Super Rugby 2025
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@Bones said in Super Rugby 2025:
@gt12 as good as Smith was, he wasn't an out and out playmaker like Roigard (and the likes of Weepu), so hopefully the combined style will work better.
Which leads me back to my drum that DMac should have had a go at halfback.
In the modern game, you can make a good argument that the key playmaker is the 9 anyway, so when you look at it like that, the Canes are very very well placed.
@gt12 said in Super Rugby 2025:
@Bones said in Super Rugby 2025:
@gt12 as good as Smith was, he wasn't an out and out playmaker like Roigard (and the likes of Weepu), so hopefully the combined style will work better.
Which leads me back to my drum that DMac should have had a go at halfback.
In the modern game, you can make a good argument that the key playmaker is the 9 anyway, so when you look at it like that, the Canes are very very well placed.
And the chiefs - they're doing it very nicely with the 9 running the cutter early doors before bringing in DMac later in the game.
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In protest at the preposterous scoring system for the Player of the Year Award, I have re-scored it using a neutral 3,2,1 system, based on my own feeling. I have seen just about every game, though followed the actually scoring for a handful of these.
Round One
CRU v HUR
Preston - 3
Fineanganofo - 2
Reece - 1WAR v HIG
Tavatavanawai - 3
Porecki - 2
Amone - 1DRU v BRU
Reimer - 3
Karawalevu - 2
Hooper - 1BLU v CHI
McKenzie - 3
Ah Kuoi - 2
Jacobson - 1FOR v MOA
Donaldson - 3
Williams - 2
Havili Talitui - 1Round Two
CHI v CRU
Tupaea - 3
Parker - 2
Vaa’i - 1RED v MOA
McReight - 3
Taumoefolau - 2
Wilson - 1HUR v DRU
Godfrey - 3
M Murray - 2
Kirifi - 1HIG v BLU
Hurley - 3
Tavatavanawai - 2
Fakatava - 1BRU v FOR
White - 3
Tizzano - 2
Cale - 1Round Three
MOA v HIG
Savea - 3
Hastie - 2
Sanerivi - 1WAR v DRU
Gleeson - 3
Karawalevu - 2
Porecki - 1CHI v BRU
Tupaea - 3
Vaa’i - 2
Toole - 1HUR v BLU
Riccitelli - 3
Godfrey - 2
Shields - 1FOR v RED
McDermott - 3
Tizzano - 2
Grealy - 1Leaderboard:
[6] Tupaea
[5] Tavatavanawai, Godfrey
[4] Karawalevu, Tizzano
[3] Preston, Reimer, McKenzie, Donaldson, McReight, N White, A Savea, Porecki, Gleeson, Vaa'i, Riccitelli, McDermott
[2] Fineanganofo, Ah Kuoi, J Williams, Parker, Taumoefolau, M Murray, Hurley, Hastie
[1] Reece, Amone, T Hooper, Jacobson, Havili Talitui, H Wilson, Kirifi, Fakatava, Cale, Sanerivi, Toole, Shields, GrealyTo me, this feels a better representation of what we have seen so far. Ardie Savea hasn't been the best player, and Mark Telea certainly hasn't been the fifth best.
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In protest at the preposterous scoring system for the Player of the Year Award, I have re-scored it using a neutral 3,2,1 system, based on my own feeling. I have seen just about every game, though followed the actually scoring for a handful of these.
Round One
CRU v HUR
Preston - 3
Fineanganofo - 2
Reece - 1WAR v HIG
Tavatavanawai - 3
Porecki - 2
Amone - 1DRU v BRU
Reimer - 3
Karawalevu - 2
Hooper - 1BLU v CHI
McKenzie - 3
Ah Kuoi - 2
Jacobson - 1FOR v MOA
Donaldson - 3
Williams - 2
Havili Talitui - 1Round Two
CHI v CRU
Tupaea - 3
Parker - 2
Vaa’i - 1RED v MOA
McReight - 3
Taumoefolau - 2
Wilson - 1HUR v DRU
Godfrey - 3
M Murray - 2
Kirifi - 1HIG v BLU
Hurley - 3
Tavatavanawai - 2
Fakatava - 1BRU v FOR
White - 3
Tizzano - 2
Cale - 1Round Three
MOA v HIG
Savea - 3
Hastie - 2
Sanerivi - 1WAR v DRU
Gleeson - 3
Karawalevu - 2
Porecki - 1CHI v BRU
Tupaea - 3
Vaa’i - 2
Toole - 1HUR v BLU
Riccitelli - 3
Godfrey - 2
Shields - 1FOR v RED
McDermott - 3
Tizzano - 2
Grealy - 1Leaderboard:
[6] Tupaea
[5] Tavatavanawai, Godfrey
[4] Karawalevu, Tizzano
[3] Preston, Reimer, McKenzie, Donaldson, McReight, N White, A Savea, Porecki, Gleeson, Vaa'i, Riccitelli, McDermott
[2] Fineanganofo, Ah Kuoi, J Williams, Parker, Taumoefolau, M Murray, Hurley, Hastie
[1] Reece, Amone, T Hooper, Jacobson, Havili Talitui, H Wilson, Kirifi, Fakatava, Cale, Sanerivi, Toole, Shields, GrealyTo me, this feels a better representation of what we have seen so far. Ardie Savea hasn't been the best player, and Mark Telea certainly hasn't been the fifth best.
