Super Rugby News

Stargazer

We'll have to wait and see how serious they are, but these are the casualties from yesterday's training and today's Blues v Hurricanes preseason game: 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
TJ Perenara, Brad Shields, Motu Matu'u, Matt Proctor, Leni Apisai, Willis Halaholo and Ben May were among the Hurricanes forced from the field. Locks Blade Thomson and James Blackwell had injured themselves the day before, while the team was still in camp up in Gisborne.
</blockquote>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/76858839/blues-come-out-best-in-super-rugby-clash-with-hurricanes'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/76858839/blues-come-out-best-in-super-rugby-clash-with-hurricanes</a>

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="558383" data-time="1455277511">
<div>
And Mitch karpik injured and had his arm in a sling 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Yeah, forgot about that one, though I thought it was the knee he hurt?
 
Wow at that Canes injury list.

No Quarter

I wonder how much value teams really get out of these pre-season games, and with such a long season now if they should think about scrapping them.

Glath

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="558518" data-time="1455345246">
<div>
We'll have to wait and see how serious they are, but these are the casualties from yesterday's training and today's Blues v Hurricanes preseason game: 
 
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/76858839/blues-come-out-best-in-super-rugby-clash-with-hurricanes'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/76858839/blues-come-out-best-in-super-rugby-clash-with-hurricanes</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
Christ.

milkshake

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="558527" data-time="1455351552">
<div>
I wonder how much value teams really get out of these pre-season games, and with such a long season now if they should think about scrapping them.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I think you do need them. Playing amongst yourselves gets stale and you have to give the whole squad some time in a real(ish) game situation to see where you are before the real season starts.
 
The season is 1 game shorter now than it was too. S15 was 16 games, S18 is only 15. That's in the regular season, obviously, which as a Blues fan is all I know.

Stargazer

Hurricanes:
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Matt Proctor, Ben May and Motu Matu'u sidelined for Hurricanes
 
Three out of seven isn't a bad result for the Hurricanes.
 
TJ Perenara, Brad Shields, Ben May, Matt Proctor, Leni Apisai, Willis Halaholo and Motu Matu'u all made early exits from Saturday's 40-12 pre-season loss to the Blues in Eketahuna.
Thankfully, for last year's Super Rugby runners-up, most have now been passed fit to play the Crusaders, in their final pre-season match on Friday in Blenheim.
 
Proctor, May and Matu'u have not, with Proctor sounding as if he's copped the worst luck. The centre appeared to go down clutching a hamstring after 14 minutes of Saturday's match, but was later seen icing a knee.
 
He's now been diagnosed with a Posterior Cruciate Ligament injury, although it's yet to be revealed how severe that is or how long Proctor might be sidelined. At best it would seen unlikely that he would be fit to play in the Hurricanes' season-opener against the Brumbies in Canberra on February 26.
...
 
May, meanwhile, has a shoulder problem which isn't thought to be serious enough to keep him away from tighthead prop for too long, with Matu'u suffering a calf strain during his brief stint on the field against the Blues. His absence at hooker will be offset by the return of captain Dane Coles, who was at a wedding last weekend.
...
</blockquote>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/76901164/matt-proctor-ben-may-and-motu-matuu-sidelined-for-hurricanes'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/76901164/matt-proctor-ben-may-and-motu-matuu-sidelined-for-hurricanes</a>
 
[hr]
 
Chiefs:
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Chiefs flanker Mitch Karpik ruled out of Super Rugby season with ruptured ACL
 
Chiefs flanker Mitch Karpik will miss the 2016 Super Rugby season after suffering a knee injury in their preseason game against the Waratahs in Rotorua last Friday.
 
The 20-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will now undergo surgery. He is expected to take six to nine months to recover, meaning he will miss the forthcoming season, which begins on February 26 and runs until August.
...
 
The Chiefs beat the Waratahs 17-12 on Friday, but have already racked up a lengthy injury list, still two weeks out from the start of the season.
 
Prop Nepo Laulala is also out for the season with a knee injury, while lock Dom Bird and halfback Augustine Pulu are both expected to be out for at least two months with foot and arm injuries respectively.
 
Backs Andrew Horrell (groin) and Toni Pulu (ankle) are both on the comeback trail after off-season surgery.
...
</blockquote>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/76917108/chiefs-flanker-mitch-karpik-ruled-out-of-super-rugby-season-with-ruptured-acl'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/76917108/chiefs-flanker-mitch-karpik-ruled-out-of-super-rugby-season-with-ruptured-acl</a>

Siam

Christ it's heartbraking to hear all these fellas ruled out for the season before the month of Feb is even half way over
 
That pro rugby job thingee might not be all it's cracked up to be....we'd all still love to do it though eh!
 
Should be a catchphrase in the industry that injury time = hit the study books between rehabs

Bovidae

Squad depth is going to be so important as teams suffer injuries. While I don't think Karpik would have played much he would be a useful foil to Cane at trainings. I suppose Kolomatangi will be used more as a no.7 now, and there's Leitch as well. Perhaps a player like Mitch Jacobson might be looked at for the WTG and squad trainings. 
 
Vaipulu's shoulder problem seems to be OK.
 
