She Knows The Super 14
The football season is about to begin and for some this maybe confusing as to what team plays for what league. Never fear SKTR is here. We are going to begin with Australian Rugby Union (aka Union or ARU). The tournament is called the Super 14 and below are some facts and figures to help get you started.
The Super 14 is the largest provincial Rugby Union Tournament championship in the southern hemisphere. It consists of fourteen teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The tournament is unique in that it is played across many time zones and often matches are played when visiting teams supporters are asleep.
The Super 14 as we now know it is an expanded version of the Super 12 which started in 1996. For the 2006 season the tournament was expanded from 12 teams to 14 teams. The tournament is now broadcasted in 41 countries.
Below is a list of the teams and their nation.
• Blues Rugby, New Zealand
• Bulls, South Africa
• Crusaders, Australia
• Hurricanes, Australia
• Stormers, South Africa
• Brumbies, Australia
• Waratahs, Australia
• Chiefs, Australia
• Sharks, South Africa,
• Reds, Australia
• Western Force, Australia
• Lions, South Africa
• Highlanders, Australia
• Cheetahs, South Africa
Here are some basic rules and facts to help you kick-start your footy fever!
THE GAME
Each match lasts for 80 minutes plus time added to account for injuries and stoppages during the game.
A match consists of two halves of 40 minutes each. It is controlled by a single referee on the field of play, two assistant referees (touch judges), and in professional matches, a match official called the video referee/television match official (TMO) who can use television replays to rule on a particular incident.
SCORING
Points are scored by either scoring a try or a goal.
A try is only scored when the player takes the ball across the goal line and grounds the ball. Grounding happens when the ball is on the ground and the player's hand/torso is on the ball. This 'try' is worth 5 points.
A goal is scored by kicking the ball between the uprights and above the crossbar of the goal posts.
There are three ways to score a goal:
1. A dropped goal (scored in open play where the ball must hit the ground immediately before it is kicked);
2. A penalty goal (awarded after the opposing side infringes against the laws of rugby and may be kicked from a stationary ground position or by drop kick);
3. A conversion (awarded after a try is scored) by either a drop kick or a place kick. A penalty or dropped goal is worth 3 points; a conversion is worth 2 points.
OFFSIDE
Any player who is part of the attacking team must be behind the ball to take an active part in the game. A player taking up a position between the ball carrier and the opposition goal is offside and may not join the game or interfere with play.
TACKLING
A tackled player must either pass or release the ball otherwise a foul is called. Releasing the ball allows the opposition to contest possession of the loose ball in open play. Play continues like this until a rule is broken or the ball goes out of play.
RUCKS AND MAULS
When a player is tackled, players from both their side and the opposition will form either a contest called either a ‘ruck’ or ‘maul’. A maul is formed when the tackled player does not go to ground. A ruck is formed when the player does go to ground with each side attempting to push each other off the ball.
SCRUM
A scrum is formed with eight members (forwards) of each side. It usually occurs following an error from one side. It involves players “packing down” in a set formation and attempting to push one another off the ball.
LINEOUT
A lineout is formed when the ball or player carrying the ball travels over the sideline. A selection of players from each side will line up perpendicular to the sideline at the point at which the ball/player went out of play and with one nominated player throwing the ball into the lineout. Players receiving the ball in the lineout may be lifted in the air by their team members.
Fast Fact
Most cricket grounds have the pitch running north to south. This is so the setting sun doesn’t get in the batsmen’s eyes.
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The teams list here is very wrong, although the other information seems good. Here is the correct list
• Blues Rugby, New Zealand
• Bulls, South Africa
• Crusaders, New Zealand
• Hurricanes, New Zealand
• Stormers, South Africa
• Brumbies (ACT), Australia
• Waratahs (NSW), Australia
• Chiefs, New Zealand
• Sharks, South Africa,
• Reds (QLD), Australia
• Western Force (WA), Australia
• Lions, South Africa
• Highlanders, New Zealand
• Cheetahs, South Africa