Super Rugby News

[Stargazer]

@tim They never announce their squads on the same day, do they?

[Tim]

@stargazer No idea. G&GR were speculating on the squads yesterday.

[Stargazer]

2018 Hurricanes squad:

PROP
Chris Eves
Alex Fidow
Reg Goodes
Ben May
Toby Smith
Jeffrey To'omaga-Allen

HOOKER
Asafo Aumua
Dane Coles
Ricky Riccitelli

LOCK
James Blackwell (also loose forward)
Murray Douglas
Michael Fatialofa
Sam Lousi
Isaia Walker-Leawere

LOOSE FORWARD
Gareth Evans
Vaea Fifita (also lock)
Sam Henwood
Reed Prinsep
Ardie Savea
Brad Shields
Blade Thomson

HALFBACK
Jamie Booth
Finlay Christie
TJ Perenara

FIRST-FIVE EIGHTH
Beauden Barrett
Jackson Garden-Bachop (also fullback)
TJ Va'a
Ihaia West

MIDFIELDER
Wes Goosen
Ngani Laumape
Jonah Lowe

WING
Vince Aso
Ben Lam
Matt Proctor (also fullback)
Julian Savea

FULLBACK
Jordie Barrett (also midfield)
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Peter Umaga-Jensen

(positions based on squad guide, except Walker-Leawere, who was written down as a prop)

[Steven Harris]

Geoff Cridge...?

[Higgins]

Why the continued love affair with TJ Va'a. He wasn't even in the Wellington Mitre10 Cup squad this year, Daniel Kirkpatrick was though! Four first fives seems waaaaaaay over the top.

[Stargazer]

@steven-harris said in Super Rugby News:

Geoff Cridge...?

Another long-term injury. Has really bad luck, that lad. But also no Renton, who's fit and played well during Mitre 10 Cup.

[Higgins]

@steven-harris said in Super Rugby News:

Geoff Cridge...?

Never been a supporter of Cridge, mainly because he was permanently injured but having watched Walker-Leawere a few times playing for Poneke you could say that I did not see what the selectors see in him and am unsure whether he is better player than Cridge. I know I would have both ahead of James Blackwell though.

[Tim]

The TAB has wasted no time in posting their first odds. Seems that the Lions are the only non-NZ team they rate.

1 Crusaders 4.50
2 Hurricanes 4.50
3 Lions 6.00
4 Chiefs 7.00
5 Highlanders 7.00
6 Blues 10.00
7 Brumbies 15.00
8 Stormers 15.00
9 Waratahs 21.00
10 Bulls 21.00
11 Shark 31.00
12 Jaguares 41.00
13 Reds 41.00
14 Rebels 101.00
15 Sunwolves 501.00

[Higgins]

Well they rate the Sunwolves a better chance of winning than I do. I would have them at 5000001.00 and still not lose any sleep over it.

[akan004]

Has Frizell been picked up by anyone?

[Tim]

@akan004 Highlanders.

[akan004]

@tim Thanks Tim. Just noticed that.

[Stargazer]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/98544853/cory-brown-joins-highlanders-coaching-staff

[Tim]

Antonio Kirikiri has been called into the Blues as injury cover for Pryor and Gibson.

Varsity do the double

University has completed a notable double in clinching the premier men s Cup title at the Auckland Club Sevens...

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim I'm OK with Kiri Kiri as a quik, .attacking loosie (similar type of player to Pryer) but what does Matt Matich have to do to get a chance? His tackling stats are over 90%, Kiri Kiri's are 80% and he supports and carries often and effectively.

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy Apparently Matich has been called into the Chiefs as injury cover. Also, Kirikiri is more of a 7 than Matich?

[Bovidae]

Mitch Brown is the only Chief that I am aware of who is injured (he had surgery for a cartilage tear in his knee in August). I would have chosen Manihera or Tucker as they can fill the same role.

[ARHS]

@bovidae

Read that Tucker was unavailable for NZ Marist game due to an overseas offer. This is what makes me angry at the Chiefs, readily recruiting from outside the franchise area while local players of similar quality are overlooked and then look elsewhere. Surprised that Bedwell-Curtis not wanted ahead of Kirikiri though.

[Tim]

@arhs Kirikiri probably called in as he lives, and plays club rugby, in Auckland, and this is probably just short-term training cover.

[Bovidae]

@arhs

I agree. I was unimpressed with Verney's selection. Sure, he might originally be from Taranaki but they could have chosen a midfield back from C-M, Waikato or BOP. Same for Aumua.