Super Rugby 2022
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@bovidae Cam Jowitt was another that disappeared into the Waratah vortex...then Pat O'Connor (although he did get selected for the Wallabies I think, but didnt play) both locks came through Northland...
that should tell those aspiring to be Waratahs, dont use Northland as your stepping stone!
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@gt12 said in Super Rugby 2022:
@nostrildamus said in Super Rugby 2022:
@gt12 said in Super Rugby 2022:
@kiwi_expat said in Super Rugby 2022:
@gt12 could've swore they had more players rested for that match, but my point still remains as there're many instances where Crusaders achieved similar results under Razor with significantly weakened match-day squads.
If a coach has effective structures in place wider squad members can be rotated into the starting line-up and slot into those systems fairly seamlessly (and how they are specifically utilized in context to a gameplan that maximizes the characteristics of the players at your disposal) therefore you shouldn't notice a significant drop in the team's performance. A pretty distinguishing feature of well coached sides. Eddie, Razor, Schmidt, Brown's sides come to mind. Foster does not come to mind, his Chiefs/All Blacks sides have been headless, disjointed & uncoordinated rabble, clearly less than the sum of their parts, with players hesitant & unsure of their roles...
At what stage are posters on here going to stop pinning the blame at various players, instead of acknowledging the main issue, Foster's inability to make the best use of the cattle at his disposal? Plenty of other coaches have succeeded when dealt much rougher hands. Foster isn't a proven maximizer of talent - he's a minimizer.
There is little evidence to support this statement.
In Transtasman 2021 it was the close win against the Force, when he rested both Mo'unga and Whitelock that the Saders lost their chance to win the competition.
In Super rugby Aotearoa, their close loss to the Chiefs came when he rested both Taylor and Whitelock.
In every other big win (and a few losses) over the last two seasons, one thing stands out: An over reliance on a spine of Taylor, Whitelock, Mo'unga (with a range of others such as Barrett, Havili etc). The only evidence to support your statement from the last two years would be the early wins over the Tahs, Blues, and Landers when Whitelock was out. However, even then he played Moody, Taylor, Mo'unga, Goodhue, and Havili, plus others.
He has the best squad and has had the best squad for years, and he still relies on a few main players to get them through, who then perform poorly for the ABs because they are fucked by that time.
I'm confused, were they exhausted this year through overplaying or not match-hardened because of the COVID affected season?
??
You're confused.
Perhaps. Then again I didn't think this season should have tired them out. They had plenty of time to recover prior to and in the international season.
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@nta said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris interesting move. I understand from taking a headline that Roberts had an Aussie partner?
Sydney winters beat Welsh summers I guess 😉
Shame about Walton. Had a couple of injuries that last few seasons but is a good player.
Yep Aussie girlfriend apparantly.
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BTW with NZ being an evidence free zone lately, what are the odds SR is going to go ahead given not even the 7s teams could participate in the circuit?
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@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
BTW with NZ being an evidence free zone lately, what are the odds SR is going to go ahead given not even the 7s teams could participate in the circuit?
Looks like a mess coming even if it starts,With omicron potentially spreading through the teams
No travel etc. -
@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
So the best they can do is draft in some 35 year old to play SR..?
It seems that way.The Waratahs are a bit lost at the moment I think.
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@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
So the best they can do is draft in some 35 year old to play SR..?
He didn't really do much the last time in Super Rugby when he was with the Stormers...and he was 2 years younger then.
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Considering where the Tahs are (didn't win a single game last year, very young squad, late injury replacement) I don't think Roberts is an awful signing.
Injuries permitting he wouldn't be asked to start for the Tahs (Foketi 12, Perese 13) but they could definitely use more experience (probably off the field more than on the field in Roberts case).
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Super Rugby Pacific pre-season fixtures
Saturday, January 29Waratahs v Brumbies, Bowral
Friday, February 4
Moana Pasifika v Chiefs, Auckland
Crusaders v Highlanders, OamaruSaturday, February 5
Waratahs v West Harbour, Hunter Wildfires, Western Sydney Two Blues, Eric Tweedale Stadium, Parramatta
Hurricanes v Blues, Takapuna
Queensland Reds v Western Force, Ballymore StadiumThursday, February 10
Melbourne Rebels v Fijian Drua, Melbourne
Friday, February 11
Blues v Chiefs, Te Puke
Crusaders v Hurricanes, ChristchurchSaturday, February 12
Queensland Reds v Waratahs, Roma
Covid-19 disrupt Super Rugby pre-season fixtures
NEWS: Covid-19 restrictions have forced the cancellation of two Super Rugby Pacific pre-season fixtures less than a month out from the beginning of the new season.
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Queensland Reds move forward with new captains as James O'Connor relinquishes role
James O'Connor's flirtation with captaincy is over after the Queensland Reds' title-winning playmaker opted against returning to the role this year.
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Exclusive: New Zealand Rugby considering centralised Super Rugby Pacific hub to negate Omicron disruption threat | Newshub
Precautions are being taken to avoid the risk of a disrupted Super Rugby season.
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@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
So the best they can do is draft in some 35 year old to play SR..?
It seems that way.The Waratahs are a bit lost at the moment I think.
more that the premier club Rugby here is dire.
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@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
So the best they can do is draft in some 35 year old to play SR..?
I reckon this is the best bit of recruitment Waratahs have done in last few years, an experienced 13 to help out all the kids in their backline makes a lot of sense to me. The last thing they need is another kid!
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@bobily2 said in Super Rugby 2022:
Exclusive: New Zealand Rugby considering centralised Super Rugby Pacific hub to negate Omicron disruption threat | Newshub
Precautions are being taken to avoid the risk of a disrupted Super Rugby season.
Rugby News reckons it may be Queenstown. Makes sense for accommodation needs but those accommodation places will struggle to staff themselves especially around food. The shortage of staff is already strong.
The other problem will be playing/training grounds. They couldn't stick to one field as it will get hammered. Not sure if the Wakatipu club grounds are up to it.
I guess that teams could travel easily to Invers and Dunedin though.
Training is the next problem. Grounds aren't too much of a problem. Arrowtown Club grounds are in really good nick and if you add in Wakatipu, the High School and Events Centre spaces you could make it work. Cromwell is an option as is Alexandra. Gym facilities would be really stretched though and there may need to be some temporary setups.
