Super Rugby News

[Chris B.]

@bovidae Tima Faingaanuku is the only Mako I thought had a decent shot at a contract and hasn't got one.

Salmon got cleaned out of the Blues and I'd guess Alex Ainley has entered a well-earned retirement.

[taniwharugby]

@bovidae

Prop - Wright
Hooker - Olsen
8/6 - Matich
9 KItto

[Bovidae]

@taniwharugby Finally a prop. I thought the Crusaders and Chiefs had picked them all.

Wellington must have a loosie or two - Ben-Nicholas?

[African Monkey]

The mighty Sam Prattley???

[Tim]

@bovidae said in Super Rugby News:

Fill in the gaps...

1. Prattley/Wright
2. Abel
4. Tucker
5. Lemalu
6. Olmstead
7. Choat
8. Teariki Ben Nicholas
9. Stratton (the Blues should have looked at him)
11. Reece (personal issues aside)
12. Groundwater
13. Blake Hohaia
14. Ravouvou

[Stargazer]

Several players from the Under 20 development programme went on to play in this year’s Under 20 World Championship – Hoskins Sotutu, Caleb Clarke, Harry Plummer, Tanielu Tele’a, Laghlan McWhannell, Bailyn Sullivan, Leicester Faingaanuku, Ngane Punivai and Billy Proctor.

.

There are seven sets of siblings – the Barretts, Beauden and Jordie (Hurricanes), and Scott (Crusaders); Rieko and Akira Ioane (Blues), Anton (Chiefs) and Daniel (Highlanders) Lienert-Brown; Damian and Marty McKenzie (Chiefs), Sam (Crusaders) and Luke (Highlanders) Whitelock, and twins Jack (Crusaders) and Josh (Blues) Goodhue were listed in the super siblings club in 2018 and this year they are joined by Matt and Billy Proctor (Chiefs).

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Players returning from offshore next year are Ma’a Nonu (Blues), James Marshall (Hurricanes), Marty Banks (Highlanders), and Whetu Douglas (Crusaders).

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At 36, two-time World Cup winning All Black Nonu, is the oldest of the 190 contracted, while halfback and rookie Highlander Folau Fakatava is the most junior at age 18 (19 in December).

Pedigree is strong across the squads:
•    Hoskins Sotutu (son of Blues and Auckland speedster Waisake)
•    Caleb Clarke (son of former All Black Eroni)
•    Akira and Rieko (Manu Samoa Dad Eddie & Black Fern mum Sandra)
•    Scott, Beauden and Jordie (sons of iconic Taranaki rugby figure, Smiley) Barrett
•    Jackson Garden Bachop (son of All Black Stephen and Black Fern, the late Sue Garden Bachop)
•    Ethan Blackadder (son of former Crusaders player, Coach and All Blacks captain Todd Blackadder)
•    Bryn Gatland (son of Waikato stalwart, and Wales & British & Irish Lions Coach Warren Gatland)
•    Jack Whetton (son of All Black Gary Whetton)
•    Thomas and Peter Umaga Jensen (their uncle Tana coaches the Blues)
•    Pari Pari Parkinson (his uncle Matua Parkinson was a Maori All Black)

http://www.superrugby.co.nz/News/33366/introducing-investec-super-rugby-s-class-of-2019

[taniwharugby]

any team held open a spot to fulfill Haynes dream?

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Haha, maybe the Sunwolves.

[African Monkey]

This post is deleted!

[Original Rugby]

[Tim]

Has the NZRU posted the big media guide pdf yet?

[Tim]

@tim Official squad guides available here:

http://www.allblacks.com/News/33366/introducing-investec-super-rugby-s-class-of-2019

[Tim]

TAB odds:

1 Crusaders 3.25
2 Hurricanes 4.50
3 Lions 7.00
4 Chiefs 7.00
5 Highlanders 8.00
6 Waratahs 12.00
7 Blues 21.00
8 Sharks 26.00
9 Jaguares 26.00
10 Stormers 26.00
11 Rebels 26.00
12 Brumbies 26.00
13 Bulls 41.00
14 Reds 61.00
15 Sunwolves 501.00

[Bones]

@tim would be interesting to know how the bulls are looking for next year...

[Tim]

@bones Think they might be worth a lazy $20 for making the playoffs?

[Tim]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/super-rugby-squads-winners-and-losers-from-a-bonanza-supersigningday

[ARHS]

@tim

This would be my best of the rest team:

C Tiatia, S Reece, J Nareki, Q Tupaea, O Leger, KTrask, J Booth, T Ben-Nicholas, J Parete, M Jacobsen, J Tucker, M Selby-Rickit, R Wright, J Thwaites, J O'Reilly

Res: M Lansdown, S Gregory, J Stratton, M Taramai, H Matenga, M Tamoaieta, S Prattley, G Pleasants-Tate.

I exclude recent arrivals from overseas, and include a few backs that should make sevens squad. I struggle with the Chiefs choosing 3 overseas players when talented locals miss out, and am glad to see the Blues have not followed suit.

[Nepia]

@arhs said in Super Rugby News:

@tim

This would be my best of the rest team:

C Tiatia, S Reece, J Nareki, Q Tupaea, O Leger, KTrask, J Booth, T Ben-Nicholas, J Parete, M Jacobsen, J Tucker, M Selby-Rickit, R Wright, J Thwaites, J O'Reilly

Res: M Lansdown, S Gregory, J Stratton, M Taramai, H Matenga, M Tamoaieta, S Prattley, G Pleasants-Tate.

I exclude recent arrivals from overseas, and include a few backs that should make sevens squad. I struggle with the Chiefs choosing 3 overseas players when talented locals miss out, and am glad to see the Blues have not followed suit.

Surely there is a better halfback that missed out? He's in my top 5 worst halfback performances on McLean Park, and I saw Chris Eaton play more than 5 matches there.

[ARHS]

@nepia

Xavier Roe could easily be there on his form for Under 20s I guess

[Stargazer]

@arhs Of that list of players, there are a few who will be in the sevens picture though. Reece, Nareki, Gregory, possibly Tupaea, Trask and Lansdown, too.