Super Rugby 2026
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@mariner4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
All these should make the game even better to watch
but are we setting our test players up to fail later in the year? Most of the world have zero interest in these type of changes, and we'll head back to the trench (and aerial) warfare of test rugby with a bunch of lean fit fast players ill equipped for it
Could be argued the 50-22 law will assist with test rugby encouraging more tactical kicking
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@KiwiMurph said in Super Rugby 2026:
@mariner4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
All these should make the game even better to watch
but are we setting our test players up to fail later in the year? Most of the world have zero interest in these type of changes, and we'll head back to the trench (and aerial) warfare of test rugby with a bunch of lean fit fast players ill equipped for it
Could be argued the 50-22 law will assist with test rugby encouraging more tactical kicking
on the surface yeah it could do but unless something changes with how we view the game i cant see the AB's ever picking an old school 10, you know, main attribute is a safe pair of hands and a canon happy to sit in the pocket and plug the corners (50:22)
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@mariner4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
All these should make the game even better to watch
but are we setting our test players up to fail later in the year? Most of the world have zero interest in these type of changes, and we'll head back to the trench (and aerial) warfare of test rugby with a bunch of lean fit fast players ill equipped for it
I was listening to the Aus Ashes commentary, and they had short convo about rugby.
I only got the end of it, but I heard Darren Lehmann say "they have to get rid of the kick over the top, and get more ball in play time."
Darren Lehmann!
He's from SA, what does he f'n know about rugby!
Not lean fit and fast; couldn't even beat Richardson FSF!
But it is very clear what the Aussies think, European rugby is in a cul-de-sac, admittedly, a very big cul-de-sac. -
@mohikamo said in Super Rugby 2026:
@mariner4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
All these should make the game even better to watch
but are we setting our test players up to fail later in the year? Most of the world have zero interest in these type of changes, and we'll head back to the trench (and aerial) warfare of test rugby with a bunch of lean fit fast players ill equipped for it
I was listening to the Aus Ashes commentary, and they had short convo about rugby.
I only got the end of it, but I heard Darren Lehmann say "they have to get rid of the kick over the top, and get more ball in play time."
Darren Lehmann!
He's from SA, what does he f'n know about rugby!
Not lean fit and fast; couldn't even beat Richardson FSF!
But it is very clear what the Aussies think, European rugby is in a cul-de-sac, admittedly, a very big cul-de-sac.
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
Players like Roigard and McDermott are going to have a field day with those free kick alterations. Shame Pledger is injured because he would be another one to benefit from these rules.
I'm sure Fakatava won't hate it.
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A byproduct of the 50/22 rule could also be more 5m lineout tries. Spot space, lo g pass to your best line kicker. Out 5m from the line... here comes a rolling maul George Bell crashes over. Fans groan
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@SouthernMann there's one fan here who will have a different groan.
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@Bones said in Super Rugby 2026:
@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2026:
Players like Roigard and McDermott are going to have a field day with those free kick alterations. Shame Pledger is injured because he would be another one to benefit from these rules.
I'm sure Fakatava won't hate it.
Yep, big year for him.
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@Bovidae said in Super Rugby 2026:
I see that the pre-Season game between the Brumbies and Waratahs is live on SS1 (Ch.51) in NZ today at 3:30 pm.
It doesn't appear that any of the NZ-based games on Fri/Sat are to be shown live.
Highlanders v MP on YouTube
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Link to watch the Canes v Chiefs game can be found via Huddy Sports at
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Yeah, his rational was that the crowds were great in the south of France.
But thats just the south of f'n France!
Sure there are some rugby aficionados in part of a has-been European country
What about the crowds in the rest of Europe.
There are no crowds in the rest of fucking Europe!
And i'll tell you why, because it is a shit entertainment product.
Annual attendance in Europe at soccer matches is about 250 mil.
Annual attendance at rugby matches in Europe wouldn't even break 10 mil.
Those are the numbers the myopic fuck should be lookin at! -
An interesting article about the dreaded bronco, with comments from Nic Gill.
These are the approximate times SR coaches want:
Props - 5:10
Hookers - 4:50
Locks - 5:00
Loose forwards - 4:45
Halfbacks/1st 5s - 4:30
Midfielders - 4:40
Outside backs - 4:30The 2026 bronco winners were:
Blues - Cole Forbes (4:22)
Chiefs - Haki (Jack) Wiseman (4:18)
Hurricanes - Jai Tamati (4:20)
Crusaders - Kyle Preston (4:25) - he did 4:13 last year
Highlanders - Andrew Knewstubb (4:20)The fastest time for a NZ player is 4:12 (Beauden Barrett, 2020; Cam Roigard, 2024). Gill has special mention for Jordie Barrett (4:31) and Fabian Holland (4:47) because their greater body weight is a disadvantage.
