Super Rugby 2024
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@sparky said in Super Rugby 2024:
I think the Blues will win the competition this year. They have a top coach in Cotter and a very talented squad. They also have lots of players on top of their game and no obvious weaknesses.
This season will probably end in tears for the Canes. That said, I'm going to enjoy every moment of the Hurricanes doing so well for how ever long it lasts.
Have a little faith mate, we've literally made the best start to a season in our history and you're already saying it will end in tears. The Blues have as much PTSD from falling in the playoffs as we do so it won't be necessarily smooth sailing for them either.
I honestly think whoever gets home advantage through the playoff stages will win it, there isn't much between the Canes and Blues for me. The Canes are just as settled as the Blues with proven combinations right across the park which is crucial.
The match on May 11 between both sides is going to be huge. Whoever wins that might not necessarily win the title, but it will be a huge steppingstone to hopefully greater things.
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@ruggabee said in Super Rugby 2024:
when you could use the exact same reasoning to discredit Laidlaw's current success - because by your own admission (with the exception of Cotter)
I didn't discredit Robertson performance. I just said it may have been a factor in his 7 victories
Great teams need quality players and a top coach. If there is only one team that fits into this category it is easier for that team to look great (by winning year after year). However, if there are 2 or three not so easy.
My view esp in recent years it was a one team only factor. Clayton was (easily) the best of the rest in NZ but he failed badly last year.
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Updating those Aus v NZ stats after the weekend. Three more games, two more Aussie wins. Every Aussie side now has at least one win against a NZ side now
Aussie Team Matches vs NZ Sides Wins vs NZ sides Brumbies 3 1 Force 3 1 Reds 3 2 Rebels 2 1 Waratahs 4 2 Total 15 7 Aussies vs Matches Aussies Wins Blues 3 0 Chiefs 2 1 Hurricanes 3 0 Crusaders 3 3 Highlanders 4 3 Total 15 7 Maybe this table should be split into North Island and South Island. The Chiefs letting down the North Island
Highlanders the best of the South with the only win vs an Aussie side. Overall 7 SI games against Aussies and 6 losses
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@chimoaus said in Super Rugby 2024:
I would be interested to see a breakdown of tries by forwards vs backs for the teams. Blues fatties seem to get a lot of meat pies, just interesting if they are any different to the Canes for example.
I just had a skim of the Blues try scorers. After Hoskins and Tele'a it's Funaki with 4. Then a bunch of players with 3 (Clarke, Sullivan, Ofa, Riccitelli)
It doesn't seem that skewed towards forwards
The Blues do score a lot from long phases (7+) though. Canes more from first phase
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@Winger said in Super Rugby 2024:
@ruggabee said in Super Rugby 2024:
when you could use the exact same reasoning to discredit Laidlaw's current success - because by your own admission (with the exception of Cotter)
My view esp in recent years it was a one team only factor. Clayton was (easily) the best of the rest in NZ but he failed badly last year.
So McMillan's Chiefs dominated the regular season, cleared the next best team (Crusaders) by 11 competition points, finished up winning 15/17 games in total - but according to you that's 'failing badly'.
McMillian is the most successful Chiefs coach ever, with a 73% win rate, the next best is Rennie at 68%.
https://www.rugbydatabase.co.nz/team/coachList.php?teamId=5
Rennie only managed identical success to McMillan for 2 seasons while Wayne Smith was his assistant. The seasons after Smith left Rennie averaged between 6-8 losses including playoffs each season, compared to 2-4 while Smith was his assistant 2012/13.
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Ben Grant. I thought he did well enough but 16 tackles
Brad Shields has been in great form. A lot more consistent so far since his return. And at 33 years.
Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week: ‘Brilliant’ record breaker and ‘inspired’ former England star shine in Round Nine
We selected our team of the week loaded with players from the winning teams that included memorable victories for the Reds, Blues, Hurricanes and Western Force.
4 Ben Grant (Hurricanes): A classic tight five outing for the second-row who made a whopping 16 tackles whilst commanding the line-out taking all his throws and stealing one from the Drua. His complete performance gets in ahead of powerhouse Blues veteran Patrick Tuipulotu.
3 Santiago Medrano (Western Force): Most important wins are ‘propped’ up by the big men up front and that was the case when the Argentine ran in 14 tackles around a solid set-piece effort against the Crusaders.
