Super Rugby News
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<p>He (Lousi) has done nothing that made me want to consult my programme to see who he was much less putting a tick against his name for doing something noteworthy. The player statistics reveal the following (bearing in mind stats don't always tell the true story)</p>
<p>Minutes played: 367 (over 13 matches)</p>
<p>Carries: 50</p>
<p>Metres gained: 92</p>
<p>Clean breaks: 1</p>
<p>Passes: 21</p>
<p>Own Lineout wins: 7</p>
<p>Lineout steals: 0</p>
<p>Tackles Made: 42</p>
<p>Tackles missed: 1</p>
<p>Tackles success: 97.7%</p>
<p>Turnovers conceded: 5</p>
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<p>I see he is on the benck for the Tahs tonight so will keenly anticipate running my critical eyes over him if he manages to get on.</p> -
<p>After casting my eyes over Sam Lousi I would not be expecting him to be playing in the first team other than in preseason friendlies. He must have done some fairly special things in other games to put on his highlights reel as there was nothing at all to recommend him exhibited in last nights game.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote"><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/82168514/seta-tamanivalu-out-of-chiefs-super-rugby-quarterfinal-against-stormers'><strong>Seta Tamanivalu out of Chiefs' Super Rugby quarterfinal against Stormers</strong></a><br><br>
Having lost to the Highlanders and been sent packing to Cape Town, the news gets worse for the Chiefs, with Seta Tamanivalu ruled out of their Super Rugby quarterfinal against the Stormers with a knee injury.<br><br>
The powerful centre injured his MCL in the 25-15 defeat in Dunedin on Saturday night and won't travel to South Africa, with his involvement in any potential semifinal or final in serious doubt.<br><br>
Tamanivalu, who made his All Blacks debut last month, got heavy strapping applied to his left leg during the match, and eventually left the park after 64 minutes, having sustained the knock about 10 minutes into the second half.<br><br>
"It happened in a cleanout, he just got cleaned out and just got caught in an awkward position," coach Dave Rennie said.<br><br>
The Chiefs are also awaiting assessments on a couple of other players, before they name their travelling squad. Under SANZAAR rules they are only allowed to take 25 players on tour, with Rennie confirming that they would look to take an extra prop and utility back.<br><br>
Their match against the Stormers has been confirmed for 5am next Sunday (NZ time).<br><br><strong>After flying from Dunedin to Auckland on Sunday morning, the Chiefs would have ideally headed to Sydney on Sunday night and flew out from there Monday morning, however, with no accommodation available in Sydney, they are staying the night in Auckland, walking across to the airport at 3am and flying out at 6am.</strong>
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There's no accommodation in a city of four million people. That's a bit odd.
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<p>maybe they thought they said a rugby league team and said they had no vacancies?</p>
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<p>Shit news for the Crusaders: Nadolo is out injured and won't travel to South Africa (according to One News).</p>
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<p>Sam Whitelock & Andy Ellis expected to be available.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/crusaders-suffer-playoffs-blow-nemani-nadolo-forced-lions-clash-injury'>https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/crusaders-suffer-playoffs-blow-nemani-nadolo-forced-lions-clash-injury</a></p> -
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Chiefs</strong> travelling squad:</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:700;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">FORWARDS</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">Kane Hames; </span><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">Mitchell Graham; Atu Moli; Siegfried Fisi’ihoi; Siate Tokolahi; Hika Elliot; Nathan Harris; Dominic Bird; Brodie Retallick; Lachlan Boshier; Tom Sanders; Sam Cane; Taleni Seu; Liam Messam</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:700;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">BACKS</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">Tawera Kerr-Barlow; </span><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">Brad Weber; Aaron Cruden; James Lowe; Damian McKenzie; Anton Lienert-Brown; Stephen Donald; Sam McNicol; Sam Vaka; Toni Pulu; Shaun Stevenson</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">Not considered for selection: Nepo Laulala, Mitchell Karpik, Pauliasi Manu, Sam Henwood, Johan Bardoul, Glen Fisiiahi, Maama Vaipulu, Michael Allardice, Michael Leitch, James Tucker, Charlie Ngatai, Seta Tamanivalu, Andrew Horrell, Hiroshi Yamashita, Augustine Pulu (All Blacks Sevens).</span></p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/240-gallagher-chiefs-travelling-squad-named-for-investec-super-rugby-quarterfinal-in-cape-town'>http://chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/240-gallagher-chiefs-travelling-squad-named-for-investec-super-rugby-quarterfinal-in-cape-town</a></p> -
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/82168514/seta-tamanivalu-out-of-chiefs-super-rugby-quarterfinal-against-stormers'>SANZAAR rule Liam Messam ineligible for Super Rugby playoffs</a></p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="597680" data-time="1468751965">
