Super Rugby News - New Zealand Conference

[Dan54]

^^^^ with a family that big where you having the party? Would have to be the Events Centre (size of a hockey field IIRC)
Actually WOB, party is in Cambridge, but brother in law passed away last year, they had to have his funeral in events centre in Levin, though not just families fault, just he a well known man!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Conrad & Ma'a bringing up their half-century of matches together for 'canes on Saturday:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...d-smith-all-about-communication-says-maa-nonu

Quite the achievement given Nonu's wanderings in recent years.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Reggie Goodes takes the early guilty plea & cops a week for his indiscretion:

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_49908,00.html

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Blues hit by more injuries:
Luatua - shoulder - Gone for the rest of 2015
Tuipulotu - Hip injury- Gone for the rest of 2015

Not considered for this weekend:
Woodcock - Shoulder injury
Pita Ahki (hamstring)
Dan Bowden (groin)
Bryn Hall (foot)
Kaino - nerve damage in shoulder

Good News:
Piutau (knee) may be available before the end of the season.
Northcott (hamstring), Bekhuis (concussion) and Triggs (calf) should be available to play the Hurricanes.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11451132

 

[Dismal Pillock]

while the weekends footy is sstill fresjh in peoples minds; pretty mad summarising article here. Editor watched all 4 matches back to back

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/super-rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=331&objectid=11450365

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NZRU playing hardball with Charles Piutau re. his involvement with the Blues in 2016 (he won't have any):

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-next-year-to-avoid-dangerous-precedent-issue

Not sure what this means re. his RWC chances, Shag being on the record as saying his plans to depart wouldn't be a factor in his selection or otherwise.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Good, fine, he can fuck off now for all I care, go on then, piss off.

It's like Cullen running off to Ireland....... in 1996.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Crusaders to play Saracens in New Orleans (!) on 1 August.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-in-us-market-no-gamble-says-ceo-hamish-riach

Not sure who'll be available, players will have been released back to the provinces for ITM Cup & obviously the AB season will be in full swing. Still, Riach is a sharp operator from way back in his local gov't days so there must be some dosh in for them (or at least someone to wear any losses).

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Johan Bardoul is one tough hombre, did his knee in the 7th minute but played the full 80, now out for the season:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...jury-victim-for-chiefs-as-crucial-clash-looms

Chiefs desperately need Retallick back or at least FitzGerald or Symons, Filipo was awesome on Friday but the man's 36 & can't have too many performances like that left in him...............

Meanwhile the 'canes getbSmith, Broadhurst, Frank's & Goodes back just in time to give my mob a shellacking in sunny Nelson. Nice one. Oh well, could be worse, could be Beaugan at 10 instead've future CruSadist Otere Black .

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-hurricanes-coach-chris-boyd-food-for-thought

 

[Sully]

Brad Thorn proved you can do it at 36. Don't write him off yet.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^ with due respect, Ross Filipo was never Brad Thorn.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Looks like the Clan will be resting SmithA, SmithB & Fekitoa this week which may cause 'canes to rest Nonu this week rather than next. Beaugan will be back, too, so Otere Black is off to the U20's but will miss NZ's opener v Scotland.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-back-for-the-hurricanes-otere-black-released

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Bloos could be struggling to field a team v Clan, Saili & Halai both injured playing club footy & Tu'ungafasi concussed v CruSadists:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...i-and-ofa-tuungafasi-join-blues-casualty-list

So 16 in team rehab & three away with the U20's.

There's bound to be some speculation over the next few days as to who other than Nonu the 'canes will rest this week, but the Chiefs will be without Cane who's played 14/15 this year (as has Elliott) therefore, like Nonu, must be given his 2nd week off (unless they plan to do it during the playoffs )

Clan meanwhile have problems of their own in the engine room, Tom Franklin probably gone for the season, Joe Wheeler & Mark Reddish already gone & newbie Alex Ainley finishing the 'canes match limping badly.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...n-out-for-the-season-and-alex-ainley-in-doubt

Lastly, more proof (as if required) of how tough they bred them down C'bury way:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/ne...w-tackles-setbacks-head-on-after-freak-injury

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Kieran Keane confirmed as the new Chiefs Assistant Coach:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...h-kieran-keane-to-link-up-with-chiefs-in-2016

 

[Braveheart81]

A Mad Monday classic from Nemani Nadolo!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Rene Ranger back in NZ but likely to miss at least part of the NPC as he rehabs from neck surgery & possibly won't play again until Super Rugby 2016:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-to-new-zealand-rugby-delayed-by-neck-surgery

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

'canes have got it going on player retention-wise:

Confirmed Hurricanes for 2016: Reggie Goodes, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles, James Broadhurst, Mark Abbott, Christian Lloyd, Geoff Cridge, Callum Gibbins, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Blade Thomson, Iopu Iopu-Aso, Hugh Renton, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Vince Aso, Cory Jane, Matt Proctor, Julian Savea, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Jason Woodward, Sam McNicol.

Confirmed departures: Ma'a Nonu (Toulon), Conrad Smith (Pau), Rey Lee-Lo (Cardiff), Chris Smylie (Benetton Treviso), Jeremy Thrush (Gloucester), Ben Franks (London Irish).

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ad-for-2016-campaign-as-bright-future-beckons

 

[Hawko]

'canes have got it going on player retention-wise:

Confirmed Hurricanes for 2016: Reggie Goodes, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles, James Broadhurst, Mark Abbott, Christian Lloyd, Geoff Cridge, Callum Gibbins, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Blade Thomson, Iopu Iopu-Aso, Hugh Renton, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Vince Aso, Cory Jane, Matt Proctor, Julian Savea, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Jason Woodward, Sam McNicol.

Confirmed departures: Ma'a Nonu (Toulon), Conrad Smith (Pau), Rey Lee-Lo (Cardiff), Chris Smylie (Benetton Treviso), Jeremy Thrush (Gloucester), Ben Franks (London Irish).

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ad-for-2016-campaign-as-bright-future-beckons

Four of the departures - Nonu, Smith, Thrush and Franks are absolutely top drawer and would walk into ANY Australian Super team as starters. I reckon they'll struggle next year (though a lot of good teams like the Crusaders, Waratahs and Sharks will struggle to cope with their losses next year).

 

[Dan54]

Nonu and Smith will be biggest losses, especially with Lelo going too, I'm a thrush fan, but feel they will cover his and Franks loss ok! Will be interesting to see if any bolters come out of ITM cup in midfield, as the way Canes have gone this year, thay would be an attractive team to join I think!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

CruSadists have signed Marty McKenzie for 2016. Good signing IMO but he'll need to work on his goal kicking.