Super Rugby 2023
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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.
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@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2023:
@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.
Yep. I am another one who is no longer motivated to travel to super matches. They just don't seem to care about the diehard fans any more. Just trying gimmicks to attract new fans.
Hell they don't even bother to promote when a mens curtainraiser will be played. -
Well I opposite to you old sour pusses. I quite happily travel to a couple of super games a year, will keep doing it, I a member of Taranaki supporters etc, and usually try and do a test!
I do understand like any sports some get a little tired of it after a few years, look at almost any sports, generally why the all looking to bring in new spectators. -
@Dan54 Respect your comment but if the diehards fall away then your game has got a massive problem
You cant paper over what we are watching , most games are a very tough watch and we are up to Round 9 , none of the upcoming weekend games hold any interest for me whatsover , it all looks a bit tame -
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@Steven-Harris said in Super Rugby 2023:
@Dan54 Respect your comment but if the diehards fall away then your game has got a massive problem
You cant paper over what we are watching , most games are a very tough watch and we are up to Round 9 , none of the upcoming weekend games hold any interest for me whatsover , it all looks a bit tameTrue. I don't really see much hope for improvement in the future either.
People I know who were once big-time rugby followers have totally lost interest now. One is not even interested in the scores of the big (Blues vs Crusaders for eg) matches. Result of poor management in both countries. Lost interest with one team always winning, top players being removed. Aust teams being so poor etc.
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@Dan54 said in Super Rugby 2023:
Well I opposite to you old sour pusses. I quite happily travel to a couple of super games a year, will keep doing it, I a member of Taranaki supporters etc, and usually try and do a test!
I do understand like any sports some get a little tired of it after a few years, look at almost any sports, generally why the all looking to bring in new spectators.Nothing changed for me either. Still enjoy watching rugby as before, from 1st XV level to test rugby, with NPC being the pinnacle.
I also still remember how positive everyone was after the first few weeks of SRP, this year. How everyone enjoyed how the ball was in play more, less time wasting etc. That has been quickly forgotten. Why?
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Super Rugby Pacific has just been locked in until 2030 so can't say anything changing anytime soon.
Drua have been a good addition but Highlanders have to improve and so do Reds and Tahs.
They could also help by improving the scheduling. More day games, ditching the Super Round, byes more spread out, cut finals teams to 6 max and marquee matches more spread out.
We're halfway through the comp and Brumbies have only played one traditional NZ team (on a neutral site, and won).
There are 3 really interesting games next weekend (Blues in Fiji, Chiefs-Crusaders and Canes-Brumbies), would be nice if one of them was this weekend for example.
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@KiwiMurph Brumbies lost to the Crusaders away. Sent a B team but I believe it still technically counts.
Doubt you'll see the Tahs improving any time soon as all the hallowed GPS schools are turning to AFL (who would've thought elitism would come back to hurt the sport?) plus the club scene is a mess. Most rugby talent is produced in Queensland these days and the Reds are an absolute basket case and have been for the entirety of SR except for a few standout seasons. Plus Dolphins are encroaching in on some of the traditional rugby nurseries up north. So don't look for any improvements there.
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@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2023:
@Dan54 you're hearing from long term rugby people who do season passes falling away. Great that you still love it, but it's a stretch to call others sour
Understand that mate, and sourpuss remark was real tongue in cheek, I know people are dropping off and have always done so, it's not actually new. I have brothers who went to rep games, tests etc all the time during 70s and 80s, but kind of generally drifted away from game somewhat as it got more and more of it on tv. They made no bones, they still watch a bit, but they had done 50 years of following it pretty hard and just drifted off. They still watch a bit on tv etc, just not like they did way back. I have mates who did same with cricket, jsu drifted off game as life changed etc, mates in Aus had done same with NRL etc. Most sports are caught in the professional trap, they need a shit load on tv to pay bills, and so some get over it.
As I said I still go tp heaps, and find probably the most enjoyable stuff is where you go to local stuff and stand on sidelines, enjoy the game with other likeminded people. Also think to many get caught up on results and forget to enjoy game.
But that's just me and the likes of Stargazer probably,
