultimatum, even threatening court action in France.

All three stars are with their respective squads preparing for the matches next weekend with Argentina set to host the All Blacks and the Springboks ready to host the Wallabies. But Boudjellal believes he has rights to his players this weekend and is prepared to take them to court.

“There is something that is quite simple – they defend the colours of their country and are paid rather comfortably by Toulon,” Boudjellal told French media. “The IRB decided the rules. That’s fine but I’m not here to fund South African and Argentine rugby and I will not.

“These players will return as we need them. If they do not and we receive no fee, they will not be paid by us because they will not be present in Toulon. We’ll see if the rules of the IRB prevail or if it is the rules of the Labour Code for French private enterprise. In any case, it is an aberration.

“We have reached a stage where we have to ask the opinion of the French law. Therefore, we will ask the French judges whether a foreign federation has the right to take my employees and force me to pay them. It’s just unthinkable we have players who are paid very well by us but cannot play them. Moreover, I have to pay the players replacing them. This is a double sanction.”

This power-mad behaviour on threatening legal action over Halfpenny, and the three southern hemisphere stars is a carry-on from Boudjellal – not so subtle threat to the Queensland Reds over star recruit James O’Connor.

The Reds believe they have signed O’Connor on a two-year contract, but the Toulon boss was having non of that, saying that his star utility back would return to France once the Rugby World Cup was complete.

“We always said James O’Connor had signed for three years at Toulon with a possible six months absence during the season to be able to play in the World Cup … so we respect what has been signed … He is committed for two years after the Cup,” Boudjellal told Radio Monte Carlo.

And what should be a worry for the Reds, is that Boudjellal doesn’t like to be told “no”.

However, there is one thing the billionaire is planning that the rugby world is looking forward to. A potential match-up between the Heineken Cup champions and the Super Rugby champions.

While this match has been planned in the past, and has fallen through for various reasons, out of all previous attempts, this is more likely than ever before to go ahead because of the precarious financial situation the ARU has found themselves in, in recent years. 

That would be a mouth-watering match-up that will be talked about for years to come, however, the banter is bound to surround who’s match-fit and who’s in the middle of pre-season.

Editorial note
Boudjellal may have made his fortune in comic books, but it doesn’t mean he needs to behave like a comic book character.

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Despite being previously linked with a lucrative move to Stade Francais, Australian scrum half Will Genia looks set to join Bath, as per today’s Daily Telegraph. 

After the Premiership loosened their stance on foreign ‘marquee’ signings, allowing their clubs to sign an additional player who is excluded from the clubs’ salary cap to be signed on the proviso that they haven’t played in the Premiership in the twelve months previous to their signing, Bath-who have already paid a pretty penny to acquire South Sydney Rabbitoh’s Rugby League star, Sam Burgess- made their move for the fifty five time capped Wallaby Genia.

As well as voting to change their laws on an additional marquee position for each club to sign, the Premiership Owners & Shareholders meeting on Wednesday also saw the ratification of an increase of each clubs salary allowance, which will rise next season by £500,000 from £5 million to £5.5 million.

The rationale behind the increase in each teams salary cap is according, to the Premiership CEO, Mark McCafferty, to stop the flow of indigenous players seeking more lucrative deals in League’s such as France and Japan.

Also, McCafferty says there is a correlation between the advent of BT Sports’ new broadcasting deal with the Premiership, as well as the revenue yielded from the Rugby Champions Cup, and the increase in each teams financial parameters.

Ultimately, though, it is McCafferty’s assertion that new regulations are aimed at producing even more talent for the English National pool, claming that clubs are  “100 per cent” behind the Rugby Football Union’s policy of only selecting players from the Premiership and insisted the rise of the cap was also key in helping the strength of Stuart Lancaster’s England team.

Article Source: The Telegraph

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The Queensland Reds’ have today confirmed that they have signed Youtube sensation, Taniela Tupou, for the 2015 Super Rugby season.

The tight-head prop, who rose to prominence thanks to his barnstorming performances for Auckland Sacred Heart College, will likely become Australian eligible in the near future and, on the strength of the video footage, the Wallabies and, indeed, the Reds have unearthed a gem.

Quite how a man that size that can move that quick baffles us here at RBP.

Youtube Credit: Queensland Reds.

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James O’Connor is clearly a wanted man with both the Reds and his current club, Toulon, claiming that Australian utility back will play for their club after the World Cup.

Last week, O’Connor announced that he would be joining the Queensland Reds in advance of the 2015 World Cup to secure a place in the Wallabies World Cup squad.

Upon the announcement, the Reds claimed that O’Connor had signed a two year deal which would keep him at the Suncorp Stadium until 2016.

However, contrary to the Reds’ statement, Toulon President, Mourad Boudjellal, has claimed that O’Connor has signed a three year deal with the Mediterranean side, with O’Connor being allowed to return to Australia for six months to try and claim an Australian squad berth.