@frugby said in Super Rugby 2025:
In protest at the preposterous scoring system for the Player of the Year Award, I have re-scored it using a neutral 3,2,1 system, based on my own feeling. I have seen just about every game, though followed the actually scoring for a handful of these.
Round One
CRU v HUR
Preston - 3
Fineanganofo - 2
Reece - 1WAR v HIG
Tavatavanawai - 3
Porecki - 2
Amone - 1DRU v BRU
Reimer - 3
Karawalevu - 2
Hooper - 1BLU v CHI
McKenzie - 3
Ah Kuoi - 2
Jacobson - 1FOR v MOA
Donaldson - 3
Williams - 2
Havili Talitui - 1Round Two
CHI v CRU
Tupaea - 3
Parker - 2
Vaa’i - 1RED v MOA
McReight - 3
Taumoefolau - 2
Wilson - 1HUR v DRU
Godfrey - 3
M Murray - 2
Kirifi - 1HIG v BLU
Hurley - 3
Tavatavanawai - 2
Fakatava - 1BRU v FOR
White - 3
Tizzano - 2
Cale - 1Round Three
MOA v HIG
Savea - 3
Hastie - 2
Sanerivi - 1WAR v DRU
Gleeson - 3
Karawalevu - 2
Porecki - 1CHI v BRU
Tupaea - 3
Vaa’i - 2
Toole - 1HUR v BLU
Riccitelli - 3
Godfrey - 2
Shields - 1FOR v RED
McDermott - 3
Tizzano - 2
Grealy - 1Leaderboard:
[6] Tupaea
[5] Tavatavanawai, Godfrey
[4] Karawalevu, Tizzano
[3] Preston, Reimer, McKenzie, Donaldson, McReight, N White, A Savea, Porecki, Gleeson, Vaa'i, Riccitelli, McDermott
[2] Fineanganofo, Ah Kuoi, J Williams, Parker, Taumoefolau, M Murray, Hurley, Hastie
[1] Reece, Amone, T Hooper, Jacobson, Havili Talitui, H Wilson, Kirifi, Fakatava, Cale, Sanerivi, Toole, Shields, GrealyTo me, this feels a better representation of what we have seen so far. Ardie Savea hasn't been the best player, and Mark Telea certainly hasn't been the fifth best.
Nice job, this looks far more accurate.
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https://twitter.com/SuperRugby/status/1896810751794593829
That's how bad it's been for the Tahs.
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Moana vs Chiefs in round 6 has been moved from Tonga to Pukekohe.
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https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/super-rugby-pacific-injury-list-round-4/
Super Rugby Pacific Round Four Injury/Unavailability list
*TBC time/injury unless specifiedBlues
Kurt Eklund (groin)
Laghlan McWhannell (leg)
PJ Sheck (shoulder)
Zarn Sullivan (foot)
Stephen Perofeta (calf)
Ben Ake (shoulder)
Hoskins Sotutu (suspended)
Dalton Papali’i (head injury)
James Mullan (head injury)
Sam Darry (shoulder, season)
Reon Paul (shoulder)
Taufa Funaki (shoulder)
Adrian Choat (knee)Brumbies
Noah Lolesio (concussion/round five)
Rob Valetini (hamstring tear/TBC)
Tevita Alatini (knee/TBC)
Ben O’Donnell (hamstring/TBC)
Harry Vella (knee/TBC)
Tuaina Taii Tualima (dengue/TBC)Chiefs
Damian McKenzie, Knee, Short term
Josh Lord, Knee, Mid-term (4-6 weeks)
Luke Jacobson, Facial injury, Short-term
Rameka Poihipi, Knee, Season
Kaleb Trask, Hamstring, Mid-term (4-6 weeks)
Etene Nanai-Seturo, Hamstring, Long-term
Liam Coombes-Fabling, Knee, Mid-term (4-6 weeks)
Fiti Sa, Shoulder, Long-term
Wallace Sititi, Knee, Long-term
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Shoulder, Short-termCrusaders
George Bell (toe/foot / season)
Kershawl Sykes-Martin (knee / 4 weeks)
Finlay Brewis (shoulder / season)
Rivez Reihana (ankle / 1-2 weeks)
Seb Calder (AC joint / 1-2 weeks)
Quentin Strange (Pec/hamstring / 1-2 weeks)
Dom Gardiner (hamstring / 3-5 weeks)
Jamie Hannah (shoulder / 4-6 weeks)
Aki Tuivailala (finger / 1-2 weeks)
Johnny McNicholll (hamstring / 3-5 weeks)
Noah Hotahm (ankle/ 5 weeks)Fijian Drua
Epeli Momo (Knee)Hurricanes
Zach Gallagher (Achilles / round 5)
Daniel Sinkinson (hamstring / round
Lucas Cashmore (knee / round 5-7)
Brett Cameron (knee / season)
Asafo Aumua (foot / round 5-7)
Tyrel Lomax (ankle / round 5)
Kade Banks (concussion / round five)
Raymond Tuputupu (concussion / round five)
Devan Flanders (ankle / round 14)
Tjay Clarke (shoulder/ round 9)
Riley Higgins (hand / round 7)
Billy Proctor (Achilles / TBC)Moana Pasifika
Fine Inisi (quad)
Julian Savea (knee)
Neria Fomai (knee/out for season)
Sione Havili Talitui (ankle)
Tito Tuipulotu (knee)NSW Waratahs
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (toe)
Lalakai Foketi (groin)
Fergus Lee-Warner (foot)
Lucas Ripley (shoulder)Queensland Reds
Jock Campbell
Josh Flook
Matt Gibbon
Mason Gordon
Isaac Henry
Will McCulloch
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Seru Uru
Hunter Paisami (suspension)Western Force
Harry Johnson-Holmes (knee)
Bayley Kuenzle (knee)
Harry Hoopert (knee)
Divad Palu (shoulder)
Matt Proctor (shoulder)
Papillon Sevele (knee) -
@Duluth said in Super Rugby 2025:
NZ sides have the most injuries
We play the toughest opponents more regularly
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@Bones flying under the radar
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@Bones said in Super Rugby 2025:
I like how we don't even bother to acknowledge the existence of the Highlanders now.
