Super Rugby 2022
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Considering where the Tahs are (didn't win a single game last year, very young squad, late injury replacement) I don't think Roberts is an awful signing.
Injuries permitting he wouldn't be asked to start for the Tahs (Foketi 12, Perese 13) but they could definitely use more experience (probably off the field more than on the field in Roberts case).
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Super Rugby Pacific pre-season fixtures
Saturday, January 29Waratahs v Brumbies, Bowral
Friday, February 4
Moana Pasifika v Chiefs, Auckland
Crusaders v Highlanders, OamaruSaturday, February 5
Waratahs v West Harbour, Hunter Wildfires, Western Sydney Two Blues, Eric Tweedale Stadium, Parramatta
Hurricanes v Blues, Takapuna
Queensland Reds v Western Force, Ballymore StadiumThursday, February 10
Melbourne Rebels v Fijian Drua, Melbourne
Friday, February 11
Blues v Chiefs, Te Puke
Crusaders v Hurricanes, ChristchurchSaturday, February 12
Queensland Reds v Waratahs, Roma
Covid-19 disrupt Super Rugby pre-season fixtures
NEWS: Covid-19 restrictions have forced the cancellation of two Super Rugby Pacific pre-season fixtures less than a month out from the beginning of the new season.
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Queensland Reds move forward with new captains as James O'Connor relinquishes role
James O'Connor's flirtation with captaincy is over after the Queensland Reds' title-winning playmaker opted against returning to the role this year.
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Exclusive: New Zealand Rugby considering centralised Super Rugby Pacific hub to negate Omicron disruption threat | Newshub
Precautions are being taken to avoid the risk of a disrupted Super Rugby season.
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@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
So the best they can do is draft in some 35 year old to play SR..?
It seems that way.The Waratahs are a bit lost at the moment I think.
more that the premier club Rugby here is dire.
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@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
So the best they can do is draft in some 35 year old to play SR..?
I reckon this is the best bit of recruitment Waratahs have done in last few years, an experienced 13 to help out all the kids in their backline makes a lot of sense to me. The last thing they need is another kid!
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@bobily2 said in Super Rugby 2022:
Exclusive: New Zealand Rugby considering centralised Super Rugby Pacific hub to negate Omicron disruption threat | Newshub
Precautions are being taken to avoid the risk of a disrupted Super Rugby season.
Rugby News reckons it may be Queenstown. Makes sense for accommodation needs but those accommodation places will struggle to staff themselves especially around food. The shortage of staff is already strong.
The other problem will be playing/training grounds. They couldn't stick to one field as it will get hammered. Not sure if the Wakatipu club grounds are up to it.
I guess that teams could travel easily to Invers and Dunedin though.
Training is the next problem. Grounds aren't too much of a problem. Arrowtown Club grounds are in really good nick and if you add in Wakatipu, the High School and Events Centre spaces you could make it work. Cromwell is an option as is Alexandra. Gym facilities would be really stretched though and there may need to be some temporary setups. -
@crucial whats the floodlighting like .?, wondering if its up to standard for night games .
Not to sure what the circumstances are in and around the traffic light system in the Auckland
My choice would have been the North Shore of Auckland , North Harbour Stadium .plenty of training space with with the surrounding grounds along with North Harbour Marist ground which is ajacent , Onewa Domain , Silverdale RFC are all very close by within 15 minute drives ,and with 2 teams already based in Auckland North Harbour Stadium, Eden Park or Waitakere Stadium which has very good flood lighting is also an option for the games..
I know a bigger city is not the best option the NZRFU are looking at , but still think teams can be kept in a safe enough bubble -
@steven-harris said in Super Rugby 2022:
@crucial whats the floodlighting like .?, wondering if its up to standard for night games .
Not to sure what the circumstances are in and around the traffic light system in the Auckland
My choice would have been the North Shore of Auckland , North Harbour Stadium .plenty of training space with with the surrounding grounds along with North Harbour Marist ground which is ajacent , Onewa Domain , Silverdale RFC are all very close by within 15 minute drives ,and with 2 teams already based in Auckland North Harbour Stadium, Eden Park or Waitakere Stadium which has very good flood lighting is also an option for the games..
