New Zealand Rugby Team Watch

[waiopehu oldboy]

Luke Whitelock sticking around for at least one more year:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...luke-whitelock-recommits-to-new-zealand-rugby

Interesting that NZR are allowing Taufua & Elliott Dixon to skip M10 Cup & make some quick'n'easy cash in Japan, hopefully this is a one-off with Top League finishing early due to RWC. Players still need some downtime between seasons.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

SBW gone "for several weeks" after re-injuring a knee at AB camp:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/a...of-all-blacks-threetest-series-against-france

12. Crotty 13. Goodhue or AL-B, please.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Dom Bird joining Racing 92:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/104401910/chiefs-lock-dominic-bird-joins-racing-92

Another guy who coulda, woulda & shoulda had more AB caps (only two) but for a series of injuries from about the time he turned 25.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Luke Romano, Tom Franklin & Matt Todd called up as injury cover for Brodie Retallick (pec), Sam Whitelock (concussion) & Sam Cane (ab strain). Presumably Ben Smith will be named captain if Cane and/ or Whitelock are scratched.

Meanwhile Liam Squire's striking charge has been dismissed.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...gainst-france-after-striking-charge-dismissed

Cue "it's 'cos he's an AB" conspiracy posts

 

[cyclopath]

Luke Romano, Tom Franklin & Matt Todd called up as injury cover for Brodie Retallick (pec), Sam Whitelock (concussion) & Sam Cane (ab strain). Presumably Ben Smith will be named captain if Cane and/ or Whitelock are scratched.

Meanwhile Liam Squire's striking charge has been dismissed.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...gainst-france-after-striking-charge-dismissed

Cue "it's 'cos he's an AB" conspiracy posts

Good ole Nige Hampton at it again. The go to guy.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Was expecting someone else to be leading that particular charge but I obviously didn't factor in the time difference between Straya & Planet Shiggins

 

[cyclopath]

Was expecting someone else to be leading that particular charge but I obviously didn't factor in the time difference between Straya & Planet Shiggins

You did say "cue". Only polite to respond.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Retallick won't play T1 v France.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...no-tom-franklin-and-matt-todd-as-injury-cover

Starting to look a lot like 2009 revisited: captain & a heap of senior players injured, not too much known about some of the French players........ AB's dropped T1 22-27 at Carisbrook that year.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

French media reporting that Toulon have signed JSav for two years:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/i...ng-to-toulon-according-to-french-media-report

They may have the timing wrong as I've heard that he's signed for Wellington for coming M10 Cup season.

 

[Dan54]

French media reporting that Toulon have signed JSav for two years:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/i...ng-to-toulon-according-to-french-media-report

They may have the timing wrong as I've heard that he's signed for Wellington for coming M10 Cup season.

I thought he was signed until after WC next year anyway. Mind you don't really blame him for going, he almost struggling to hold starting spot in Canes.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^ nothing a lazy ~$200K ($50K Lions, $150+K 'canes) won't make go away

 

[Brumby Runner]

NZ rugby being magnanimous again WOB? But I do thank you/them for releasing Pete Samu to the Wallabies.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

KRead got through 40 minutes for Counties Manukau (his new Province) v Tasman yesterday & declared himself ready to come off the bench for CruSadists next week:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...ad-plays-first-game-for-counties-manukau-2018

Great news & hopefully his workload between now & November will be managed to make sure he's good to go for RWC 2019 'cos we sure as hell missed him v France.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Israel Dagg to play a season in Japan before returning to NZ for a final CruSadists season:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12088558

Means he won't be available for RC or EOYT but probably wouldn't have been in the frame anyway as he's only had ~150 minutes of Super Rugby so far this year (plus however many he gets tonight v a Bloos). Doubtful he'll make it to RWC but at least he's giving it a go, eh (I'd have thought getting his knee sorted & having a good off-season of rehab would be a better strategy but what do I know ).

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

JBar & ASav have both re-signed but only for one year:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...die-savea-recommit-to-hurricanes-and-nz-rugby

Used to be that only guys 28+ would go year-to-year, not sure I like where 21- & 24yo's doing it could take us.

 

[zer0]

Post 2019 negotiations should be hardball, particularly for J.Barrett. Otherwise outside back #3381 can f*ck off and be replaced by outside back #3382. A third string flanker facing likely stiff post-RWC competition from guys like Gibson and Hunt is more understandable.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

We're finally about to find out what happens when you cross a GOAT rugby player with an "All Time NZ" hockey player:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/105825961/richie-and-gemma-mccaw-set-to-become-parents

 

[Dismal Pillock]

oh baby, the womans weekly fapfest is about to go into royal baby warpspeed-tug overdrive​

​

• "Richie's Baby Lets Loose MASSIVE Shart; Thankfully, Nappy Catches Deluge."​
• "Richie Denies Selling His Sperm To Chinese Triad Rugby Expansion Syndicate."​
• "Richie Announces Baby's First AND Middle Name Are Both "Meads"; Meads Meads Mccaw."​
• "Richie's Missus DOESN'T Deny NOT Selling Hubby's Sperm To Chinese Triad Rugby Expansion Syndicate."​
• "Chinese Triad Rugby Expansion Syndicate Win Soiled Nappy Auction On Ebay."​

 

[Dan54]

We're finally about to find out what happens when you cross a GOAT rugby player with an "All Time NZ" hockey player:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/105825961/richie-and-gemma-mccaw-set-to-become-parents

Just saying to wife earlier WOB, NZ has got their royal baby coming soon so......

Anyway I think if someone could get a quiet night arranged between GOAT and Valerie Adams we got the chance of seeing a top quality player too so............

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

AB holding another two-day camp in Christchurch & while there's obviously not Crusaders involved it does maybe hint at how the selectors are thinking:

Forwards
Hookers: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman and Nathan Harris.
Props: Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Karl Tu'inukuafe and Ofa Tuungafasi.
Locks: Brodie Retallick and Patrick Tuipulotu.
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Shannon Frizell, Jackson Hemopo, Akira Ioane, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire and Luke Whitelock.

Backs
Halfbacks: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.
Midfielders: Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown and Sonny Bill Williams.
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Waisake Naholo and Ben Smith.

Final squad for Bledisloes gets named Monday.