Super Rugby News
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2018 Blues squad is:
Hookers: Leni Apisai, Matt Moulds, James Parsons.
Front row: Alex Hodgman, Sione Mafileo, Pauliasi Manu, Isaac Salmon, Mike Tamoaieta, Ofa Tuungafasi.
Locks: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Josh Goodhue, Scott Scrafton, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jimmy Tupou
Loose forwards: Blake Gibson, Akira Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Dalton Papalii, Glenn Preston, Kara Pryor, Murphy Taramai.
Halfbacks: Sam Nock, Augustine Puli, Jonathan Ruru.
First Five: Otere Black/Daniel Kirkpatrick, Bryn Gatland, Stephen Perofeta.
Midfield: Matt Johnson, George Moala, Tamati Tua, TJ Faiane, Sonny Bill Williams.
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, Melanie Nanai, Jordan Trainor.
Wellington first five Otere Black, who announced his move to the Blues recently, will be out for the season after suffering an ACL injury and will be replaced by experienced first five Daniel Kirkpatrick, who has returned after several years playing in France. Likewise inspirational loose forward Blake Gibson will be out for the first part of the Super season in recovery from an operation on his shoulder.Blues Rugby
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2018 Crusaders squad:
FORWARDS
Michael Alaalatoa
Scott Barrett
Ethan Blackadder
Wyatt Crockett
Mitchell Dunshea
Owen Franks
Ben Funnell
Billy Harmon
Oliver Jager
Andrew Makalio
Joe Moody
Tim Perry
Kieran Read
Luke Romano
Pete Samu
Tom Sanders
Quinten Strange
Jordan Taufua
Codie Taylor
Matt Todd
Sam WhitelockBACKS
Tim Bateman
George Bridge
Ryan Crotty
Israel Dagg
Mike Delany
Mitchell Drummond
Brayden Ennor
Jack Goodhue
Bryn Hall
David Havili
Mitchell Hunt
Will Jordan
Jone Macilai
Manasa Mataele
Richie Mo'unga
Jack Stratton
Seta TamanivaluOf the 21 forwards named in the side, two are new to Super Rugby and one player, Tom Sanders, returns to Christchurch to join the squad. (...) The two new loose forwards joining the squad are Canterbury’s Billy Harmon and Ta$man’s Ethan Blackadder. (...) In the backs, Canterbury halfback Jack Stratton joins the squad in 2018, after Ere Enari was ruled out for the season when he broke his leg in the last round-robin match of the Mitre 10 Cup. (...) Braydon Ennor and Will Jordan both debuted in the Mitre 10 Cup this season, for Canterbury and Ta$man respectively, and have been named as two new outside backs in the squad. (...) Mike Delany, who played for the Highlanders and Chiefs between the 2007 and 2012 seasons and earned one test cap for the All Blacks in 2009, also joins the squad - as an option at either first five-eighth or fullback.http://crusaders.co.nz/news/1158-seven-new-names-in-2018-bnz-crusaders-squad
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@stargazer said in Super Rugby News:
2018 Crusaders squad:
FORWARDS
Michael Alaalatoa
Scott Barrett
Ethan Blackadder
Wyatt Crockett
Mitchell Dunshea
Owen Franks
Ben Funnell
Billy Harmon
Oliver Jager
Andrew Makalio
Joe Moody
Tim Perry
Kieran Read
Luke Romano
Pete Samu
Tom Sanders
Quinten Strange
Jordan Taufua
Codie Taylor
Matt Todd
Sam WhitelockBACKS
Tim Bateman
George Bridge
Ryan Crotty
Israel Dagg
Mike Delany
Mitchell Drummond
Brayden Ennor
Jack Goodhue
Bryn Hall
David Havili
Mitchell Hunt
Will Jordan
Jone Macilai
Manasa Mataele
Richie Mo'unga
Jack Stratton
Seta TamanivaluOf the 21 forwards named in the side, two are new to Super Rugby and one player, Tom Sanders, returns to Christchurch to join the squad. (...) The two new loose forwards joining the squad are Canterbury’s Billy Harmon and Ta$man’s Ethan Blackadder. (...) In the backs, Canterbury halfback Jack Stratton joins the squad in 2018, after Ere Enari was ruled out for the season when he broke his leg in the last round-robin match of the Mitre 10 Cup. (...) Braydon Ennor and Will Jordan both debuted in the Mitre 10 Cup this season, for Canterbury and Ta$man respectively, and have been named as two new outside backs in the squad. (...) Mike Delany, who played for the Highlanders and Chiefs between the 2007 and 2012 seasons and earned one test cap for the All Blacks in 2009, also joins the squad - as an option at either first five-eighth or fullback.http://crusaders.co.nz/news/1158-seven-new-names-in-2018-bnz-crusaders-squad
Fukafuka not there thankfully, glad we've managed to hold on to Stratton
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So the Crusaders no longer have Jed Brown (injured), Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Sione Fifita, Leon Fukofuka (de-listed?), Sean Wainui, Marty McKenzie and Digby Ioane. Instead they've signed Billy Harmon, Tom Sanders, Ethan Blackadder, Mike Delany, Brayden Ennor, Will Jordan and Jack Stratton (for injured Ere Enari).
