NZ Super 15 Teams 2013

[Blue]

ACR I presumed that was the reason but at a base level it's blocking NZ from developing players that will represent their own nation, so from that perspective it's odd.

Maybe it's just me but New Zealand is doing juuuusstt fine when it comes to talent development. A little bit too fine. The vast majority of PI heritage players are Kiwi residents and have been either since childhood or birth. It's too engrained in their social fabric, culture and ethnic makeup to try and draw lines,

Or should we discussing all the players being held back in NSW by Kepu and Palu, or by Tomane and Speight in Canberra etc?

it is a non-issue that's been beaten stone dead.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Had a heart attack and died in the stands as he was watching his son play in the JWC final.

If it was time to go i could cop that but it could be tough on the kid

 

[en_force_er]

Maybe it's just me but New Zealand is doing juuuusstt fine when it comes to talent development. A little bit too fine. The vast majority of PI heritage players are Kiwi residents and have been either since childhood or birth. It's too engrained in their social fabric, culture and ethnic makeup to try and draw lines,

Or should we discussing all the players being held back in NSW by Kepu and Palu, or by Tomane and Speight in Canberra etc?

it is a non-issue that's been beaten stone dead.

You're completely off base. You've taken a single comment that featured in a series of comments and you've completely missed the context and turned it into an argument about recruiting other nations players.

For the record Palu was born and schooled in Sydney, at no point was I ever claiming ethnicity = nationality.

 

[Antony]

Had a heart attack and died in the stands as he was watching his son play in the JWC final.

Further, he scored two tries that game and made his all black debut later that year. The greatest high of his life was concurrent with the deepest low, that's too much for a young bloke to take. There's a lot of tolerance for him and his brother (who has the same issue) in the NZ rugby community, and I hope the powers that be don't walk away from them.

 

[Tangawizi]

Further, he scored two tries that game and made his all black debut later that year. The greatest high of his life was concurrent with the deepest low, that's too much for a young bloke to take. There's a lot of tolerance for him and his brother (who has the same issue) in the NZ rugby community, and I hope the powers that be don't walk away from them.

They did make it pretty clear last time around that the tolerance had worn out though. He can't continue to be a total idiot time he has a few drinks.

 

[Dan54]

Yep Tang, I think he's probably blown it, and can't see him getting anymore chances. I feel for the young fella ,like everyone, I remember reading how at end of WC final he had run over to where his parents were seated to celebrate with his Mum and Dad only to find them trying to restart Dad's his heart, so I had always been a real supporter of him, but at some stage it can no longer be used as an excuse/reason to go off rails. I think perhaps it best he is cut loose to either sort himself out,or let it ruin the rest of his life. NZRU cannot hold his hand forever.

 

[Ruggo]

If his career is down the shitter I can only wish the young bloke all the best in pulling his life together. That thing about his dad is just a horrible thing to happen and I feel sorry for anybody who has had to bare witness to something like that.

 

[ACT Crusader]

I'd like to know who all these non-NZ eligible players playing Super rugby for NZ franchises are? There aren't alot of them. Also was there really that much noise made about Haskell? It seemed a non-issue in most rugby circles given the injuries.

For alot of "PI players" they live in hope of making the ABs and when they don't make it and get selected for Samoa, Tonga etc they often leave NZ to play overseas. I think the tradeoff for "blocking developing of others" and the actual amount of players in NZ in these circumstances is very minimal

 

[SuperGrover]

Now for some more positive news out of NZ.

Piri Weepu has returned from the off-season over 10kg lighter than in 2012.

His franchise revealed Weepu's hugely improved skin fold measurements and in training footage, Weepu cut a lean figure as he got stuck into some conditioning games in the sweltering heat.

"I thought I should keep up with things this year and try and make sure I start a lot better than how I was shape-wise last year," he told the Blues website.

