Super Rugby News

Canes4life

It is defs a signing out of the blue.
 
If Broadhurst recovers we are going to have probably one too many locks. I think the Canes will use B Thomson purely as a No 8 next year and Fifita will probably play more at six. The player I see losing his spot would probably be Abbott.
 
Id say the Hurricanes Locks and Loose Forwards for next year are probably going to look like this:
 
Locks: Michael Fatialofa, James Broadhurst, Sione Lousi, Geoff Cridge, Isaia Walker-Leawere
 
Loose Forwards: Brad Shields, Hugh Renton, Ardie Savea, Blade Thomson, Vaea Fifita, Callum Gibbins, Tony Lamborn, James Blackwell and Marino Mikaele Tu'u
 
I think it is the right mix of youth and experience which is exciting.

Sneakdefreak

Sam Lousi....heh.

Higgins

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="596699" data-time="1468551990">
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It is defs a signing out of the blue.
 
If Broadhurst recovers we are going to have probably one too many locks. I think the Canes will use B Thomson purely as a No 8 next year and Fifita will probably play more at six. The player I see losing his spot would probably be Abbott.
 
Id say the Hurricanes Locks and Loose Forwards for next year are probably going to look like this:
 
Locks: Michael Fatialofa, James Broadhurst, Sione Lousi, Geoff Cridge, Isaia Walker-Leawere
 
Loose Forwards: Brad Shields, Hugh Renton, Ardie Savea, Blade Thomson, Vaea Fifita, Callum Gibbins, Tony Lamborn, James Blackwell and Marino Mikaele Tu'u
 
I think it is the right mix of youth and experience which is exciting.
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 So you are expecting James Blackwell who is currently holding an locking injury contract courtesy of James Broadhurst's unfortunate downfall, to re-invent himself as a loosie. I have not seen him play as a loose forward something that you must have done to place him there. On the blindside the Canes have already got Thompson, Fifita and Shields there as proven blindsides (and thats not counting Renton who virtually no one has seen play so cannot rate his capabilites). At No 8 you have the current Wellington Lions captain in Shields with back up from Mikaele Tu'u and possibly Thompson and the mysterious Renton.
As locking cover you have both Fifita and Thompson who have both done ok as starters in that position so there really is no spot open for Mr Blackwell (unless Lousi turns out to be a flop despite his multi year contract).

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="596719" data-time="1468555396">
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 So you are expecting James Blackwell who is currently holding an locking injury contract courtesy of James Broadhurst's unfortunate downfall, to re-invent himself as a loosie. I have not seen him play as a loose forward something that you must have done to place him there. On the blindside the Canes have already got Thompson, Fifita and Shields there as proven blindsides (and thats not counting Renton who virtually no one has seen play so cannot rate his capabilites). At No 8 you have the current Wellington Lions captain in Shields with back up from Mikaele Tu'u and possibly Thompson and the mysterious Renton.
As locking cover you have both Fifita and Thompson who have both done ok as starters in that position so there really is no spot open for Mr Blackwell (unless Lousi turns out to be a flop despite his multi year contract).
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James Blackwell is actually a six/lock but more of a blindside and is at the start of his career like Renton. Don't forget the squads are a lot bigger now so i'm predicting Blackwell will be in the squad somewhere at the expense of Abbott who probably counts himself unlucky. I know the coaches have big wraps on Blackwell and ive heard through a number of sources that they seem him as Captain material for both Wellington and the Hurricanes in the future. I'd be suprised if they cut Blackwell but it is pro footy so who knows?
 
Personally I wouldn't have signed a guy like Lousi. He just looks like a big lump in the similar mould of Skelton who does pretty much F All. Hopefully they can get the best out of him.

Crazy Horse

Don't get the signing either. He wasn't the best at league so can't see him standing out in Union. How has he gone for NSW this year? Only noticed him on the bench for the first time the other week. 
Wish they had scored that young Storm player whose name I can't spell. He is a physically dominant youngster, unlike Louisi (probably can't spell his name either) who played league like a big lazy pussy cat.

Higgins

He (Lousi) has done nothing that made me want to consult my programme to see who he was much less putting a tick against his name for doing something noteworthy. The player statistics reveal the following (bearing in mind stats don't always tell the true story)
Minutes played: 367 (over 13 matches)
Carries: 50
Metres gained: 92
Clean breaks: 1
Passes: 21
Own Lineout wins: 7
Lineout steals: 0
Tackles Made: 42
Tackles missed: 1
Tackles success: 97.7%
Turnovers conceded: 5
 
I see he is on the benck for the Tahs tonight so will keenly anticipate running my critical eyes over him if he manages to get on.

Higgins

After casting my eyes over Sam Lousi I would not be expecting him to be playing in the first team other than in preseason friendlies. He must have done some fairly special things in other games to put on his highlights reel as there was nothing at all to recommend him exhibited in last nights game.

