Super Rugby News

hydro11

Wow. Those decisions were dead set terrible. Are we going to get to the stage in rugby where you can't do a clean out anymore?

Tim

I'm gonna be unpopular and say that both of those no-arms cleanouts targeted the head. Yellow card at least for both.

barbarian

I'd like to see actions like the second red wiped out of the game. The Kings player was taking no part in the ruck at all, it was just thuggery from Herrera. 
It's crept into the game more and more, and all teams do it. Belting guys around the ruck who aren't taking part in it, just for the sake of it. 
When you dive on a bloke on the ground like that it's dangerous play, and should be a YC at the very least. 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Stargazer

It will be interesting what the SANZAAR judiciairy is going to decide, particularly reasons given and suspensions (if any). Red cards always go to a hearing, so we should know more in a couple of days. Didn't look like red cards to me, esp. first one. Nick Bryant is a terrible ref; if I remember it correctly, he stuffed up against the Jaguares early in the season as well (in Arg). But the Jaguares certainly have a serious discipline problem that they need to sort out.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="583542" data-time="1464430844">
<div>
I'd like to see actions like the second red wiped out of the game. The Kings player was taking no part in the ruck at all, it was just thuggery from Herrera. 
It's crept into the game more and more, and all teams do it. Belting guys around the ruck who aren't taking part in it, just for the sake of it. 
When you dive on a bloke on the ground like that it's dangerous play, and should be a YC at the very least. 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
</div>
</blockquote>
I thought he was lying on the ruck so fair game on the cleanout but not the diving. 
 
I think the reds were both too harsh, IMHO they should have been yellows (Palu only got a yellow) and the only issue is you see those in every game and you don't see yellows for them in every game.

No Quarter

Yep, if they are going to crack down on dangerous cleanouts then it has to be consistent. The hit on Vito I mentioned earlier - he was on his back taking no part in the ruck and got hammered. Nobody blinked an eye lid, because it happens every match. 2x reds killed the Jaguares off and made a farce of the game. 
It reminded me of when Daryl Heir no-balled Murali out of the game even though all other umpires let him bowl. You can't have such inconsistent enforcement of the laws.

African Monkey

Another big win for the Lions. I know their reputation took a hit after the Hurricanes match, but are they a dark horse for the title.

Unite

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="583584" data-time="1464463241">Another big win for the Lions. I know their reputation took a hit after the Hurricanes match, but are they a dark horse for the title.</blockquote>
 
And a not so dark horse to finish top of the table...

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unite" data-cid="583603" data-time="1464473370">
And a not so dark horse to finish top of the table...</blockquote>
 
Looking at the games to come it's a good chance

Stargazer

Last weekend there were two red cards in the Kings v Jaguares game in which the players charged into the ruck and made contact with their shoulders to the head of an opponent. 
Here in NZ, Havili got cited for an alleged swinging arm making contact with the neck of an opponent. 
 
Herrera has received a suspension of ONE week! Now, how inconsistent are they going to be this time and how much will Havili get? For sure, shoulder charge to head should be more serious than arm swing v neck? Havili shouldn't get any suspension based on that, but we all know it doesn't quite work that way! 
 