2 Ricky Riccitelli (Blues): The prolific hooker was on the scoresheet yet again in another high-standard outing as he formed part of a pack that demolished the Brumbies. The Aucklander also got a try assist while nailing the set-piece.
1 Tevita Mafileo (Hurricanes): Another outstanding defensive effort from the ‘Canes loosehead who managed 14 tackles while never taking a foot back in the scrums. Mafileo looks to have entered a rich vein of form.
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Wallaby Jordie Petaia is in doubt for the rest of the Super Rugby season, and potentially Australia’s Test series against Wales, after suffering a shoulder dislocation in the Queensland Reds’ 31-0 win over the Highlanders in Brisbane.
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@Daffy-Jaffy poor bloke is made of glass
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@Tim the person manning the odds is obviously a Chiefs fan. How are they equal with the Blues and Canes?
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@Winger said in Super Rugby 2024:
4 Ben Grant (Hurricanes): A classic tight five outing for the second-row who made a whopping 16 tackles whilst commanding the line-out taking all his throws and stealing one from the Drua. His complete performance gets in ahead of powerhouse Blues veteran Patrick Tuipulotu.
I like the look of Grant, he looks to have a bit more size on him compared to when he was with the Legion last year in the MLR. He performed his role well and even stole a couple lineouts from the Drua. Not a bad guy to have in your squad tbh, would prefer him to Josh Tuala.
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Tim the person manning the odds is obviously a Chiefs fan. How are they equal with the Blues and Canes?
That's not how betting odds work.
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@Bones lol I know, still, how are the Chiefs still at even odds with the Blues and Canes? Doesn't really make sense to me. Recent results would suggest they'd be paying slightly higher. The bookmakers haven't adjusted the Chiefs odds for a few games now.
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@Canes4life "the" bookmakers are trying to make money.
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The Super Rugby Pacific Board has appointed Jack Mesley the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Super Rugby Pacific (SRP).
Sydney-based Mesley, who will commence in the role on 22 July, boasts more than 20 years of professional experience in marketing and operations, and currently holds the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Australian Professional A-Leagues.
Mesley said he was excited by the opportunity to engage with the competition and the fans, to help deliver the best possible entertainment product and to drive deeper engagement with the game.
“This is a monumental step for the unions and clubs to come together with a real intent to grow Super Rugby Pacific and put fans at the centre,” Mesley said.
“I am looking forward to working with closely with the Super Rugby Pacific clubs to understand their commonalities and differences, and to come together to ignite the flame for generations to come.”
A graduate of the University of Canberra, Jack has extensive and broad experience in driving fan engagement and achieving commercial outcomes. Prior to his role at the A-Leagues, Jack was the Chief Commercial Officer at NRL club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and spent nine years in brand and marketing at leading beverages company Lion.
Super Rugby Pacific Chair Kevin Malloy said Mesley’s strong marketing background and practical skillset made him ideally suited to the Super Rugby Pacific CEO role.
“What set Jack apart from a strong pool of candidates following a thorough search was his passion for rugby, his enthusiasm and a breadth of experience in both marketing and sports,” Malloy said.
“We were looking for someone who isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves, given the joint venture is still relatively new. Jack sees the potential of the competition and wants to build on the success we’ve had to date. And he understands the need to form strong relationships with the broad range of stakeholders. We are really looking forward to having him onboard come July.”
BIO:
Jack Mesley is a commercially minded sport administrator who has a strong background in brand and marketing. With over 20 years of experience in building brands and driving business growth through sports and entertainment partnerships.He is currently the Chief Commercial Officer at Australian Professional Leagues, home to the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, Liberty A-League Women and E-League.
Prior to A-Leagues, Jack was the Chief Commercial Officer at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and held various senior marketing and commercial positions at Lion, Diageo and the Asian PGA. Having held executive roles as both a sponsor and rights holder, Jack is uniquely placed to spearhead brand growth and maximise returns.
Jack is a passionate rugby fan, having played rugby for the Brumbies Under 19s while studying at the University of Canberra. He spends his weekends on the side-lines of grassroots rugby, with his son playing.
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@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Finally!
Interesting to see how rests for international players get handled now
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@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Finally!
Interesting to see how rests for international players get handled now
Aren't they player union driven, in both NZ and Oz, so the new "independent" corporate Super Rugby will still need to work within that framework I assume?
