Super Rugby News
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@wurzel said in Super Rugby News:
‘Top o the morning’ is akin to ‘put another shrimp on the barbie’. If an Aussie hears that in jest they’ll roll their eyes not claim racism.
Exactly. I blame American fillums - they invented all this blarney.
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On a completely new subject, news emerged today that Jake Heenan has said he's leaving Connacht at season end after his fifth season with them. Destination likely to be re-joining Pat Lam at Bristol.
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Good interview with BoD on O'Gara's move to the Crusaders.
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This is the article in the Examiner they are referring to in that video:
RONAN O'GARA: So Dan Carter and I were shooting the breeze in the gym one day…
This all kicked off with a throwaway comment in the gym, says Ronan O’Gara. Or what I presumed at the time was a throwaway question from Dan Carter. Would I like to coach in New Zealand some time? Of course I would. I thought no more of it, and I doubt Dan was playing matchmaker either at the time. He presumed I was going to be at Racing 92 for a few more years. But the weight of his conversations with the Crusaders were clearly of greater substance than he thought. Like any shooting-the- breeze chat it passed but a while after, Dan brought the subject up again. And this time, it seemed like he wasn’t just passing time between deadlifts. ‘I hate doing this, because I want the best coaches here at Racing, but I have to tell you, the Crusaders are asking and I’ve given you a strong reference.’ Deadpan Dan. They want to pursue this. Head coach Scott Robertson made contact, as did the chief executive, and it seemed we were chatting notionally until they said ‘we’d love if you came on board!’ And I’m thinking: ‘Well if that’s what’s in your head, you had better formulate some sort of concrete proposal’. The Crusaders may just be the leading club in world rugby, but in my head, I am only focused on family and future. There are six people in my house who don’t need to remind me they are perfectly happy where they are in Paris. The Crusaders had to be fully committed to wanting me rather than just sussing out my interest, because I am in a good job and in a good place at Racing 92. And ever since, I’ve just been head down, arse up, driving on with things. Last night, I was in London for a special Centurions Club dinner for internationals with over 100 caps. A tasty affair. On Sunday Racing entertain Montpellier and a week later go across town for the Parisian derby with Stade. In between, I have to find time and space to complete final coaching badges which I had to long-finger due to my involvement with the Irish tour to America last summer. And that’s all before the opening of the U Arena on December 22 and, my last game with Racing, and a subtle reminder, I am sure, from Jacky Lorenzetti, our club president, of what I am leaving behind! After Christmas in Cork, I have a long flight to the southern hemisphere to weigh a few things up.I’ve always trusted my instincts, and my instinct here was that this is an incredible opportunity. It wasn’t even me out there, looking to move on. In the greater scheme of things, some people may not see the relevance of the Crusaders making the approach, but it’s very significant from where I stand. Of course, it’s another completely selfish move on my behalf. That’s why the agreement is for one Super Rugby season, and then both parties will review how things have gone. But this won’t work without Jessica and the kids with me. It’s the other side of the world and as important as my rugby career is to me at this stage, my family is my family. It is a huge upheaval, and we are still firming up a plan that makes all this as workable as possible for the family. This is the human side in all this. We have already agreed that if and when I am done in New Zealand, it will be back to Paris we move. I will hopefully have a little time out at that stage and we want the kids to do another year in school in France to nail the language. I know what you are thinking reading this: what if the first season goes well with the Crusaders? That’s a bridge I am not ready to cross yet. That Racing and the president, Mr Lorenzetti agreed to release me from my contract, is a huge obstacle off the table in terms of principle. The lazy observation on Jacky is that he has bundles of money, but he is a fiercely driven, successful business man who is very proud of his club. And yet, he was completely understanding of my dilemma from the moment he heard it, and perhaps a bit proud that Canterbury had come to his club to seek out one of their trainers. We have enjoyed a very honest, clean relationship and without his understanding, the move to New Zealand wouldn’t have gone through. That’s the reality because I wouldn’t walk out on my contract. I’m old school on things like that. But it didn’t stop him asking me four times whether I really wanted to leave Racing. I think he could see I wanted it. However, the learning curve over the past four seasons has been significant, not least from the two coaches, Laurent Travers and Laurent Labit, the only men to win a Bouclier with two different teams. Not one day in Plessis-Robinson, our training base, has been the same. How could it be with such a pot pourri of cultures, from Georgian, to Welsh, Argentinian, French, New Zealand, Tongan, Samoan and Fijians. Eleven different cultures mixed together on the pitch and in the gym every day.What it has also done is provide for me an invaluable insight into New Zealanders, which means I have a better grasp of personality and idiosyncrasies before I start work in Christchurch. Dan Carter and Joe Rococoko may just be two of the most respectful people one could wish to meet given what they have achieved. They are incredibly humble, and it’s a hugely positive impression to take with me to their own country. Greg Feek the same. He was coaching Ireland even when I was playing, but because he was dealing with front rows, there was no little or no connection there. Then we landed