Super Rugby News
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@Crucial said in Super Rugby News:
Quite a number of AB squad hopefuls returning to play in the next few rounds after a nice rest. Cue Stephen Jones writing a conspiracy theory about NZRU pulling strings to make sure our players are extra fresh for the international season.
NMS
Coles
Ngatai
Harris
SopoagaS Whitelock and BFA get a refresher
Dagg has had a decent rest already (when is he back?)
Kaino is off recharging as is Read.
TKB took a little knock to get a break.
Anyone else?
Will be interesting to see if Harris comes straight back into the AB fold.
@Billy-Tell said in Super Rugby News:
@Crucial said in Super Rugby News:
Quite a number of AB squad hopefuls returning to play in the next few rounds after a nice rest. Cue Stephen Jones writing a conspiracy theory about NZRU pulling strings to make sure our players are extra fresh for the international season.
NMS
Coles
Ngatai
Harris
SopoagaS Whitelock and BFA get a refresher
Dagg has had a decent rest already (when is he back?)
Kaino is off recharging as is Read.
TKB took a little knock to get a break.
Anyone else?
Will be interesting to see if Harris comes straight back into the AB fold.
I know they have often been quoted with their policy of not losing selection through injury but surely there is a limit on that and it relates to entrenched squad members. Otherwise it gets a bit rough on someone that has come in as a replacement and proven themselves worthy.
If they want 3 hookers in the squad he comes into contention but otherwise would be looking at a training camp attendee spot at best unless his form is extra compelling.
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So the general consensus is that Hammer is congenitally useless as a head coach and Rennie is "Coaching Jesus" and yet in the 2014 season (Hammer's last), both the Canes and the Chiefs won eight games?
And this happened...
http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/hurricanes-vs-chiefs/62721
Anyway, he's not yet Head Coach at the Highlanders, but unless they're getting Plumtree I honestly can't see any alternative except a rookie. It seems a bit weird, but they had to twist Tony Brown's arm to get him to take the role for a year, Boyd, Razor and Tana have all been promoted from NPC, and the Chiefs are recycling Cooper.
@Crucial - this all points to me thinking that all the big coaching guns offshore think Foster's already got the AB Head Coach gig nailed to his butt (which barring a horrible next 3 years he probably has).
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The best part of that article @Chris-B posted is the reminder of Conrad's broken thumb injury. He too had a 6 week prognosis but was looking to play after 4.
Changing a culture and being a good rugby coach are two different things.
There is no doubt Hammett did a lot of work in turning around a culture but how much he managed to achieve in getting the team humming on game day is what is in question now.
I have never seen any of his teams play a good style. He seems good at aspects of the game but the overall picture doesn't gel. Things like continuing to play Bateman at 12 when it was obvious that some front foot ball was needed to set the backs alight. The robotic phase plays where everyone seemed more interested in playing the training patterns than playing the game.
@Crucial said in Super Rugby News:
Changing a culture and being a good rugby coach are two different things.
There is no doubt Hammett did a lot of work in turning around a culture but how much he managed to achieve in getting the team humming on game day is what is in question now.
I will agree somewhat with that.
Assuming he gets the Highlanders, he's going to be getting a team that's humming along quite nicely and that already knows him.
If they turn to shit, the bone will probably be pointing at Hammer (and Mauger).
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So the general consensus is that Hammer is congenitally useless as a head coach and Rennie is "Coaching Jesus" and yet in the 2014 season (Hammer's last), both the Canes and the Chiefs won eight games?
And this happened...
http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/hurricanes-vs-chiefs/62721
Anyway, he's not yet Head Coach at the Highlanders, but unless they're getting Plumtree I honestly can't see any alternative except a rookie. It seems a bit weird, but they had to twist Tony Brown's arm to get him to take the role for a year, Boyd, Razor and Tana have all been promoted from NPC, and the Chiefs are recycling Cooper.
@Crucial - this all points to me thinking that all the big coaching guns offshore think Foster's already got the AB Head Coach gig nailed to his butt (which barring a horrible next 3 years he probably has).