Would be silly to with the firepower the Landers have in their side this year. JJ at the helm as well, anything is possible.
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@Duluth said in Super Rugby 2025:
NZ sides have the most injuries
A 23 of NZ players listed as unavailable for this week:
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Finlay Brewis
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Asafo Aumua
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Tyrel Lomax
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Sam Darry
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Josh Lord
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Wallace Sititi
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Dalton Papali'i
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Hoskins Sotutu
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Noah Hotham
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Damian McKenzie
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Etene Nanai-Seturo
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Riley Higgins
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Billy Proctor
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Kade Banks
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Zarn Sullivan
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George Bell
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PJ Sheck
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Seb Calder
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Jamie Hannah
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Luke Jacobson
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Taufa Funaki
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Stephen Perofeta
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Rameka Poihipi
Thats a lot of talent we're missing out on
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A bit of insight into attendance figures and viewership, mainly from last week.
The Chiefs and Hurricanes each attracted around 11,000 people to each of their games last weekend.
The Crusaders had the bye.
Sky, who along with sports streaming giant DAZN are in discussions with NZ Rugby about the next broadcasting rights deal, may have trumpeted an improvement in viewership but it's hard not to feel underwhelmed when games are played in front of so many empty seats.
A press release from Sky Sport says 1.4 million people have watched the first three rounds of Super Rugby Pacific. Sky says that is a 12 percent rise on last year.
The Hurricanes-Blues fixture was the most popular with 500,000 viewers.
People are tuning in to their screens, we are told. They are just not turning up to the stadiums.
Not in large volumes, anyway.
BIG REASON: PEOPLE JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT RIGHT NOW.
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Over 15,000 for the Highlanders maiden home game, and just short of 16,000 for the Chiefs opening round. The Hurricanes crowd for a major fixture against the reigning champion Blues was disappointing, as it didn't look too bad from where we were sat.
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Over 15,000 for the Highlanders maiden home game, and just short of 16,000 for the Chiefs opening round. The Hurricanes crowd for a major fixture against the reigning champion Blues was disappointing, as it didn't look too bad from where we were sat.
@WoodysRFC said in Super Rugby 2025:
Over 15,000 for the Highlanders maiden home game, and just short of 16,000 for the Chiefs opening round. The Hurricanes crowd for a major fixture against the reigning champion Blues was disappointing, as it didn't look too bad from where we were sat.
Edit: should add, Crusaders opening game was just short of 15,000, and the Blues had over 25,000 for their home game.
If I'm not mistaken, the Chiefs ran an experimental "rhythm and rugby" round, which saw them raise the ticket prices significantly to cover costs, which likely explains the fairly sparse crowd.
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Over 15,000 for the Highlanders maiden home game, and just short of 16,000 for the Chiefs opening round. The Hurricanes crowd for a major fixture against the reigning champion Blues was disappointing, as it didn't look too bad from where we were sat.
@WoodysRFC said in Super Rugby 2025:
Over 15,000 for the Highlanders maiden home game, and just short of 16,000 for the Chiefs opening round. The Hurricanes crowd for a major fixture against the reigning champion Blues was disappointing, as it didn't look too bad from where we were sat.
Yeah but missing most of your ABs doesn’t help. I’m sure crowds will pick up at the Tin. We averaged over 16-17k last year but that’s because of the good run we had. Winning brings the crowds I guess.