in America together last summer and clicked big time, just shooting the breeze and chatting rugby and coaching and how people learn differently. I have no doubt his opinion was sought too by the Crusaders, where he is well regarded. Greg is the godfather to Scott Robertson’s child, which is incidental in one sense, but offers an insight too into the family-orientated outlook of the organisation. Ever since Andrew Mertens was with them, I’ve been a fan of the Crusaders. Maybe I created the connection, but there was always that correlation between Munster and the Crusaders, even when I was playing. The same values - hard-working, honest, having great craic with each other. Virtues I can readily relate to. I’ve met Scott Robertson and now the itch is there to get cracking. I want to hoover up every bit of this experience in SuperRugby in a different coaching role than heretofore. I’ve always been an in-the-moment person but it’s hard not to get excited about this one. -
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@stargazer said in Scotland v Australia:
Sekope Kepu suspended for 3 weeks
Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu appeared today before an independent World Rugby-appointed Disciplinary Committee following the red card he received after 39 minutes of the Autumn International match between Scotland and Australia on Saturday, 25 November 2017 for an infringement of law 10.4(h) ('a player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without use of the arms, or without grasping a player'). Mr Kepu accepted that he had committed an act of foul play and that it had warranted a red card. The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Jean-Noel Couraud (France), along with former international players, Becky Essex (England) and De Wet Barry (South Africa), considered all of the available evidence and heard submissions from Mr Kepu and his representatives. The Disciplinary Committee considered the relevant incident to have been a dangerous shoulder charge into a ruck in which contact was made with an opponent's head. In considering sanction, the Disciplinary Committee assessed the seriousness of Mr Kepu's conduct and concluded that it had been in the mid-range of World Rugby's scale of seriousness for that type of offending, which has an entry point sanction of a six-week suspension. The Disciplinary Committee considered that there were no aggravating factors and that there were several mitigating factors, including Mr Kepu's 'guilty' plea and his previous clean disciplinary record. The Disciplinary Committee allowed the maximum discount of 50% and reduced the length of the suspension to three weeks. Taking account of Mr Kepu's playing schedule (and in particular that the Southern Hemisphere close season is about to start), the Disciplinary Committee suspended Mr Kepu until midnight on Sunday, 4 March 2018. He was reminded of his right of appeal.This means that Kepu will miss the first two games of the Super Rugby season.
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Designated captain Dane Coles is set to miss the bulk - or all - of the upcoming Super Rugby season, after rupturing an Anterior Cruciate Ligament while playing for New Zealand against France. He's due for surgery in the next week and best-case scenario is that he'll return to the Hurricanes' helm in late June; worst is he's done for the next nine months, says head coach Chris Boyd.
Then there's those who are rehabilitating after surgery. Ben May (knee) should be fit after Christmas, while Blade Thomson (shoulder) and Michael Fatialofa (knee) are due to play the February 2 preseason game against the Crusaders in Greymouth. Matt Proctor (shoulder) should be right when the campaign-proper starts in Pretoria on February 25. Jordie Barrett (week three), Isaiah Walker-Leawere (mid-season) and Nehe Milner-Skudder (after mid-season) are others making useful progress from their shoulder surgeries.
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According to this article, there will be a preseason game between the Canes and the Blues in Auckland on Thursday, 15 February. Have the Blues announced this yet? Where and what time?
There won't be any Canes preseason games in the provinces this year. The only other preseason game is the one already posted earlier against the Crusaders in Greymouth on Friday, 2 February, and - of course - the Brisbane Tens.
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@stargazer did he play last year, did any of thier front line forwards play last year?
THat all needs to be considered...if he was set to play, by all means it should count
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@taniwharugby This was the Waratahs squad for the 2017 Brisbane Tens:
Israel Folau
Tolu Latu
Tom Robertson
Taqele Naiyaravoro
Paddy Ryan
Hugh Roach
Damien Fitzpatrick
Ned Hanigan
Ryan Mccauley
Michael Wells
Rory O'connor
Patrick Mccutcheon
Brad Wilkin
Jamason Schultz
Matt Lucas
Jake Gordon
Mack Mason
Bryce Hegarty
David Horwitz
Andrew Deegan
Con Foley
Andrew Kellaway
Cam Clark
Harry Jones
Reece Robinson
Lote TuqiriLooks like they indeed had several forwards, including a few first choice players, in their squad.
Edit: I think under Sanzaar rules, preseason games don't count for suspensions. Not sure about the Brisbane Tens. Complicating factor is that the suspension doesn't come from Sanzaar but from World Rugby.
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The Sunwolves squad has been announced.
2017 Highlanders Craig Millar and Hayden Parker, who were overlooked this year, have found a new team. As announced earlier, Michael Leitch is in the squad. Robbie Robinson will be back in SR, too! Apparently, more players will be added to the current 26 players.
Edit: the Sunwolves slogan is "Top 5 in 2018"
https://sunwolves.or.jp/en/information/article/4502/
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@kiwimurph said in Super Rugby News:
@stargazer haha top 5 in the Aussie Conference perhaps?
If I'm not mistaken its a play on words, as the number 5 is pronounced GO in Japanese.
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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!
