Super Rugby News
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NMS
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@booboo said in Super Rugby News:
@Billy-Tell said in Super Rugby News:
NMS
What up with Nehe?
All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder battling the clock in race for Lions series
The injury bug hasn't left Hurricanes back Nehe Milner-Skudder as his struggles to recover from his latest setback have hit a roadblock, leaving his hopes of an All Blacks return against the British & Irish Lions in doubt. After a breakthrough year in 2015 which included a World Cup win with the All Blacks and a starring role in a Hurricanes side which hosted the Super Rugby final, Milner-Skudder has hardly touched the ball since, sitting out 2016 with a shoulder injury and then breaking a bone in his foot last month against the Chiefs. Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has told NZME that Milner-Skudder's slow recovery could jeopardize his hopes of an All Blacks return in June. "I don't think he would have played an awful amount of rugby, before they pick the All Blacks to play the British and Irish Lions," Boyd said.
"Whether that's the preparation that the All Blacks want for that, it depends what sort of back three they're looking for and who else is fit, because there have been a couple of dings in that space. "I think [Milner-Skudder] will be available, but he won't have played a whole lot of rugby." Milner-Skudder is tentatively scheduled to return in three weeks against Stormers on May 5, but Boyd said that timeframe may have been a bit ambitious. "The solidification of the bone in his foot is slow, it's a low blood-flow area, so it's slow. "It's one of those ones that he's worked incredibly hard to keep fit and strong and healthy in other ways, but he's got a wound that's not helping him at the moment." The All Blacks side for the Lions series is set to be named in the first week of June, leaving Milner-Skudder, at best, five games to prove his form and fitness.
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5 games would be more than enough for a player like NMS. In fact it would be for most players. I'd say he'd get away with just a couple.
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Timani cited for allegedly kicking Rory Arnold (Brumbies)
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But there was a price to pay for Chris Boyd's defending champions who improved to 28 points, and third in the tight Kiwi conference, with their sixth victory from seven matches this season.
Lock Michael Fatialofa picked up a serious knee injury early in the contest, and Boyd admitted afterwards he was resigned to his regular second-row starter facing an extended period on the sidelines.
"It doesn't look good," Boyd said. "We'll have to wait and see what the medical staff come up with, but he's pretty sore. It's either a kneecap or ligament − either way it doesn't look great.
"We've already got Sam Lousi dinged in that space, and James Blackwell to come back. We're getting a little thin but we're still OK."
Vaea Fifita's return off the bench on Saturday night from an ankle injury sustained at the Brisbane Tens is timely, and the talented utility forward shapes as the logical cover in Fatialofa's likely absence.
Boyd also confirmed he wasn't anticipating All Black hooker Dane Coles returning from his calf injury this week to face the Brumbies in their short-turnaround clash against the Brumbies in Napier on Friday.
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"Colesy may be back for the Brumbies but I probably doubt it." -
Four-week suspension for Timani
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Timani for contravening Law 10.4(m) Any other acts which are contrary to good sportsmanship, after he was cited during the Super Rugby match. Timani has been suspended from all forms of the game for four weeks, up to and including Saturday 13 May 2017.
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play, which involved an intentional, but glancing, strike to an opponent's head by the Player's leg, merited a mid range entry point of eight weeks. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's excellent Judicial record, his on-field apology to the opposing player, his remorse and his early guilty plea, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 4 weeks."
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@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News:
his on-field apology to the opposing player, his remorse
Didn't look that way to me... he seemed to think even the yellow was unfair because the other guy started it.
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Liam Squire re-signs with the Highlanders and NZR for 2 more years:
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@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News:
Liam Squire re-signs with the Highlanders and NZR for 2 more years:
That's a great re-signing. Looks a very useful impact bench option for nz. It would be in his interests to show he is a starting 6 option rather than an 8 who can cover 6.
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Sam Whitelock has re-signed with NZR and the Crusaders for 3 more years (through to 2020)!
Great news, another one off the market!
http://crusaders.co.nz/news/1084-major-deal-sees-whitelock-commit-through-to-2020
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Whitelock was more forthcoming on why he had shunned overseas offers to remain in Christchurch; although he didn't go into specifics, it had earlier been reported big-spending French club Toulon had him in their sights.
Given one of his brothers, Adam, has been playing for French club Bayonne, and another, George, had a brief stint in Japan, Whitelock didn't have to go far to get some home truths.
"It was good to bounce some ideas off (them) - the positives or negatives, whether it be on or off the field. As brothers you don't really mince your words."
Given he has won two World Cups and played 84 tests, the 28 year old would surely have been offered multi-million dollar deals to live overseas for a few years.
That's not to say NZ Rugby hasn't done the same, but given they are often the first to admit they have no hope of matching the cash being tossed about by the French clubs it seems safe to assume Whitelock didn't stay just for the coin.