From Planet Rugby website: 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Jaguares prop Ramiro Herrera has been banned for two weeks for foul play during his sideâ€™s clash with the Kings in Port Elizabeth. 
 The SANZAAR Duty Judicial Officer Michael Heron has accepted a guilty plea from Herrera for contravening Law 10.4 (h) A player must not charge into a ruck or maul, after he was Red Carded during the Super Rugby Match at the weekend. 
 Herrera charged into an opponent on the ground and made contact with his opponentâ€™s head during the match which the Kings won 29-22 on 27 May 2016. 
 Herrera received a sanction of one week (covering one scheduled match) with his next scheduled match being Argentina v Italy, 11 June 2016. 
 Consequently he is suspended up to and including Saturday 11 June 2016. 
 In his finding, Heron ruled the following: 
 â€ The player, Mr Stephan Weyers (counsel), Mr Greg Peters (Jaguares CEO), Mr Rafael Laria (Jaguares Manager) and an interpreter attended the call. Mr Andreas Ramos, SAANZAR JO, attended also as an observer. 
 â€ The player accepted the charge. I agreed with Mr Weyers that the charge should be under Law 10(4)(h) as the opponent player did not have the ball. The player was remorseful and apologised to the opponent player on field before he left as a result of the red card. 
 â€ I accepted the submission that this was low end offending, it was not intentional, no injury resulted and the only negative impact on the game was to the Jaguares and Mr Herrara. Mr Herrara has an exemplary disciplinary record, this being his first red card or citing. 
 â€ For that reason, I indicated a low end entry point under 10(4)(h) of two weeks. Because of his conduct, his remorse and his exemplary playing record, I was prepared to reduce that by one week to a resulting suspension of one week (covering one match) and I gave that indication. 
 â€ The next scheduled fixture for the player was an international match on 11 June for Argentina against Italy. Accordingly, the suspension imposed is for one match (being that international match on 11 June) but takes effect from today up to and including 11 June 2016 (to include the one scheduled match).â€
</blockquote>

? Offline

In this morning's Hawke's Bay Today Highlanders prop Brendon Edmonds could be out for up to a year. The surgery on his cartilage went fine, but the bigger problem is he suffered nerve damage.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Number 10" data-cid="584159" data-time="1464639960">
In this morning's Hawke's Bay Today Highlanders prop Brendon Edmonds could be out for up to a year. The surgery on his cartilage went fine, but the bigger problem is he suffered nerve damage.
</blockquote>
 
I was shocked to read that there is even the possibility that he will never play again! 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Prop's keeping his head 
 4:44 AM Tuesday May 31, 2016 
 Hawke's Bay Magpies and Highlanders rugby prop Brendon Edmonds has never been one to shy away from a challenge. 
 With Edmonds it's always been a case of the bigger the challenge the better whether he's wearing a Maori All Blacks, Highlanders or Magpies jersey. This time last year he was regularly labelled one of the best looseheads in the country. 
 Twelve months later Edmonds, 25, is dealing with the possibility he may not play again. 
 "It will be at least a year before I can think about playing again ... hopefully I can," Edmonds said. 
 The Havelock North club player, who has played 48 first class games for the Magpies since his 2011 debut, had reconstructive surgery a month ago in the wake of an injury to his left knee in the opening minutes of the Highlanders 32-20 win against the Force in Dunedin on April 1. 
 "My ligaments have been repaired and the surgery went well. But I also damaged a nerve which controls the foot and I've got what is known as dropped foot so we have to wait and see how it heals," Edmonds explained. 
 He must have told this story at least a dozen times as fans checked on on his well-being while he was sitting on the sideline at Anderson Park on Saturday in his role as forwards coach with the Progressive Meats Havelock North premier team. 
 "They want to know what happened and most of them didn't realise the extent of the injury. I don't know if I will play again, but I will if possible." 
 The surgery was carried out by Dr Andrew Vincent in Christchurch. The Highlanders doctor and physio check on his progress every fortnight and Magpies physio Mark Nicol helps him when required. 
 The manner in which he is dealing with the injury must be admired in the way his playing feats have been in recent seasons. 
 "I'm looking upon this as a paid holiday. At times like this you take the negatives and positives ... and there are lots of positives. I'm spending lots of time with my 15-month-old son Benson and at weekends I'm able to sit back and relax with family," Edmonds said. 
 He is enjoying his new role with the villagers and sees it as "an opportunity to give something back to the boys." 
 Saturday's 40-9 loss to Taradale was a tough introduction for Edmonds. His engine room was up against a big pack. 
 "I thought we were in with a chance until about the 65th minute. A couple of yellow cards proved costly and we also had a red at the end. We haven't got the biggest pack in the comp so we just have to play a bit smarter ... if we want to compete with the good teams we have to adapt our plans to suit," Edmonds said. 
 The Central Hawke's Bay College product believed it was too early to discount the Highlanders chances of retaining their Super Rugby title in his absence. 
 "There are players down there who can replace the injured players and the team remains just as strong. It was a hard game on Friday night but we still played well," he said referring to the 27-20 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington. 
 "We have lost four games but the most of those have been by a couple or five points. We will still be there at the business end," Edmonds warned. 
 It's also too early to discount the chances of Edmonds playing again. This bloke is determined and if there's a way he will pursue it. 
 This time next year expect to see him trotting out for the villagers. They will be stronger than they were at the weekend too. 
 In fact, expect to see some vast improvement from their forwards within the next fortnight too ... Edmonds won't be wasting time with his latest assignment. Like the Highlanders, the villagers have too much quality ammunition not to be there at semifinal time. 
 - Hawkes Bay Today
</blockquote>

