Super Rugby News

[Stargazer]

@PN Playing in Japan, is only an off-season thing for players of NZ, SA or Aussie franchises. For Japanese players, this is their domestic competition! No doubt there are Ferners who can explain this better. A lot of the Sunwolves' players are selected and signed from Top League clubs.

[gt12]

@Stargazer

It's one reason why the SWs can't really run out a great team - there is a lot more talent there either not allowed or not willing to take on Super rugby - these guys get their salaries from the companies, and like pretty much all Japanese, are at their mercy.

Personally, I think the SWs would have been much stronger if they had just promoted one team (Panasonic, Suntory, or Toshiba). That sounds mad but I think those teams would roll over the SWs.

In good news those, it seems like the SWs are going to get a better shake in the next year or so (or so I was told by a friend who is much more into JP footy than I).

[Stargazer]

Waisake Naholo has re-signed with the Highlanders for another year. Yes, one year!

[Tim]

Wise man. Obviously he got my warning about the 2018 Chiefs.

[Stargazer]

Just heard on Post-Match after Crusaders v Highlanders:
there is a strong rumour going around that Gareth Evens has signed with the Hurricanes! Replacing Callum Gibbins?

[Siam]

There were three yellow cards I saw on the weekend from head/arm/shoulder contacts
I'm of the opinion that all 3 could have been a penalty and a reminder/warning to be careful. Probably not in this day and age

However theses were very close to the "accidental, yet willing, contact" side of things.

Call them yellow? So be it

But it risks heading down a rabbit hole where any body vs head contact can conceivably result in 14 v 15 for 10 minutes.

There could (should?) be a lot of them - not so good

[pakman]

This is worthy of it's own thread. I'd add that a lot of issues are cropping up in double tackles.
In single tackles a trailing arm/leading shoulder is an indicator of reckless/foul play, quite reasonably in my view.
However, in double tackles it is quite usual for at least one tackler's arm to be impeded by the other tackler, resulting in leading shoulder.
Jack O'Piper quite naturally did not feel that Cane tackle in Stormers match was reckless or malicious. But TMO (no doubt correctly) cited the arbitrary protocols, which mandate yellow in such cases.
Kaino suffered in a similar way, although S O'B after four hours of discussion was ruled accidental.
Urgent protocol revision, please.

[Kruse]

@pakman @Siam - a lot of people have raised the idea of some sort of penalty between "free-kick penalty" and "yellow card" - to be used in these cases where it's clearly accidental head contact, not really reckless - but avoidable.
Perhaps a 5-minute yellow?

[SammyC]

Good boys! Loyalty right here

Particularly stoked about funnel, he's an excellent back up to Taylor

https://crusaders.co.nz/news/1134-front-row-re-signs-with-bnz-crusaders

[Stargazer]

@SammyC That media release also answers a question someone asked a while ago about Jager's eligibility. The media release says that he's been here since (early) 2014, so that means he's now NZ eligible.

[Bones]

@SammyC I do enjoy the irony of an overseas player being loyal to a new club

[SammyC]

@Bones said in Super Rugby News:

@SammyC I do enjoy the irony of an overseas player being loyal to a new club

Don't you support the highlanders? How many of them are from Otago?

Was talking about the other 2 anyway.. both have been here a few years now and you would understand if they looked for a starting opportunity elsewhere.

[Tim]

@SammyC said in Super Rugby News:

Don't you support the highlanders?

[Bones]

@SammyC Hah, I'm not quite sure what who I support has to do with it! Nor where they're from....besides I started supporting when they were the Hurrilanders

[Bones]

@Tim said in Super Rugby News:

@SammyC said in Super Rugby News:

Don't you support the highlanders?

Pipe down over there in the North Harbour All Blacks supporters club.

[Tim]

@Bones Bryn Gatland 2018. Write it in your diary.

[Bones]

@Tim Him and Smylie will astonish us all, what a combo.

[KiwiMurph]

@Bones I was thinking Gatland and Hall - Bryn-sanity

[Bones]

@KiwiMurph I couldn't decide if Hall was Northland or NH.

[Higgins]

Did I hear correctly on the Radio Sport 6.00pm news that the Hurricanes have signed Toby Smith for two seasons? Surely there must be better options out there than him.