Super Rugby News
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@Duluth There's some good info at the bottom of that post:
Contracted Crusaders:
Codie Taylor (until 2021), Sam Whitelock, Oli Jager, Mitchell Drummond (2020); Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Israel Dagg, Joe Moody, Ben Funnell, Tim Perry, Mitchell Hunt, George Bridge, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Richie Mo'unga, Tom Sanders, Braydon Ennor (2019); Matt Todd, Ryan Crotty, Seta Tamanivalu, Wyatt Crockett, Jordan Taufua, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Mike Alaalatoa, Jone Macilai, Leon Fukofuka, Pete Samu, Digby Ioane, Bryn Hall (2018).No Ere Enari in that list.
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@SammyC said in Super Rugby News:
@Tim said in Super Rugby News:
@Duluth There's some good info at the bottom of that post:
No Ere Enari in that list.
He's sitting there waiting to be poached
Curse Blackadder and his idiotic decision to sign Fukafuka for 2 years!
So eight places left for a squad of 38 - is that right? I would sign:
Third hooker - Makalio
Fourth lock - Strange
Two loosies - Jed Brown and Dunshea
Fourth halfback - Enari or Stratton (probably Enari)
Third first five - Josh McKay or Tim Bateman (probably Bateman)
Two outside backs - Mataele and Will Jordan -
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@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
@SammyC said in Super Rugby News:
@Tim said in Super Rugby News:
@Duluth There's some good info at the bottom of that post:
No Ere Enari in that list.
He's sitting there waiting to be poached
Curse Blackadder and his idiotic decision to sign Fukafuka for 2 years!
So eight places left for a squad of 38 - is that right? I would sign:
Third hooker - Makalio
Fourth lock - Strange
Two loosies - Jed Brown and Dunshea
Fourth halfback - Enari or Stratton (probably Enari)
Third first five - Josh McKay or Tim Bateman (probably Bateman)
Two outside backs - Mataele and Will JordanI think we'll pick McKay as an outside back.
It's pretty obvious they are developing him as one. Speaking to guys involved in the lincoln/ crusaders academy set up they see him as a fullback rather than a10
I read the club rugby teamsheets with interest every week..... He hasn't played 10 once in the last 2 years.
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@SammyC Signing McKay as a fullback indeed makes sense if they decide not to re-sign McKenzie; otherwise you have only Dagg and Havili who can play fullback. Bateman was signed as a 10 in 2017 (but played all his games at 12). So if they're not going for a rookie such as Brett Cameron, Bateman is the logical choice, esp if they want experience in that young backline.
@Chris-B Why Dunshea? Bedwell-Curtis was pretty handy this year. Whetu Douglas is another one they could consider (he's on a one year contract with Treviso; his 2nd year was optional).
And why a 4th halfback? They only had 3 this year.
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@Stargazer Dunshea - mainly just my speculation that he'd going to be seriously good if he can stay fit. Big and very fast. Didn't realise Douglas was already an option. If you want Bedwell Curtis could also sign Dunshea as lock cover and let Strange go.
4th halfback - because I rate Enari and Stratton, I don't really rate Fukofuka, and Hall seems like a year to year proposition.
I'd love it if we could shed Fukofuka - but, I think we can afford to use a slot to carry a 4th halfback for a year.
Otherwise, we could end up with Drummond and Fukofuka in 2019 - Hall overseas and Enari and Stratton at other franchises.
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@Stargazer I wonder if he's doing that with an eye to return a better player or beat the five-year residency requirement?
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@antipodean Apparently, he wants to stay here and play in NZ. If his father is a Kiwi (he played for the Kiwis in league), he won't need to meet the residency requirement.
Although born in Canberra, Lomax grew up playing league in Wellington, but switched to rugby when his family moved to Australia. He was named in Michael Cheika's' original 48 man Wallabies squad for 2017 before withdrawing.It's clear though that Lomax is determined to see out his career in New Zealand. "I decided this was where I wanted to play my rugby long term and decided to sign with Ta$man and the Highlanders for the next few years. "This year at the Rebels was quite tough, really tough actually, but I took a lot from it and gained a lot of experience and got to play some good minutes. "I guess this is home, it's where I'm from and where all my family is and it's where my parents will end up in the next few years. It's just where I feel myself playing my rugby for hopefully the next 10 years."From another article:
Ta$man Mako$ head coach Leon MacDonald noted Lomax's potential when explaining why he had opted to move back across the Ta$man. "Even though he's young, his frame and attitude set him apart," MacDonald said. "He's aspiring to make the All Blacks and we are very proud that he sees Ta$man as the pathway for him. For him to pack down alongside stalwarts like Tim Perry and Kane Hames is exciting for the future of Ta$man rugby." -
Injured All Blacks props Owen Franks and Joe Moody may not be seen in Super Rugby until May. Surgery to repair serious injuries means the pair must set aside six months to rehabilitate, although Crusaders coach Scott Robertson could extend that timeframe to guarantee they are in peak condition prior to returning to duty for the title holders. Franks recently had an operation on a troublesome Achilles tendon, while Moody went under the scalpel after damaging his shoulder during the All Blacks' 39-22 win over the Pumas in New Plymouth on September 9. "They are both in the six-month mark, but you also count a little bit of extra time [before they are back playing]," Robertson said. "So it could be around April or May, depending on their recovery. -
Reducing the number of teams from 18 to 15 hasn't made finalising the Super Rugby draw any easier. Nor will it make the Kiwi teams any happier. That's the assessment of New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew, who revealed the draw is due to finally be released in days.Tew expects the five New Zealand teams will have the same concerns as always, notably around travel and the number of taxing derby matches, neither of which will dramatically change. -
