Super Rugby 2020
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@mariner4life It's a matter of perspective. For basically all teams it will be a rebuild year, and I find it quite exciting that new talent will get a run. I'm not convinced by several new signings across the NZ franchises, but there are some great, young players coming through and I can't wait to see them play, develop and - hopefully - improve at SR level. Hopefully, some of them will rise to ABs level.
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Yep, not much to get too excited about.
However, it’s also a bit exacerbated by age, injury, and form: the Blues have Rieko who should be their superstar, the Chiefs Dmac coming back from injury, the Canes have Savea plus Laumape (not at the WC), while the Saders have Reece plus some very good young talent in Jordan and Ennor. For the Landers, well, umm, not many there whose poster you’d want on your wall, probably Smith?
Beyond that, we have a bunch of potential young superstars away doing 7s too.
If all of these guys turn out to be good, we’re well placed for ‘star’ power, but it certainly feels like a rebuilding year.
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@Stargazer yeah, look i am cool with that half full v half empty analogy to be fair
For a guy like you, an avid watcher of all levels of rugby, it will be great seeing guys you have seen since school boys continuing their journey.
To a guy like me, in a different country, who, thanks to the time difference, watches very little NPC rugby, i am presented with a product that is full of might be's and probably never will be's. Most of which i either have never heard of, or who i haven't even seen play in 6 months.
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@mariner4life so much this. I was looking through the super squads yesterday and could barely muster a meh.
Would be interesting to see a full list of NZ overseas players who could add a bit to Super rugby.
Vito
Luatua
Piutau
Lima
Kerr Barlow
Faumuina
Bird
Fekitoa
Maori Jesus
MoalaMust be sh*tloads more.
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The new squads are seemingly weaker than those of the past years, mainly because of the exodus affecting much younger players and a number of long serving stars.
However, I am convinced that 4 or 5 NZ teams - at least - will make the top 8 as the SA teams are even more weakened than their NZ counterparts.
Super Rugby is becoming a competition for the development of young players and I expect its level of play to decline significantly as soon as next year. -
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@chimoaus said in Super Rugby 2020:
What struck me was just how many players are leaving for Japan, I have never watched that competition before, may have to tune in and see what its all about.
It's shit. Half hearted rugby at best. Want to watch a bunch of players perform well within themselves, walking to rucks and generally not caring. Welcome to Japanese rugby.
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@cgrant said in Super Rugby 2020:
The new squads are seemingly weaker than those of the past years, mainly because of the exodus affecting much younger players and a number of long serving stars.
However, I am convinced that 4 or 5 NZ teams - at least - will make the top 8 as the SA teams are even more weakened than their NZ counterparts.
Super Rugby is becoming a competition for the development of young players and I expect its level of play to decline significantly as soon as next year.That's supposed to be the NPC
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@MajorRage said in Super Rugby 2020:
@chimoaus said in Super Rugby 2020:
What struck me was just how many players are leaving for Japan, I have never watched that competition before, may have to tune in and see what its all about.
It's shit. Half hearted rugby at best. Want to watch a bunch of players perform well within themselves, walking to rucks and generally not caring. Welcome to Japanese rugby.
I have a patient whose son plays in Japan. Reckoned the trainings were quite arduous by NZ standards (he played NPC and was a fringe Super Rugby player). They must leave it on the training pitch
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@Duluth I haven't seen an article that lists the provinces of the SR players, but looking at the official social media accounts of the provinces, there are numbers available. Wellington and Southland aren't clear, so I tried counting them myself.
Province - number of SR players
Auckland - 21
Bay of Plenty - 13
Canterbury - 27
Counties - 7 (including one, Kellaway, at the Rebels)
Hawke's Bay - 15 (including one, O'Connor, at the Sunwolves)
Manawatu - 7
Northland - 7
N Harbour - 15
Otago - 12
Southland - 2?
Taranaki - 16
Ta$man - 17
Waikato - 14
Wellington - 19?I didn't include Lamborn in any of the teams.
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@Bovidae They don't have a particular date on which they publish the team lists; some are early (the ponies), some are very late. Same South Africa. The Sunwolves usually dripfeed their signings and sometimes even change the composition of their team during the season.
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Jerseys are up for pre-order. No photos yet obviously. Coming December 1st like they usually do.
