SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) 2022 - NZ & Drua matches with no match thread

[Dismal Pillock]

No-one's saying it but I have a sneaky feeling that NZR's (now rescinded) vax mandate wrt community rugby didn't apply to the pro game & that a significant number of players aren't vaxxed.

"It's ok, NZ rugby players are professionals, and
if they know it's for their job and livelihood they
will surely get vaccinated....."

 

[Dan54]

No-one's saying it but I have a sneaky feeling that NZR's (now rescinded) vax mandate wrt community rugby didn't apply to the pro game & that a significant number of players aren't vaxxed.

I pretty sure it did apply to Pro game, as noone can fly if they not vaxxed and certainly can't got to games in Aussie either. Still would apply as they flying etc., and that would take a lot out of TT part of comp.

 

[Wilson]

No-one's saying it but I have a sneaky feeling that NZR's (now rescinded) vax mandate wrt community rugby didn't apply to the pro game & that a significant number of players aren't vaxxed.

I guess we'll find out if they "rest" players for the games in Australia - pretty sure they'll need to be vaxxed to get in and even if they get an exemption there are state level mandates that require them to vaccinated to enter the stadium at least in QLD and Victoria, where the super round will be held.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

I pretty sure it did apply to Pro game, as noone can fly if they not vaxxed and certainly can't got to games in Aussie either. Still would apply as they flying etc., and that would take a lot out of TT part of comp.

I've been trying to find that out for a few days now & can't find anything saying that it did. What I did find is that anytime anyone gets asked they fudge the answer, usually citing "privacy".

I guess we'll find out if they "rest" players for the games in Australia - pretty sure they'll need to be vaxxed to get in and even if they get an exemption there are state level mandates that require them to vaccinated to enter the stadium at least in QLD and Victoria, where the super round will be held.

Yep, pretty much my thoughts.

 

[Dan54]

I am pretty sure I read they required all players to be vaxxed to play, the mandate said ALL players over college age that were wanting to play 15s.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

"New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has today issued a directive for all 15-a-side teenage and senior community rugby competitions to require Covid-19 Vaccination Certificates, as part of participation in 2022.13/12/2021"

NZR directive for 15-a-side community rugby under Covid-19 Protection Framework

www.nzrugby.co.nz

Google "nzr vaccine mandate" (you'll need to filter out "nz vaccine mandate") & you'll see what I mean.

 

[Dan54]

Yep mate, this is what I heard/read before xmas. I saw Lendrum talking about it on tv. Believe I heard Rangi MacDonald talking about it too at some stage whether he thought he may have problem with some players of PI orogin, he said no they all knew rules and were happy with it.

"Essentially anyone who is looking to play a full part in the competition is going to need to be vaccinated,'' Lendrum said. "At the moment, we are working with our teams to try and generate that outcome.

"All of our teams and player associations are completely on board with the necessity for players and management to be vaccinated in order to travel and participate.''

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ that's all well & good but at no time has anyone at National or Franchise level come out & said "we're 100% vaccinated" as far as I can tell.

Two* postponed fixtures already (four if you count pre-season) & another on the cards, possibly two or even three depending on how the outbreak in the women's bubble pans out. I'm far from confident that everyone's vaxxed.

*Edit: make that three, Blues v 'canes women cancelled a short time ago.

 

[Dan54]

Yep, well as seen by many, you still going to get it even in mild form even when vaxxed etc. Mate everyone needs my familiy's blood. My grandaughter's best mate(flatmate) got it fully vaxxed etc, her boyfriend got it, grandaughter didn't although she thought she had it. Grandson in NZ army peacekeeping force in Sinai , 32 kiwis there, 27 got covid (all vaxxed) not Grandson. Same applied to son in Aus whole flat(vaxxed) except for him, nephew in Aus his wife,but not him, nephew in Ireland his wife got it(delta) but not him or kids. These is a theme running through the whole story, seems you need the right genes.
As I say vaxxed people still getting it, but generally just like a cold. Hell Fonterra on Hawera working under a vax mandate still got people with ot, as has Silver Fern meat working plant, 17 of them were tested positive on Friday.
And as I said, noone can fly with Air NZ etc witout being double vaxed. And they all flying around country, so I think we can safely assume they are vaxxed. As you say, I have never seen any public announcemant from anyone saying yes everyone is vaxxed, but haven't seen it from any teams anywhere, just saying they need to be, and I think privacy laws come into it, you cannot publicly say people are or are not vaxxed for anything.
Although Clan made announcement , didn't think you were meant to say publicly. https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/highlanders-players-staff-all-double-vaccinated
To add to that apparently to be at events with more than 25 people present you have to be vaxxed, so players or coaches would not be able to train.