I know a bigger city is not the best option the NZRFU are looking at , but still think teams can be kept in a safe enough bubbleI think North harbour is now a softball field, from other threads
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@steven-harris said in Super Rugby 2022:
@crucial whats the floodlighting like .?, wondering if its up to standard for night games .
I think there would have to be a mixture of day games locally and night games at Dunedin/Invers (both easy bus trips for a night game)
Considering that there would be 3 games a weekend at most then that's not too bad. I don't know if Sky would like it but two day games and one night one? -
@dan54 said in Super Rugby 2022:
@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
So the best they can do is draft in some 35 year old to play SR..?
I reckon this is the best bit of recruitment Waratahs have done in last few years, an experienced 13 to help out all the kids in their backline makes a lot of sense to me. The last thing they need is another kid!
You know there are other options between school kids and retirees?
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@dan54 said in Super Rugby 2022:
@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
So the best they can do is draft in some 35 year old to play SR..?
I reckon this is the best bit of recruitment Waratahs have done in last few years, an experienced 13 to help out all the kids in their backline makes a lot of sense to me. The last thing they need is another kid!
He can also double as the team doctor - saving money, overall.
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Report: Kiwi Super Rugby teams set to relocate amid Covid threat
Discussions are underway to centralise New Zealand's five Super Rugby teams, and Moana Pasifika, to try and stifle the threat posed by Covid.
The centralised comp is sounding more likely
Reports indicate that teams may be centralised in Queenstown as early as next week ahead of the first match of the season, which, as it stands, is scheduled to kick-off with a clash between the Blues and Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on February 18. Although the move would be costly, it is understood that it is a preferred option ahead of having teams ruled ineligible to play at short notice – as happened with Auckland’s three NPC teams last year – because of the impact it would have on broadcast revenue. “We’re talking about all six New Zealand-based clubs moving into one location,” NZR’s head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum told the New Zealand Herald. “If we were to do that we think it would give ourselves a better chance to play those games without interruption. Nothing is foolproof but that is one thing under discussion. -
Hubs are so 2020
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The knock on effect of this will be significant
Eden Park generally asks members to renew in Nov. This year they've been holding off until closer to the start of the SR season. That's understandable as Aucklanders have missed a lot of rugby recently.. so wait until there's excitement for the new season
I don't see how they can ask for renewals until they have games to sell
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@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@dan54 said in Super Rugby 2022:
@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
So the best they can do is draft in some 35 year old to play SR..?
I reckon this is the best bit of recruitment Waratahs have done in last few years, an experienced 13 to help out all the kids in their backline makes a lot of sense to me. The last thing they need is another kid!
You know there are other options between school kids and retirees?
So tell me who they are that is available for them. You have to remember Roberts was moving to Australia to live and has been brought in as injury replacement. I can't think of another midfield back in Australia who would be good for them.
It's similar to Blues recuiting Romano. -
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@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@dan54 said in Super Rugby 2022:
@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
So the best they can do is draft in some 35 year old to play SR..?
I reckon this is the best bit of recruitment Waratahs have done in last few years, an experienced 13 to help out all the kids in their backline makes a lot of sense to me. The last thing they need is another kid!
You know there are other options between school kids and retirees?
Most of the guys with decent club experience have fucked off overseas. Even second-rate Sydney Uni rubbish players - who look good because they've got a strong group around them compared to everyone else - are getting contracts in the USA MLR.
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@dan54 said in Super Rugby 2022:
@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@dan54 said in Super Rugby 2022:
@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2022:
@chris said in Super Rugby 2022:
So the best they can do is draft in some 35 year old to play SR..?
I reckon this is the best bit of recruitment Waratahs have done in last few years, an experienced 13 to help out all the kids in their backline makes a lot of sense to me. The last thing they need is another kid!
You know there are other options between school kids and retirees?
So tell me who they are that is available for them. You have to remember Roberts was moving to Australia to live and has been brought in as injury replacement. I can't think of another midfield back in Australia who would be good for them.
It's similar to Blues recuiting Romano.Tim Clements would be better. He was pretty handy last year and unlike that old bloke who occasionally turns out for (second rate) clubs these days, actually has some speed. Nathan Russell also. Unless of course what the Tahs are missing is a plodding crashball merchant...
