Super Rugby News
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Yep, if they are going to crack down on dangerous cleanouts then it has to be consistent. The hit on Vito I mentioned earlier - he was on his back taking no part in the ruck and got hammered. Nobody blinked an eye lid, because it happens every match. 2x reds killed the Jaguares off and made a farce of the game.<br><br>
It reminded me of when Daryl Heir no-balled Murali out of the game even though all other umpires let him bowl. You can't have such inconsistent enforcement of the laws. -
<p>Another big win for the Lions. I know their reputation took a hit after the Hurricanes match, but are they a dark horse for the title.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="583584" data-time="1464463241"><p>Another big win for the Lions. I know their reputation took a hit after the Hurricanes match, but are they a dark horse for the title.</p></blockquote>
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And a not so dark horse to finish top of the table... -
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Last weekend there were two red cards in the Kings v Jaguares game in which the players charged into the ruck and made contact with their shoulders to the head of an opponent.<br>
Here in NZ, Havili got cited for an alleged swinging arm making contact with the neck of an opponent.<br>
<br>
Herrera has received a suspension of ONE week! Now, how inconsistent are they going to be this time and how much will Havili get? For sure, shoulder charge to head should be more serious than arm swing v neck? Havili shouldn't get any suspension based on that, but we all know it doesn't quite work that way!<br>
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From Planet Rugby website:</span></span><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Jaguares prop Ramiro Herrera has been banned for two weeks for foul play during his side’s clash with the Kings in Port Elizabeth.</strong></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The SANZAAR Duty Judicial Officer Michael Heron has accepted a guilty plea from Herrera for contravening Law 10.4 (h) A player must not charge into a ruck or maul, after he was Red Carded during the Super Rugby Match at the weekend.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Herrera charged into an opponent on the ground and made contact with his opponent’s head during the match which the Kings won 29-22 on 27 May 2016.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Herrera received a sanction of one week (covering one scheduled match) with his next scheduled match being Argentina v Italy, 11 June 2016.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Consequently he is suspended up to and including Saturday 11 June 2016.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In his finding, Heron ruled the following:</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">†The player, Mr Stephan Weyers (counsel), Mr Greg Peters (Jaguares CEO), Mr Rafael Laria (Jaguares Manager) and an interpreter attended the call. Mr Andreas Ramos, SAANZAR JO, attended also as an observer.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">†The player accepted the charge. I agreed with Mr Weyers that the charge should be under Law 10(4)(h) as the opponent player did not have the ball. The player was remorseful and apologised to the opponent player on field before he left as a result of the red card.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">†I accepted the submission that this was low end offending, it was not intentional, no injury resulted and the only negative impact on the game was to the Jaguares and Mr Herrara. Mr Herrara has an exemplary disciplinary record, this being his first red card or citing.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">†For that reason, I indicated a low end entry point under 10(4)(h) of two weeks. Because of his conduct, his remorse and his exemplary playing record, I was prepared to reduce that by one week to a resulting suspension of one week (covering one match) and I gave that indication.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">†The next scheduled fixture for the player was an international match on 11 June for Argentina against Italy. Accordingly, the suspension imposed is for one match (being that international match on 11 June) but takes effect from today up to and including 11 June 2016 (to include the one scheduled match).â€</span></span></p>
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<p>In this morning's <em>Hawke's Bay Today </em>Highlanders prop Brendon Edmonds could be out for up to a year. The surgery on his cartilage went fine, but the bigger problem is he suffered nerve damage.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Number 10" data-cid="584159" data-time="1464639960">
<p>In this morning's <em>Hawke's Bay Today </em>Highlanders prop Brendon Edmonds could be out for up to a year. The surgery on his cartilage went fine, but the bigger problem is he suffered nerve damage.</p>
</blockquote>
<p> <br>
I was shocked to read that there is even the possibility that he will never play again!<br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Prop's keeping his head</strong></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">4:44 AM Tuesday May 31, 2016</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">Hawke's Bay Magpies and Highlanders rugby prop Brendon Edmonds has never been one to shy away from a challenge.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">With Edmonds it's always been a case of the bigger the challenge the better whether he's wearing a Maori All Blacks, Highlanders or Magpies jersey. This time last year he was regularly labelled one of the best looseheads in the country.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">Twelve months later Edmonds, 25, is dealing with the possibility he may not play again.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">"It will be at least a year before I can think about playing again ... hopefully I can," Edmonds said.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">The Havelock North club player, who has played 48 first class games for the Magpies since his 2011 debut, had reconstructive surgery a month ago in the wake of an injury to his left knee in the opening minutes of the Highlanders 32-20 win against the Force in Dunedin on April 1.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">"My ligaments have been repaired and the surgery went well. But I also damaged a nerve which controls the foot and I've got what is known as dropped foot so we have to wait and see how it heals," Edmonds explained.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">He must have told this story at least a dozen times as fans checked on on his well-being while he was sitting on the sideline at Anderson Park on Saturday in his role as forwards coach with the Progressive Meats Havelock North premier team.