Super Rugby News
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@steven-harris said in Super Rugby News:
Geoff Cridge...?
Never been a supporter of Cridge, mainly because he was permanently injured but having watched Walker-Leawere a few times playing for Poneke you could say that I did not see what the selectors see in him and am unsure whether he is better player than Cridge. I know I would have both ahead of James Blackwell though.
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The TAB has wasted no time in posting their first odds. Seems that the Lions are the only non-NZ team they rate.
1 Crusaders 4.50
2 Hurricanes 4.50
3 Lions 6.00
4 Chiefs 7.00
5 Highlanders 7.00
6 Blues 10.00
7 Brumbies 15.00
8 Stormers 15.00
9 Waratahs 21.00
10 Bulls 21.00
11 Shark 31.00
12 Jaguares 41.00
13 Reds 41.00
14 Rebels 101.00
15 Sunwolves 501.00 -
Antonio Kirikiri has been called into the Blues as injury cover for Pryor and Gibson.
Varsity do the double
University has completed a notable double in clinching the premier men s Cup title at the Auckland Club Sevens...
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@tim I'm OK with Kiri Kiri as a quik, .attacking loosie (similar type of player to Pryer) but what does Matt Matich have to do to get a chance? His tackling stats are over 90%, Kiri Kiri's are 80% and he supports and carries often and effectively.
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@daffy-jaffy Apparently Matich has been called into the Chiefs as injury cover. Also, Kirikiri is more of a 7 than Matich?
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Read that Tucker was unavailable for NZ Marist game due to an overseas offer. This is what makes me angry at the Chiefs, readily recruiting from outside the franchise area while local players of similar quality are overlooked and then look elsewhere. Surprised that Bedwell-Curtis not wanted ahead of Kirikiri though.
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Some of you guys sound like you either wrote or just read this article (or the journo reads the Fern):
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/98592517/where-are-waikatos-super-rugby-players
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I would think that Orbyn Leger, Sevu Reece, Chase Tiatia, Lalakai Foketi, Pita Ahki, Zac Guildford, Mike Delaney and Stephen Donald might all have been considered as options for a spot in the backs. Aumua seems to fit the slot they approached Tamanivalu/Naholo/Savea for, so that is understandable. But, they seem a little light for first-five and wing and overstocked for centre options.
In the forwards, Tucker, Manihera, Parete, Mewett, Halafihi and M Jacobsen all missed out. As Bovidae notes, the first two would be good like-for-like cover for Brown. Tim explains the Kirikiri decision well though.
Clearly several of these players had other options and did not wait for the final selection. Just wish that could be addressed by supporting local players more.
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@arhs so who would they all have replaced?
That's the crucial thing...yes there are always unlucky players, but who they are replacing someone with is the key, and these are the new contracts, rather than guys who were picked up last year or the year before on 2/3 year contracts...
You missed MOnty Ioane
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I didn't write the article, nor have I read it (yet).
As to potential midfielders @ARHS has mentioned a few I would nominate (Leger, Reece and Foketi). Cooper and co could also have taken a punt on a young player like Sullivan. From outside the region, Vaega is the obvious choice.
My close-up view of Verney wasn't positive. He dropped just about every pass in that game. I note he isn't good enough to start for Wellington either.
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An interesting tidbit on Manihera in it:
Hame Faiva (Blues) and James Tucker (Chiefs) were not offered new contracts and Jordan Manihera, who was said to be interesting the Hurricanes, was not signed up.
I wonder if his work-rate wasn't high enough over 80 minutes? He's a big, strong ball carrier, looks like he'd go well in the NH.
