Super Rugby News

Bovidae

Squad depth is going to be so important as teams suffer injuries. While I don't think Karpik would have played much he would be a useful foil to Cane at trainings. I suppose Kolomatangi will be used more as a no.7 now, and there's Leitch as well. Perhaps a player like Mitch Jacobson might be looked at for the WTG and squad trainings. 
 
Vaipulu's shoulder problem seems to be OK.
 
Playing on hard grounds at this time of the year can't help with these high impact injuries.

taniwharugby

NEW ZEALAND (TAB)
Chiefs $6.50, Hurricanes $7.50, Waratahs $8, Brumbies $8, Highlanders $8.50, Crusaders $8.50, Stormers $10, Sharks $13, Jaguares $13, Blues $18, Bulls $18, Lions $31, Reds $41, Rebels $61, Force $101, Cheetahs $101, Kings $151, Sunwolves $501.
 
AUSTRALIA (Centrebet)
Hurricanes $6, Chiefs $7, Waratahs $7.50, Crusaders $7.50, Brumbies $9, Highlanders $9, Sharks $13, Jaguares $13, Stormers $15, Bulls $17, Blues $21, Reds $26, Lions $34, Rebels $51, Force $81, Cheetahs $81, Kings $251, Sunwolves $251.
 
SOUTH AFRICA (Interbet)
Hurricanes R6.30, Chiefs R6.50, Crusaders $R7.30, Waratahs R7.50, Brumbies R8.30, Highlanders R8.50, Stormers R12, Jaguares R12, Sharks R13, Bulls R17, Blues R19.50, Lions R29, Reds R31, Rebels R54, Force R78, Cheetahs R86, Kings R200, Sunwolves R300.

ACT Crusader

Any ferners heading to Blenheim for the Saders preseason hitout vs the Canes? I'd be interested in a (real) match report before the season proper starts. The stuff report from the Landers game in Southland was more about the occasion (which is fine) rather than how players were faring.
 
Starting to get excited about the 'unknown' element of what the Saders will be like this season.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="558979" data-time="1455588546">
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Any ferners heading to Blenheim for the Saders preseason hitout vs the Canes? I'd be interested in a (real) match report before the season proper starts. The stuff report from the Landers game in Southland was more about the occasion (which is fine) rather than how players were faring.
 
Starting to get excited about the 'unknown' element of what the Saders will be like this season. 
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you mean it is unknown if Toddy has a game plan up his sleeve after all these years ;)

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="558981" data-time="1455590583">
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you mean it is unknown if Toddy has a game plan up his sleeve after all these years ;)
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Oh, he's had a game plan all these years, it's just that me, shark, Chris B and others haven't liked it...

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="558979" data-time="1455588546">
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Starting to get excited about the 'unknown' element of what the Saders will be like this season. 
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It is kind of exciting to go into a season with low expectations.

KiwiPie

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="558982" data-time="1455590909">
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Oh, he's had a game plan all these years, it's just that me, shark, Chris B and others haven't liked it...
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It is well defined - go right, reach the winger, get tackled, go left, reach the winger, get tackled, repeat as often as it takes for the opposition to get tired/bored

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="558937" data-time="1455573407">
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NEW ZEALAND (TAB)
Chiefs $6.50, Hurricanes $7.50, Waratahs $8, Brumbies $8, Highlanders $8.50, Crusaders $8.50, Stormers $10, Sharks $13, Jaguares $13, Blues $18, Bulls $18, Lions $31, Reds $41, Rebels $61, Force $101, Cheetahs $101, Kings $151, Sunwolves $501.
 
AUSTRALIA (Centrebet)
Hurricanes $6, Chiefs $7, Waratahs $7.50, Crusaders $7.50, Brumbies $9, Highlanders $9, Sharks $13, Jaguares $13, Stormers $15, Bulls $17, Blues $21, Reds $26, Lions $34, Rebels $51, Force $81, Cheetahs $81, Kings $251, Sunwolves $251.
 