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">"They want to know what happened and most of them didn't realise the extent of the injury. I don't know if I will play again, but I will if possible."</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">The surgery was carried out by Dr Andrew Vincent in Christchurch. The Highlanders doctor and physio check on his progress every fortnight and Magpies physio Mark Nicol helps him when required.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">The manner in which he is dealing with the injury must be admired in the way his playing feats have been in recent seasons.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">"I'm looking upon this as a paid holiday. At times like this you take the negatives and positives ... and there are lots of positives. I'm spending lots of time with my 15-month-old son Benson and at weekends I'm able to sit back and relax with family," Edmonds said.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">He is enjoying his new role with the villagers and sees it as "an opportunity to give something back to the boys."</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">Saturday's 40-9 loss to Taradale was a tough introduction for Edmonds. His engine room was up against a big pack.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">"I thought we were in with a chance until about the 65th minute. A couple of yellow cards proved costly and we also had a red at the end. We haven't got the biggest pack in the comp so we just have to play a bit smarter ... if we want to compete with the good teams we have to adapt our plans to suit," Edmonds said.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">The Central Hawke's Bay College product believed it was too early to discount the Highlanders chances of retaining their Super Rugby title in his absence.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">"There are players down there who can replace the injured players and the team remains just as strong. It was a hard game on Friday night but we still played well," he said referring to the 27-20 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">"We have lost four games but the most of those have been by a couple or five points. We will still be there at the business end," Edmonds warned.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">It's also too early to discount the chances of Edmonds playing again. This bloke is determined and if there's a way he will pursue it.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">This time next year expect to see him trotting out for the villagers. They will be stronger than they were at the weekend too.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">In fact, expect to see some vast improvement from their forwards within the next fortnight too ... Edmonds won't be wasting time with his latest assignment. Like the Highlanders, the villagers have too much quality ammunition not to be there at semifinal time.</span></span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#333333;">- </span><u>Hawkes Bay Today</u></span></span></p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="583533" data-time="1464427918">
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<p>I'm gonna be unpopular and say that both of those no-arms cleanouts targeted the head. Yellow card at least for both.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Agreed. Needs to be out of the game in an era where we're all more cognisant of the dangers to head injuries. The first one looked accidental but reckless and meets the threshold for a yellow card. The second is a clear red for mine.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now it just needs consistency...</p> -
<p>Charlie Ngatai has re-signed with the Chiefs for 2 more years.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/221-charlie-ngatai-commits-to-gallagher-chiefs'>http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/221-charlie-ngatai-commits-to-gallagher-chiefs</a></p> -
<p>That Jaguares vs Kings game was everything that was wrong with the super rugby expansion.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1, first and foremost the rugby sucked shit. It was terrible</p>
<p>2. 2 red cards for Jaguares for trying to be too physical, and not actually play rugby</p>
<p>3. 15 on 13, the Kings still struggled and in fact, only managed to pull ahead in the last 10 minutes</p>
<p>4. Crowd must have been less than 1000,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Everything about that sucked serious arse and is turning the competition into a complete fucking joke.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="584245" data-time="1464662767">
<div>
<p>That Jaguares vs Kings game was everything that was wrong with the super rugby expansion.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1, first and foremost the rugby sucked shit. It was terrible</p>
<p>2. 2 red cards for Jaguares for trying to be too physical, and not actually play rugby</p>
<p>3. 15 on 13, the Kings still struggled and in fact, <strong>only managed to pull ahead in the last 10 minutes</strong></p>
<p>4. Crowd must have been less than 1000,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Everything about that sucked serious arse and is turning the competition into a complete fucking joke.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Yep, in those last 10 minutes, the Jaguares also had someone sent off with a yellow card and were down to 12 men.</p> -
<p>The quality of rugby varies to ridiculous degrees now. You've got the NZ teams that have basically consolidated their talent since the competition started and are producing quality rugby the majority of the time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then you've got Aus and SA with too many teams for the talent available due to "expansion", meaning at any given time they will only have 1 - 2 teams capable of quality rugby.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then you've got the Jaguares who have been a massive fucking let down considering how well Argentina have been going on the international stage. Why are they so shit?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then you've got Japan who were always going to struggle to begin with - will they improve? Who knows...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That means at any one time you've got 6 - 8 teams that are decent, and 10+ teams that are fucking awful. So more then 50% of the games will be shit viewing.</p> -
<p>I think the Jaguares have struggled with the style of play at this level, being a bit looser than International, probably the lower quality reffing, as well as a travel schedule that is new to them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Be interesting to see how they go in TRC this year after the poor form.</p> -
