Super Rugby 2023
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It's up to New Zealand to boost rugby in Australia
Australian rugby won't just 'come right' without some external support.
"Several easy-to-implement initiatives surely now must be considered. The first is that NZR could change its eligibility policy to enable players contracted to Australian Super Rugby sides to play for the All Blacks."
"It's hardly a wild idea as the players will not be out of sight and out of mind and maybe it would suit a handful of senior All Blacks to play a couple of seasons in Melbourne or Sydney to freshen themselves mentally while having an overseas experience."
"Seeing key Test players spend a season or two in Australia must be preferable to affording big-name All Blacks sabbatical clauses to play in Japan."
"NZR could also consider creating a system where young Kiwis who are unlikely to play much for their New Zealand club can be loaned to Aussie teams."
"And maybe most significantly, there has to be consideration given to bringing more Australian players into New Zealand’s provincial teams."
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Man why do Journo's keep up same shit. I see no positives in picking ABs from Aus teams, and how the f*** would Aus teams going to compete with what the players get paid in sabbaticals. Also how the f*** is it going to freshen a player carrying some Aus teams against the kiwi teams.
I could perhaps young kiwis being loaned to Aus clubs, but yeah/na, who there would have any wish to look after them.I would also add, how far away from here is Gregor Paul, consideration given to bringing Aussie players to NZ provincial teams, seems he doesn't realise that it's been happening for a while anyway.
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Force, Rebels and MP really drag down this competition.
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@antipodean said in Super Rugby 2023:
Force, Rebels and MP really drag down this competition.
what is even worse for the comp is that the Reds and the Waratahs aren't much fucking better.
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i think i might being living in a bit of an "ignorance is bliss" when watching games as a neutral, watching MP i really only noticed the impress bits of skill and kind of ignore the bad stuff
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@Kiwiwomble It's a mindset. Of course, sometimes it's annoying to see players drop balls, slip off tackles, make bad passes or kicks, and be dominated in a scrum, but there usually are also pieces of brilliance, great skill and speed, and exciting tries. Enough for me to enjoy watching their games!
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Aust have too many teams. 3 was ideal. But they won't cut back so what can NZ do. We haven't got enough players to help 2 teams reach a good standard
More important for NZ is to even up the NZ pool. MP is crap. The Highlanders have fallen behind. And one team is the overall winner far too much. Sort this out before sending players to Aust
We are giving them money from our broadcasting revenue. Thats enough.
Here's one suggestion to strengthen the Highlander Something needs to be done. A different winner every year (even if mostly NZ teams) and all 6 teams having a chance would be a great start to bringing the fans back. Maybe even in Aust (although unlikely if NZ always win.)
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Not sure if many others are feeling this way but its the first time that i am really struggling to stay engaged with Super Rugby , there have been very few games that have held my attention for the full 80
The quality of the NZ teams looks way down on what we had directly after Covid when there was very little between all 5 NZ sides ,The Highlanders look like a very beatable team for Aussie opposition , and the Blues and the Canes look like also rans , the Crusaders have looked a shadow of themselves with the injuries but i would not write them off with all their returning players , credit to the Chiefs , but i am wondering about the overall quality , compared to what we are seeing out the NH i really do fear for the quality of rugby down this neck of the woods
thank god for club rugby but even that side of the game has some massive problems -
@Steven-Harris no mention of the Brumbies or the Drua?
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@Steven-Harris I agree with alot of what you are saying. Not playing South African teams hasn't helped, the Jagueres had a pretty good side as well. I kind of feel we are helping to develop the Aussie comp too much.
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@SBW1 said in Super Rugby 2023:
@Steven-Harris I agree with alot of what you are saying. Not playing South African teams hasn't helped, the Jagueres had a pretty good side as well. I kind of feel we are helping to develop the Aussie comp too much.
They certainly don't seem to be helping to make us better....
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The NSW Waratahs will miss Lachlan Swinton for the rest of the regular season after the backrower copped a seven-week ban.
Swinton was cited after a dangerous tackle on Jake Strachan inside the first 30 seconds of their 36-16 victory last Saturday.The incident went unpenalised on the day, with the flanker having his case heard by SANZAAR's Judicial Committee.
They ruled the tackle as high-impact, deciding the foul play merited a top-end entry point of 10 weeks, reduced by three weeks due to mitigating factors.
"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including submissions from the Player and his legal representative, Mr Aaron Lloyd, the Judicial Committee upheld the Citing under Law 9.13," Committee Chair Helen Morgan.
"With respect to sanction, the Judicial Committee deemed the act of foul play was reckless, with the contact point directly made with the head, high force and no mitigating factors present.
"The Committee found the incident was highly dangerous and, after considering all relevant factors of World Rugby’s Head Contact Process and sanctioning table, decided the foul play merited a top-end entry point of 10 weeks.
"Taking into account mitigating factors, including the Player's acceptance of guilt that the incident was foul play, conduct at the hearing and remorse, the Judicial Committee reduced the suspension by three weeks.
"The player is therefore suspended for 7 weeks, up to and including 3 June 2023."Lachlan Swinton suspended for rest of Super Rugby Pacific regular season
The NSW Waratahs will miss Lachlan Swinton for the rest of the regular season after the backrower copped a seven-week ban.
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Video of that tackle is embedded on this page:
NSW hardman Swinton wins Wallabies call-up, faces suspension for dangerous tackleAimed high, hit high, no arms and slightly late. There was a lot wrong with that hit, good to see a long suspension
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@Dan54 said in Super Rugby 2023:
Have to admit I haven't seen the tackle, Duluth's link is to a presciption page and I missed it on game on tv. Was it pretty bad? I do agree Swinton seems an idiot, and why Jones has him in Wallabies squad is strange.
I was a straight out league shoulder charge to the head. He could see exactly what he was doing the whole time and has even been given benefit of doubt that he didn't deliberately target the head (referred to as reckless).
Eddie has a propensity to have nigglers in his teams. Has always encouraged one or two players to be feral. -
@Steven-Harris said in Super Rugby 2023:
Not sure if many others are feeling this way but its the first time that i am really struggling to stay engaged with Super Rugby , there have been very few games that have held my attention for the full 80
Yep. Not planning to take a season ticket next year for the first time in 16 years, not bothered watching games most weekend - basically I'm on the verge of finding another hobby. THe product at the moment is really not good, international isn't much better - I think the laws, the refs and the tactics are just all a bit average.
I know a few people who are at varoius stages of turning off as well. What should worry NZR is that most of them have been rugbyheads for bloody ages - but they just can't be bothered any more.
