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Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="585249" data-time="1465159995">
To be honest mate, I can't recall seeing Cridge play rugby down here...., other than a couple of televised christchurch boys high games when he was at school. 
Had he played for Hawkes bay yet? 
He played pretty well for the u20s I believe? Although to be I didn't watch a lot of that tournament until the business end. 
He's tall, and I assume he's put on a bit of bulk since then.</blockquote>
 
Hes only played one game for the Bay i'm pretty sure before getting injured. 
For the under 20s he played about five minutes of their first game, made a break and ruptured his knee so was out of that tournament quick fast. 
For the Canes he came off the bench this year for about 10 minutes and looked pretty solid but it wasn't enough time to gauge his full potential. 
I saw him doing promo work at the Cake tin last week. He is an athlete alright. Time will tell though if the hype around him is justified or not. 
I think he is still only 21 so time is on his side and with Broadhurst doubtful to make a return to rugby he may get a fair few minutes next year.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="585255" data-time="1465162754">
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Hes only played one game for the Bay i'm pretty sure before getting injured. 
For the under 20s he played about five minutes of their first game, made a break and ruptured his knee so was out of that tournament quick fast. 
For the Canes he came off the bench this year for about 10 minutes and looked pretty solid but it wasn't enough time to gauge his full potential. 
I saw him doing promo work at the Cake tin last week. He is an athlete alright. Time will tell though if the hype around him is justified or not. 
I think he is still only 21 so time is on his side and with Broadhurst doubtful to make a return to rugby he may get a fair few minutes next year.
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Yes, Cridge's only game time in ITM Cup was on 5 September 2014, in the Bay's away game v Northland. Cridge came on very late in the second half and scored ... a yellow card.

Dice

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="585233" data-time="1465121532">
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Sammy C. If we cut the bullshit and just talk rugby (with no bias attached) what are your thoughts on Geoff Criidge. He hails from Canterbury doesn't he?? Il be interested based on your club level knowledge how much you rate him. He is currently in Hawkes Bay and within the Canes setup. Is he a player of the future in your eyes?? Personally i have seen very little of him to judge but Ive heard a number of people suggesting he could bring something similar to that of Brodie Rettalick. Maybe this is the type of player the Blues should chase.
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No, thanks. We have our own young locks up here who are good prospects. Auckland has 5 good young locks in the academy who made NZ Schools/Barbarians in the last two years, we don't need to add another young prospect to the locking stocks. If we're to chase a lock, it should be someone a bit more proven.

KiwiMurph

Benn Robinson, Waratahs prop, has had to retire effective immediately due to an eye injury.

Tim

Poor bastard. What happened?

Frye

Eye injury.

Tim

Thanks for clearing that up.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="585418" data-time="1465264024">
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Poor bastard. What happened?
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It's explained here: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/News/NewsArticle/tabid/157/ArticleID/17194/NSW-Waratahs’-highest-ever-capped-player-Benn-Robinson-announces-his-retirement-from-rugby.aspx'>http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/News/NewsArticle/tabid/157/ArticleID/17194/NSW-Waratahs’-highest-ever-capped-player-Benn-Robinson-announces-his-retirement-from-rugby.aspx</a>

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="584136" data-time="1464618989">
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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: 

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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="584322" data-time="1464678471">
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The decision on Lavanini (Jaguares) has just been published by Planet Rugby. 
 
The verdict and suspension are consistent with that imposed on Herrera. Lavanini gets 2 weeks suspension instead of 1 because of his previous offending. 

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David Havili suspended for one week, just like Herrera, except that Herrera misses a test match and Havili probably only a club rugby game. (Haven't seen the decision yet).
 
Although I generally don't like players being able to serve their suspensions during byes/season breaks and only missing club games, in this case the one week suspension is so disproportionate if you compare Havili's offending with that of the two Jaguares players, that I'm fine with it for that reason. I'm surprised the decision took that long. I wonder whether he pleaded not guilty and the case went to a full judicial hearing ...