Tim

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote"><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/82168514/seta-tamanivalu-out-of-chiefs-super-rugby-quarterfinal-against-stormers'>Seta Tamanivalu out of Chiefs' Super Rugby quarterfinal against Stormers</a> 
Having lost to the Highlanders and been sent packing to Cape Town, the news gets worse for the Chiefs, with Seta Tamanivalu ruled out of their Super Rugby quarterfinal against the Stormers with a knee injury. 
The powerful centre injured his MCL in the 25-15 defeat in Dunedin on Saturday night and won't travel to South Africa, with his involvement in any potential semifinal or final in serious doubt. 
Tamanivalu, who made his All Blacks debut last month, got heavy strapping applied to his left leg during the match, and eventually left the park after 64 minutes, having sustained the knock about 10 minutes into the second half. 
"It happened in a cleanout, he just got cleaned out and just got caught in an awkward position," coach Dave Rennie said. 
The Chiefs are also awaiting assessments on a couple of other players, before they name their travelling squad. Under SANZAAR rules they are only allowed to take 25 players on tour, with Rennie confirming that they would look to take an extra prop and utility back. 
Their match against the Stormers has been confirmed for 5am next Sunday (NZ time). After flying from Dunedin to Auckland on Sunday morning, the Chiefs would have ideally headed to Sydney on Sunday night and flew out from there Monday morning, however, with no accommodation available in Sydney, they are staying the night in Auckland, walking across to the airport at 3am and flying out at 6am.
 
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SouthernMan

There's no accommodation in a city of four million people. That's a bit odd.

taniwharugby

maybe they thought they said a rugby league team and said they had no vacancies?

Stargazer

Shit news for the Crusaders: Nadolo is out injured and won't travel to South Africa (according to One News).
 
Sam Whitelock & Andy Ellis expected to be available.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/crusaders-suffer-playoffs-blow-nemani-nadolo-forced-lions-clash-injury'>https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/crusaders-suffer-playoffs-blow-nemani-nadolo-forced-lions-clash-injury</a>

Wurzel

They can't find 20 twin rooms in Sydney in the dead of winter? The Chiefs need a new travel agent.

Stargazer

Chiefs travelling squad:
 
FORWARDS
Kane Hames; Mitchell Graham; Atu Moli; Siegfried Fisiâ€ihoi; Siate Tokolahi; Hika Elliot; Nathan Harris; Dominic Bird; Brodie Retallick; Lachlan Boshier; Tom Sanders; Sam Cane; Taleni Seu; Liam Messam
 
BACKS
Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Brad Weber; Aaron Cruden; James Lowe; Damian McKenzie; Anton Lienert-Brown; Stephen Donald; Sam McNicol; Sam Vaka; Toni Pulu; Shaun Stevenson
 
Not considered for selection: Nepo Laulala, Mitchell Karpik, Pauliasi Manu, Sam Henwood, Johan Bardoul, Glen Fisiiahi, Maama Vaipulu, Michael Allardice, Michael Leitch, James Tucker, Charlie Ngatai, Seta Tamanivalu, Andrew Horrell, Hiroshi Yamashita, Augustine Pulu (All Blacks Sevens).
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/240-gallagher-chiefs-travelling-squad-named-for-investec-super-rugby-quarterfinal-in-cape-town'>http://chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/240-gallagher-chiefs-travelling-squad-named-for-investec-super-rugby-quarterfinal-in-cape-town</a>

Stargazer

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/82168514/seta-tamanivalu-out-of-chiefs-super-rugby-quarterfinal-against-stormers'>SANZAAR rule Liam Messam ineligible for Super Rugby playoffs</a>

Milk

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="597680" data-time="1468751965">
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<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/82168514/seta-tamanivalu-out-of-chiefs-super-rugby-quarterfinal-against-stormers'>SANZAAR rule Liam Messam ineligible for Super Rugby playoffs</a>
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"Special dispensation hasn't been granted because SANZAAR are satisfied that the Chiefs can field a normal, full-strength side of 23 players for the following match.
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I just don't understand how they can think that.
 
There was another appalling decision from them last week where they were complicit in the Sharks fielding an injured player on the bench (Lambie) by refusing to give dispensation for him to play in the playoffs as he'd played one game less than required. I suppose, it was only concussion. What's the worst that could have happened?

mimic

im quite happy with the sanzaar decision.. seems like it was explained well.. but hey, thats just me being objective..

taniwharugby

I guess they did just recruit that Messam cat for the finals, I mean how many times has he even played for the Chiefs?

Milk

I disagree that the Chiefs can field a normal full strength 23 man side. I also don't think they needed to take that long to say no.
 
I have more of an issue with the Patrick Lambie situation because he'd been with the Sharks for ages but kept getting injured.

mimic

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="597709" data-time="1468788197">
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I guess they did just recruit that Messam cat for the finals, I mean how many times has he even played for the Chiefs?
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doesnt matter.. he wasn't in the original squad of 40.. he also had to ask permission from his other club to play for the chiefs..
there is no injury crisis so the chiefs can field a "normal full strength 23 man side".

taniwharugby

I still think it sucks...it isn't like they have called him back especially for the finals...
 
Messam is a huge part of the Chiefs, and I expect he didn't take the decision to have a punt at the 7s lightly, and we know this is the only reason he is back now.
 
The guy they are replacing Messam with hasn't played a single game this year.

The Silver Fern

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