Super Rugby News
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@African-Monkey I thought Bryn Hall signed for two years with the Crusaders?
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@African-Monkey Only if the Crusaders no longer want him, which is unlikely, considering he's getting regular starts. Hall himself has said about a month ago that he'd like to stay. Unless that has suddenly changed, of course ...
I can imagine that Fukofuka will just be there for injury cover again next year and then be dropped at the end of the season. He may battle with Enari for third spot. For Enari it would be a development year; not sure he's ready to be the 2nd halfback in 2018.
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@African-Monkey In theory - given that we haven't had to use either of Fifita or Macilai all season - we could carry four halfbacks in the squad for a season.
Be better if we could offload Fukofuka to someone else - for him and us if he was going to be 4th string (though of course it's only my perception that Enari and even Stratton are better options).
I'd be disappointed to lose Hall - after being pretty luke-warm about him coming. He and Drummond have worked quite well as a tandem pair - serviceable at least - and no guarantee that pairing someone new (especially a rookie) with Drummond would work as well.
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how shit is this week for the BLues.
Have they played since the Lions game? So they now get 1 more game, out of contention and get to play the Sunwolves...
Man this break has really killed the momentum of super rugby, interesting to see if it affects the other KIwi teams in contention.
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@taniwharugby They played a friendly last week against a local side in Japan. The core group of the Blues have been in Japan since last week.
I don't think Rieko is travelling across - which in my opinion is the right call - the dude needs a break. I don't see the benefit in sending him across to Japan when he has been ill and his travel and playing schedule have been extreme in the leadup to last week. Let him R & R.
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@taniwharugby I posted this in the Blues thread, yesterday:
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The Chiefs are set to resume their Super Rugby campaign without three key All Blacks, with Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane and Anton Lienert-Brown likely to be rested from this weekend's final-round regular season match. Fellow All Blacks squad members Nathan Harris, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden and Damian McKenzie will all likely suit up to face the Brumbies in Hamilton on Saturday evening ...There haven't been any new injuries crop up in the time off, but Rennie confirmed Taleni Seu, Sam McNicol and Toni Pulu would all miss the rest of the season. Lock/loose forward Seu fractured his forearm last month, utility back McNicol is still feeling some effects of the concussion suffered on May 19 against the Crusaders, and winger Pulu injured his knee against the Lions. -
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@Bovidae said in Super Rugby News:
From that article Naholo could only be in NZ for the 2018 season, whoever he signs for.
He is doing what all players do: keeping his options open if not in RWC 2019 plans. Stays for 2018 and see what happens. If not in AB plans: hello France. He would be highly sought after. His game is not complete but below international level he is dial-a-try.
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@Tim There are rumours that his younger brother Kini is going to the Chiefs, too. Not sure when he turned 18, but he wasn't named in the Hurricanes U18 squad. His name wasn't on the Chiefs U18 list though. I assume he'll play at the U19 tourney this year & it will be telling which province he'll play for; I expect it to be a Chiefs' province.
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@KiwiMurph First Fekitoa, then Li, next Collins. Any other superstars you want us to prove the potential of?
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There has been a tweak in the playoff format, which has problems too.
For the NZ teams, finishing 3rd in the NZC maybe an advantage over 2nd as although this would mean a trip to SA your reward is a home SF if you win that game and the overall no.2 seed also loses.
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Lions news
Swys de Bruin, current assistant coach to Johan Ackerman, has been appointed as the new head coach, taking over from Ackers next season. Also keeping the core of the players next season as well, and no his son is not joining him Gloucester.
Lions players: Warren Whiteley, Albertus Smith, Andries Coetzee, Andries Ferreira (renewed), Anthony Volminck, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Corné Fourie, Courtnall Skosan (renewed), Cyle Brink, Dillon Smit (renewed), Dylan Smith, Elton Jantjies, Francois Mostert, Harold Vorster, Howard Mnisi, Jaco Kriel, Jaco van der Walt (renewed), Jacques van Rooyen (renewed), Johannes Jonker, Justin Ackerman (renewed), Lionel Mapoe (renewed), Lourens Erasmus, Malcolm Marx (renewed), Marvin Orie, Robbie Coetzee, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Ross Cronjé, Ruan Ackermann, Ruan Combrinck, Ruan Dreyer, Shaun Reynolds, Sithembiso Sithole, Sylvian Mahuza (renewed).
And on that note....C'mon CANES!!!!
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The Hurricanes have moved swiftly to future-proof their championship-winning team by retaining four leading players.
They include new All Blacks Ngani Laumape, signed for two more seasons, and Vaea Fifita, who has committed through to 2020.
Laumape and Fifita join midfielder Matt Proctor and lock Geoff Cridge in inking new deals.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11889655
