Super Rugby 2024

[Canes4life]

@frugby the Canes, Chiefs and Crusaders will be the strongest Kiwi teams next year IMO.

The Canes are building nicely and will retain most of their group from this year. Their main issue in the off season is to find one or two locks with grunt to compliment the X factor everywhere else.

The Chiefs will be one of the favourites again with a pretty settled squad and a burning desire to go one better.

And the Crusaders, well 7 titles in a row says it all.

I think the Blues will drop in the pecking order. They will have their moments but I think this year’s performance will damage that sides mentality for a while.

The Highlanders, well they’ll probably have a worse squad than this year and like Joe Wheeler said, they might end up fighting for the spoon in 2024 unfortunately.

[Winger]

@frugby

crusaders will still have lots of ABs. That should see them in the running even if RP is a poor head coach.

Canes for example will have only 1 current AB forward. Crusaders will have 3 and likely 2-3 more but for injuries . Backs. Canes 2. Crusaders 4

If they can't compete for the title RP should get the boot.

One rule change would be to increase the NZ SRP teams salary cap . But make each team pick up say half the AB salary ( up to a set figure). This would make it hard for teams to attract all the best players. And win year after year and as a result make it easier to attract the best young players

[Canes4life]

I don’t know what other teams will look like next year but the best Hurricanes 23 (without the announcement of any new signings) will probably look something like this, definitely a contender IMO. A lot of this team are All Black XV players atm but will be looking to push for AB spots next year.

1. Numia
2. Aumua
3. Lomax
4. Sangster
5. Walker-Leawere
6. Delany
7. Kirifi
8. Flanders
9. Roigard
10. Cameron
11. Naholo
12. Barrett
13. Proctor
14. Moorby
15. Love
    Reserves:
16. Devery
17. Rakete-Stones
18. Mafileo
19. Howden
20. Lakai
21. Perenara (if he stays)
22. Godfrey
23. Sullivan

[Winger]

@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2024:

think the Blues will drop in the pecking order. They will have their moments but I think this year’s performance will damage that sides mentality for a while.

The Highlanders, well they’ll probably

Could also apply to the chiefs. The better team but they threw the final away at home due to silly penalties and yellow cards. Reflect poorly on CM and getting his players in the right mental state

Whereas the Blues will have a new coach. Like the Canes it will depend on how the new coaching team perform

[Canes4life]

My stab at the Saders for next year.. definitely a contender for an 8th title.

1. Williams
2. Taylor
3. Newell
4. Barrett
5. Strange
6. Blackadder
7. Christie
8. Grace
9. Drummond
10. Burke
11. Springer
12. Havili
13. Ennor
14. Reece
15. Jordan
16. Bell
17. Moody/Brewis
18. Jager
19. Gallagher
20. Lio-Willie
21. Hotham
22. Kemara
23. McLeod

[Canes4life]

Chiefs for next year looks to be strong aswell.

1. Ross
2. Taukei’aho
3. Dyer
4. Lord
5. Vaa’i
6. Finau
7. Cane
8. Jacobsen
9. Ratima
10. McKenzie
11. Nanai-Seturo
12. Tupaea
13. Leinert-Brown
14. Narawa
15. Stevenson
16. Thompson
17. Norris
18. Ta’avao
19. Ah Koui
20. Boshier
21. Roe
22. Ioane
23. Poihipi

[SBW1]

@Canes4life Levi Aumua probably being looked at as LF's replacement. Wonder if Will Heinz has another season, he has been a useful pickup, controlled the game really well towards the end.

