Super Rugby News

Stargazer

Stuff the media and its rumours, Jordan Taufua and Michael Alaalatoa have re-signed with the Crusaders!

Taufua has committed to a seventh season with the BNZ Crusaders, having made his debut against the Stormers in Cape Town back in 2013. He earned his 50th Super Rugby cap during the 2016 season, and proved an integral member of last year’s champion team, missing just one game during the successful 2017 campaign.

“The Crusaders have been such a big part of my rugby career and after weighing up my options, it was clear that this is where I want to be. I still feel like I have a lot to contribute and I’m loving playing my rugby alongside some of the world's best players, who are also great mates, and a passionate coaching group, “ Taufua said.

“2017 was a special season but each campaign brings new ideas, new faces and a fresh challenge. So although a seventh season makes me one of the more experienced players in the group, I’m still thriving in this environment, learning more and more about my game and developing as a leader in the team.”

So it looks like Taufua has re-signed for only one season. Alaalatoa has re-signed for two seasons:

Alaalatoa joined the BNZ Crusaders in 2016, after kicking off his Super Rugby career with the Waratahs in his place of birth, Sydney. The 26-year old tighthead prop has 38 Super Rugby caps to date and represents the Manawatu Turbos in the Mitre 10 Cup. He’s started in all four of the BNZ Crusaders matches so far in 2018 and has re-signed through to 2020.

https://crusaders.co.nz/news/1197-taufua-alaalatoa-re-sign-with-bnz-crusaders

KiwiMurph

Versatile outside backs Vince Aso and Wes Goosen are staying with the Hurricanes for two more seasons each.

The pair will play until at least the end of the 2020 season, as part of a star-studded back division.

Stockcar86

@crucial said in Super Rugby News:

@nzzp said in Super Rugby News:

@stargazer said in Super Rugby News:

Bulls prop Conraad van Vuuren has been suspended for 3 weeks. Will post the decision as soon as it's online.

Good. Watched the second half at the weekend, and it was good fun. But holy moly, that hit was late, high and filthy. DMac caught a glancing blow as he fell under it... I don't know where the TMO came up with a Yellow. Modern game that's red all day.

TMO convinced the ref there was no head contact. Ref must be fucked off, getting a black mark for believing his TMO and being made to look a fool by saying, he missed.

From memory that is not what the TMO said. The TMO told to the ref to watch how McKenzie was falling, not where the contact was. The ref watching it again then concluded that contact had not been made.

taniwharugby

Players have moved about long before professionalism, think it is probably noticed more now?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/102386064/money-ball-have-boots-will-travel--super-rugby-has-prompted-player-wanderlust

Bovidae

There were no player academies and university scholarships in the amateur era so players only tended to move away for work and study (think of all the Hawke's Bay players that ended up at Otago in the 1980s and 1990s).

That is why I am always interested in the representation in the NZ Schools teams because a lot have moved to other provinces when their name next appears at U19s etc.

And as mentioned in the comments, Read would be playing for the Chiefs not the Blues. Kaino would too if he wasn't poached (another part of this issue).

mikedogz

@bovidae the 1999 Counties under 16 team was a strong team with John Afoa, Jerome Kaino Joe Rokocoko and Stephen Donald. Donald went to Wesley, the three others went to Auckland.

taniwharugby

Rebels gave the Sharks a dusting 40 something to 20 something

Stargazer

@taniwharugby 46 - 14

It will be interesting to find out whether the Rebels, and Aussie SR teams in general, have really improved since they pulled the Western Force. Only next week will we see the first game between a NZ team (Canes) and an Aussie team (Rebels), and that's in Melbourne. We have to wait until 14 April until an Aussie team plays on NZ soil (Highlanders v Brumbies). The Rebels' first game in NZ will be against the Blues on Saturday, 2 June. I wonder whether they've made the draw like this on purpose?

Tim

Rebels Shipperley calls time on career

PN

FANS: Super rugby is too watered down, please drop two SR teams from the comp South Africa to shore up the quality in the remaining sides.

SARU: Cheetahs, Kings, go earn us money up north.

So what you are seeing is last year's (Dross) quality SR sides from SA in an otherwise more concentrated tournament.

/2c

Unite

@stargazer said in Super Rugby News:

@taniwharugby 46 - 14

It will be interesting to find out whether the Rebels, and Aussie SR teams in general, have really improved since they pulled the Western Force. Only next week will we see the first game between a NZ team (Canes) and an Aussie team (Rebels), and that's in Melbourne. We have to wait until 14 April until an Aussie team plays on NZ soil (Highlanders v Brumbies). The Rebels' first game in NZ will be against the Blues on Saturday, 2 June. I wonder whether they've made the draw like this on purpose?

I think the Rebels will give the Hurricanes a run for their money next week. Phipps via Fox Sports this week was suggesting the draw is better this year with the Aussie teams not playing any NZ teams in the opening few weeks and allowing them to get their structures going before hitting a NZ side.

Bones

@unite said in Super Rugby News:

@stargazer said in Super Rugby News:

@taniwharugby 46 - 14

It will be interesting to find out whether the Rebels, and Aussie SR teams in general, have really improved since they pulled the Western Force. Only next week will we see the first game between a NZ team (Canes) and an Aussie team (Rebels), and that's in Melbourne. We have to wait until 14 April until an Aussie team plays on NZ soil (Highlanders v Brumbies). The Rebels' first game in NZ will be against the Blues on Saturday, 2 June. I wonder whether they've made the draw like this on purpose?

I think the Rebels will give the Hurricanes a run for their money next week. Phipps via Fox Sports this week was suggesting the draw is better this year with the Aussie teams not playing any NZ teams in the opening few weeks and allowing them to get their structures going before hitting a NZ side.

Sound reasoning from Phipps, I'm sure that the NZ sides won't have exactly the same opportunity...

Tim

Season over for the Blues - Scrafton out for the season with an ACL tear, and SBW out for six to eight weeks with a broken wrist.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12019579

Stargazer

@tim

The time-frame for Williams will probably see him enter the All Blacks' three-test June series against France on minimal game-time.

IMO, the ABs should just go with another 12 -13 combo. SBW wasn't great for the ABs last year, and hasn't impressed for the Blues so far this season.

Crotty-ALB
Crotty-Goodhue
If Crotty can't play, Laumape-ALB or Laumape-Goodhue

For the Blues, both injuries are definitely bad news. Time for TJ Faiane to step up, I guess.

KiwiMurph

@stargazer or Rob Thomas time.

Faiane looks nothing special at Super level.

Stargazer

@kiwimurph Do the Blues have more 2nd-fives to take over from SBW? Thomas can only dream of an AB jersey.

Dice

@kiwimurph said in Super Rugby News:

@stargazer or Rob Thomas time.

Faiane looks nothing special at Super level.

I wouldn't give up on Faiane. He keeps getting paired up with Moala who doesn't fit his style of play. Also had to play with a deep standing Gatland against the Chiefs.

Duluth

Leger might get a chance. Not a bad player, but his error rate is bit high

Collins to 12 would be my pick

KiwiMurph

Tana will probably pick Moala at 12...

Dice

@duluth said in Super Rugby News:

Leger might get a chance. Not a bad player, but his error rate is bit high

Collins to 12 would be my pick

It'll be Moala. Tana would've got reeled back in after he made two passes against the Stormers.

The Silver Fern

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