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  • A Offline
    A Offline
    ARHS
    replied to KiwiMurph on last edited by
    #2512

    @kiwimurph

    I would think that Orbyn Leger, Sevu Reece, Chase Tiatia, Lalakai Foketi, Pita Ahki, Zac Guildford, Mike Delaney and Stephen Donald might all have been considered as options for a spot in the backs. Aumua seems to fit the slot they approached Tamanivalu/Naholo/Savea for, so that is understandable. But, they seem a little light for first-five and wing and overstocked for centre options.

    In the forwards, Tucker, Manihera, Parete, Mewett, Halafihi and M Jacobsen all missed out. As Bovidae notes, the first two would be good like-for-like cover for Brown. Tim explains the Kirikiri decision well though.

    Clearly several of these players had other options and did not wait for the final selection. Just wish that could be addressed by supporting local players more.

    taniwharugbyT 1 Reply Last reply
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  • taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugby
    replied to ARHS on last edited by taniwharugby
    #2513

    @arhs so who would they all have replaced?

    That's the crucial thing...yes there are always unlucky players, but who they are replacing someone with is the key, and these are the new contracts, rather than guys who were picked up last year or the year before on 2/3 year contracts...

    You missed MOnty Ioane

    BovidaeB 1 Reply Last reply
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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    replied to Stargazer on last edited by
    #2514

    @stargazer

    I didn't write the article, nor have I read it (yet).

    As to potential midfielders @ARHS has mentioned a few I would nominate (Leger, Reece and Foketi). Cooper and co could also have taken a punt on a young player like Sullivan. From outside the region, Vaega is the obvious choice.

    My close-up view of Verney wasn't positive. He dropped just about every pass in that game. I note he isn't good enough to start for Wellington either.

    KiwiMurphK 1 Reply Last reply
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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    replied to Stargazer on last edited by
    #2515

    @stargazer

    An interesting tidbit on Manihera in it:

    Hame Faiva (Blues) and James Tucker (Chiefs) were not offered new contracts and Jordan Manihera, who was said to be interesting the Hurricanes, was not signed up.

    I wonder if his work-rate wasn't high enough over 80 minutes? He's a big, strong ball carrier, looks like he'd go well in the NH.

    BovidaeB 1 Reply Last reply
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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    replied to taniwharugby on last edited by
    #2516

    @taniwharugby

    Ioane is an Aussie. Foketi is too (although NZ-born).

    taniwharugbyT 1 Reply Last reply
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  • KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurph
    replied to Bovidae on last edited by
    #2517

    @bovidae said in Super Rugby News:

    @stargazer

    My close-up view of Verney wasn't positive. He dropped just about every pass in that game. I note he isn't good enough to start for Wellington either.

    He started plenty of games for Wellington this year.

    BovidaeB 1 Reply Last reply
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  • taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugby
    replied to Bovidae on last edited by
    #2518

    @bovidae doesn't seem to make much difference...

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #2519

    @tim

    Manihera started the M10 really strongly but his form tailed off towards the end, as did Waikato's. I never thought he would make the Chiefs as all the loosies were signed up but he surely is a chance in a wider squad as an injury replacement.

    One of the great things Rennie did at the Chiefs was run a larger squad so these fringe players trained with the main squad and could be used if injuries occurred. Boshier and Brown made the squad this way. I hope Cooper does the same otherwise these players might not be available to select in the future.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    replied to KiwiMurph on last edited by
    #2520

    @kiwimurph said in Super Rugby News:

    He started plenty of games for Wellington this year.

    But not in the SF and final.

    KiwiMurphK 1 Reply Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    wrote on last edited by
    #2521

    A few of those guys mentioned, are however having some kind of contract. They may not be with the Chiefs, but Tiatia is in the NZ 7s Development team, Ahki will be playing for Connacht, Halafihi for Lyon (injury cover), Delany for the Crusaders and Donald is said to go for the yen. So it's not like those players really are missing out, they're just not in the Chiefs squad. Of those players, only Akhi may not be available next Mitre 10 Cup season, although it's unclear for how long he has been signed by Connacht.

    Some of these guys are also still young, so may end up training with Super Rugby franchises and playing for their development team. Think Leger, Reece, Foketi, M Jacobson.

