2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games

[Stargazer]

[SammyC]

@Chris-B. said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:

@Stargazer Cheers. I thought you'd have a fair idea!

Enari playing and Fukofuka not is pretty interesting, because Fukofuka is in the official squad and Enari isn't - though I'm inclined to think Enari is Robertson's man and Fukofuka isn't.

Very interesting to me that he's starting the final trial ahead of Hall and Drummond - especially when a lot of the rest of the starting team is first choice.

Yeah - you'd expect Taufua will play either 6 or 8 in Read's absence - is that a pointer that Samu has the inside running right now (Douglas is another that wasn't an original squad member)?

Todd/Samu/Taufua would be a very short loose trio.

I'm wondering if we see Scott Barrett at 6 early in the season. Todd/ Samu/ Taufua seems a bit lightweight.

Means we can get all 3 AB locks on the field at once. Then Pete Samu on for impact with 20-30 to go.

I've always liked his potential at 6, still seems a bit small to be a dominant international lock. He's played 6 at club level a few times, I'm sure Robertson has seen him there before.

[Chris B.]

@SammyC Same idea crossed my mind, Sammy. Not particularly keen on it, because we're going to lose some mobility compared to a genuine 6 - but, I'm not that keen on the Todd/Samu/Taufua mix either - three guys who possibly should all be playing 7.

Theoretically, Mitchell Dunshea should be a taller option at 6 - not sure whether he's more mobile than Barrett, because I don't recall ever seeing him play. Bidwell-Curtis probably the man we really want there, but seems he's probably injured.

[Stargazer]

Goosen has scored the first try of the game for the Canes: 5 - 0

[Stargazer]

Ben Funnell scores for the Crusaders, the conversion is successful and the Crusaders lead 7 - 5 against the Canes.

[Stargazer]

Try Seta Tamanivalu. Crusaders 12 - 5 Hurricanes

[Stargazer]

It's 12 all between the Canes and Saders. Goosen just scored his second try after a good kick from JBarrett.

[Stargazer]

Matt Duffie has scored his second try for the Blues in the preseason game v the Chiefs: 12 - 0 Blues

[Stargazer]

Tamanivalu scores his second and the Crusaders lead 17-12 against the Canes.

[Stargazer]

Try Israel Dagg. The Crusaders lead 22 to 12 after 30 minutes.

[Stargazer]

Hattrick Seta Tamanivalu. 28-12 Crusaders

[Stargazer]

Brodie Retallick scores for the Chiefs; Cruden converts. 12-7 Blues

[Stargazer]

Intercept try for BBarrett. Crusaders 28 - 17 Hurricanes. It's half time.

[Milk]

Anyone know why D McKenzie isn't playing?

[Stargazer]

The Canes are a bit confused about the score on their twitter account; It's 27-19 after BBarrett converted his own try.

[Stargazer]

Gerard Cowley-Tuioti scores for the Blues. The try is converted. 19-7 Blues. Blake Gibson off injured.

[Stargazer]

@Milk said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:

Anyone know why D McKenzie isn't playing?

Don't know. Some ABs are eased into the game more slowly than others.

[Milk]

@Stargazer said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:

@Milk said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:

Anyone know why D McKenzie isn't playing?

Don't know. Some ABs are eased into the game more slowly than others.

I thought that too, but he barely played compared to someone like BBBR. Maybe they are anticipating a big workload for him during the Super season

[Stargazer]

Apparently, it's now half time between the Blues and Chiefs; Blues lead 26 to 7.

[Stargazer]

@Milk Another possibility is that he just takes a bit longer to get back to the required fitness after his break than the more experienced ABs. He may not have played very much, but still had to do all the training with the ABs.