2019 Rugby Championship

[Stargazer]

@Hooroo There's also the match against Tonga on 7 September.

[sparky]

@Stargazer

Amazed there isn't a warm-up test against someone like USA or Samoa on 12th July for players not involved in the Super Rugby Final.

[Stargazer]

@sparky This is a SANZAAR announcement, so only concerns the RC (and Bledisloe 2). That doesn't exclude the possibility that NZR will announce more matches before the RWC. I'd expect either the Maori ABs or NZ Barbarians to be involved somehow, like in 2015.

[sparky]

SBW undergoing knee surgery again, out for six weeks minimum. He has pulled out of the ABs Foundation Day.

[Stargazer]

[KiwiMurph]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12222330&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nzh_tw

[Yeetyaah]

@KiwiMurph Fuck.

[taniwharugby]

Poor buggar!

Gutting for him, players dont always come back from this the same.

[nzzp]

@KiwiMurph said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

Ah shit.

What a dynamic player - and such a 'nothing' injury too - just a glancing blow.

Really disappointed in that

[Rapido]

Gutted for DMac.

[Stargazer]

Feel sorry for the fella, but as Hansen says, still young enough to make the 2023 RWC, maybe even 2027 RWC, if he's still good enough by then. Only a slight consolation for now, I know.

Now what are the coaches going to do?

Oh, and can they, please wrap Beaudy and Richie in cottonwool?

[Kirwan]

@Stargazer makes that 4th AB Ten thread more relevant. Shit.

[Siam]

With all the pr nonsense floating around it's easy to forget how sport and luck can be so cruel.

Not long ago DMac was the most resilient player in NZ - did about 2 seasons playing every minute for the chiefs or thereabouts

[Paekakboyz]

Aw man, terrible news for DMac 😔 hope he recovers well. RTS is a great example of how well a player that relies on fast feet/stepping can recover. But for every one that makes a full recovery there are more that lose the edge.

Nonu for back up 10???

[antipodean]

@Paekakboyz said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

Nonu for back up 10???

A player that can take it to the line and distribute?

[Paekakboyz]

@antipodean and run people over! even has a delicate wee short kicking game

[Dice]

@Paekakboyz

[Frank]

@sparky said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

I hope there is just the one Bledisloe test next year. A winner takes all game would add some excitement.

Fuck no.

[sparky]

@Frank

I used to enjoy the one off Bledisloe tests in the 1990s a lot more than playing them 3 or 4 times a season.

[sparky]

@Stargazer

The simplest solution would be for Jordie Barrett to move up to become his cover. He can play fullback, kick goals and can work with BB to learn what to do at First Five. The ABs would need to give him some Test experience at First Five before the World Cup.