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="583533" data-time="1464427918">
<div>
I'm gonna be unpopular and say that both of those no-arms cleanouts targeted the head. Yellow card at least for both.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Agreed. Needs to be out of the game in an era where we're all more cognisant of the dangers to head injuries. The first one looked accidental but reckless and meets the threshold for a yellow card. The second is a clear red for mine.
 
Now it just needs consistency...

Stargazer

Charlie Ngatai has re-signed with the Chiefs for 2 more years.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/221-charlie-ngatai-commits-to-gallagher-chiefs'>http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/221-charlie-ngatai-commits-to-gallagher-chiefs</a>

MajorRage

That Jaguares vs Kings game was everything that was wrong with the super rugby expansion.
 
1, first and foremost the rugby sucked shit. It was terrible
2. 2 red cards for Jaguares for trying to be too physical, and not actually play rugby
3. 15 on 13, the Kings still struggled and in fact, only managed to pull ahead in the last 10 minutes
4. Crowd must have been less than 1000,
 
Everything about that sucked serious arse and is turning the competition into a complete fucking joke.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="584245" data-time="1464662767">
<div>
That Jaguares vs Kings game was everything that was wrong with the super rugby expansion.
 
1, first and foremost the rugby sucked shit. It was terrible
2. 2 red cards for Jaguares for trying to be too physical, and not actually play rugby
3. 15 on 13, the Kings still struggled and in fact, only managed to pull ahead in the last 10 minutes
4. Crowd must have been less than 1000,
 
Everything about that sucked serious arse and is turning the competition into a complete fucking joke.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Yep, in those last 10 minutes, the Jaguares also had someone sent off with a yellow card and were down to 12 men.

No Quarter

The quality of rugby varies to ridiculous degrees now. You've got the NZ teams that have basically consolidated their talent since the competition started and are producing quality rugby the majority of the time.
 
Then you've got Aus and SA with too many teams for the talent available due to "expansion", meaning at any given time they will only have 1 - 2 teams capable of quality rugby.
 
Then you've got the Jaguares who have been a massive fucking let down considering how well Argentina have been going on the international stage. Why are they so shit?
 
Then you've got Japan who were always going to struggle to begin with - will they improve? Who knows...
 
That means at any one time you've got 6 - 8 teams that are decent, and 10+ teams that are fucking awful. So more then 50% of the games will be shit viewing.

Tim

Time for a 6th NZ team?

taniwharugby

I think the Jaguares have struggled with the style of play at this level, being a bit looser than International, probably the lower quality reffing, as well as a travel schedule that is new to them.
 
Be interesting to see how they go in TRC this year after the poor form.

hydro11

Jaguares had a tough start. They went to the Republic, had the bye, then lost to the Chiefs. Once they lost to the Stormers there season was all over with a tough trip to New Zealand. I think they will be better next year. It's actually their home form which has been disappointing.

The Silver Fern

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