[Winger]

@Canes4life I like this side more than your earlier side. I would though have another talk lock at 19 if they have one. even Bird if he sticks around and has the right attitude. Make our lineouts a strength

Definitely Delany at 6. Gives three lineout options. And Flanders looks more suited to 8 for me

Matifilo at TH. Unsure how good he is at TH. But we have three good LH so worth a go

But a VG side. better coaches than Holland and Gibbes should compete for the title with this side. Shame we can't get Ellison back as our defense was a bit poor against the better sides. But Laidlaw must find a much better defense coach along with a VG forward coach

[Canes4life]

@Winger just look at Razor’s ability to change the Crusaders when he came in. A new coach can work wonders, hopefully Laidlaw can work his magic at the Canes and get the best out of this maturing group. With his sevens background I hope he embraces our attacking flair.

[Chris]

@Canes4life

Pretty close Mate add Levi Amua and George Bower in the mix as well.

[Chris]

This post is deleted!

[Torian]

@Canes4life would be disappointing to see the Landers trending towards the wooden spoon.. a good young core with 2021 NZ 20s Sean Withy, Fabian Holland, Luca inch, Nathan Hastie, Jacob kneepkens? last yrs NZ 20s Cam Millar, Hayden Michaels, Jake Te Hiwi & Oliver Haig + the key cogs De Groot, Ainsley, Harmon, Nareki & Fakatava makes me keen to see how badly these young guys want it? they surely can't do worse than Journeymen mitch hunt, makalio & Fetuli paea

[frugby]

@FakatavaABXV said in Super Rugby 2024:

@Canes4life would be disappointing to see the Landers trending towards the wooden spoon.. a good young core with 2021 NZ 20s Sean Withy, Fabian Holland, Luca inch, Nathan Hastie, Jacob kneepkens? last yrs NZ 20s Cam Millar, Hayden Michaels, Jake Te Hiwi & Oliver Haig + the key cogs De Groot, Ainsley, Harmon, Nareki & Fakatava makes me keen to see how badly these young guys want it? they surely can't do worse than Journeymen mitch hunt, makalio & Fetuli paea

I continue to say this. The Highlanders can't really get worse. Like realistically, the only major loss is Smith, and he only played 7 games this year anyway... and it isn't like Fakatava is a mug. Frizell was rubbish this year, so hardly a loss, and MMT was a bench player. Dickson again, barely played so can't really get worse.

[frugby]

Because people seemed to be interested in it last time, here is an updated version of the 2024 squads breakdown. There are quite a few notable changes with new rumours/clues suggesting player movement.

CHANGES:
PROPS:
Tevita Mafileo to the Highlanders - Personally can't see it happening, but on the Canes thread it was claimed he was heading South. Blues rumour is probably more likely.
George Bower Staying at the Crusaders - Reliable source Chris, so you'd think this to be true. Sykes-Martin now listed in new notable line
Pouri Rakete-Stones Staying at the Hurricanes - This was Reported in the Canes Thread
Ayden Johnstone & Solomone Tukuafu to the Chiefs - Neither of these are rumoured, though would make fair sense.
James Lay to Stay with Blues - Wasn't listed as leaving in the video so presumably staying.

HOOKERS:
Kurt Eklund to Stay with Blues - Wasn't listed as leaving in the video so presumably staying. Moananu not listed in Notables, though could be targeted by the Landers/Moana Pasifika.

LOCKS:
Max Hicks Shifted Out of Lock to the Blindside - Seems to be where the Highlanders are looking to play him
Mitch Dunshea to Stay with Crusaders - Had him to the Canes as a pure guess, but the thought is he is staying
Dom Bird to Stay with the Canes - Seems likely that he would actually stay, as he has already been overseas + has younger kids.
Fiti Sa Shifted to Lock - Had him as an eight, but certainly more a lock. Chiefs are now all full up there, but have a gap in the loose.
James Tucker added to Notables - Presumably going offshore, but there is a school of thought that he might want to link up with his brother at the Highlanders, and to add to that, the Landers supposedly only looking for one lock. Keep an eye on that one

Halfbacks:
Louie Chapman to the Crusaders - I think Chris is suggesting they're looking for a halfback. Chapman as a local guy would seemingly make heaps of sense.
Cam Roigard to the Chiefs - The big bombshell as claimed by George (so I think?), Roigard to leave the Canes. If this is true, the Chiefs is surely the destination with the gap left by Weber. Crusaders an option, but seemingly far-fetched.
TJ Perenara to stay with the Canes - Canes fans seem to think he will stay (?) Might want another stab with the Canes for 24' with the carrot of the captaincy in Ardie's absence.
Willi Heinz to Notables - If Perenara leaves, Heinz might be an attractive option for the Canes, or as a third option for the Blues... though Nock wasn't listed as leaving was he by the Blues, so perhaps he should be their third halfback.