    I'm mostly surprised by Manihera not being signed, and think the Chiefs could have used the experience of Guildford, who has become very versatile the last few years, having played at centre and fullback recently, and proved to be a useful leader in the backline.

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  • KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurph
    replied to Bovidae on last edited by KiwiMurph
    #2522

    @bovidae said in Super Rugby News:

    @kiwimurph said in Super Rugby News:

    He started plenty of games for Wellington this year.

    But not in the SF and final.

    He had two Super Rugby players in front of him - Umaga Jensen looks like a future star and Goosen had a wonderful season at 13.

    Having watched all of Wellington's games this season Verney was impressive and I can see why he got a contract - he looks like someone who could contribute this upcoming season if needed for the Chiefs - whereas someone like Orbyn Leger is probably more of a development player.

    You also mentioned Sullivan - who doesn't look anywhere near ready for Super Rugby yet - talented for sure but wouldnt contribute to Super Rugby next year - needs to bulk up for a start.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • S Offline
    S Offline
    Steven Harris
    wrote on last edited by
    #2523

    Sevu Reece is definitely a talent,but his brain expolision which resulted in a yellow card against harbour after Waikato were getting on top,in my opinion was a game changer which completely handed the momentum back to harbour..
    I reckon any chance of being signed by a super franchise went out the window in that particular game.

    StargazerS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to Steven Harris on last edited by
    #2524

    @steven-harris I think Reece is a likely candidate for the All Blacks 7s team and they're just waiting for him to become eligible (I have no idea when that will be).

    A 1 Reply Last reply
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  • A Offline
    A Offline
    ARHS
    replied to Stargazer on last edited by
    #2525

    @stargazer

    Yes, I thought he became eligible late this year, so that would make sense. But, he wasn't named in either Sevens squad recently, and nor were a few others one might have expected: Dickson, Koroi, Nareki, O'Donnell, Joass, Baker & Ormond. Perhaps a bigger central sevens squad will be announced shortly? Guildford and Jacobsen might be a chance there too.

    StargazerS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    wrote on last edited by
    #2526

    Reece is eligible from late 2018. It should be 3 years from when the school year finished in 2015.

    A 1 Reply Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to ARHS on last edited by Stargazer
    #2527

    @arhs said in Super Rugby News:

    @stargazer

    Yes, I thought he became eligible late this year, so that would make sense. But, he wasn't named in either Sevens squad recently, and nor were a few others one might have expected: Dickson, Koroi, Nareki, O'Donnell, Joass, Baker & Ormond. Perhaps a bigger central sevens squad will be announced shortly? Guildford and Jacobsen might be a chance there too.

    All they have named thus far are squads for specific tournaments.
    As far as I know (I may have missed something, of course), the only male players of whom they have published contract details are Scott Curry, Sam Dickson, Tim Mikkelson, Sione Molia, Joe Webber (all through to 2018) and Kurt Baker (2019). Regan Ware's contract expires in 2017 and I haven't yet seen any news about a contract extension. Apart from that, of course, the retirement of DJ Forbes and Sherwin Stowers.

    It's possible, that further signings will only be made after the regional qualfiers (Nov-Dec) and/or the national sevens tournament in January.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • A Offline
    A Offline
    ARHS
    replied to Bovidae on last edited by
    #2528

    @bovidae

    OK thanks. I had thought 3 years from his arrival in NZ, late 2014.

    BovidaeB 1 Reply Last reply
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  • HigginsH Offline
    HigginsH Offline
    Higgins
    wrote on last edited by
    #2529

    It is worth noting that the first two legs in the 2017/18 World Series are in the first two weekends of December so it looks like we will be going in a little undermaned if the new foreign coach is not going to contract his full time players until after the NZ National 7s. Whether he will have them up to speed for legs three and four late Jan/early Feb remains to be seen.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    replied to ARHS on last edited by
    #2530

    @arhs said in Super Rugby News:

    @bovidae

    OK thanks. I had thought 3 years from his arrival in NZ, late 2014.

    Reece arrived in early 2014 and spent 2 years at Ham BHS. As he was on a scholarship there is a 3-year stand-down period from the time he finishes school. He will only be 21 at that time.

    A 1 Reply Last reply
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  • A Offline
    A Offline
    ARHS
    replied to Bovidae on last edited by
    #2531

    @bovidae

    Aha - thanks! Thought there was another factor I had overlooked.

    1 Reply Last reply
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