Super Rugby News
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I hope not...
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="572667" data-time="1460770206"><p>
And didn't the Reds ship 90 a few years back?</p></blockquote>
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92-3. 2007.<br><br>
So the Sunwolves miss the record for most points conceded AND biggest losing margin. -
Shipping 90 points to the Crusaderblacks is one thing, shipping 90 points to the Cheetahs is quite another. Very ominous signs.
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<p>Rumor I'm hearing is John Plumtree set to get Highlanders gig. </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="572660" data-time="1460767533">
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<p>Yikes, that is minnow in a world cup type stuff. Do any NZ teams play them this year?</p>
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<p>No, they don't. The Sunwolves only play the Aussi teams of the Australasian Group this season. Next year, they play all the NZ teams. Unless someone is wise enough to pull the plug after this season ...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="572669" data-time="1460770987"><p>Shipping 90 points to the Crusaderblacks is one thing, shipping 90 points to the Cheetahs is quite another. Very ominous signs.</p></blockquote>
Really? The Cheetahs have always been brilliant at scoring points in previous years. Heck it seemed they often score 40 odd and lose, against good teams. -
<p>Bad news: Rene Ranger out for the rest of the season! Ruptured knee ligaments.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/blues-suffer-major-blow-rene-ranger-gone-rest-season'>https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/blues-suffer-major-blow-rene-ranger-gone-rest-season</a></p> -
<p>while he is struggling to get back to this level of footy, you dont want to see anyone with a season ending injury, and as Dice says, after having months off after his neck injury too! </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="573439" data-time="1461037400">
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<p>Just read on the Chiefs instagram account that their flanker Sam Henwood is out for the rest of 2016 with a ruptured ACL! He'll have surgery in 2 weeks.</p>
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<p>Thought that may have been the case when he went off. Gutted for the guy and for CM.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="573439" data-time="1461037400">
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<p>Just read on the Chiefs instagram account that their flanker Sam Henwood is out for the rest of 2016 with a ruptured ACL! He'll have surgery in 2 weeks.</p>
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<p>Christ, that's openside #4. Who's next in line?</p>
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<p>Thank McGod Cane is invincible.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="573005" data-time="1460880270">
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<p>while he is struggling to get back to this level of footy, you dont want to see anyone with a season ending injury, and as Dice says, after having months off after his neck injury too! </p>
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<p>That's bad news for Ranger and the Blues. His defence and work on the ball has been excellent. Just his attack that has been really struggling </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="573454" data-time="1461040221">
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<p>Christ, that's openside #4. Who's next in line?</p>
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<p>Thank McGod Cane is invincible.</p>
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<p>Lachlan Boshier from Naki has been drafted in.</p> -
<p>Did the Witch Dr use all his medicine last year?</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79083203/highlanders-face-longer-wait-without-injured-wing-waisake-naholo'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79083203/highlanders-face-longer-wait-without-injured-wing-waisake-naholo</a></p>
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<p>The Highlanders tackle a potentially season-defining block of four Super Rugby matches without star wing Waisake Naholo after his recovery from a leg injury has taken longer than anticipated.</p>
<p>It was originally hoped the 2015 All Black could be available for Friday night's start to the ninth round with the Sharks in Dunedin - but the Fijian-born finisher is still at least a fortnight away from making a comeback.</p>
<p>Naholo, the competition's leading try-scorer last year, crossed against the Blues during the tournament-opener on February 26 but subsequently suffered his latest leg fracture late in the game at Eden Park.</p>
<div><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/b/3/1/a/9/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1b30zn.png/1461041227288.jpg" title="" alt="1461041227288.jpg"><div><span>HANNAH PETERS/GETTY IMAGES</span></div>
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<p>Waisake Naholo's most recent run in Super Rugby, the All Blacks wing fractured a leg during this movement against the Blues in the opening round at Eden Park in February.</p>
