Super 15

[Aucklander]

Chiefs will host the Super Rugby final after the Sharks upset the Stormers.

 

[krisholio14]

Two years in a row the Stormers have choked it up now.

 

[Bobby P]

Very happy to see Pocock pulling on the blue white and yellow. A few less injuries and we will be right up there again.

 

[S120]

Michael Foley has resigned (not re-signed) as Tahs coach. Looks to be off to the Force.

Think it will end up being a good development for the Tahs if they secure Michael Cheika.

 

[Lions1024]

I heard that a certain high-profile Waratah has threatened to leave, and done so quite publicly, if a certain coach isn't brought in. Pocock has also made it quite clear to the Force about the coach that he prefers for next season. Connect the dots.

Source was 100% accurate. I was told that Pocock had made it clear that it was either Cheika or Mulvihill or he was out. The Force ruled out Mulvihill almost immediately, leaving Cheika the only coach that Pocock wanted to play under. I was also told that Nick Farr-Jones was discontent with Michael Foley over his lack of accountability and threatened to leave if Cheika was not brought in as coach as the Force had indicated that they were keen to sign him.

Pocock has left the Force, the Force didn't get Cheika and after the events of today it seems that Nick Farr-Jones took it upon himself to interfere with the runnings of the Waratahs and sack Zemancheff and Foley. Cheika will be appointed in the next few days I would imagine.

 

[Aucklander]

Congrats to the Mighty Chiefs of the Waikato and surrounds. 2012 Super Rugby Champs.

 

[Lions1024]

Chiefs absolutely deserved it, it was a clinical performance. Although you have to feel for the Sharks having to travel around the world twice in the space of a few weeks.

 

[Lions1024]

I've also been told that the Tahs have been systematically rorting the salary cap. Will be interesting to see how the ARU will deal with this.

 

[chargers 09]

I've also been told that the Tahs have been systematically rorting the salary cap. Will be interesting to see how the ARU will deal with this.

Hasn't done them any good, how much are they paying Pretorius?

 

[Lions1024]

Hasn't done them any good, how much are they paying Pretorius?

I'm not sure, but I was at the Sunnybank v University game yesterday with a lot of ARU personnel and that's the only thing they were talking about. Apparently they've been paying a couple of players through local clubs under "ground hire", very similar to what the Storm did. Not quite sure who the players but I now suspect that's the reason why Ed Zemanchaff has left.

 

[Lions1024]

Talk is Southern Districts is one of the teams involved, Rob Horne and Timani are the players involved for them. Some of the players may find themselves in a bit of trouble with the ATO aswell. I have a sneaky suspicion that University is another team involved. It's a lot more widespread than I thought. For all we know the Tahs could be paying all of their players a portion outside the cap.

The penalty will really be interesting. The ARU can't dock any future/past points since it doesn't control Super Rugby and the other two countries don't enforce a salary cap. A reduction in the salary cap will kill the Tahs as they'll have to release some of their top-line stars. So you'd think the most they'll get is a massive fine and maybe the dismissal of some senior officials? I don't think it's going to sit well with the other provinces especially the Reds. Earlier this year, the Waratahs threw the house at Liam Gill and the Reds had to significantly overpay him and led to the departure of Higginbotham. It all makes sense now the we know that the Tahs were/are cheating because the money they were offering to Gill was ridiculous.

 

[Bobby P]

Trust the filthy tahs to cheat.