Super Rugby 2024
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@kiwi_expat Bower never played for the Highlanders though
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@Kiwiwomble depth at prop 2018/19, behind Lomax, Tokolahi, Johnstone, Lienert-Brown, etc.. he played for the development side I think. The point is Razor takes relatively unknown talent and is skillful enough to develop them further than they would've elsewhere.
He maximizes his resources, he doesn't require already developed All Blacks to be successful (unlike Leon) he takes rough unrefined talent and gets them punching well above their weight at SR level.
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Bower was picked up as a injury sub during the season at First then was retained the next year.
Jason Ryan picked him out and schooled him up. -
@kiwi_expat Lio-Willie was ignored by Otago for too long. Then when the Highlanders did notice him they didn't take his talent seriously. He should have immediately been given a decent contract. Instead, was a cover player. By the time he was on the paddock for us, he was starting, then got injured. At that point he probably made up his mind. Bower, Moorby and Hotham are the other ones where more of an effort should have been made.
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@SouthernMann how long has Leo-willie been in otago? did he actually come down as a first year so maybe 6 years ago? or was it more recently for rugby?
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Came down as a student is my understanding. I think he had a decent 2019 season. Had a stormer in 2020 albeit covid interrupted. Then made Otago 2021. Probably an issue with not coming down as an acadamey player
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@kiwi_expat said in Super Rugby 2024:
It a fair point isn't it, South Island franchises Highlanders and Crusaders simply can't compete with those cashed up Blues and their third-party deals, there's a reason Leon only coached Ta$man - then abruptly left his Crusaders assistant post after just 1 season for the Blue$ top job citing 'family reasons' lol... Super Rugby isn't exactly a level playing field these days is it?
Sorry mate, but your point about Leon and Ta$man is total bollocks - perpetuated on the Fern by a bunch of financial illiterates and a couple of fuckwits who think they are funny.
On page 28 of this State of the Union report.... https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/nz/Documents/consumer-business/nz-en-2017-state-of-the-unions-report-final.pdf
..you will see in Leon's first year as Head Coach, Ta$man has the fourth lowest team and match-related costs - we finished runner up to Canterbury in the competition, with less than half of their budget. Ta$man occupy a similar position in each of the State of the Union reports except 2018, when we hosted the Argentina test match under a special arrangement with NZ Rugby and our match related expenditures and revenues each jumped by a large amount.
What you actually saw at Ta$man was a masterclass of identification of young talent and team building, by Leon and Kieran Keane.
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@Chris-B It's a fair critique of Leon's time at the Blues though - Leon's strength at the Blues has been putting together strong teams on paper (both on the field and in regards to his coaching team). In terms of converting that talent to on field success it's been up and down. For a coach known for his attack the Blues attacking shape has been awfully disappointing this year.
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@KiwiMurph That's a fair assessment at the Blues - he built a good team, but hasn't quite got them over the line (except in the Smash the Aussies version). And they've gone backwards this year. Compared to previous versions of the Blues he's been pretty good, but maybe leaving at the right time.
Razor has picked him and clearly knows what he's getting, so I think that's a pretty solid endorsement.
He also didn't go directly to the Blues - he finished with the Crusaders in 2017 and went to the Blues in 2019, and was only supposed to be an assistant to Tana.
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@Chris-B said in Super Rugby 2024:
Razor has picked him as an assistant coach (alongside another assistant coach who is helping the attack in Holland) and clearly knows what he's getting, so I think that's a pretty solid endorsement as an assistant coach.
Fixed.
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No ABs. And during the 6 nations v Munster
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@Winger Yep, Ireland play France (away) on 2 February and England play Wales (home) on 10 February 2024.
These games are played during our preseason, so an under-cooked Crusaders team without ABs and Munster and Bristol Bears teams without their test players (but mid-season).
It will still attract crowds though.
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@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2024:
Came down as a student is my understanding. I think he had a decent 2019 season. Had a stormer in 2020 albeit covid interrupted. Then made Otago 2021. Probably an issue with not coming down as an acadamey player
Came down to Otago Uni on a rugby scholarship, but not through the Highlanders or Otago... I don't even know if he was in the academy. Just one of those guys who might have matured a little bit later, because I could be wrong, but I think he was initially more of an openside flanker, but he was quality as an 8 for Otago and should have been used way earlier. First in the Otago squad in 2021 I believe? Really good kid, and wish him the best with the Crusaders. Was the right move for him.
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@frugby said in Super Rugby 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2024:
Came down as a student is my understanding. I think he had a decent 2019 season. Had a stormer in 2020 albeit covid interrupted. Then made Otago 2021. Probably an issue with not coming down as an acadamey player
Came down to Otago Uni on a rugby scholarship, but not through the Highlanders or Otago... I don't even know if he was in the academy. Just one of those guys who might have matured a little bit later, because I could be wrong, but I think he was initially more of an openside flanker, but he was quality as an 8 for Otago and should have been used way earlier. First in the Otago squad in 2021 I believe? Really good kid, and wish him the best with the Crusaders. Was the right move for him.
Play for the champions of the team that finished 9th. Seems an easy choice.
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@Winger said in Super Rugby 2024:
No ABs. And during the 6 nations v Munster
Yeah crusaders B (with no game time) vs NH B with game time. Saders will lose to Munster, beat the almost relegated Bristol in a pretty average pair of games
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the five New Zealand Super Rugby Clubs having signed a collective five year agreement with Australasian apparel brand – Classic.
The partnership will see each club expand their range and offer greater official and supporter apparel options for fans, including the potential of heritage or themed jerseys and a range of training and on-field items.EXPANDED APPAREL RANGE KEY TO NEW ‘CLASSIC’ PARTNERSHIP — Blues Rugby
Heritage jerseys, expanded product ranges and quick turn arounds are some of the features exciting the five New Zealand Super Rugby Clubs having signed a collective five year agreement with Australasian apparel brand – Classic. The appointment comes after a thorough tender process which canvassed o
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im actually kind of excited we might might get some cool stuff next year...might actually get some retro jerseys and better supports gear
looks like exactly the same announcement on the Highlander page
Expanded Apparel Range Key to New 'Classic' Partnership | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership
Heritage jerseys, expanded product ranges, and quick turn arounds are some of the features exciting the five New Zealand Super Rugby Clubs having signed a collective five-year agreement with Australasian apparel brand – Classic.
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@Daffy-Jaffy all teams were with Adidas this year werent they (and since 1999, which at the time was a full kit out?) so is interesting they are all moving away but ABs staying.
