Super Rugby 2024

[Tim]

Some stats from last year:

https://www.backrowsports.com/SRP23_teamoverview

[Winger]

@Tim

''At the Hurricanes players like Aidan Morgan, Peter Lakai and Riley Higgins want to become established starters."

All young players want to. But of Morgan starts I will give up on Laidlaw. Lakai might at 8 (or maybe 7) but unlikely at this point. Higgins is a 2nd 5 mainly and there is a small issue here

[Canes4life]

@Winger Higgins and Lakai have the ability to push for starting spots. Aiden Morgan however, hell noooo.

[Tim]

Feb 18  /  Sport

Super Rugby Pacific team preview: The Hurricanes

RNZ is previewing all the NZ Super Rugby teams ahead of the season's start on 23 February. Today we look at last year's quarterfinalists, the Hurricanes.

[Tim]

Any ref appointments yet?

[Tim]

Feb 19  /  Sport

Super Rugby Pacific team preview: The Highlanders

Analysis - RNZ is previewing all the NZ Super Rugby teams ahead of the season's start on 23 February. Today we look at the Highlanders.

[Kiwiwomble]

as mentioned in the Highlanders thread basically just the bleeding obvious (win more games, target games against lower table teams) or cliches (Highlanders are just a rag tag group of cast off and Journeymen)

The former might be correct but hardly impressive journalism and the later hardly the case currently considering a large chunk of the squad has come through are academy and another decent contingent are long (ish) term servants (Harmon, PPP, Nareki, Fakatava)

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350185682/super-rugby-power-rankings-reigning-champion-crusaders-against-it

[number9]

Super Rugby is back up the Blues.

[Canes4life]

@Tim so Stuff has the power rankings to kick off the season as:

1. Chiefs
2. Blues
3. Crusaders
4. Brumbies
5. Hurricanes
6. Fijian Drua
7. Highlanders
8. Waratahs
9. Rebels
10. Force
11. Reds
12. Moana Pasifika

[Unite]

Reds at 11 is madness

[Duluth]

@Unite said in Super Rugby 2024:

Reds at 11 is madness

At the very least it's hard to see them finishing behind the Force and Rebels

[Duluth]

Preview of the season.. not sure when it was recorded they didn't seem aware of the Jordan injury

[Tim]

The Fijian Drua rookie backed to 'announce himself' in 2024

Former All Black James Parsons was asked on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod which of the SRP newcomers he is most keen to see perform this season.

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350186932/super-rugby-pacific-teams-rivez-reihana-start-crusaders-against-his-old-side

[taniwharugby]

@Tim unsure if Reihana ever started for the Chiefs in his handful of caps, either way, huge step up for him.

[Duluth]

@taniwharugby 9 games in three seasons, all as a sub

[KiwiMurph]

Nearly 50 NPC caps for Reihana. 23 years old. I think the right call to give him first crack over Kemara

[taniwharugby]

@KiwiMurph and he is maturing as a player, huge opportunity to promote himself beyond a good npc player.

[Winger]

@Duluth said in Super Rugby 2024:

Preview of the season.. not sure when it was recorded they didn't seem aware of the Jordan injury

Scott Barrett as an AB captain. No way based on this interview. Not even close to good enough on this front.

Whereas Brad Shield's is a VG communicator. Top notch. I'm not suggesting him of course (as AB captain) but he has the qualities needed.