Super Rugby News
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@duluth Yeah, I'm only up to near the end of the 1st half, but Ruru has looked good since coming on.
Ngatai looks good.
The ref is still letting clearly tackled players get up and go again. It's very annoying.
Ioane earned several turnovers, and Moala running strongly.
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Nock has not progressed anywhere near as well as I had expected/hoped he might, should be pressing Pulu for the starting spot but as it is he might struggle to hold his bench spot, this year is also the last of his 3 year contract IIRC?
Think young Emile Pittman will press to start for Northland if he re-signs with us this year.
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I'm so over pre-season. The injury toll year on year seems to get larger
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Can't take too much out of a game like that, but the forwards played well in general. The line-out was pretty good and the scrum was about even with the Chiefs. The maul attack/defense was good as well, which was one of our major weaknesses last season.
Was very hard to judge the backs with such limited ball to work with, but Nock and Gatland weren't too good, although I feel like Gatland's play was affected a bit by Nock's poor play. Ruru came on and tidied things up a bit. Kicking from hand is definitely a work on for us.
Tamati Tua got a lot of game time at both centre and wing, but was a bit out of sorts on defense in both positions.
Papali'i definitely stood out in that 2nd half. I also thought Sione Havili had a nice 4th quarter(Blake Gibson might want to stop getting injured with this guy around).
We had Kirkpatrick in at centre in the 3rd quarter, which was weird. When Perofeta and Kirkpatrick went off injured in the 4th quarter, Leger was at fullback, Ruru was at 10, Telea was at 12, and Plummer didn't even get on. Was Plummer injured?
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@canefan said in Super Rugby News:
Quade Cooper is on contract with the Reds but coach BBBT has told him to stay away from training, in an apparent move to change the culture of the franchise
Don't worry, Quade doesn't train because there are no facilities to facilitate.....
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@act-crusader said in Super Rugby News:
@canefan said in Super Rugby News:
Quade Cooper is on contract with the Reds but coach BBBT has told him to stay away from training, in an apparent move to change the culture of the franchise
Don't worry, Quade doesn't train because there are no facilities to facilitate.....
At least BBBT's laptop is safe
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As mentioned earlier I went to the Chiefs-Blues game in Te Kuiti. That was my first time at a match at Rugby Park but there was a huge crowd on a hot day. The kids were all over BBBR when he arrived.
I don't take too much out of pre-season games and the video has been posted for all to watch. From my view the Chiefs were the better team in the 1st half. It was just some excellent scrambling defence from the Blues that kept the Chiefs out on occasion. Both teams were heavily penalised for offside by Jackson.
It was all one-way traffic in the 3rd quarter as poor discipline from the Chiefs reserves (i.e., Taranaki players
) led to kicks to the corner and the inevitable push-over try. I had a great view of Papali'i's try - speed and strength.Ruru is huge for a halfback. Nankivell was fuckin' terrible when he came on.
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I think its cost
Thorn/the Reds assumed Quade would seek an early release and go overseas after being told he wasn't wanted.
I think it's funny that Quade is playing out his two years in club rugby and collecting $700,000
The Reds are now down a player and however much they contribute to that salaryI wouldn't be surprised if Thorn backs down and welcomes him back in. The Reds aren't in a position to piss away cash for nothing.
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Here's BBBT talking about it.
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@siam said in Super Rugby News:
Given the many glowing endorsements Quade geets from teammates (probably true) I sometimes wonder if Thorns cold shoulder has anything to do with Cooper being a complete cock during those Bled games.
According to my Reds insider he was a very polarising figure. Hated by the more senior players and idolised by the young kids who grew up watching him when he was a decent Super player. The big issue was his total lack of commitment and heart in defence. They certainly weren't getting any return on their massive investment in that regard.
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@siam said in Super Rugby News:
Given the many glowing endorsements Quade geets from teammates (probably true) I sometimes wonder if Thorns cold shoulder has anything to do with Cooper being a complete cock during those Bled games.
Glowing endorsements from who exactly? His mates Digby Ioane and Kurtley Beale? Id take that with a grain of salt.
The problem is whoever agreed to sign Quade for $700k. He has done jack shit since Super Rugby 2011.
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Speaking of dud deals, they don't come dumber than the NZRU offering this to Savea:
He signed a four-year deal in May 2015 that made him one of the highest paid players in New Zealand history, earning an estimated $800,000 a year.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11991540
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@milk said in Super Rugby News:
I don't understand Paul's stance in that article. It would seem like a positive if NZR was able to negotiate significant payments to let go in-contract players. He's trying to make it seem like a negative: another indictment of us losing the battle.
It’s all part of the Ferald’s anti Rugby agenda which comes from listening to Ratpoo at smoko
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@milk The whole premise of the article seems pretty odd i.e. losing Savea could be a watershed moment.
We've lost a heap of players who have fallen by the wayside - the only slightly unusual thing in Julian's case is that his "demise" was evidently a bit more unexpected than most given that the contracting team wrote him a fat and extended contract.
I could name a dozen players I've been more concerned about losing - in fact, Julian's close to the basket of me wishing him Bon voyage and thanks for your efforts.
