Super Rugby News
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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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<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? -
<p>Patrick Tuipulotu has confirmed he has signed on to the Blues/NZ Rugby until end of 2019.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.superrugby.co.nz/News/29061/patrick-tuipulotu-signs-through-until-2019'>http://www.superrugby.co.nz/News/29061/patrick-tuipulotu-signs-through-until-2019</a></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(237,237,237);">Tuipulotu said: “I am really enjoying my rugby at the Blues and I am learning a lot playing under Tana. I like being based at home right now. Next year the Lions are coming to New Zealand which would be great to be part of. Injury meant I missed a chance to play in the World Cup, and so long term I would love to be at the next one.â€</span></blockquote> -
<p>The Hurricanes have announced that Assistant Coach John Plumtree has committed to the Canes until 2018.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/the-canes/news/single/item/assistant-coach-john-plumtree-commits-to-hurricanes/'>http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/the-canes/news/single/item/assistant-coach-john-plumtree-commits-to-hurricanes/</a></p> -
<p><span style="font-family:calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Highlanders have added Otago prop Aki Seiuli to their wider training group and promoted Craig Millar to the squad to compensate for the loss of Brendon Edmonds to a season-ending knee injury.</span></span></p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79238084/prop-aki-seiuli-added-to-highlanders-seasonending-injury-for-brendon-edmonds'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79238084/prop-aki-seiuli-added-to-highlanders-seasonending-injury-for-brendon-edmonds</a></p> -
<p>Jason Emery cops a 4 week ban</p>
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<p>IMO a bit heavy handed when you look at the inconsistency of some of the rulings SANZAR* dish out but for what it was, no issues really.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79294929/Highlanders-back-Jason-Emery-banned-for-four-weeks-for-dangerous-tackle-of-Sharks-fullback-Willie-le-Roux'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79294929/Highlanders-back-Jason-Emery-banned-for-four-weeks-for-dangerous-tackle-of-Sharks-fullback-Willie-le-Roux</a></p>
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<p>*What is SANZAR now? SAJANZAR</p> -
<p>Nadolo posted this tweet yesterday (Monday) evening: "Looks like it's fittness for me"</p>
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<p>Sounds like he got a suspension but I've seen nothing on the SANZAAR website or in the media about the length/number of games. If Evemy only got 4 weeks, this should be much shorter ...</p>