@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
So the general consensus is that Hammer is congenitally useless as a head coach and Rennie is "Coaching Jesus" and yet in the 2014 season (Hammer's last), both the Canes and the Chiefs won eight games?
And this happened...
http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/hurricanes-vs-chiefs/62721
Anyway, he's not yet Head Coach at the Highlanders, but unless they're getting Plumtree I honestly can't see any alternative except a rookie. It seems a bit weird, but they had to twist Tony Brown's arm to get him to take the role for a year, Boyd, Razor and Tana have all been promoted from NPC, and the Chiefs are recycling Cooper.
@Crucial - this all points to me thinking that all the big coaching guns offshore think Foster's already got the AB Head Coach gig nailed to his butt (which barring a horrible next 3 years he probably has).
Again, if he was such a great coach, why wasn't there a single Cantab here advocating for him as Crusaders coach? After 4 years of brilliant service for the Canes, Cardiff and Sunwolves, he should have been an absolute lock. Hypocrite.
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@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
So the general consensus is that Hammer is congenitally useless as a head coach and Rennie is "Coaching Jesus" and yet in the 2014 season (Hammer's last), both the Canes and the Chiefs won eight games?
And this happened...
http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/hurricanes-vs-chiefs/62721
Anyway, he's not yet Head Coach at the Highlanders, but unless they're getting Plumtree I honestly can't see any alternative except a rookie. It seems a bit weird, but they had to twist Tony Brown's arm to get him to take the role for a year, Boyd, Razor and Tana have all been promoted from NPC, and the Chiefs are recycling Cooper.
@Crucial - this all points to me thinking that all the big coaching guns offshore think Foster's already got the AB Head Coach gig nailed to his butt (which barring a horrible next 3 years he probably has).
Again, if he was such a great coach, why wasn't there a single Cantab here advocating for him as Crusaders coach? After 4 years of brilliant service for the Canes, Cardiff and Sunwolves, he should have been an absolute lock. Hypocrite.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel He wasn't available at the time? I welcomed him to the Mako$ with open arms - when y'all told me I'd regret it.
I didn't!
@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
@Rancid-Schnitzel He wasn't available at the time? I welcomed him to the Mako$ with open arms - when y'all told me I'd regret it.
I didn't!
Horse manure. He was available and you know it.
He was head coach of Ta$man was he? That's right he wasn't.
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Was he? As far as I recall, those in the hat were Razor, Matson and Hewett. I wasn't keen on Razor and wanted Hewett. Probably wrong about that!
I wouldn't have been unhappy with Hammer and I guarantee you won't find a post from me saying I didn't want him. That would have been madness!
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Was he? As far as I recall, those in the hat were Razor, Matson and Hewett. I wasn't keen on Razor and wanted Hewett. Probably wrong about that!
I wouldn't have been unhappy with Hammer and I guarantee you won't find a post from me saying I didn't want him. That would have been madness!
@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
Was he? As far as I recall, those in the hat were Razor, Matson and Hewett. I wasn't keen on Razor and wanted Hewett. Probably wrong about that!
I wouldn't have been unhappy with Hammer and I guarantee you won't find a post from me saying I didn't want him. That would have been madness!
Madness would have been if you wanted him as coach. Which you never did, despite defending his awesome legacy. Hypocrite.
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@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
Was he? As far as I recall, those in the hat were Razor, Matson and Hewett. I wasn't keen on Razor and wanted Hewett. Probably wrong about that!
I wouldn't have been unhappy with Hammer and I guarantee you won't find a post from me saying I didn't want him. That would have been madness!
Madness would have been if you wanted him as coach. Which you never did, despite defending his awesome legacy. Hypocrite.
@Rancid-Schnitzel My first choice would have been Keane, but he'd been snaffled by the Chiefs.
At the time, I would rather Hammett than Robertson. I wouldn't now.
Given the choices that currently appear available to the Highlanders - if they were available to the Crusaders - clearly Hammett.
Actually, zero hypocrisy.
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Chris B seems to be singlehandedly kicking off the Hammettuer thread again.