In an interview with RMC Radio,  Boudjellal was confident that the Australian’s future is at the Stade Mayol.

“We always said that James signed a three-year deal with a possible six month absence to be able to play in the World Cup, so we respect what was signed.”

“He’s signed on for two years after the World Cup, ” said the millionaire comic publisher.

Despite Boudjellal’s claims, the Reds’ Chief Executive, Jim Carmichael, maintains that O’Connor’s post World Cup season will be at the Reds’

“In the interest of all parties, I’m not going to discuss the detail of any players’ contract.

“However, I’m completely satisfied that the agreement we have set is in the best interests of the QRU, the Reds, Australian Rugby and James O’Connor,” said Carmichael.

Article Source: Planet Rugby.

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According to London Welsh centre/fly half Tom May, who also works as a Rugby pundit for BT Sports,  Queensland Reds and Australia scrum half Will Genia has been in negotiations with Stade Francais, regarding a move to the Top 14.

Genia, when on form, is one of the world’s foremost scrum halves and securing his signature would prove a major coup for the Parisians, who, in David Lyons, Hugh Pyle, Digby Ioane & Richard Kingi, already have a sizable Australian contingent at the club.

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The Highlanders and Crusaders will be battling over the top of the New Zealand conference and the Sharks hoping to jag second place, there’s still plenty to play for.

Crusaders Vs. Highlanders

Depending on results between the Stormers v Sharks, a win should be enough to secure second place and a home semi-final for the Crusaders. The Highlanders need a bonus point win to have any hope at all of taking second overall and top place in the Kiwi conference.

The winner of this game should have next week off before hosting a sudden death play-off at home. Both teams are without key players, with All Blacks fullback Ben Smith still laid low by an infected leg which had him on a drip in a Sydney hospital for three days after Sunday’s loss to the Waratahs. The Crusaders will also be without their skipper, with Richie McCaw given another week to recover from a rib injury suffered in last month’s Test series against England.

The Crusaders are one of the form teams at the moment and will be difficult to beat at home, where as the Highlander’s away form has been poor, recent heavy defeats at the hands of the Reds in Brisbane and the Tahs in Sydney does not fill us with confidence when it comes to picking a winner in today’s match.

Because of this we’re tipping the Crusaders to win by 14.

Reds Vs. Waratahs

The Tahs have already locked up the minor premiership, and the Reds have no hope of making the finals. Either way, no team is taking is as a dead rubber. As much as the Brumbies fans try to argue it, this is still the biggest rivalry in Australian rugby with 131 years of history behind the fixture.

As a sign of how seriously both sides take this match, even with top place on the table sewn up, the Waratahs said they will not rest any players for the clash. However, injury got in the way of those plans with Israel Folau out with a corked thigh.

The Reds will be keen to keep their record against the Tahs (one loss in the last four years) where as the Sydney siders will want to keep their momentum up leading into their home semi in a fortnight with their seventh straight win.

The Tahs will be keen to dispel the tag that they’re nothing more than Israel Folau with 14 others on the field, having only won, one of three games without him this year and lost just two out of 11 with him.

Despite a loss last week to the Force, the Reds have still found a rare patch of form for themselves at the back end of this season, and playing at home in their last match of the season will no doubt give them a boost. However, even without Folau, the Tahs still have an extremely strong backline, because of this we’re tipping the Tahs by 8.

Lions Vs. Cheetahs

One for only the die hard rugby fans. Second last plays third last, however the pressure of avoiding the wooden spoon is off with Rebels getting thrashed by the Bulls yesterday.

However, motivation won’t be in short supply, the new Super Rugby format with 18 teams doesn’t come into effect until 2016, so the team with the conference wooden-spoon in their pot will end up in a promotion/relegation match against the Kings later this year.

The Lions surged late to down the lowly Rebels last week, while the Cheetahs lifted after the return of their Springboks to stun the conference-topping Sharks. The Lions have won five of their seven home games this year – only losing to the conference-leading Crusaders and Sharks – and that fact alone should help them scramble over the line.

Because of this, we’re tipping the Lions to get there on the boot of Jantjies and Boshoff, Lions by 6.

 Stormers Vs. Sharks

After a blazing start to the season, the Sharks have gone of the boil losing their last two games to surrender the competition lead.

The Jake White coached team is guaranteed play-off action and can still re-take second place, but need to realistically win with a bonus point, while hoping the Crusaders fall short of the same feat at home to the Highlanders to nab a home semi-final and next week off.

They shouldn’t expect any South African favours, with the Stormers finding a purple patch of form at the back end of the season, running high on a four match winning streak, which includes beating the Sharks in Durban just before the June international break.

With the Sharks coming off the boil, and the Stormers in red hot form, we think this game will be extremely close. I’m tipping the Stormers at home by 3.

What’s your predictions?

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