Super Rugby 2020

Bones

@Higgins said in Super Rugby 2020:

@Toddy Does SBW count? If not then how about Ben Te'o or Dylan Hartley!

Yeah and then we get even more people moaning about players taking the place of up and comers!

cgrant

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.

chimoaus

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.

MajorRage

@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.

mariner4life

@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

canefan

@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

mofitzy_

2011 and 2015 our U20 team won and there were more than a few stars in the sides that were quick to move into the gaps left by departing players post world cup. 2019 side was 7th.

antipodean

@mofitzy_ I believe the players are still available. That side was poorly selected and coached IMO.

Duluth

Did any of the news sites provides a list of SR players by NPC province?

It doesn't say much about the top 3-4 sides but it is interesting to compare how many players the smaller provinces are producing

Stargazer

@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.

Chris B.

@Stargazer The reigning national champions will also probably have Roach (Waratahs) and Uchida (Sunwolves).

Edit - also confirmation on the Mako Facebook site (from the admin) that Tim Perry has retired.

Bovidae

When are the Aust/SA/Sunwolves squads named? I know that the Brumbies have announced their squad but what about the others?

Stargazer

@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.