Super Rugby News
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@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News: Injuries:
Ben Lam signs with the Hurricanes and Wellington Lions for 2 years
http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/the-canes/news/single/item/sevens-star-ben-lam-signs-two-year-deal-with-the-hurricanes/
http://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/news/ben-lam-signs-two-year-deal-with-lions-and-hurricanes/A good signing for them. It's a bit of a risk because he's been injured for a full year but I think he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
He's been a slow developer but he was looking very good in the 2015 NPC. He might do a pretty good Hosea Gear impersonation for the Hurricanes
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Article about Reds 2017 made me think a bit
Queensland Reds emerge as genuine title contenders after securing another key signing
Why Reds are genuine Super contenders
Here's a potential starting XV for next year:
1 Slipper
2 Moore
3 Fa'agase
4 Douglas
5 Simmons
6 Higginbotham
7 G Smith
8 Leroy Houston
9 Frisby
10 Kwade
11 Maranta (ex-Bronco)
12 Kerevi
13 Magnay
14 C Kuridrani
15 Hunt16 Ready
17 Tongan Thor
18 Talakai
19 Neville
20 Hendrik Tui
21 Tuttle
22 Paia'aua
23 PereseThat actually isn't bad. Backs a little short on experience but some key old heads to keep them in line.
Forward pack looks pretty good. They'd love to still have Holmes though.
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@NTA yep good side alright. The entitlement of the average Reds fan just went through the roof. They'll be whinging every ref decision all year now.
Come test season, if every one of those players isn't in the Wallabies, there'll be cries of "NSW bias!"
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New Blues signings:
Stephen Perofeta (first-five, 2016 NZU20 & Taranaki)
Michael Collins (utility back, 2013 NZU20, Otago)Both players seem to have been signed for one year only.
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TNW is expected to re-sign with the Chiefs
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David Havili has re-signed with the Crusaders through to 2019 (3 years)
http://crusaders.co.nz/news/1024-havili-re-signs-with-bnz-crusaders-through-to-2019
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Highlanders sign Manawatu halfback Kayne Hammington for 2017
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Tahs squad shaping up a little like this so far:
Prop - Robertson, Ryan, Ta'avao, Sandell, Kepu, Needs (EPS)
Hooker - Latu, Roach, Fitzpatrick
Lock - Skelton, Toleafoa, Mumm, Hanigan, Power
Backrow - Dempsey, Holloway, Hooper, Wilkin, Wells
Halfback - Gordon, Lucas, Phipps
Flyhalf - Foley, Hegarty
Centres - Horwitz, Horne, Stewart, Simone
Wing/Fullback - Folau, Jones, Kellaway, Robinson, Clarkin terms of first XV and then reserves:
1 Ryan
2 Latu
3 Kepu
4 Mumm
5 Skelton
6 Dempsey
7 Hooper (c)
8 Holloway
9 Phipps
10 Foley
11 Cam Clark (from Aussie 7s squad)
12 Horne
13 Folau
14 Robinson
15 Kelllaway16 Fitzpatrick - ex-Tah, back from France. Played a great NRC and might knock little Roach out of the spot
17 Ta'avo depending on his broken leg
18 Robertson
19 Leon Power (back from France) / Toleafoa (NRC)
20 Michael Wells - 7s experience and handy stats at 190cm and a tick over 100kg
21 Jake Gordon - most outstanding scrumhalf of the NRC
22 Bryce Hegarty - back after injury cut his 2016 short
23 Taqele Naiyaravoro - the fat fuck can at least come on to finish a game or two -
Liaki Moli playing for the Sunwolves again in 2017
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@Tim ,I suspect there has'nt been to much leaked in and around Super Rugby Squads,because most of the spots in the NZ teams are already filled,apart from a few articles over the last month,pointing out certain players that have either recommitted or in the case some of the teams like the Blues who have signed Stephen Perofeta and Micheal Collins in recent times,i would imagine most teams have there rosters filled up around 98%,from what i understand,there is pool of players that go into a draft over the next couple of days before the teams are named this Wednesday,so i would imagine there will be some players in the Blues region that i support that i will be hoping they pull a contract.
Got my fingers crossed for guys like,Chris Vui and Micheal Collins from Harbour and Matt Matich from Northland,just on pure form alone,these guys have been outstanding,and i will be staggered if the dont recieve contracts.
Breakdown released a list of players who had'nt recieved contracts as of Wednesday gone
Hoani Matenga
Jack Ram
Matt McGahan
Lolagi Visinia
Tevita Kolomatangi
Tim Boys
Ross Geldenhuys
Micheal Little
Siefred Fisi'hoi
Tony Lambourn
Greg Pleasants Tate
Teihorangi WaldrenFrom that list, Micheal Little and Greg Pleasants Tate would be really unlucky in my opinion
I have no issues with the blues not contracting Lolagi Visinia,when he was at Kelston Boys High,he was supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread,so everybody who was involved with Auckland rugby was telling me,but to be brutal,he has never forfilled his potential,lacks vision.and the ability to do the right thing at the right time,always goes into contact,as opposed to looking to link with his outsides.
A prime example was Aucklands recent game against Taranaki,fielded a ball just outside his own 22,and then kicked the ball directly into touch with the oncoming Taranaki players still a good 30 metres away,it gifted taranaki field position at such key stage of the game,if your not making good decisions at Mitre 10 Cup level,it is"nt gonna get any better at super level.My only real bug bear,when it comes to super rugby selection,from what i undersatnd,Dalton Papalii an openside flanker for the NZ under 20 team will be selected for the Blues,similar to the Bodie Barret situation in the All Blacks,apprentice type role.i can under stand why franchises do this,to keep their young talent in the franchise,but what happens to the no7 that slugs his guts out for one of the 3 unions that make up the franchise,Matt Matich,whilst he played most of his rugby at no 8 for Northland,an excellnt no7,as is North Harbour no7 Connor Collet who has been oustanding all season.
Be intersted to get some thoughts from you all out there.? -
Cheers man. Would definitely be gutted if Chris Vui missed out. Also agreed on Micheal Little and Greg Pleasants Tate. I didn't see much of Northland this year, but heard good things about Matich. Visinia's decision making has always been suspect. Pity, as he seems to have all the individual skills.
Have Cardiff Vaega and Sam Vaka picked up contracts? I assume that Matt Vaega will be involved with the Blues?
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@Tim ,i would say Vaka and Vaega will all be in the draft,Vaka may have a chance because of his assocition with Tana,i cant believe the Blues did not sign Ben Lam,i realise he was injured for a good part of the 2016 season,but he is quality..!
i will be very curious to see if Counties Manukau Prop Kalolo Tuiloma gets a contract,the man is a beast..!,
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I'd of liked to have kept Visinia, but mostly to play as a winger who can cover fullback after a couple of injuries. He's a stud on the wing and rarely has a bad game there. You take the key decision making role of fullback off him and place him on the wing, he just becomes a different player and his best traits really come through. He finished the season well with the Blues out on the wing and was on fire for Auckland in the NPC out there as well.
If we could snap him up with a WTG contract, that'd be nice, but I'm thinking someone bites with a full contract. I wouldn't be surprised if the Crusaders got him, because they're a good fit for him and they're in need of a decent winger or two.
