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No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="584275" data-time="1464666932">
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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.
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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...

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="584253" data-time="1464663876">
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Time for a 6th NZ team?
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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.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="584136" data-time="1464618989">
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. 
Here in NZ, Havili got cited for an alleged swinging arm making contact with the neck of an opponent. 
 
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! 
 
From Planet Rugby website:
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The decision on Lavanini (Jaguares) has just been published by Planet Rugby. 
 
The verdict and suspension are consistent with that imposed on Herrera. Lavanini gets 2 weeks suspension instead of 1 because of his previous offending. 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Lavanini banned for two weeks 
 May 31 2016 
 Jaguares lock TomÃ¡s Lavanini has been suspended for two weeks for foul play during his sideâ€™s clash with the Kings in Port Elizabeth at the weekend. 
 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. 
 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. 
 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. 
 In his finding, Heron ruled the following: 
 " 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. 
 " 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. 
 " 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. 
 " Mr Lavanini has three previous citings and a yellow card for similar dangerous play. 
Because of his previous conduct and repeated offending, I indicated I would add a week to the suspension (to three weeks). 
 " 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. 
 " 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. 
 "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)."
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Higgins

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.

Siam

Good insight Higgins - ta
 
Yep, it does appear that these judicial hearings and indeed the reffing law applications are being made up on the fly

Tim

NZ Herald suggesting that Jimmy Tupou may join the Blues.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11648875'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11648875</a>

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="584503" data-time="1464757210">
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NZ Herald suggesting that Jimmy Tupou may join the Blues.
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He's already signed I'm told.

Tim

Not a particularly inspiring signing. A journeyman short lock. Can't honestly say that he's better than Fatialofa or even Matenga.

KiwiMurph

Sounds like there are more signings coming from the Blues.

Bones

That's an odd signing. Not exactly the kind of player the blues are short on.

SammyC

He's not as bad as you guys are making out. 
Just stuck behind 3 excellent locks at the crusaders. Has never disappointed when given an opportunity

Tim

I don't think he's bad, and maybe useful for depth, just not a step up on what's currently available.

SammyC

I think he's a considerable step up from matenga (sp?)

African Monkey

Bekhuis will leave a hole in our side. Don't mind Tupou, but agree with Tim, he's no better than what we already have.

Tim

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="584518" data-time="1464761167">
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I think he's a considerable step up from matenga (sp?)
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That's good to hear. I'm hoping that Scrafton makes a big step up next year.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="584517" data-time="1464760992">
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I don't think he's bad, and maybe useful for depth, just not a step up on what's currently available.
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What Tupou does offer is leadership - something the Blues are currently lacking. As SammyC says the Cantabs rate him highly. Tana obviously does too.

Billy Tell

Tupou is better than all the current blues locks, tuipolotou excepted.

KiwiMurph

What it does show is that players who have played under Tana obviously enjoy the environment and rate him (Pulu, SBW, Tupou etc).

taniwharugby

am hoping they will pick up Josh Goodhue as well...is plenty talented.

Stargazer

Why do you refer to Tupou as a lock? As far as I know, he's mainly a loose forward (6/8) who can also play lock. That's why he's such a handy man to have on the bench! Good leader, too. It's unfortunate for Tupou that there are so many All Blacks in the Crusaders forward pack and that Taufua is playing so extremely well, because they keep him out of the squad (not sure why they prefer Tim Boys on the bench). The Blues pack is not so stacked with great players, so he may finally get more game time if he indeed makes the move. I think he would be a good signing for the Blues.

The Silver Fern

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