Super Rugby 2023

26-05-2023 11:52am

Highlanders-Reds was a very enjoyable game of rugby.

Jake Upfield's try for the Reds is as good a try as you'll see anywhere.

sydthebeat · 26-05-2023 12:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120642541#Comment_120642541

Rebels doing us a favor as well in the second game. That 8th spot is anyone's

typhoony · 27-05-2023 11:37am

I said it before the no.13 for the Fijian Drua is a special talent in his first season I senior rugby

thebaz · 27-05-2023 12:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120646575#Comment_120646575

another win under ther belt , lucky , given last kick - they need to win final game to qualify I think.

02-06-2023 4:27pm

Blues Highlanders was a decent game this morning.

Was interested to get another good look at Anton Segner - the openside for Blues. He's 21 years old, but was born and grew up in Germany, only moving to NZ as a 15 year old when he got a scholarship to Nelson College (same school James Lowe, Jared Payne, David Havili and a few other All Blacks attended).

Captained his school to win a UC Championship in 2019 (scoring 2 tries and getting MotM in the final), got into the Crusaders academy, played NZ Schools and signed to play Mitre 10 Cup with Tasman as a 19 year old. Won a Mitre Cup, had a good stint in NPC and then signed for the Blues. He's since played 15 times for them over the past couple of seasons, and been selected for the NZ U20s.

Very interesting back story, and surely overtakes Seb Fromm (ex Clongowes centre) as the most accomplished German rugby player ever!

eagle eye · 03-06-2023 1:48am

I watched the Brumbies Vs Rebels. I'd guess it won't be long before we see Corey Toole in a Wallabies shirt.

03-06-2023 9:38am

Cracker of a game here between Hurricanes and Crusaders - was loving the niggle between Codie Taylor and Dane Coles earlier.

Canes living in the Crusaders 22 for the entire second half and have just pushed in front. Ardie continuing to show why he’s probably the most talented rugby player on earth (or forward anyway).

Cam Roigard, the Hurricanes 9, looks very much like a future All Black. He’s looked good all season I think.

sydthebeat · 03-06-2023 9:42am

Drua make the playoffs. Great to see.

Canes coming back from behind to best the crusaders.

All we need now is the force to beat the chiefs and knock out the reds :)

thebaz · 03-06-2023 10:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120672768#Comment_120672768

Great to see , the Drua are my team from the start , play great rugby, another win

Digifriendly · 04-06-2023 6:27am

Western Force blown away by the Chiefs. Reds through to knock out for rematch with Chiefs. Can't see them repeating win of a few weeks back.

sydthebeat · 04-06-2023 9:46am

So they qf playoffs are set.

1v8 Chiefs v reds

2v7 Crusaders v Drua

3v6 Blues v tahs

4v5 Brumbies v Canes.

The only real possibility of an "upset" here is Brumbies v Canes, but I think Brumbies might just have enough to get over the line in a close game. Their forward mauling is still their biggest weapon.

I would imagine the other three games will be pretty routine home wins.

sydthebeat · 05-06-2023 10:19pm

So......

Rob penny is taking the reigns at crusaders

@Swiwi what do you think about that??

eagle eye · 06-06-2023 8:30am

The Chiefs played their seconds in that blowout of the Force so they've got a fresh starting 15 for the Reds game.

Yeah_Right · 07-06-2023 1:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120672751#Comment_120672751

Ardie Savea is a freak. The amount of metres he makes after contact is unbelievable. Still can't understand how he wasn't a finalist for WPOTY last year.

Dane Coles must be so annoying to play against. If there was a World Shithouse XV, he's captain.

I think Roigard could be an All Black bolter this year.

And finally I'm picking the Drua to topple the Crusaders this weekend. Ok I'm hoping they will.

Digifriendly · 09-06-2023 6:21pm

Waratahs well beaten by the Blues. Australian sides (apart from Brumbies) not showing up well in this competition.

10-06-2023 8:35am

Reds made the Chiefs work very hard for the win this morning. Game right in the balance with a few mins to go. Retallick’s step and offload for the Sowakula try was sublime.

Crusaders crushing the Drua so far.

einn32 · 10-06-2023 10:18am

Up to the Brumbies now to keep some oz interest in the comp.

AbusesToilets · 10-06-2023 11:53am

Phenomenal run there by Flanders for the Hurricanes, shocking defense from the Brumbies

AbusesToilets · 10-06-2023 12:20pm

Incredible finish to the match, Brumbies hold out under massive pressure. Great match, love to see an Aussie team going through

PMC83 · 10-06-2023 12:23pm

Brilliant game, thought the Brum had blown it!

AbusesToilets · 10-06-2023 1:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120697690#Comment_120697690

Was screaming when they gave away that dumb penalty after a brilliant turnover. They did great to sort themselves out after giving up 17 straight points. Massive ask to beat the Chiefs at home next week, though the Reds really put it to them.