"I've been trying to run the roads and run up some mountains and do anything I can that's cardio along with a little bit of weights in between spending some quality time with my family."

http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8422038,00.html

It is usually Weepu's weight and/or attitude that are questioned. If these are both right it should be a good season from him, if Kirwan has had a hand in this turn-around it may be a good season for the Blues.

 

[SuperGrover]

Hurricanes v Crusaders trial match is this weekend.

Hurricanes
1. Reg Goodes
2. Ash Dixon
3. Ben May
4. Blade Thomson
5. Jason Eaton
6. Callum Gibbins
7. Karl Lowe
8. Mike Coman
9. Chris Smylie
10. James Marshall
11. Matt Proctor
12. Rey LeeLo
13. Tim Bateman
14. Richard Buckman
15. Andre Taylor

16. Dane Coles
17. Jeremy Thrush
18. Eric Sione
19. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
20. James Broadhurst
21. Mark Reddish
22. Faifili Levave
23. TJ Perenara
24. Papa Wharewera
25. Ope Peleseuma
26. Ambrose Curtis
27. Parataiso Silafai-Lea'ana.

Crusaders
1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Owen Franks
4. Dominic Bird
5. Joel Everson
6. George Whitelock (c)
7. Shane Christie
8. Jordan Taufua
9. Jeremy Su'a
10. Tyler Blyendaal
11. Shayne Anderson
12. Robbie Fruen
13. Kieran Fonotia
14. James Schrader
15. Tom Marshall

16. Paea Fa'anunu
17. Adrian Barone
18. Mitch Graham
19. Ben Funnell
20. Jimmy Tupou
21. Matt Simons
22. Luke Whitelock
23. Matt Todd
24. Andy Ellis
25. Tyrone Elkington
26. Kolio Hifo
27. Stephen Burt

 

[en_force_er]

Dominic Bird will be something by the end of the season methinks.

 

[Tangawizi]

Cory Jane has done his ACL. Drop him from your Fantasy teams.

http://m.foxsports.com.au/story/1226567054782

 

[Dan54]

Just read that Tang, he will be missed by All Blacks as well as the Canes this year.

 

[kenzo]

too bad they dont have jason woodward to fill in

 

[SuperGrover]

Last week the Crusaders trialled Robbie Fruen at 12.

It now seems they're going to give Israel Dagg a run at 13.

Dagg takes centre stage

The game sees the inclusion of some of the more experienced players into the squad including Wyatt Crockett, Luke Romano and Israel Dagg.

However, the most significant selection is that of Dagg in the centres, alongside captain Crotty.

http://www.rugby365.com/article/51916-dagg-takes-centre-stage

 

[Antony]

I was just coming here to post that - beat me to it.

I think that's a really interesting idea. His footwork suggests he'd be an excellent 13, and his defence seems like it would hold up - but it would be a pretty significant waste of his kicking game.

I also have an instinctive panic-reaction to fullbacks playing outside-centre. Really can't think of why...

 

[Dan54]

I also have a instinctive panic-reaction to fullbacks playing outside-centre. Really can't think of why.

Hasn't always worked well for us has it Antony.
Though I always thought I would of loved to have seen Dagg play 10,
.

 

[ACR]

Good god. Shivers. A 15 should at all times stay away from anything to do with the number 13. A 15 should not even support a 13 at the ruck, lest through the vagaries of such ruck, somehow the imprinted 13 gets transferred and embossed on said fullbacks jersey. It's not worth the risk.

Here's hoping this is just to give Tom Marshall a decent run around at the back and is not 'experimental'. Pre-season and all..

 

[RoffsChoice]

I also have an instinctive panic-reaction to fullbacks playing outside-centre. Really can't think of why.

Hell, non outside-centre at outside-centre is bad. They need a finely crafted combination of footwork, speed and strength. A more specialised role than the inside-centre.

 

[Dan54]

Mind you, centres seem to go to full back, most people forget Christian Cullen was a centre before he was a fullback.