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<p>Highlanders assistant coach Tony Brown revealed Naholo has resumed running but is not yet up to speed and club rugby has not been factored into the 24-year-old's rehabilitation.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:<br>- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79033495/highlanders-approach-hurricanes-assistant-john-plumtree-for-top-job'>Plumtree sought by Highlanders as Jamie Joseph's replacement</a><br>
- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79057408/hurricanes-coach-chris-boyd-says-sidekick-john-plumtree-not-joining-highlanders'>Plumtree not leaving Hurricanes: Chris Boyd</a><br>
- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/78744363/highlanders-remarkable-comeback-not-enough-as-they-fall-to-reds-in-brisbane'>Highlanders hoodoo in Brisbane continues</a><br>
- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/78682192/ben-smith-to-miss-highlanders-super-rugby-clash-against-queensland-reds'>Ben Smith misses Reds clash due to concussion</a><br>
- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/77424025/all-black-waisake-naholo-sidelined-for-up-to-eight-weeks-after-breaking-his-leg'>Waisake Naholo out for two months with leg fracture</a></strong></p>
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<div><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/b/3/1/k/2/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1b30zn.png/1461041227288.jpg" title="" alt="1461041227288.jpg"><div><span>HANNAH PETERS/GETTY IMAGES</span></div>
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<p>The Highlanders' Super Rugby title defence hinges on next four-game block says assistant coach Tony Brown.</p>
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<p>"We haven't really made a plan for Waisake yet. We're getting him back running, he's doing that at the moment. Once he can take a bit of contact we'll make a plan for him," said Brown.</p>
<p>Although Naholo's power has been missed, understudies Matt Faddes, Ryan Tongia and Jack Wilson had provided adequate cover on the right wing.</p>
<p>"It's a positive for us that those guys are standing up, we haven't felt the loss of Waisake massively so far but it's going to be pretty exciting to get him back."</p>
<p>Encouragingly, the Highlanders, who reassembled after their bye week on Monday, should have co-captain Ben Smith restored to their back three after he missed the loss to the Reds in Brisbane due to a head knocked suffered against the Force.</p>
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<div>The influential World Cup-winning fullback still has to complete concussion protocols though Brown was hopeful Smith would be fit to return to a side still smarting from a one-point loss to the lowly Reds.</div>
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<p>While the players dispersed Brown admitted spending "a bit of time in the office" reviewing the performance against the Queenslanders, who held off a Highlanders resurgence after the defending champions trailed 25-6 early in the second half at Suncorp Stadium.</p>
<p>It did not long for Brown to realise the Highlanders were off the pace from the outset at a ground they hadn't celebrated at since 2005.</p>
<p>"Our attitude wasn't quite right for that game. Whether we were on attack or defence we weren't positioning fast enough, which led to a pretty poor performance."</p>
<p>Brown said Smith's absence was no excuse and his presence may not have altered the outcome, so significant improvements are required for the fourth-placed New Zealand franchise as they contemplate clashes with the Sharks, Brumbies, Chiefs and Crusaders.</p>
<p>"We're up against some of the best sides in the competition in the next four weeks. It will probably decide where we end up on the table," he said.</p>
<p>Brown said the Sharks, who opened their New Zealand tour with a five-point loss to the Blues, presented a different challenge after facing four Australian franchises in successive weeks.</p>
<p>"The Sharks are a really physical team and very direct," he said, after a training session focused on stopping the South African's rolling maul.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, key loose forward Elliot Dixon is on the mend after a head gash against the Force saw him miss the trip to Brisbane.</p>
<p>Marty Banks injury-hampered campaign continues as he recovers from a rib injury suffered during a 12-minute season debut against the West Australians so Hayden Parker continues as Lima Sopoaga's back-up as playmaker.</p>
<p><strong><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://my.stuff.co.nz/register/newsletter?type=twoMinutesOfStuff'>Sign up to receive our new evening newsletter Two Minutes of Stuff - the news, but different</a></strong></p>
<p><strong> - Stuff</strong></p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="573460" data-time="1461041459">
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<p>Lachlan Boshier from Naki has been drafted in.</p>
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<p>Cheers. Sounds like he was picked over Mitch Jacobson because Jacobson's got U20s.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="573454" data-time="1461040221"><p>
Christ, that's openside #4. Who's next in line?<br><br>
Thank McGod Cane is invincible.</p></blockquote>
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Sorry. Not following close enough.<br><br>
Who are the others?