Dillonb3 · 16-06-2023 9:06am

Crusaders have taken the Blues apart in that first half

16-06-2023 9:13am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120721084#Comment_120721084

Yeah, absolutely shredded them. Mo'unga pulling the strings really well.

sydthebeat · 16-06-2023 9:18am

This is some performance by the crusaders

Yeah_Right · 16-06-2023 11:29am

Well that was a crappy start to the weekend. What a hiding.

16-06-2023 11:37am

Any early predictions for All Blacks squad?

How many potential new caps in the squad? I've seen a good amount of Super Rugby but definitely not enough, and the names that jumped out to me were Cam Roigard, Tamaiti Williams and potentially the Chiefs winger Emoni Narawa.

Will Shaun Stevenson get a shot?

Yeah_Right · 16-06-2023 1:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120721712#Comment_120721712

Those are all good calls. Possibly Dallas McLeod from the Crusaders as he is playing well and covers several positions.

16-06-2023 2:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120722272#Comment_120722272

Yeah, I've liked McLeod. He doesn't look elite like Jordan, but busy sort of player who looks effective.

Yeah_Right · 16-06-2023 3:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120722462#Comment_120722462

Agreed. Don't think he would be a starter but could be useful in the RWC squad as he plays midfield and wing. He might have even played a bit of fullback.

sydthebeat · 16-06-2023 3:54pm

those a 4 good names to begin with.

ive no idea how many will be named but going by the bokke training squad, the might name 40.

riogard could certainly make it. lets assume they name 4 9's, Smith and Weber would be certainties. Perenara hasnt played this season i dont think so i dont think is in the picture. fakatava spent the majority of the year injured but has credit in the bank. Drummond has never been on the test radar despite being the senior scrum half for an all conquering crusaders for the last two seasons. This seems to be something of a curse for saders 9's and their lack of test recognition. The last crusader scrum half who was a regular test starter was probably Justin Marshall from 20 years ago. So riogard certainly has an opening, and has taken his hurricanes chance with both hands.

im going to throw out quinten strange as another possible bolter into the training squad. hes been in fosters squads before without being capped, and hes been pretty instrumental in the crusaders raising of form over the last 8 weeks. Should whitelocks injury be long term, Strange is definitely a good option

16-06-2023 3:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120723019#Comment_120723019

Yeah, I've been impressed by Strange a couple of times this year. He's plenty athletic too.

I really like Roigard, whereas feel Finlay Christie has had a limited enough season. Agree on Weber and Smith obviously, but Roigard to me looks like a long term option at 9, who has a great boot on him as well.

sydthebeat · 16-06-2023 4:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120723036#Comment_120723036

between riogard (22), fakatava (23) and cortez ratima (22), the ABs will have some tasty battles for the 9 jersey for the next decade.

Locke_Lamora · 16-06-2023 4:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120723048#Comment_120723048

Did fakatava have a great year? Wasn't that impressed by him whenever I got to see him.

sydthebeat · 16-06-2023 4:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120723242#Comment_120723242

Been injured for most of it, but as I mentioned above he has credit in the bank.

sydthebeat · 18-06-2023 9:46am

Riogard, McLeod, narawa, and Sami finau in, with Stevenson in as cover for telea.

Brad Webber and Fakatava out,

18-06-2023 10:09am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120729326#Comment_120729326

Very surprised at the Brad Weber call.

Hoskins Sututu and Akita Ioane can’t have helped their cases with that performance on Friday.

Fakatava and Weber both in the All Blacks XV selection alongside a few prominent names like Oli Jäger, Alex Nankivell and others.

sydthebeat · 18-06-2023 10:12am

The 30-strong All Blacks XV squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby club, province):

Forwards:

Props

Jermaine Ainsley (28, Highlanders, Otago)

Oli Jager (27, Crusaders, Canterbury)

Tevita Mafileo (25, Hurricanes, Bay of Plenty)

Xavier Numia (24, Hurricanes, Wellington)

Aidan Ross (27, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)

Hookers

Asafo Aumua (26, Hurricanes, Wellington)

Ricky Riccitelli (28, Blues, Taranaki)

Tyrone Thompson (23, Chiefs, Wellington)

Locks

Naitoa Ah Kuoi (23, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)

Quinten Strange (26, Crusaders, Tasman)

Isaia Walker-Leawere (26, Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay)

Loose Forwards

Billy Harmon (28, Highlanders, Canterbury)

Akira Ioane (28, Blues, Auckland)

Du’Plessis Kirifi (26, Hurricanes, Wellington)

Christian Lio-Willie (24, Crusaders, Otago)

Pita Gus Sowakula (28, Chiefs, Taranaki)

Cameron Suafoa (27, Blues, North Harbour)

Backs:

Halfbacks

Folau Fakatava (23, Highlanders, Hawke’s Bay)

Brad Weber (32, Chiefs, Hawke’s Bay)

First-five-eighths

Brett Cameron (26, Hurricanes, Manawatū)

Stephen Perofeta (26, Blues, Taranaki)

Midfielders

Jack Goodhue (27, Crusaders, Northland)

Alex Nankivell (26, Chiefs, Tasman)

Billy Proctor (24, Hurricanes, Wellington)

Bailyn Sullivan (24, Hurricanes, Waikato)

Outside Backs

Sam Gilbert (24, Highlanders, Otago)

AJ Lam (24, Blues, Auckland)

Ruben Love (22, Hurricanes, Wellington)

Etene Nanai-Seturo (23, Chiefs, Counties Manukau)

Jona Nareki (25, Highlanders, Otago)

sydthebeat · 18-06-2023 10:22am

Sotutu out of both squads.

Nice to see oli jager included, but I think at this stage if he really wants to pursue an all black cap he needs to get out of the crusaders. His younger team mates for that jersey have leap frogged him at test level.

Kinda surprised at the Weber dropping. I'm not impressed by Christie and riogard is obviously very green. Smith is very much "aged" at this stage. 9 is a point of weakness now for the ABs.

I'm also very surprised not to see zarn Sullivan on the seconds squad. He's been one of the better back three this season in my opinion. He's certainly put in better performances than Caleb Clarke anyway.

Yeah_Right · 18-06-2023 11:39am

Smith is still the best halfback in NZ but this is his final season. Surprised at Christie over Weber but I think he was generally ahead of him last year so I guess he has credit in the bank. Fakatava just hasn't played enough so I'm happy to see Roigard there. Fakatava has had bad luck with injuries since he became eligible for NZ.

Can't remember what injury TJP has but I hope he comes back from it and has a good run of games so he can get a proper send off. He's been a great servant to NZ rugby.

Also surprised that Zarn Sullivan didn't make the second team.

AbusesToilets · 18-06-2023 12:00pm

Who do think gets the starting 10 jersey? Has DMC shown enough get a start?

Yeah_Right · 18-06-2023 12:07pm

I think Richie Mo starts. Barrett or D Mac on the bench.

19-06-2023 9:36am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120729748#Comment_120729748

You think Jordan at 15, or any chance Barrett or McKenzie back there?

What's your likely 23 from that squad?

sydthebeat · 19-06-2023 10:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120729718#Comment_120729718

mo'unga all the way, hes playing at a different level this year.

DMCK at 15 for me, with jordan and Leicester on the wing.

what they do with Beauden barrett is the big puzzle. I see him in the 23 jersey.

amazingly, of the barrett brothers, i see scott as the one playing the best rugby at the moment.

Yeah_Right · 19-06-2023 10:53am

What I would like to see is:

1 Williams

2 Taukei'aho

3 Laulala

4 Retallick

5 Whitelock

6 Frizell

7 Papali'i

8 Savea

9 Smith

10 Mo'unga

11 Jordan

12 Barrett

13 Ioane

14 Telea

15 McKenzie

16 Coles

17 Tu'ungafasi

18 Newell

19 Barrett

20 Jacobson

21 Roigard

22 Barrett

23 Clarke

But thats not going to happen. I do think Aumua should have been included ahead of Taylor.

AbusesToilets · 19-06-2023 12:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120733433#Comment_120733433

You'd pick Clarke over Stevenson? Read a lot of surprise that Clarke was included at all.

Yeah_Right · 19-06-2023 12:27pm

Yeah I think if Clarke gets his form back, he's better than Stevenson.

AbusesToilets · 19-06-2023 12:42pm

Has he shown any improvement in his defense? He's looked very weak there in the past

19-06-2023 12:45pm

Are the All Blacks a little lacking in back three options?

Fainga'anuku is pretty young to be heading to Europe (23). I've been seriously impressed by Emoni Narawa in Super Rugby, and I absolutely am a huge fan of Ruben Love (didn't play much this season with injury etc), but the rest of the All Blacks XV back three options don't look to have next level potential with the possible exception of Etene Nanai-Seturo.

sydthebeat · 19-06-2023 1:08pm

nanai-seturo promised an awful lot from his u20s days, but hasnt fulfilled that potential yet.

a back 3 of jordan, dmack and faingaanuku is among the worlds best. but yeah, options after them arent stacked.

Yeah_Right · 19-06-2023 1:25pm

The back 3 kind of sums up the whole ABs squad. Some good players there but on current form, very few of them would be in the conversation for a World XV. Apart from Savea and Mo'uaga. In the great AB teams of the past, pretty much every starter and most of bench would be in that conversation. And there would be a few who were undeniably the world's best. But not now.

Theres a lot of talent in that squad but I don't think Foster is the man to get the most out of that talent.

Super Rugby 2023

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