SOUTH AFRICA (Interbet)
Hurricanes R6.30, Chiefs R6.50, Crusaders $R7.30, Waratahs R7.50, Brumbies R8.30, Highlanders R8.50, Stormers R12, Jaguares R12, Sharks R13, Bulls R17, Blues R19.50, Lions R29, Reds R31, Rebels R54, Force R78, Cheetahs R86, Kings R200, Sunwolves R300.
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We've lost our midfield are we are favourites?

taniwharugby

haha yeah I thought it was odd the 'canes are still faves across the board given the players they have lost.
 
Still think the Jaguares are a decent bet, be surprising if they won in thier first go, but they have a strong squad, or match day squad at least

mooshld

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="559015" data-time="1455603756">
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haha yeah I thought it was odd the 'canes are still faves across the board given the players they have lost.
 
Still think the Jaguares are a decent bet, be surprising if they won in thier first go, but they have a strong squad, or match day squad at least
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I think the week in week out pace will take those players some time to get used to. So think its a stretch for this year but they could well be in with a shout sooner rather then later.

Stargazer

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77011261/sharks-patrick-lambie-out-12-weeks-with-dislocated-shoulder'>Sharks' Patrick Lambie out 12 weeks with dislocated shoulder</a>
 
According to this article on Stuff, he got injured during the Sharks' preseason game against Toulon.

SouthernMan

Brendon Edmond's has signed a two year contract extension with the Highlanders.

? Offline

Good on him. Well deserved.

Smudge

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="558979" data-time="1455588546">
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Any ferners heading to Blenheim for the Saders preseason hitout vs the Canes? I'd be interested in a (real) match report before the season proper starts. The stuff report from the Landers game in Southland was more about the occasion (which is fine) rather than how players were faring.
 
Starting to get excited about the 'unknown' element of what the Saders will be like this season. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Here's the match report from the ODT. 
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/highlanders/372892/rugby-draw-fair-result-match-full-handling-errors'>http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/highlanders/372892/rugby-draw-fair-result-match-full-handling-errors</a>

taniwharugby

Looks like James Broadhurst is still struggling from a head knock in the ITM Cup
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77055877/james-broadhursts-concussion-headache-wont-go-away'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77055877/james-broadhursts-concussion-headache-wont-go-away</a>

James Broadhurst's concussion headache 'won't go away'

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LAURA WALTERS
Last updated 10:36, February 19 2016
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<li><a class="" href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77055877/james-broadhursts-concussion-headache-wont-go-away#comments">0</a></li>
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<div><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/9/v/k/m/b/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.19vkp1.png/1455839760785.jpg" title="" alt="1455839760785.jpg"><div>Maarten Holl/ Fairfax NZ</div>
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Lock James Broadhurst enjoyed a breakout year in New Zealand rugby in 2015 as a key figure in the Hurricanes' Super Rugby campaign.
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A Hurricanes player plagued by concussion issues says he's happy with the international safeguards and protocols surrounding the injury. 
Lock James Broadhurst has not played, nor even trained properly, since suffering two head knocks playing for Taranaki against Wellington in the first round of last year's national provincial competition. 
That was in August and the one-test All Black said he still had a headache that "won't go away".
<div><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/9/v/k/o/2/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.19vkp1.png/1455839760785.jpg" title="" alt="1455839760785.jpg"><div>SIPHIWE SIBEKO/ REUTERS</div>
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James Broadhurst made his test debut for the All Blacks in their 2015 Rugby Championship test against South Africa in Johannesburg.
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The 28-year-old said the ongoing effects of his concussion were "extremely frustrating" but he doesn't believe any more could have been done to prevent the injury.
READ MORE:

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/77040872/hurricanes-lock-james-broadhurst-sidelined-by-head-knocks-suffered-last-august'>Head knocks sideline Canes lock Broadhurst</a>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/77057894/coach-steve-hansen-confirms-kieran-read-will-be-all-blacks-captain'>Hansen confirms 'Reado' as All Blacks captain</a> 
* <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/77042129/all-blacks-named-halberg-award-winners-after-their-rugby-world-cup-triumph'>All Blacks win Halbergs Supreme Award</a> 
* <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/77051604/all-blacks-coach-steve-hansen-humbled-to-be-named-coach-of-the-year-at-the-halbergs'>Hansen humbled with Coach of the Year</a> 
* <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/77054766/steve-hansen-now-5050-on-coaching-all-blacks-to-next-world-cup'>Hansen '50-50' to got to next World Cup</a>
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At the time of the knock Broadhurst said he didn't display any symptoms of concussion and decided to keep on playing, which was when he received the second hit.
He was taken off at half-time following a medical assessment and wouldn't be returning to the paddock until he was symptom-free.
And at the moment he did not know when that would be.
"How long is a piece of string?"
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Back in September Broadhurst said he regretted returning to the field after the first knock.
"It's about personal responsibility and in my case I've only got myself to blame."
During Friday's press conference he said hindsight was a wonderful thing.
At the time of the knock everyone had followed international protocols.
"There's really good protocols in place in New Zealand rugby."
However, people needed to be "more vigilant" at lower levels when it came to concussion, Broadhurst said.
"I just think people need to be smarter... I think at the lower levels where those resources aren't around there are probably situations where people could be more vigilant."
Broadhurst said he was trying to do what he could to help the team by participating in line-out training and staying positive.
"There's no point in sitting around, moping about it, it's only gonna be worse for the mental state."
His injury hadn't affected his personal life and he had been told he was likely to make a full recovery. 
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said it was a frustrating setback for Broadhurst and the team but it was unlikely to affect his career in the long-term. 
The unknown element of the injury meant all protocols had been strictly adhered to.
"The awareness around concussion is becoming markedly increased," Boyd said.
"You don't muck around with concussion. We'd love to see Broady out there on the field, but fully understand that won't happen until he has satisfied all the criteria set out by the medical staff and that's exactly how it should be," Boyd said.
Hurricanes doctor Theo Dorfling said players needed to be symptom-free for 24 hours before they could participate in any physical activity and only then would they be able to enter a graduated return to play programme.
Hurricanes spokesman Toby Robson said New Zealand Rugby Union has introduced a video box at the halfway point that was monitored by doctors, allowing them to review footage of any knocks, then monitor the player for symptoms. 
Broadhurst made his test debut last July, playing against South Africa at Ellis Park.
 - Stuff

Bovidae

After reading that article Broadhurst's symptoms appear very similar to Afeaki's. Everyone was confident Afeaki would make a comeback but he didn't. I hope Broadhurst has better luck.

Tim

Matt Vaega has signed for the Blues. 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://theblues.co.nz/vaega-signs-for-2016/'>http://theblues.co.nz/vaega-signs-for-2016/</a>

Stargazer

From the Kyode News:
 
 
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Rugby: Family bereavement forces Sunwolves coach to return home
TOKYO, Feb. 19, Kyodo
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Mark Hammett, coach of Japan's new Super Rugby side the Sunwolves, will leave the team's training camp in Okinawa with immediate effect following the death of his mother Friday in New Zealand.
"It is a sad day for me and my family on the passing of my mother," Hammett said in a statement. "A lot of my success in life I owe to her. I would like to thank Japan Rugby and the Sunwolves management, players, sponsors and fans for their support at this sad time. I will leave Japan to go and support my family and lay my mum to rest. I am hopeful that I can return in time for our inaugural Super Rugby match."
Assistant coach Filo Tiatia will take charge of the team as they prepare for their inaugural game against the Johannesburg-based Lions on Feb. 27 in Tokyo.
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Bovidae

Foley could be out for 3-4 weeks with a shoulder injury. A big loss for the Tahs.

KiwiMurph

Kaino suspended one week. Not a great look for the captain. Good news for the Blues is they still have Luatua Ioane and Edwards as 6/8.

The Silver Fern

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