Super Rugby News
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That's the highlights package?
He's fast. Very fast.
But, didn't see much evidence of any skills - no switching the ball to the other side when trying to beat a man, no sign of a developed passing game, and can't no chip kick? Really? Next big thing? Ok.
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@gt12 well, the last "next big thing" was a big lump of a league player who never even came over, so this has to be an improvement on that surely?
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How were Auckland able to keep Harry Plummer, Tanielu Telea, Caleb Clarke, Niven Longopoa, Mosese Pepa and this kid in the same year? Really good retention of talent by Auckland these last two years.
It seems doubling the academy spots from 12 to 24 per year is really paying off for Auckland. More spots to retain more players. 12 spots seemed very little for a big catchment like Auckland.
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@Dice Makes sense with more academy spots - should have happened a long time ago.
Arent there some other young wing talent on the Auckland books also? T Vaega, Wesley Tameifuna and Freedom Vaha'akolo?
Good to hear of this signing. He looks to have plenty of raw talent. Was a bit underwhelmed by Auckland Mitre 10 Cup outside backs this year and some of Blues signings in that area are a bit meh so good to see young talent on way through.
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@KiwiMurph Yup, those 3 outside backs are still on Auckland's books. Another young outside back who is also with Auckland is Otumaka Mausia. He played well at fullback for the Auckland U19s last year and managed to make the NZ U20s camp squad, but he was unable to attend due to injury.
@Tim Still with Auckland for at least another year or two. He'll probably be starting 10 for Samoa in the U20s World Cup this year after missing out on the camp team for NZ. With no Hickey this year, it'll be interesting to see where he is in the pecking order for Auckland. If they select 3 10s, he should definitely be one of them.
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Nehe Milner has re-signed with NZR and the Hurricanes through to the end of the 2019 season.
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Ash Dixon is the new Highlanders co-captain with Ben Smith, again, being the other one.
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Banks should be forced to buy out his own contract.
NZR can't have it both ways as they fight off big offers from Europe.
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Banks apparently now joining Treviso after the Super season...personal circumstances apparently.
You'd think these would have been conveyed and discussed with Treviso pretty much from the moment they arose - rather than them seemingly having no idea what was going on. Strange behaviour by Marty and his agent.
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@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
You'd think these would have been conveyed and discussed with Treviso pretty much from the moment they arose - rather than them seemingly having no idea what was going on. Strange behaviour by Marty and his agent.
True but then if the personal circumstances had messed him up a bit then it's somewhat understandable.
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@Frye said in Super Rugby News:
@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
You'd think these would have been conveyed and discussed with Treviso pretty much from the moment they arose - rather than them seemingly having no idea what was going on. Strange behaviour by Marty and his agent.
True but then if the personal circumstances had messed him up a bit then it's somewhat understandable.
But, that's part of the reason why you haven an agent isn't it? If I was his agent I would have been hunting him down the second I knew he wasn't on the plane he was supposed to be on - and in continuous contact with Treviso.
Treviso has certainly given the impression he's simply been AWOL with no explanations - from Marty or his agent - for the past couple of months.
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SBW planning to be on the field for the Blues in April.
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@KiwiMurph said in Super Rugby News:
SBW planning to be on the field for the Blues in April.
THIS IS OUR YEAR
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@KiwiMurph said in Super Rugby News:
SBW planning to be on the field for the Blues in April.
Interview with SBW:
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Does anyone know whether Charlie Ngatai is back training with the Chiefs and/or when he is expected to play again? Or has he already completely recovered from his concussion?
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@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News:
Does anyone know whether Charlie Ngatai is back training with the Chiefs and/or when he is expected to play again? Or has he already completely recovered from his concussion?
The legend of Charlie Ngatai continues for 2017......
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@MN5 you are adding to the 'legend' by constantly banging on about him too, even if form the other side of things.
I think it is a fair question for people to ask about his well being prior to the Super season, his chances of playing in Black are surely slim this year with Crotty, the emergence of ALB and the return of SBW...