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/82168514/seta-tamanivalu-out-of-chiefs-super-rugby-quarterfinal-against-stormers'>SANZAAR rule Liam Messam ineligible for Super Rugby playoffs</a></p>
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<p>"Special dispensation hasn't been granted because SANZAAR are satisfied that the Chiefs <strong>can field a normal, full-strength side of 23 players</strong> for the following match.</p>
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<p>I just don't understand how they can think that.</p>
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<p>There was another appalling decision from them last week where they were complicit in the Sharks fielding an injured player on the bench (Lambie) by refusing to give dispensation for him to play in the playoffs as he'd played one game less than required. I suppose, it was only concussion. What's the worst that could have happened?</p> -
<p>I guess they did just recruit that Messam cat for the finals, I mean how many times has he even played for the Chiefs?</p>
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<p>I disagree that the Chiefs can field a normal full strength 23 man side. I also don't think they needed to take that long to say no.</p>
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<p>I have more of an issue with the Patrick Lambie situation because he'd been with the Sharks for ages but kept getting injured.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="597709" data-time="1468788197">
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<p>I guess they did just recruit that Messam cat for the finals, I mean how many times has he even played for the Chiefs?</p>
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<p>doesnt matter.. he wasn't in the original squad of 40.. he also had to ask permission from his other club to play for the chiefs..</p>
<p>there is no injury crisis so the chiefs can field a "normal full strength 23 man side".</p> -
<p>I still think it sucks...it isn't like they have called him back especially for the finals...</p>
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<p>Messam is a huge part of the Chiefs, and I expect he didn't take the decision to have a punt at the 7s lightly, and we know this is the only reason he is back now.</p>
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<p>The guy they are replacing Messam with hasn't played a single game this year.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mimic" data-cid="597734" data-time="1468797537">
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<p>doesnt matter.. he wasn't in the original squad of 40.. he also had to ask permission from his other club to play for the chiefs..</p>
<p>there is no injury crisis so the chiefs can field a "normal full strength 23 man side".</p>
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<p>Well the rules are the rules and I have no issue with that, and I know you're trying to peddle an 'objective' line here but suggesting there is no injury crisis is a bit bollocks.</p>
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<p>The loose forwards/locks have been hammered by injury (Leitch, Bardoul, Vaipulu, Tucker, Henwood, Karpik, Allardice) and 4 of those lot cover the two positions Messam does. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mimic" data-cid="597741" data-time="1468799305">
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<p>now that i think about it, maybe this is karma.. sanzaar is looking at punishing rennie after propgate </p>
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<p>I hope the Blues are enjoying mad monday....</p> -
<div><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Crusaders </strong>travelling squad:</span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">FORWARDS:</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Wyatt Crockett, Alex Hodgman, Mike Alaalatoa, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Ben Funnell, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Scott Barrett, Jimmy Tupou, Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Kieran Read (C).</span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">BACKS:</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Andy Ellis, Mitchell Drummond, Leon Fukofuka, Richie Mo’unga, David Havilli, Kieron Fonotia, Jone Macilai, Johnny McNicholl, Ben Volavola, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Jack Goodhue.</span></span></div>
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<div><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/ellis-and-whitelock-included-in-crusaders-squad-take-lions'>https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/ellis-and-whitelock-included-in-crusaders-squad-take-lions</a></div>
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<div>Edit to add:</div>
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<div>Biggest names missing: Joe Moody & Nemani Nadolo</div>
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<div>Also not named: Tim Boys, Marty McKenzie (both still in the injury ward?), Mitchell Hunt, Ged Robinson - just to name a few. Is Hunt injured?</div>
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<div>They're taking 3 halfbacks, so maybe Ellis not completely over his injury?</div>
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<div>I'm mostly surprised by Jack Goodhue's inclusion in the squad. Has he played at all for the Crusaders (except for preseason/warm-up matches)? He's a midfielder, isn't he? Looks like they're running out of backs at the Crusaders.</div>
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