"So the general consensus is that Hammer is congenitally useless as a head coach and Rennie is "Coaching Jesus" and yet in the 2014 season (Hammer's last), both the Canes and the Chiefs won eight games?"
Hahahahaha - thats some funny reaching you're doing there. So now, Hammettuer and Rennie are the same because they had a similar number of wins one year? Rennie's team won 2 championships and were regular finalists, Hammettuer's team won squat and barely made the finals.
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I don't doubt for a second that @Chris-B would have welcomed her son at the Crusaders.
In seriousness though, I do think Hammett did some good stuff at the Canes, and Conrad's comments are a testament to that, but at the end of the day he was way out of his depth and ended up drowning. Is that his fault? I'd lay the blame at the feet of the Hurricanes board for that - hiring someone for a Super gig with 0 head coaching experience wasn't "risky" or "brave", it was downright stupid.
If I was a Highlanders fan I'd be pretty concerned about him taking the reigns given his lack of success in the role up to now. Time will tell, and as they say, you only learn from your failures so he's had ample opportunity to "learn".
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I don't doubt for a second that @Chris-B would have welcomed her son at the Crusaders.
In seriousness though, I do think Hammett did some good stuff at the Canes, and Conrad's comments are a testament to that, but at the end of the day he was way out of his depth and ended up drowning. Is that his fault? I'd lay the blame at the feet of the Hurricanes board for that - hiring someone for a Super gig with 0 head coaching experience wasn't "risky" or "brave", it was downright stupid.
If I was a Highlanders fan I'd be pretty concerned about him taking the reigns given his lack of success in the role up to now. Time will tell, and as they say, you only learn from your failures so he's had ample opportunity to "learn".
@No-Quarter said in Super Rugby News:
I don't doubt for a second that @Chris-B would have welcomed her son at the Crusaders.
In seriousness though, I do think Hammett did some good stuff at the Canes, and Conrad's comments are a testament to that, but at the end of the day he was way out of his depth and ended up drowning. Is that his fault? I'd lay the blame at the feet of the Hurricanes board for that - hiring someone for a Super gig with 0 head coaching experience wasn't "risky" or "brave", it was downright stupid.
If I was a Highlanders fan I'd be pretty concerned about him taking the reigns given his lack of success in the role up to now. Time will tell, and as they say, you only learn from your failures so he's had ample opportunity to "learn".
I think his track record speaks for itself. I will take Snake's comments to mean that he is a good assistant coach but his record would indicate that is where it ends. No shame in that, the shame as you say is on all of those boards/ management groups that keep giving him HC gigs
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I don't doubt for a second that @Chris-B would have welcomed her son at the Crusaders.
In seriousness though, I do think Hammett did some good stuff at the Canes, and Conrad's comments are a testament to that, but at the end of the day he was way out of his depth and ended up drowning. Is that his fault? I'd lay the blame at the feet of the Hurricanes board for that - hiring someone for a Super gig with 0 head coaching experience wasn't "risky" or "brave", it was downright stupid.
If I was a Highlanders fan I'd be pretty concerned about him taking the reigns given his lack of success in the role up to now. Time will tell, and as they say, you only learn from your failures so he's had ample opportunity to "learn".
@No-Quarter said in Super Rugby News:
I don't doubt for a second that @Chris-B would have welcomed her son at the Crusaders.
In seriousness though, I do think Hammett did some good stuff at the Canes, and Conrad's comments are a testament to that, but at the end of the day he was way out of his depth and ended up drowning. Is that his fault? I'd lay the blame at the feet of the Hurricanes board for that - hiring someone for a Super gig with 0 head coaching experience wasn't "risky" or "brave", it was downright stupid.
IIRC Hammett was "given" the Canes head coaching job by NZR to keep him from going to Aust as NSW had shown interest.
In hindsight we could have had an undercover agent in Sydney a few years earlier.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel My first choice would have been Keane, but he'd been snaffled by the Chiefs.
At the time, I would rather Hammett than Robertson. I wouldn't now.