Actually just looking uo vax requirements as son (also another Waipehu Old Boy) arrives home on Friday, is fully vaxxed to enter country etc, but doesn't have a vax passport as Aus one is different, so trying to find out if he can go to restaraunt etc!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

George Bridge is playing rather well.

Well enough to make Paul Cully's NZ TOTW, anyways...

Stuff

i.stuff.co.nz

It's not all bad Dismal, zer0 & KiwiM he's also touting Perofeta as the third-best 10/15 option in DMac's absence.

 

[Dan54]

Well enough to make Paul Cully's NZ TOTW, anyways...

Stuff

i.stuff.co.nz

It's not all bad Dismal, zer0 & KiwiM he's also touting Perofeta as the third-best 10/15 option in DMac's absence.

I would go along with Perofata being 3rd 10-15, he was bloody good on weekend, and excellent in NPC last year.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ just gotta hope he doesn't fall victim to the Curse of the Designated Messiah...

 

[Dan54]

^ just gotta hope he doesn't fall victim to the Curse of the Designated Messiah...

He was the designated messiah back in 2016-17. He seems to of matured into a pretty reasonable player. He was 10 for the Blues againt the Lions in 2017, and looked a but young, I was disappointed at game after hearing so much about him, mind you Blues had another players who was meant tp rip the world apart in that game, his name was Akira Ioane, and he's just starting to show ability now? Maybe the Auckland air not good for young players??

 

[KiwiM]

his name was Akira Ioane, and he's just starting to show ability now? Maybe the Auckland air not good for young players??

Akira lives in your head rent free.

As for Perofeta - the thing for me is whether he can carry on his strong tackling from last weekend (always a weak point for him) and also whether he can show strong form later in the year as the weather worsens. His game suits open flowing games in March on hard dry tracks.

 

[Dan54]

I admit Akira is in my head a bit a player with so much ability who every now and then shows us he can do it, still reckon last couple of years he has gone close.
I don't have a problem with that at all, I can say that about a few players who are are in my mind a bit, I like rugby so much that's what I tend to do in my spare time, think about game and players.

Yep Perofata has seemed to of strenghtened his tackling, not sure if it time he spent at 15 ot what, but I thought his all round game has come on in real well in last year or so, he going to make it hard for Zarn to get a hell of a lot of gametime I suspect.

 

[KiwiM]

Forgot about Heem. In theory seems like a solid choice at 12 (veteran, has experience in midfield, has decent size). Goodhue has been rested.

The team is (Blues caps in brackets):

(Blues caps in brackets)

1.Alex Hodgman (44)
2. Kurt Eklund (26)
3. Nepo Laulala (15)
4. Luke Romano (2)
5. Sam Darry (7)
6. Taine Plumtree (1)
7. Dalton Papalii © (46)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (26)
9. Finlay Christie (20)
10. Beauden Barrett (8)
11. Caleb Clarke (29)
12. Bryce Heem (9)
13. Rieko Ioane (76)
14. Mark Telea (27)
15. Stephen Perofeta (33)

Reserves:
16. Soane Vikena (6)
17. Ofa Tuungafasi (109)
18. Marcel Renata (21)
19. James Tucker (0)
20. Adrian Choat (6)
21. Sam Nock (43)
22. Tanielu Tele’a (14)
23. Zarn Sullivan (8)

Not considered with injury: Akira Ioane, Harry Plummer, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Tom Robinson.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Clan: Connor Garden-Bachop, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Scott Gregory, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Mosese Dawai, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (capt); Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Gareth Evans, Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Jermaine Ainsley, Liam Coltman, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Josh Hohneck, Bryn Evans, Hugh Renton, Folau Fakatava, Marty Banks, Ngantungane Punivai.

 

[zer0]

Didn't realise Heem had also played in the midfield. Would've had him on the wing under my Clarke-to-the-midfield plan, but we'll see how he goes here. He definitely seems to have taught the wingers some tricks about claiming kick offs. Glad to see Vikena back. Riccitelli hasn't added anything imo. I had assumed Sherriff Karl was unavailable due to injury?

 

[KiwiM]

Yep Big Karl out until April I believe.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Poor reflection on the young midfielders that old journeyman Heem is bunged in there.

North Harbour Stadium has seen some horror show debacles from the vaunted Blues over the years and this is another that has banana skin written all over it. The Landers are NEVER really beaten and they're backed into a corner now.