He and wife Hannah recently celebrated the arrival of their first child, is happy at the Crusaders and wants to reinforce why he is an All Blacks great by playing 100 tests.
If he stays fit and his form doesn't wane, it seems likely that milestone will be achieved next season.
There are some strings attached to this deal. Like Ben Smith, who recently re-committed to NZ Rugby until 2020, Whitelock can also pull the pin after the 2019 World Cup.
He also acknowledged he has a clause in his contract to take a break from work, but wouldn't divulge specific details of whether it would allow him to break from Super or test rugby.
"I have a couple of weeks there I can use. I am not sure if, or when, I will use that. As long as I am feeling nice and healthy and playing well, we will see what happens."
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@Stargazer That's interesting given how often NH viewers ask where the crowds are in Super Rugby.
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@antipodean said in Super Rugby News:
@Stargazer That's interesting given how often NH viewers ask where the crowds are in Super Rugby.
We do tend to play games in larger venues in general which can look empty with those numbers in them. Some of the grounds in the UK are small but get packed out.
To give them their due though, the other weekend they got massive crowds to both Twickers AND Wembley on the same day (something like 50k and 60k) -
@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News:
Whitelock can also pull the pin after the 2019 World Cup.What when hes 31? He could be the next BBT we could be talking about him in 2027.
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Just a thought with regards to Super Rugby. Have you looked at your viewing patterns lately?
The Chiefs have just been to Africa, but to me they may has well have been on the moon. Except for the appearance of a score on my app, they completely disappeared from existence. It's the same pretty much every year (since i stopped being in pubs at the same time as the African games). I know from a rugby perspective Africa are essential, but i never watch games that are over there (even tests can be dicey unless i record).
What was the last all-aussie derby you watched? Or Aus v SA game in Aus? Do you care? Really?
Stargazer you watch everything, you are excluded from the above sample as a proven extreme
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@mariner4life
I always try and watch the canes live and I make some effort to watch some of the kiwi teams delayed, maybe 3 games a week on average. Back in the s12/14 days I would try and watch all kiwi games live but that was before technology allowed for a quick download or mysky. I do still watch highlights for the others but I think that is more for research for my fantasy rugby team. -
Is there any news on the 3 teams dropping out of Super rugby yet? I just can't believe how many people seem to be in favour of this. In my eyes the real problem with Super rugby is that too many players choose not to play it, and look for a Northern Hemisphere contract. I was hoping they might seek to bolster the weaker Super rugby teams with leading Pacific Islanders, Namibians, Americans, Japanese etc, and thereby increase the interest in super rugby in those places. But, they all head north. Perhaps a lot of the success of European rugby viewing numbers is that they import so many quality players from the Southern Hemisphere, and SANZAAR does nothing to stop this.
Please look at 3 conferences of 6 teams, and expansion into two divisions SANZAAR. I would love to see a more cosmopolitan competition to stimulate extra interest.
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@mariner4life My experience is very different. I watch every game in NZ, every game involving an NZ team in Oz and about 75% of Non NZ OZ games - Not always live.
As for SA games I pick the decent NZ games to watch and ignore the rest (again recording is my friend). Obviously always watch the Clan live.
I might be a bit obsessed though.
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@mariner4life I always watch the South Africa games, I like getting up on Sunday morning (the actual morning not middle of the night), sitting down with breakfast and watching the recording of the game. Will watch most of the Canes, Blues and Highlanders matches and occasional matches from all other teams.
As I've said before I prefer watching an NZ team v Oz and SA teams than watch two NZ teams go at it.
If I'm doing nothing I'll watch an Aussie derby .... If SA were in our timezone I'd watch more of them than I do.
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@mariner4life I watch all the Crusaders games, but games in SA and Perth are usually as replays. I usually watch whatever is playing at 7.30 pm on Friday/Saturday, though I may lose interest if it's one-sided, or I don't have things/people I'm particularly watching for. If there's a potentially interesting game in Oz at 9.30 pm I'll start watching and see how it develops - but, I'm likely to flag it at some point.
@Nepia has forgotten to mention that he watches every Crusaders game huddled in the foetal position chanting "please lose, please lose..." and that he has a small statue of Todd Blackadder pinned above his bed, about where Catholics have a Jesus, and each night he prays thankfully to Toddy for delivering him from more titles...
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@ARHS Haven't heard or seen anything yet that indicates that a decision has been made. The rumours have died down a little bit. I think this article about the Force sums up quite well what's going on at the moment:
- threat of legal action by Force and Rebels
- ARU and SARU still trying to work out which team(s) to drop (at least officially)
- lots of uncertainty for players and their families
- poaching by other clubs has already started, so the team that won't be dropped, might have a problem ...