Given the choices that currently appear available to the Highlanders - if they were available to the Crusaders - clearly Hammett.
Actually, zero hypocrisy.
@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
@Rancid-Schnitzel My first choice would have been Keane, but he'd been snaffled by the Chiefs.
At the time, I would rather Hammett than Robertson. I wouldn't now.
Given the choices that currently appear available to the Highlanders - if they were available to the Crusaders - clearly Hammett.
Actually, zero hypocrisy.
These hypotheticals are wonderful fun now that Razor has the job and is doing well. But the fact of the matter is there was zero support for the super coach when the job was actually available. The fact Cantabs didn't even want him speaks volumes.
But you're safe to express your support for him now that there's no chance of him getting the gig.
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Chris B seems to be singlehandedly kicking off the Hammettuer thread again.
"So the general consensus is that Hammer is congenitally useless as a head coach and Rennie is "Coaching Jesus" and yet in the 2014 season (Hammer's last), both the Canes and the Chiefs won eight games?"
Hahahahaha - thats some funny reaching you're doing there. So now, Hammettuer and Rennie are the same because they had a similar number of wins one year? Rennie's team won 2 championships and were regular finalists, Hammettuer's team won squat and barely made the finals.
@Nepia said in Super Rugby News:
Chris B seems to be singlehandedly kicking off the Hammettuer thread again.
Hahahahaha - thats some funny reaching you're doing there. So now, Hammettuer and Rennie are the same because they had a similar number of wins one year? Rennie's team won 2 championships and were regular finalists, Hammettuer's team won squat and barely made the finals.
RS is helping me.
No - they're not the same. But, they largely were in 2014.
Which given the popular narrative, which is as I described (Jesus vs Useless) that should never be able to happen.
Nor should the Conrad article, which - if you read it - Conrad is clearly backing Hammer over Nonu. Which is extremely interesting given that Hammer was now gone and Conrad was going to be playing with Ma'a - possibly at the Canes, almost certainly with the ABs.
Nor should Hammer keep getting jobs if the popular narrative is correct. But, he does.
All of which suggests to me that the popular narrative is...well...not quite right.
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On the Hammett appointment, no room for someone to improve their trade?
I remember when Nonu was dire, he seemed to improve a fair bit.
Similarly Wayne Smith was fucking ordinary early on.
I'm giving ol hammer the benefit of the doubt and will rehash this thread come finals 2018 ( gulp)
Anyway he'll never be as bad as NZ's worst pro coach ever - John Kirwan will wear that albatross for eternity
@Siam said in Super Rugby News:
On the Hammett appointment, no room for someone to improve their trade?
I remember when Nonu was dire, he seemed to improve a fair bit.
Similarly Wayne Smith was fucking ordinary early on.
I'm giving ol hammer the benefit of the doubt and will rehash this thread come finals 2018 ( gulp)
Anyway he'll never be as bad as NZ's worst pro coach ever - John Kirwan will wear that albatross for eternity
Fuck off, he's not even the worst Blues coach. Remember Jed Rowlands?
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@Nepia said in Super Rugby News:
Chris B seems to be singlehandedly kicking off the Hammettuer thread again.
Hahahahaha - thats some funny reaching you're doing there. So now, Hammettuer and Rennie are the same because they had a similar number of wins one year? Rennie's team won 2 championships and were regular finalists, Hammettuer's team won squat and barely made the finals.
RS is helping me.
No - they're not the same. But, they largely were in 2014.
Which given the popular narrative, which is as I described (Jesus vs Useless) that should never be able to happen.
Nor should the Conrad article, which - if you read it - Conrad is clearly backing Hammer over Nonu. Which is extremely interesting given that Hammer was now gone and Conrad was going to be playing with Ma'a - possibly at the Canes, almost certainly with the ABs.
Nor should Hammer keep getting jobs if the popular narrative is correct. But, he does.
All of which suggests to me that the popular narrative is...well...not quite right.
@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
@Nepia said in Super Rugby News:
Chris B seems to be singlehandedly kicking off the Hammettuer thread again.
