Super Rugby News
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@Stargazer Hes a First Five here is an article signing for The Crusaders
[link text](link url)https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/08/10/star-queensland-schoolboy-campbell-parata-signs-with-crusaders
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@Chris That would be a good move for Mitch Hunt and good timing by him, as well, I think. People were already suggesting he should move on from the Crusaders last year and I think even the year before, but I don't think he had the experience to be a good bet at the helm.
He's improved markedly for the Mako over the past couple of seasons and hopefully will take another step forward this year.
Hopefully another season of NPC will also see significant improvement in Cameron. It's a tough job being a Super rugby first five and you've got to give these guys time.
I'm a bit concerned that the Highlanders might also be sniffing around the likes of Will Jordan. He's not someone I'd be happy seeing go south.
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@Chris-B I don't think you will lose the most deadly Fullback since Christian Cullen. That would be a huge loss it that did eventuate - something I don't think the Crusaders would let happen.
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby News:
@Chris-B I don't think you will lose the most deadly Fullback since Christian Cullen. That would be a huge loss it that did eventuate - something I don't think the Crusaders would let happen.
Canterbury did!
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True. Surely Crusaders won't though. I'd prefer to keep Jordan over a guy like Havili.
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From the sanzar site for stats fans -
Which teams in the competition have been the best at getting themselves over the gain line, as well as stopping their opponents from doing the same?
At any level of rugby, the battle for the gain line is crucial and in Super Rugby this is no different, with front foot ball being the catalyst to many breaks and ultimately tries.
The Rebels have comfortably the best record of getting across the advantage line, boasting a gain line success rate of 60%, four percentage points better than the Bulls and the Brumbies who are the next best sides when in possession.
However, it’s not always about getting yourself across the gain line, but also stopping your opponents from doing the same. Teams facing both the Stormers and the Bulls this season have only been able to muster a 45% success rate in getting over the gain line, while the Hurricanes have provided the meanest gain line defence of teams from outside South Africa.
On an individual level, it is the Reds’ Chris Feauai-Sautia who boasts the best success rate of any player to make at least 30 ‘gain line’ carries, with New Zealand-based duo Tevita Li and Rieko Ioane hot on his heels, both boasting a 75% success rate in getting over the advantage line.
For the forwards though it’s often a more difficult job to get over the gain line, with the big men often making the hard yards in tighter channels around the fringes of the breakdown. However, that hasn’t stopped the Rebels’ Isi Naisarani making inroads into opposition territory, as he’s recorded a 74% gain line success rate, the best of any forward. Perhaps the players who deserve most credit for making the top 10 gain line-breaking forwards are Armand van der Merwe and Agustin Creevy, representing the front row union and each making their way over the gain line on over 60% of their carries. -
@Daffy-Jaffy Tevita Li
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Given that Cooper doesn't seem to rate him (or has he been injured all this time?), I'm surprised he re-signed - the Landers and Blues could both use him, I imagine.
Hopefully he'll get more time on the wing this year, and try to reduce some of those silly errors, in which case he can have another go at FB. Having said that, our best chiefs backline has Dmac back there, so perhaps he should focus on 14?
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For who missed the news in the Chiefs' thread: Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi has re-signed with NZR and the Chiefs through to 2021.
All Blacks and Gallagher Chiefs halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi has announced he has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby until 2021. 24-year-old Tahuriorangi, a product of Rotorua Boys' High School, has long been recognised as a talented player with an exceptional pass. Tahuriorangi headed south to New Plymouth making his provincial debut in 2015 for Taranaki following the success of the New Zealand Under 20’s campaign. The dynamic halfback made his Gallagher Chiefs and All Blacks debut in 2018, two years after his Investec Super Rugby debut in 2016. He has played three times for the All Blacks, more than 30 Investec Super Rugby games for the Gallagher Chiefs and 31 matches for Taranaki. Tahuriorangi said he felt it was best for both himself and his whanau to continue to play for the Gallagher Chiefs and hopefully also look to again play for the All Blacks. It was an easy decision for me and my partner to make. My whanau are exceptionally important to me and I’m looking forward to having them continue with me on this journey," he said. -
@gt12 said in Super Rugby News:
Given that Cooper doesn't seem to rate him (or has he been injured all this time?), I'm surprised he re-signed - the Landers and Blues could both use him, I imagine.
Hopefully he'll get more time on the wing this year, and try to reduce some of those silly errors, in which case he can have another go at FB. Having said that, our best chiefs backline has Dmac back there, so perhaps he should focus on 14?
Oh jesus, what kind of sweet torture are you imagining up there? Li and Stevenson on either wing. 🤢
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It's still so close! Only the Crusaders and Hurricanes sit firmly at the top and the Sunwolves are likely to stay at the bottom, and seem to be the only team that is reasonably certain to miss the finals. Everyone else can still qualify. Also, the Crusaders have a lot of bonus points and look at that points differential! Crazy!