<p>Jaguares had a tough start. They went to the Republic, had the bye, then lost to the Chiefs. Once they lost to the Stormers there season was all over with a tough trip to New Zealand. I think they will be better next year. It's actually their home form which has been disappointing.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="584257" data-time="1464664181">
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<p>I think the Jaguares have struggled with the style of play at this level, being a bit looser than International, probably the lower quality reffing, as well as a travel schedule that is new to them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Be interesting to see how they go in TRC this year after the poor form.</p>
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</blockquote>
<p>Plus it's not like they've got the same coach as Los Pumas, which is a fact a lot of people seem to conveniently ignore.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="584275" data-time="1464666932">
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<p>Plus it's not like they've got the same coach as Los Pumas, which is a fact a lot of people seem to conveniently ignore.</p>
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<p>Good point, no matter how much talent you have if the coach isn't up to it then the team will struggle. Hammett proved that beyond any doubt with the Canes...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="584253" data-time="1464663876">
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<p>Time for a 6th NZ team?</p>
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<p>Not sure if serious, but no way. NZ has been 100% correct to avoid expansion. It makes squad selection after the ITM competitive, it allows a smaller pot of players to be better paid and out of Europe/Japan, and it makes us perennial Super Rugby champions. Sure we could no doubt support a 6th side, but I'd be opposed.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="584136" data-time="1464618989">
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Last weekend there were two red cards in the Kings v Jaguares game in which the players charged into the ruck and made contact with their shoulders to the head of an opponent.<br>
Here in NZ, Havili got cited for an alleged swinging arm making contact with the neck of an opponent.<br>
<br>
Herrera has received a suspension of ONE week! Now, how inconsistent are they going to be this time and how much will Havili get? For sure, shoulder charge to head should be more serious than arm swing v neck? Havili shouldn't get any suspension based on that, but we all know it doesn't quite work that way!<br>
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From Planet Rugby website:</span></span></p>
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<p> </p>
<p>The decision on Lavanini (Jaguares) has just been published by Planet Rugby.<br>
<br>
The verdict and suspension are consistent with that imposed on Herrera. Lavanini gets 2 weeks suspension instead of 1 because of his previous offending.<br>
</p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
<p><strong><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Lavanini banned for two weeks</span></span></strong><br>
<br><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">May 31 2016</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Jaguares lock Tomás Lavanini has been suspended for two weeks for foul play during his side’s clash with the Kings in Port Elizabeth at the weekend.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The SANZAAR Duty Judicial Officer Michael Heron has accepted a guilty plea from Lavanini for contravening Law 10.4 (h) A player must not charge into a ruck or maul, after he was red Carded during the Super Rugby match. </span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Lavanini charged into an opponent with his shoulder and made contact with his opponent's head during the match which the Kings won 29-22 on 27 May 2016.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Lavanini received a sanction of two weeks (covering two scheduled matches) with his next scheduled matches being Argentina v Italy, 11 June 2016 and Argentina v France, 18 June 2016. Consequently he is suspended up to and including Saturday 18 June 2016.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In his finding, Heron ruled the following: </span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">" The player, Mr Stefan Weyers (counsel), Mr Greg Peters (Jaguares CEO), Mr Rafael Laria (Jaguares Manager) and an interpreter attended the call. Mr Andreas Ramos, SAANZAR JO, also attended as an observer.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">" The player accepted the charge. I agreed with Mr Weyers that the charge should be under Law 10(4)(h) as the opponent player did not have the ball. The player was remorseful and expressed regret to me for his actions.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">" I accepted the submission that this was low end offending, it was not intentionally dangerous, no injury resulted and the only negative impact on the game was to the Jaguares and Mr Lavanini. For the reasons above, I indicated that I accepted a low end entry point under 10(4)(h) of two weeks. </span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">" Mr Lavanini has three previous citings and a yellow card for similar dangerous play. <br>
Because of his previous conduct and repeated offending, I indicated I would add a week to the suspension (to three weeks). </span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">" Given his remorse, cooperation and early plea, I was prepared to reduce that by one week to a resulting suspension of two weeks (covering two matches) and I gave that indication.</span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">" The next scheduled fixture for the player was an international match on 11 June for Argentina against Italy, following which the next fixture was an international match for Argentina against France. </span></span><br>
<br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Accordingly, the suspension imposed is for two matches (being those international matches on 11 and 18 June) but takes effect from today up to and including 18 June 2016 (to include both those scheduled international matches)."</span></span></p>
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<p>These penalties bear no resemblance to those that were getting dished out when I had to attend judicial subcommittee meetings here in Wellington (in supported of red carded players) where the bare minimum was three weeks regardless of what the offence was.</p>