Stargazer

Article on Fox Sports website in Oz: 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Englandâ€™s failed World Cup coach Stuart Lancaster in contention to take over Reds 
 ENGLANDâ€™S failed World Cup coach Stuart Lancaster has emerged as a shock contender to take over at the helm of the Queensland Reds. 
 The Queensland Rugby Union has consistently talked up the quest as worldwide for the experienced head coach to steer the Reds out of their three-season slump. 
 Current co-coaches Matt Oâ€™Connor and Nick Stiles both have strong ambitions to head the Reds next season and the QRU has said they will be on the short list of final candidates. 
 Lancaster, 46, resigned before he was punted after Englandâ€™s muddled and embarrassing exit at the pool stage of their own World Cup last year. England have won a Six Nations crown since replacing Lancaster with Eddie Jones, who will steer the side into the big first Test against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night. 
 Lancasterâ€™s 28 wins from 46 Tests in charge included triumphs over the All Blacks and Wallabies (two) and he was respected for his organisational skills and rebuilding of team culture. 
 Both are elements the QRU regards highly but he did delegate much of the on-field coaching to assistants. 
 With hands-on pair Oâ€™Connor and Stiles at the Reds for another two seasons and both well regarded by the players, a head coach to sit above them is one possible scenario. 
 When chairman Damien Frawley announced Richard Barker as the QRUâ€™s chief executive last week, he said he hoped a new coach could be settled in four-to-six weeks. 
 â€œA lot of work is being done under the radar sifting through availability and who is the right person,â€ Frawley said. 
 Kiwis Robbie Deans (Wallabies), John Mitchell (Force) and Daryl Gibson (Waratahs) have brought an international flavour to coaching top Australian teams although Lancaster would become the first English head coach of an Australian Super Rugby side.
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The reactions to Fox tweeting this article are just as positive as NZers would be if Sky had posted an article saying that Lancaster was a candidate for the Highlanders or Crusaders gig.

KiwiMurph

Confirmed Jimmy Tupou and Alex Hodgeman (Crusaders prop) signed for the Blues 2017.
 
Hodgeman went to Mt Albert Grammar and played Blues U18s.

SammyC

Hodgeman is a good signing, way better scrummager than the blues current options at loosehead
 
(he also has a high workrate, which blues fans will probably find more appealing) ;)

Canes4life

Hodgeman is a great signing for the Blues. Crusaders will be a bit peeved they let him go but what can you do when you have Moody and Crockett.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="585618" data-time="1465356735">
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Hodgeman is a great signing for the Blues. Crusaders will be a bit peeved they let him go but what can you do when you have Moody and Crockett.
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We have Tim Perry too, who is a good backup.
 
Good on him for moving. I like watching him play.

Canes4life

The Blues are starting to piece together a very tidy side for next year. Talk about firepower.
 
I hate to say it but imagine if they were able to nab Barrett.

Chris B.

How did Tony Woodcock learn to be such a good prop without going to the Crusaders?
 
Bloody poaching, pass-the-chequebook North Island teams - seems like they're angling to defect to the French competition!

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="585612" data-time="1465354955">
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Hodgeman is a good signing, way better scrummager than the blues current options at loosehead
 
(he also has a high workrate, which blues fans will probably find more appealing) ;)
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That is a very good signing. I was hoping for a while that we would go for him as he is wasted playing week in week out for Linwood.

Stargazer

Bit of a random thought: it's remarkable how the Blues have been announcing these new signings recently, but you don't hear anything from the other teams signing new players (only re-signing). The Canes are losing at least 5 players, the Crusaders 6, the Highlanders and Chiefs (if you count SBW) at least 3. And those are the one's that have been made public (officially), there may be more. 
 
Are the Blues just more active in signing new players before they are locked in by other teams? Or are they just doing it more openly to assure their fans that they are working on a stronger squad for next year, because this year's campaign hasn't been a success and they want to keep the fans interested? 
 
I can see why the Highlanders & Crusaders are maybe slower in signing new players because they want to give their new head coach a say in the hiring & the firing, but that doesn't apply to the Chiefs and Canes.
The list of players with contracts ending in 2016 is still quite long, too ...

Tim

The Blues can't make the playoffs, so it isn't crucial to avoid such distractions? Perhaps it gives some motivation for the last two games, as players may be playing for their places?

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="585643" data-time="1465368872">
<div>
Bit of a random thought: it's remarkable how the Blues have been announcing these new signings recently, but you don't hear anything from the other teams signing new players (only re-signing). The Canes are losing at least 5 players, the Crusaders 6, the Highlanders and Chiefs (if you count SBW) at least 3. And those are the one's that have been made public (officially), there may be more. 
 
Are the Blues just more active in signing new players before they are locked in by other teams? Or are they just doing it more openly to assure their fans that they are working on a stronger squad for next year, because this year's campaign hasn't been a success and they want to keep the fans interested? 
 
I can see why the Highlanders & Crusaders are maybe slower in signing new players because they want to give their new head coach a say in the hiring & the firing, but that doesn't apply to the Chiefs and Canes.
The list of players with contracts ending in 2016 is still quite long, too ...
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I guess with the Blues finals hopes almost gone-skies you could say that they are able to make signings more public and it wont have to much of a bearing on the current crop of players in the Blues squad.
 
Whereas if the other four N.Z. teams started making their signings public at this stage in the season then it may prevent the current squad members from putting in their full effort this year knowing that they may not have a spot in the side next year. (If that makes sense)
 
I notice that most franchises make a move on players at the back end of the Mitre 10 Cup. We usually start hearing about signings in October so I wouldn't worry too much about the likes of the Crusaders and Canes at this stage.

The Silver Fern

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