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I will always watch the kiwi games if not at work, always sucks once DST hits over here and stops in NZ, 6:30am games are much easier to accommodate. If it's a kiwi team in SA then it can be a bit tougher if I'm playing that day.
Will have the Aussie, Aussie/SA games on in the background on a Friday morning if working from home, but not pay much notice.
SA, SA/Aussie games I'll watch on a Saturday arvo but wouldn't be fussed about missing (i.e. have to go do something else with the missus).
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@Stargazer all the talk of Rebels and Force, ARU blindside the Brumbies at the 11th hour and kick them
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I obviously go to the Chiefs home games in Hamilton and I will watch their other games in NZ/Aust live on TV. Their recent games in SA were recorded and viewed when I had time on Sunday. The only time I watch an early game from SA is an AB test. ALL AB tests must be watched live.
I try to watch the NZ derbies but the games between the other NZ teams and Aust or SA opposition are not always a priority if I have other things on. I wouldn't bother recording them to watch later, or with a delayed broadcast.
I never watch SA derbies and will seldom watch the Aust derbies.
Time to sit down and watch the Canes-Brumbies. This will be the only live game I see this weekend. A recording of the Chiefs-Force will have to wait until Sunday night.
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Back in the day I used to watch most games that involved NZ teams, and like @Nepia I used to enjoy the NZ v Aus/SA games the most. The Aus and SA derbies have never interested me much.
Nowadays I watch the Canes when they are playing at an OK time, otherwise just catch highlights, and don't really watch much else.
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I suppose I watch quite a bit. All Hurricanes games and probably at least two games each weekend. The Aussie derbies or South African derbies are a bit hard to watch these days and the New Zealand teams are just a bit too dominant when they play those sides. During a NZ derby I probably won't even leave the room to get a glass of water. If I watch the Highlanders vs Sunwolves tomorrow it will just be on in the background while I do other things.
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So if you (not responding to anyone specifically) watch only very few SR games (and I can understand people not having enough time to watch many/all games), how can you possibly compare players and form an opinion on whether - in your view - a player deserves to be in the ABs? If someone never watches, say Highlanders games, how would you know that ALB deserves to start in the 13 jersey more than Fekitoa? Based on last year's AB games? Or on what opinionated journos write? Highlights?
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I watch every NZ game each week. If they are in SA I will record and watch the next day, usually avoiding the score in the mean time. Very rarely go to a game and don't see that changing. Just prefer to watch it on TV so i can see what is going on.
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@mariner4life said in Super Rugby News:
What was the last all-aussie derby you watched?
Probably 1996 or 97 ... actually ... umm ... never
Or Aus v SA game in Aus?
See previous answer.
Do you care? Really?
No. See previous answer.
And in answer to rest of your post: two words -"My Star".
Don't know if I've ever watched a non-finals Super game live from Africa except when kick off was at 6am NZT. Even in those days the VHS was the preferred means of viewing.
Test matches however are always watched live (if broadcast).
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Depending on whether TKB suffers from concussion symptoms after failing his concussion test last night, the Chiefs could have a big halfback problem if Finau gets suspended, with Weber already out. The reason is that Finlay Christie has been cited for stamping.
Other citings: Rebels captain Nic Stirzaker received a red card after two yellow cards against the Sharks and Sharks second five-eighth Andre Esterhuizen got a red card for a tip tackle.
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Finlay is big trouble I think. Being a ginger this is the opportunity they would have been waiting for to throw the book at him.
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@Stargazer I think most here at least will watch a player play before commenting. Can't say the same on other sites or even journalists for that matter.
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Taranaki lock Leighton Price called into the Blues Super Rugby squad
GLENN MCLEAN
Last updated 14:07, April 23 2017Price, 28, played for Tukapa on Saturday as they beat New Plymouth Old Boys 57-20 has represented Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty and New Zealand Maori but has never played Super Rugby.
The Blues had a bye at the weekend and could not be contacted on Sunday. Tukapa coach Laurence Corlett confirmed Price had accepted an offer to join the franchise for the rest of the season.
According to Corlett, Price was contacted by Blues coach Tana Umaga about a month ago to see if he was interested in joining their wider training group.
Work commitments prevented him doing that but when Umaga contacted him last week and offered him a full contract for the remainder of the Super Rugby season he accepted.
Price left on Sunday to travel to Auckland where he will join the squad on Monday.
It is unclear who Price has replaced in the squad. The Blues, who sit bottom of the New Zealand conference with three wins from eight matches, are due to meet the Brumbies in Canberra next Sunday.
Corlett hoped to have Price available at some stage near the end of the premier club season but it was a case of waiting and see what happens.
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I'm assuming Tuipulotu is out for an extended period then.
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@African-Monkey Could be Tupou too.
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No disaster for the Canes; they've plenty of puppy 1st-five eights to develop and who'll be delighted to learn from Barrett (2x).
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