Super Rugby News

[taniwharugby]

@tim somethings never change:

“I don’t want to make any promises on how the team will perform this year, we will be solely focussed on the process. It’s about marginal gains for us, stacking good stuff on good stuff daily as we continue to ensure excellence. It’s not about the end but rather the daily effort combined at the end. Our purpose is to fill Loftus and put smiles on people’s faces. We will be working very hard to achieve that.”

At least they aren't on a journey!

[Stargazer]

First round of pre-season games:

Already played:
Stormers v SWD Eagles (Sat 20 January 2018 @ Outeniqua Park, George): 77 - 0

Teams	NZ date	k/o NZ time	Local date & time	Venue
Bulls v Sharks	Sun 28 Jan	5.00am NZT	Sat 27 Jan, 6.00pm	Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, SA
Chiefs v Blues	Fri 2 Feb	4.00pm NZT		Rugby Park, Te Kuiti
Crusaders v Hurricanes	Fri 2 Feb	5.30pm NZT		Rugby Park, Greymouth
Highlanders v Waratahs	Fri 2 Feb	6.00pm NZT		Recreation Ground, Queenstown
Brumbies v Rebels	Sat 3 Feb	8.00pm NZT	Sat 3 Feb, 6.00pm	Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan
Sharks v Racing 92	Sat 3 Feb	9.00pm NZT	Sat 3 Feb, 4.00pm	Aberdeen Sports Ground, Hong Kong
Stormers v Bulls	Sun 4 Feb	3.00am NZT	Sat 3 Feb, 4.00pm	Boland Stadium, Wellington (Western Cape, SA)

I couldn't find any info about the Lions playing preseason games.
The Reds will play an inter-squad trial match on Fri 2 Feb, 5.15pm local time @ Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane

[Tim]

Who's going to the Chiefs vs. Blues game?

[Hooroo]

@tim said in Super Rugby News:

Who's going to the Chiefs vs. Blues game?

Probably some of the Meads family?

[Tim]

@stargazer said in Super Rugby News:

According to a post on his instagram account, Toomaga-Allen has torn his hamstring during training (today?). How long does it take to recover from a hammy?

Out for three months plus, according to Scotty Stevenson.

[Bovidae]

@tim said in Super Rugby News:

Who's going to the Chiefs vs. Blues game?

I'm hoping to go.

[ShadowTrooper]

@tim Lucky buggers

[KiwiMurph]

Blues midfielder Matt Johnson has been ruled out for the season due to a heart condition according to his Instagram.

I wonder who will replace him? Orbyn Ledger maybe?

[Tim]

@kiwimurph Well that sucks, but at least he was one of our least important squad members.

[Tim]

@kiwimurph said in Super Rugby News:

I wonder who will replace him?

Buddy, its Matt Vaega time.

[taniwharugby]

@tim Jordan Hyland has been training with the squad hasn't he? While he plays wing for us, he is more a mid-fielder.

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Was he training with the Blues? In October, he was named in the All Blacks 7s Development team, or was that just for one tournament (San Jose Sevens)?

[Tim]

@stargazer He's in the recent instagram pics of Blues training sessions.

[Bones]

@tim said in Super Rugby News:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/100772067/first-outing-for-highlanders-and-mauger-in-queenstown

The team is making the most of having second five-eighth Lima Sopoaga for a final season after his announcement he will be leaving to join the England Wasps, but Mauger says there's plenty of strength in the new players.

Oh Bethany.

[Stargazer]

Another warning against Viagogo:

[No Quarter]

Any link on google that has the [Ad] in front of it DO NOT CLICK ON IT

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

2018 Super Rugby Referee Team
Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Nic Berry (Australia)
Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Angus Gardner (Australia)
Will Houston (Australia)
AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Egon Seconds (South Africa)
Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Paul Williams (New Zealand)

That's
Argentina: 1
Japan: 1
Australia: 3
South Africa: 5
New Zealand: 7

With the Super Rugby tournament format reducing to 120 regular season matches this season the referee team has been reduced from 19 to 17 referees. The team contains a balance of seasoned international referees, several referees who now have a couple of years of Super Rugby behind them and one newcomer, with AJ Jacobs from South Africa making his Super Rugby debut this season.

“Along with a new Super Rugby format we will have a refocussed referee team that has been through an extensive training camp over the summer in preparation for the 2018 season”, said SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos.

“The team is a well balanced mix of referees with Test and Super Rugby experience and several emerging referees who now have one or two seasons under their belt. The experience in the team comes from Jaco Peyper and Glen Jackson, who have refereed 82 and 65 matches respectively, while we also have a group around the 40-50 mark including Angus Gardner, Nick Briant and Mike Fraser,” said SANZAAR Game Manager, Lyndon Bray.

“At the conclusion of the 2017 season SANZAAR conducted a survey of the Super Rugby team coaches and the feedback helped determine the focus for our annual referee camp which is always held prior to the start of each season.”

http://www.superrugby.co.nz/News/31968/super-rugby-referee-team-announced

[Bones]

@stargazer Any idea who's "dropped"?

[KiwiMurph]

@bones Two refs who were absolutely not up to it, Rohan Hoffman and Jaco Van Heerden, aren't there. Good!