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@sammyc yeah I like the look of Stratton!
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@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby News:
@sammyc yeah I like the look of Stratton!
Me too, he's a real general at club level... directs his team around the park with real maturity. We've seen glimpses of that this year for the Prov Barbarians and Canterbury.
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2018 Highlanders squad:
Backs:
Ben Smith, Josh McKay, Tevita Li, Waisake Naholo, Tevita Nabura, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Richard Buckman, Patelesio Tomkinson, Matt Faddes, Rob Thompson, Teihorangi Walden, Lima Sopoaga, Fletcher Smith, Josh Ioane, Josh Renton, Kayne Hammington, Aaron SmithForwards:
Luke Whitelock, Liam Squire, Elliott Dixon, Shannon Frizell, Dillon Hunt, James Lentjens, Dan Pryor, Alex Ainley, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Josh Dickson, Pari Pari Parkinson, Kalolo Tuiloma, Siate Tokolahi, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Tyrel Lomax, Aki Seiuli, Guy Millar, Ash Dixon, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Liam Coltman. -
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@tim said in Super Rugby News:
@wurzel Tom Sanders, Brayden Ennor, and Will Jordan seem like really good signings.
Was surprised that Sanders got so little game time with the Chiefs this year. I'd expect him to start at 6 for the Crusaders?
Taufua will start at 6, he's consistently been one of the best Crusaders for the last couple of years.
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@stargazer said in Super Rugby News:
Sione Fifita
Fifita was unlucky for his two years at the Crusaders, Always injured. hardly saw him at NPC level as well. I hope he can get over his injuries and show how good he can be.
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2018 Chiefs squad (for who can't read those little letters on that picture):
PROP
Mitchell Graham
Kane Hames
Sosefo Kautai
Nepo Laulala
Atunaisa Moli
Aidan RossHOOKER
Nathan Harris
Liam Polwart
Samisoni Taukei'ahoLOCK
Michael Allardice
Dominic Bird
Mitchell Brown (also loose forward)
Fin Hoeata
Brodie Retallick
Taleni Seu (also loose forward)LOOSE FORWARD
Tyler Ardron
Lachlan Boshier
Sam Cane
Luke Jacobson
Mitchell Karpik
Liam MessamHALFBACK
Te Torioa Tahuriorangi
Brad Weber
Jonathan TaumateineFIRST-FIVE EIGHTH
Tiaan Falcon
Damian McKenzieMIDFIELDER
Johnny Fa'auli
Anton Lienert-Brown
Alex Nankivell
Charlie Ngatai
Regan VerneyWING
Sam McNicol
Toni Pulu
Levi AumuaFULLBACK
Solomon Alaimalo
Marty McKenzie (also first five eighth)
Tim Nanai-Williams
Shaun Stevenson -
@stargazer Think there may be a mistake in the wing department.
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@stargazer Plus other McKenzie presumably at first-five (but hopefully never on the field)