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@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby News:
@MN5 you are adding to the 'legend' by constantly banging on about him too, even if form the other side of things.
I think it is a fair question for people to ask about his well being prior to the Super season, his chances of playing in Black are surely slim this year with Crotty, the emergence of ALB and the return of SBW...
ive mentioned him once. Just making the point that I've never seen someone with so little gametime for the ABs get talked about so often. I'm sure it will continue this year.
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He's getting talked about because of his concussion and the negative impact it had on him playing for the ABs. He was selected ahead of both Moala and ALB in the first AB squad so it's not like he's a no hoper who never had a chance.
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@MN5 once?
Pretty much any time anyone mentioned him last year you responded that he was the most talked about player and how it was like he was the savior, yes there was some hyperbole around him, but, then you also mentioned him a million times....
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@taniwharugby I'll put it out there ... I don't think SBW will make the All Blacks this year. He's not young, is injury prone and isn't even going to play Super Rugby until April.
With Conrad Smith 2 (Crotty), Fekitoa, Lienert Brown, George Moala, Ioane you already have a good mix of stability, power and raw, young talent. And if Charlie is back, thats another ...
I just can't see a spot for SBW.
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@Hooroo said in Super Rugby News:
Coming from someone who bangs on about Crickets biggest ever flake, it is suprising that @MN5 has the nerve to mention Ngatai in this way
Hey, you leave everyones favourite fudge packer out of this Hooroo....
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@Nepia said in Super Rugby News:
He's getting talked about because of his concussion and the negative impact it had on him playing for the ABs. He was selected ahead of both Moala and ALB in the first AB squad so it's not like he's a no hoper who never had a chance.
This was exactly the reason why I was asking (not his AB future). I had just read something about Broadhurst, and wondered about Ngatai. It's worrying that players are suffering from concussion symptoms for so long, and it raises the question whether players - like Broadhurst - should return to the field at all, considering the possible long-term neurological impact of head knocks.
IMO one cap for the ABs (esp, in a friendly against Samoa) doesn't mean much these days for a future in black, esp after a long absence, but it is much more important that Ngatai concentrates on his health and well-being; whether or not he will be playing for the Chiefs/ABs again shouldn't be a priority.
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@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby News:
@MN5 once?
Pretty much any time anyone mentioned him last year you responded that he was the most talked about player and how it was like he was the savior, yes there was some hyperbole around him, but, then you also mentioned him a million times....
Im gonna play the political card and say i can't recall any of that.
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@MajorRage said in Super Rugby News:
@taniwharugby I'll put it out there ... I don't think SBW will make the All Blacks this year. He's not young, is injury prone and isn't even going to play Super Rugby until April.
With Conrad Smith 2 (Crotty), Fekitoa, Lienert Brown, George Moala, Ioane you already have a good mix of stability, power and raw, young talent. And if Charlie is back, thats another ...
I just can't see a spot for SBW.
I can't see it happening. A key reason for SBW re-signing with the NZR was that Shag told him that he was a big part of the AB's plans going forward. Shag seemed to reiterate that at SBW's re-signing presser last year.
SBW was also in career best form the last time wore black, so I think he'll be given the benefit of the doubt and be given another crack. Whether that is as a starter or not, I don't know, but I think he'll at least be seen as one of the top 3 midfielders in the squad.
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What top notch, proven 12s to do we have? Only SBW.
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He'll likely be our starting 12. He and ALB would make an awesome combination.
EDIT MOD: Lets try to keep this stuff out of the sports forum as much as possible.
EDIT NQ: fair enough have removed. -
@Dice said in Super Rugby News:
@MajorRage said in Super Rugby News:
@taniwharugby I'll put it out there ... I don't think SBW will make the All Blacks this year. He's not young, is injury prone and isn't even going to play Super Rugby until April.
With Conrad Smith 2 (Crotty), Fekitoa, Lienert Brown, George Moala, Ioane you already have a good mix of stability, power and raw, young talent. And if Charlie is back, thats another ...
I just can't see a spot for SBW.
