Super Rugby 2024
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I think the Chiefs will be favourites, the Canes and Crusaders will be on level-pegging (due to key losses) and I think the Blues may drop a little compared to this year's squad.
I have the Canes up there because of the upward trend of guys like Mafileo, Numia, Flanders and Iose who in my view will offset Ardie's sabbatical. When you include guys that didn't feature this year i.e. Love, Perenara and for the most part Sullivan, we should be well placed to make the Semis at the very least. We should hopefully also shed guys like J Savea and Blackwell which will only increase performance. I expect us to challenge for the title next year, whereas I felt our squad was slightly too young this year.
Based on recent signings I think the Highlanders will improve on this year but they will ultimately be the fifth best NZ team.
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@Canes4life Think Savea and Coles are big losses though. Aumua hasn't been there, and Ardie is a difference maker in those tight games, which you guys need in the absence of big locks. Granted you have good props, and good loosies (all the Kiwi teams seem to have those) and some very good backs, but as I say, if you lose Roigard, I feel as though it might be a bit meh. Laidlaw is also a massively unknown quantity.
I think chances are all the NZ will be beating each other next year, which is ideal for the competition.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders 2024:
Haha, not after shafting world-class Cotter for relative journeyman Rob Penney they won't.
The reporting on the coaching changes has been unreliable. However there was a report a couple of weeks ago the that Cotter removed himself from consideration for the Crusaders job
It seems to make sense. First, it's hard to argue for Penney over Cotter. Plus Cotter had a more lucrative offer from the Blues, and even more lucrative offers from French clubs
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@frugby Aumua is there. He only had one game where his throwing was poor. But with short players to throw to. And I think after returning from injury. The next week he was fine. If fit he will be our starter and fine. Backups are a concern though
Roigard we need. The drop when he was replaced (with Booth) was massive. Hopefully Roigard starting with TJ to overcome the big drop issue. And a better third HB than Booth.
The are a number of question marks with the Canes but I have hope now. They may disappear when the team and assistants are announced. Or when the year kicks off
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@frugby yeah I think the signing of Roigard will almost decide whether the Canes are a contender or pretender next year. He’s become so influential to this side that the drop off when he leaves the field is highly noticeable.
That’s why when there was speculation the other day that he has almost certainly signed with another franchise, I felt a bit deflated. Hopefully he sticks around because with the right signings the Canes can definitely go up a notch or two and beat anyone on their day.
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@Canes4life i'd missed that rumor going around, who was said to have nabbed him?
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@Kiwiwomble @george33 has good word that he’s off to another franchise (speculation is the Chiefs), but then @BerhamporeNinja is certain that he’s staying at the Canes so watch this space.
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Kiwiwomble @george33 has good word that he’s off to another franchise (speculation is the Chiefs), but then @BerhamporeNinja is certain that he’s staying at the Canes so watch this space.
I thought there was also speculation for the Crusaders as well? It's hard to keep up with the Fern rumour mill these days.
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@Nepia said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Kiwiwomble @george33 has good word that he’s off to another franchise (speculation is the Chiefs), but then @BerhamporeNinja is certain that he’s staying at the Canes so watch this space.
I thought there was also speculation for the Crusaders as well? It's hard to keep up with the Fern rumour mill these days.
There was from I think a crusaders poster. But not based on anything other than the Crusaders could attract a player like Roigard.. and they need a proven top HB
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@frugby said in Super Rugby 2024:
think you underestimate just how good a coach Razor is. Look at Canterbury. Did 3 in 4, then they've only won one since. The guys is just amazing at squeezing the very best out of average players. Rob Penney might not be a bad coach, but he also isn't as good either. I'd go as far to say, the Crusaders wouldn't have won Super Rugby this year with any other guy in charge.
I am well aware of what Razor has done on and off the field for the club and it has been absolutely amazing.
But I am also very aware of what Tamiti Ellison and Dan Perrin have and are doing and people like Angus Gardiner and Andrew Webb who have been a Hugh part of the Crusaders success over the last 7 years.
I have confidence in the people who are left behind at the Crusaders to do their very best to keep what Razor built with the help of those people.
I don't think we will win another 7 in the next seven years but we will win some and be around about the other years. -
Gibbs we know,Always a possibility a new Coach would like more of his choices in there,I haven't heard anymore are leaving.
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@Nepia said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Kiwiwomble @george33 has good word that he’s off to another franchise (speculation is the Chiefs), but then @BerhamporeNinja is certain that he’s staying at the Canes so watch this space.
I thought there was also speculation for the Crusaders as well? It's hard to keep up with the Fern rumour mill these days.
The Pak 'n Save is running out of crystal balls and tea leaves as we speak.
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@Chris I feel like there is still a bit of a boys club instilled at the Canes. Guys like Cory Jane shouldn't have been given a role the year after finishing up as a player, but he was. This had a snowball effect because it meant that guys like JSavea was never going to fall out of favour because he had a good mate in the coaching box and no matter how inconsistent his performances were, he was never going to be dropped.
The Canes really need a complete clean out of their back room to complement the incoming Laidlaw.
Recent years have shown that the best players haven't always been selected for the Canes. Instead, Holland has selected his favourites even when they continued to underperform in the big games.
Hopefully Laidlaw brings a shift in mindset because the Canes need the best players on the park to compete.
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@Duluth said in Super Rugby 2024:
The reporting on the coaching changes has been unreliable. However there was a report a couple of weeks ago the that Cotter removed himself from consideration for the Crusaders job
It seems to make sense. First, it's hard to argue for Penney over Cotter. Plus Cotter had a more lucrative offer from the Blues, and even more lucrative offers from French clubs
It a fair point isn't it, South Island franchises Highlanders and Crusaders simply can't compete with those cashed up Blues and their third-party deals, there's a reason Leon only coached Ta$man - then abruptly left his Crusaders assistant post after just 1 season for the Blue$ top job citing 'family reasons' lol... Super Rugby isn't exactly a level playing field these days is it?
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@kiwi_expat said in Super Rugby 2024:
It a fair point isn't it, South Island franchises Highlanders and Crusaders simply can't compete with those cashed up Blues and their third-party deals, there's a reason Leon only coached Ta$man - then abruptly left his Crusaders assistant post after just 1 season for the Blue$ top job citing 'family reasons' lol... Super Rugby isn't exactly a level playing field these days is it?
Crusaders salary bill would be the largest (b/c they have the most ABs) and it's paid for by NZR. Compare their total salary to the Highlanders, that would be the largest discrepancy (most ABs to fewest)
A top up to a coach, or a player, is fiddling at the edges of the real problems
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@kiwi_expat dont bundle up the "evil" crusaders with the poor humble Highlanders!
in all seriousness...you do know they just won...of course they compete with the other franchises, they just got their academy and development (helped with cashed up Ta$man luring people down for NPC too) earlier than others...that breeds success...and success attracts talent...its now self fulfilling to a degree
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@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
@kiwi_expat dont bundle up the "evil" crusaders with the poor humble Highlanders!
in all seriousness...you do know they just won...of course they compete with the other franchises, they just got their academy and development (helped with cashed up Ta$man luring people down for NPC too) earlier than others...that breeds success...and success attracts talent...its now self fulfilling to a degree
Is Ta$man still a thing for the Saders? There are quite a number of Ta$man players with other franchises too. It should go without saying that I am too lazy to check the numbers myself.
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@Crazy-Horse dont know, possibly less so but it use to be and that helped build the current run of success
