Super Rugby News
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Season over for the Blues - Scrafton out for the season with an ACL tear, and SBW out for six to eight weeks with a broken wrist.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12019579
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The time-frame for Williams will probably see him enter the All Blacks' three-test June series against France on minimal game-time.
IMO, the ABs should just go with another 12 -13 combo. SBW wasn't great for the ABs last year, and hasn't impressed for the Blues so far this season.
Crotty-ALB
Crotty-Goodhue
If Crotty can't play, Laumape-ALB or Laumape-GoodhueFor the Blues, both injuries are definitely bad news. Time for TJ Faiane to step up, I guess.
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@kiwimurph said in Super Rugby News:
@stargazer or Rob Thomas time.
Faiane looks nothing special at Super level.
I wouldn't give up on Faiane. He keeps getting paired up with Moala who doesn't fit his style of play. Also had to play with a deep standing Gatland against the Chiefs.
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They have also lost grafting lock Scott Scrafton for the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury, to both his ACL and LCL.
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This post is deleted!
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Interesting result: the Jaguares have beaten the Lions 49 - 35. Haven't seen the game, because Sky had the wrong kick-off time in their tv guide, but it really seems that the Lions are weaker than last year.
The Lions and the Jaguares are the Crusaders' next two opponents.
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@stargazer I picked the result, just not by that margin, in fact, the only margin I got close this week was the Crusaders - BUlls, I was 2 points out, rest have been way out.
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Conclusion after watching the game: the Lions indeed aren't as good as last year. Malcolm Marx is a great player and the Lions driving maul is still working reasonably well because of him (although the Jaguares also don't know how to defend against one); their scrum was okay; but they didn't know how to create opportunities other than a driving maul. If they get a penalty, they'll kick it into the corner for a line-out drive. That's basically their game; not much creativity. They look slow.
The Jaguares' discipline was good, so they weren't giving away easy points. They showed patience and that paid off. They created and took their opportunities. Their scrum isn't up to scratch though, and their defence is as leaky as that of the Lions.
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Reds prop Taniela Tupou cited. I haven't seen any other reports of citings.
Tupou is alleged to have contravened Law 9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously after collecting Stormers wing Craig Barry above the shoulders without using his arms.
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And .... there is at least one other citing:
Sharks flanker Jacques Vermeulen has been cited for alleged foul play during the Sharks' Super Rugby match against the Rebels in Melbourne. Vermeulen is alleged to have contravened Law 9.20 A player must not charge into a ruck.
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Sounds like Ardie Savea is OK:
They lost flanker Ardie Savea to a first-half rib injury, while centre Matt Proctor's sternum was iced up after the game.
"He's got a bit of a tender rib or two. I don't think there's any cracks or breaks there, but he's a bit sore," Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said of Savea.
Proctor was described as sore too, ahead of Friday's trip to meet the Rebels in Melbourne.
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@stargazer said in Super Rugby News:
Conclusion after watching the game: the Lions indeed aren't as good as last year.
It is amazing what impact coaching can have....
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Two-week ban for Jacques Vermeulen
Sharks flanker Jacques Vermeulen has been suspended for two weeks after he pleaded guilty to dangerous play against the Rebels on Friday. The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee accepted a guilty plea from Vermeulen for contravening Law 9.20 – dangerous play in a ruck or maul – after he was cited during their Super Rugby match. Vermeulen has been suspended from all forms of the game for two weeks, up to and including Friday, April 6. The incident occurred in the 49th minute of the match between the Rebels and Sharks played at AAMI Park. The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Nigel Hampton QC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and Stephen Hardy assessed the case. In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Nigel Hampton QC ruled the following: "Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and both an account of the incident and submissions from the player, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the citing under Law 9.20. "With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid range entry point of four weeks due to the player's dangerous charge into a ruck, making contact with the head of the player's opponent. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player's youth, his excellent Judicial record and early guilty plea the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to two weeks." "The player is therefore suspended for two weeks, up to and including Friday 6 April 2018.”