I can't see it happening. A key reason for SBW re-signing with the NZR was that Shag told him that he was a big part of the AB's plans going forward. Shag seemed to reiterate that at SBW's re-signing presser last year.
SBW was also in career best form the last time wore black, so I think he'll be given the benefit of the doubt and be given another crack. Whether that is as a starter or not, I don't know, but I think he'll at least be seen as one of the top 3 midfielders in the squad.
Rightly or wrongly he'll definitely be there just in time to stir up the Stuff.co.nz comments section that by then will have run out of things to whinge about Trump so will enjoy having him in the spotlight again.
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Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd admitted he was stunned by Julian Savea's physique when he returned ahead of the new season.
Savea, who was criticised for not being in shape ahead of 2016, was praised by Boyd for how he has looked after himself over Christmas.
"The first thing I said to him was 'Mate, you're a different person'," the 'Canes boss told NZ Newswire about how Savea looked last week.
"He's certainly physically very different than he was this time last year.
"I think in himself, he's much more chipper as well."
Savea has scored 45 tries in his 52 international matches and with a busy year of rugby that includes the British and Irish Lions tour, the Hurricane could well overtake Doug Howlett (49) as New Zealand's top try-scorer.
And Boyd believes they will see the best of their winger from the outset this Super Rugby campaign because of the shape he is currently in.
"I know that he wasn't happy with the way the season started or finished for us last year," he added.
"He just wants to play good code. Part of that is that he realises he needs to be in good physical nick to play good footy."
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@Rocky-Rockbottom said in Super Rugby News:
@MN5 said in Super Rugby News:
Rightly or wrongly he'll definitely be there just in time to stir up the Stuff.co.nz comments section that by then will have run out of things to whinge about Trump so will enjoy having him in the spotlight again.
d'uh did someone mention my name....
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@Tim i saw a photo of him in the gym and he looked ripped and huge
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@Crash said in Super Rugby News:
@Rocky-Rockbottom said in Super Rugby News:
@MN5 said in Super Rugby News:
Rightly or wrongly he'll definitely be there just in time to stir up the Stuff.co.nz comments section that by then will have run out of things to whinge about Trump so will enjoy having him in the spotlight again.
d'uh did someone mention my name....
Sympathy upvote for a crap joke at your service
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@mariner4life said in Super Rugby News:
@Tim i saw a photo of him in the gym and he looked ripped and huge
I saw him at Junglerama with his kids. His mobility needed a bit of work but to be fair it is pretty hard for grown ups to move quickly when they're bent over double.
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Patrick T news not good for Blues.
All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu will not report for duty with the Blues Super Rugby franchise next week and will be sidelined indefinitely by an "ongoing personal matter".
Tuipulotu toured the Northern Hemisphere with the national side last November, starting against Ireland in Chicago and then against Italy in Rome but the giant second rower returned home a week early, along with injured flanker Sam Cane and utility back Ben Smith, for what coach Steve Hansen described at the time as "personal reasons".
Since then, all the tourists have been serving a mandatory 12-week stand-down between seasons. They are due back with the Super Rugby franchises next week to begin pre-season training.
New Zealand Rugby Players' Association rep Rob Nichol has confirmed Tuipulotu will not be among them, but would not elaborate any further on the issue.
The Blues referred any further comment on the matter to the Players' Association.
Tuipulotu's management company, WeAreTenzing, through founder Brooke Howard-Smith, refused to comment.
Tuipulotu has been with the Blues since 2014, playing 34 games and scoring five tries.
He made his All Blacks debut that same year, coming on as a substitute in a 28-27 win over England in Dunedin, and has 12 test caps.
His prolonged absence would be a huge blow to Blues coach Tana Umaga in his second year at the helm and hoping to improve on their eight-win, six-loss and one-draw 2016 record, to take them to their first playoff appearance since 2011.
Meanwhile, the Blues are poised to announce an official Super Rugby match in Samoa this year.
It's understood the Blues' scheduled home competition match against the Reds on June 2 will now be played in Apia.
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