First Fives:
Lucas Cashmore to the Blues - Informed he is in their system. Seems a fairly likely deal to occur.
Rivez Reihana to the Notables - Won't be at the Blues if Cashmore is there. Career at a crossroads, seems bizarre he hasn't had more opportunities.
Few extra details here, Lima Sopoaga is 'on the market' though the inclination seems to be he is heading to Tokyo. If not, massively short odds to join either the Canes or Highlanders. Fair chance the Landers & Saders will definitely recruit from offshore, which puts Reihana in a difficult spot.

MIDFIELDERS:
Peter Umaga-Jensen to the Highlanders - Had him to the Blues as that was the earlier rumour, but Chris claimed Highlanders... would certainly make sense and has been rumoured for about the last three years.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen to Stay with the Highlanders - Rumour was he was/is leaving, but if PUJ is coming, would be bizarre if TUJ was leaving, because that is presumably the big lure for PUJ. Some fishy Instagram activity also suggested they are linking up.
Sam Gilbert to the Midfield - Could certainly, and may primarily be used at fullback if injuries stay away, but have him listed here on the basis of another rumour.
Corey Evans to Stay with the Blues - Looks like the Landers are full up + was corrected that he was staying, seemingly confirmed by the video
Tanielu Tele'a to Stay with the Blues - Another not said to be leaving in the Blues departure video, so likely to stay.

OUTSIDE BACKS:
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens to the Highlanders - The other big rumour of the week, the suggestion that JRK to the Highlanders is a done deal. He is confirmed to be leaving, so it is whether he goes Saders or Landers, but the latter seems the more likely
Liam Coombes-Fabling to the Highlanders - There was a suggestion in the Landers thread of this one. Would seem a little odd, though, Roger Clark's comments suggested everything outside of a singular 10 was done in the backline, which strengthens this rumour.
Shaun Stevenson to Stay with the Chiefs - I'm really unsure on this, because I still think he may depart. No suggestions either way, suspect this could be the next big news item either way.
Jock McKenzie to the Blues - Has been with them in the past and is a sharp youngster. Might be more of a 10 option, but certainly a tidy fullback option. The last spot in the outsides will go to a power winger... Heremaia Murray on a one year deal?

Think that wraps it up, again, if any of this is wrong please let me know so I can update it for the next update.

[Stargazer]

@frugby Stacey Ili hasn't re-signed with the Rebels, yet. Not sure which NZ franchise is still looking for a good midfielder, but he might be an option. Had a great season.

[frugby]

@Stargazer said in Super Rugby 2024:

@frugby Stacey Ili hasn't re-signed with the Rebels, yet. Not sure which NZ franchise is still looking for a good midfielder, but he might be an option. Had a great season.

I'll add him to the notables list... though off the top of my head, MP would the most likely destination as an Aumua replacement.

[Winger]

@frugby So Roigard is it seems staying with the Canes. Although George backs his sources still. This will be a test to see who has the best sources.

[SouthernMann]

@Winger surely we want all levels of rough rumours to be dropped. So good when rumours of All Blacks moving around.

[mikedogz]

One might have Watties sauce and the other no frills

[Canes4life]

@frugby I would take out Morrison as a potential lock for the Hurricanes and swap him for Hugo Plummer. After debuting this year for the Canes and after putting on the kgs, I think Plummer is primed to pick up a contract next year, especially if Blackwell moves on.