Hahahahaha - thats some funny reaching you're doing there. So now, Hammettuer and Rennie are the same because they had a similar number of wins one year? Rennie's team won 2 championships and were regular finalists, Hammettuer's team won squat and barely made the finals.
RS is helping me.
No - they're not the same. But, they largely were in 2014.
Which given the popular narrative, which is as I described (Jesus vs Useless) that should never be able to happen.
Nor should the Conrad article, which - if you read it - Conrad is clearly backing Hammer over Nonu. Which is extremely interesting given that Hammer was now gone and Conrad was going to be playing with Ma'a - possibly at the Canes, almost certainly with the ABs.
Nor should Hammer keep getting jobs if the popular narrative is correct. But, he does.
All of which suggests to me that the popular narrative is...well...not quite right.
It's clear now that he's just trolling.
I'll stop feeding.
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@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
@Nepia said in Super Rugby News:
Chris B seems to be singlehandedly kicking off the Hammettuer thread again.
Hahahahaha - thats some funny reaching you're doing there. So now, Hammettuer and Rennie are the same because they had a similar number of wins one year? Rennie's team won 2 championships and were regular finalists, Hammettuer's team won squat and barely made the finals.
RS is helping me.
No - they're not the same. But, they largely were in 2014.
Which given the popular narrative, which is as I described (Jesus vs Useless) that should never be able to happen.
Nor should the Conrad article, which - if you read it - Conrad is clearly backing Hammer over Nonu. Which is extremely interesting given that Hammer was now gone and Conrad was going to be playing with Ma'a - possibly at the Canes, almost certainly with the ABs.
Nor should Hammer keep getting jobs if the popular narrative is correct. But, he does.
All of which suggests to me that the popular narrative is...well...not quite right.
It's clear now that he's just trolling.
I'll stop feeding.
Only partially, but it is a rich vein!
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@Nepia said in Super Rugby News:
Chris B seems to be singlehandedly kicking off the Hammettuer thread again.
Hahahahaha - thats some funny reaching you're doing there. So now, Hammettuer and Rennie are the same because they had a similar number of wins one year? Rennie's team won 2 championships and were regular finalists, Hammettuer's team won squat and barely made the finals.
RS is helping me.
No - they're not the same. But, they largely were in 2014.
Which given the popular narrative, which is as I described (Jesus vs Useless) that should never be able to happen.
Nor should the Conrad article, which - if you read it - Conrad is clearly backing Hammer over Nonu. Which is extremely interesting given that Hammer was now gone and Conrad was going to be playing with Ma'a - possibly at the Canes, almost certainly with the ABs.
Nor should Hammer keep getting jobs if the popular narrative is correct. But, he does.
All of which suggests to me that the popular narrative is...well...not quite right.
@Chris-B. said in Super Rugby News:
@Nepia said in Super Rugby News:
Chris B seems to be singlehandedly kicking off the Hammettuer thread again.
Hahahahaha - thats some funny reaching you're doing there. So now, Hammettuer and Rennie are the same because they had a similar number of wins one year? Rennie's team won 2 championships and were regular finalists, Hammettuer's team won squat and barely made the finals.
> RS is helping me.
No - they're not the same. But, they largely were in 2014.
Which given the popular narrative, which is as I described (Jesus vs Useless) that should never be able to happen.
Nor should the Conrad article, which - if you read it - Conrad is clearly backing Hammer over Nonu. Which is extremely interesting given that Hammer was now gone and Conrad was going to be playing with Ma'a - possibly at the Canes, almost certainly with the ABs.
Nor should Hammer keep getting jobs if the popular narrative is correct. But, he does.
All of which suggests to me that the popular narrative is...well...not quite right.
I'm giving it a nudge as well.
Conrad backed a guy who couldn't get his team to the final (popular and actual narrative), who was overseeing a team when their support fell off a cliff (actual and popular narrative), and who was made captain by that guy. As much as I love Smith - yeah, nah.
Anyway, I need to go back to feeling depressed about HB rugby where two guys with a heap of mana have decided they no longer want to be involved in the organisation.