Playing on hard grounds at this time of the year can't help with these high impact injuries.

taniwharugby

NEW ZEALAND (TAB)
Chiefs $6.50, Hurricanes $7.50, Waratahs $8, Brumbies $8, Highlanders $8.50, Crusaders $8.50, Stormers $10, Sharks $13, Jaguares $13, Blues $18, Bulls $18, Lions $31, Reds $41, Rebels $61, Force $101, Cheetahs $101, Kings $151, Sunwolves $501.
 
AUSTRALIA (Centrebet)
Hurricanes $6, Chiefs $7, Waratahs $7.50, Crusaders $7.50, Brumbies $9, Highlanders $9, Sharks $13, Jaguares $13, Stormers $15, Bulls $17, Blues $21, Reds $26, Lions $34, Rebels $51, Force $81, Cheetahs $81, Kings $251, Sunwolves $251.
 
SOUTH AFRICA (Interbet)
Hurricanes R6.30, Chiefs R6.50, Crusaders $R7.30, Waratahs R7.50, Brumbies R8.30, Highlanders R8.50, Stormers R12, Jaguares R12, Sharks R13, Bulls R17, Blues R19.50, Lions R29, Reds R31, Rebels R54, Force R78, Cheetahs R86, Kings R200, Sunwolves R300.

ACT Crusader

Any ferners heading to Blenheim for the Saders preseason hitout vs the Canes? I'd be interested in a (real) match report before the season proper starts. The stuff report from the Landers game in Southland was more about the occasion (which is fine) rather than how players were faring.
 
Starting to get excited about the 'unknown' element of what the Saders will be like this season.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="558979" data-time="1455588546">
<div>
Any ferners heading to Blenheim for the Saders preseason hitout vs the Canes? I'd be interested in a (real) match report before the season proper starts. The stuff report from the Landers game in Southland was more about the occasion (which is fine) rather than how players were faring.
 
Starting to get excited about the 'unknown' element of what the Saders will be like this season. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
you mean it is unknown if Toddy has a game plan up his sleeve after all these years ;)

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="558981" data-time="1455590583">
<div>
you mean it is unknown if Toddy has a game plan up his sleeve after all these years ;)
</div>
</blockquote>
Oh, he's had a game plan all these years, it's just that me, shark, Chris B and others haven't liked it...

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="558979" data-time="1455588546">
<div>
Starting to get excited about the 'unknown' element of what the Saders will be like this season. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
It is kind of exciting to go into a season with low expectations.

KiwiPie

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="558982" data-time="1455590909">
<div>
Oh, he's had a game plan all these years, it's just that me, shark, Chris B and others haven't liked it...
</div>
</blockquote>
It is well defined - go right, reach the winger, get tackled, go left, reach the winger, get tackled, repeat as often as it takes for the opposition to get tired/bored

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="558937" data-time="1455573407">
<div>
NEW ZEALAND (TAB)
Chiefs $6.50, Hurricanes $7.50, Waratahs $8, Brumbies $8, Highlanders $8.50, Crusaders $8.50, Stormers $10, Sharks $13, Jaguares $13, Blues $18, Bulls $18, Lions $31, Reds $41, Rebels $61, Force $101, Cheetahs $101, Kings $151, Sunwolves $501.
 
AUSTRALIA (Centrebet)
Hurricanes $6, Chiefs $7, Waratahs $7.50, Crusaders $7.50, Brumbies $9, Highlanders $9, Sharks $13, Jaguares $13, Stormers $15, Bulls $17, Blues $21, Reds $26, Lions $34, Rebels $51, Force $81, Cheetahs $81, Kings $251, Sunwolves $251.
 
SOUTH AFRICA (Interbet)
Hurricanes R6.30, Chiefs R6.50, Crusaders $R7.30, Waratahs R7.50, Brumbies R8.30, Highlanders R8.50, Stormers R12, Jaguares R12, Sharks R13, Bulls R17, Blues R19.50, Lions R29, Reds R31, Rebels R54, Force R78, Cheetahs R86, Kings R200, Sunwolves R300.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
We've lost our midfield are we are favourites?

taniwharugby

haha yeah I thought it was odd the 'canes are still faves across the board given the players they have lost.
 
Still think the Jaguares are a decent bet, be surprising if they won in thier first go, but they have a strong squad, or match day squad at least

mooshld

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="559015" data-time="1455603756">
<div>
haha yeah I thought it was odd the 'canes are still faves across the board given the players they have lost.
 
Still think the Jaguares are a decent bet, be surprising if they won in thier first go, but they have a strong squad, or match day squad at least
</div>
</blockquote>
I think the week in week out pace will take those players some time to get used to. So think its a stretch for this year but they could well be in with a shout sooner rather then later.

Stargazer

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77011261/sharks-patrick-lambie-out-12-weeks-with-dislocated-shoulder'>Sharks' Patrick Lambie out 12 weeks with dislocated shoulder</a>
 
According to this article on Stuff, he got injured during the Sharks' preseason game against Toulon.

SouthernMan

Brendon Edmond's has signed a two year contract extension with the Highlanders.

? Offline

Good on him. Well deserved.

The Silver Fern

Super Rugby News