New Zealand Super Rugby Squads 2017

[waiopehu oldboy]

Blues

Forwards: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Epalahame Faiva, Charlie Faumuina, Blake Gibson, Josh Goodhue, Alex Hodgman, Akira Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Steven Luatua, Sione Mafileo, Pauliasi Manu, Matt Moulds, Brandon Nansen, James Parsons, Sam Prattley, Kara Pryor, Scott Scrafton , Murphy Taramai, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jimmy Tupou, Ofa Tu'ungafasi

Backs: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, TJ Faiane, Billy Guyton, Rieko Ioane, Matt Vaega, George Moala, Melani Nanai, Sam Nock, Declan O'Donnell, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu, Rene Ranger, Jordon Trainor, Ihaia West, Sonny Bill Williams, Piers Francis

Chiefs:

Forwards: Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Mitchell Graham, Kane Hames, Sefo Kautai, Nepo Laulala, Atu Moli, Hika Elliot, Nathan Harris, Liam Polwart, Michael Allardice, Dominic Bird, Brodie Retallick, James Tucker, Mitchell Brown, Lachlan Boshier, Sam Cane, Mitchell Karpik, Michael Leitch, Liam Messam, Tom Sanders, Taleni Seu.

Backs: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Finlay Christie, Brad Weber, Aaron Cruden, Stephen Donald, Damian McKenzie, Johnny Fa'auli, Anton Lienert-Brown, Tim Nanai-Williams, Charlie Ngatai, Solomon Alaimalo, Glen Fisiiahi, James Lowe, Sam McNicol, Toni Pulu, Shaun Stevenson, Chase Tiatia.

Hurricanes

Forwards: Chris Eves, Reggie Goodes, Ben May, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Loni Uhila, Mike Kainga, Dane Coles, Leni Apisai, Ricky Ricciteli, Mark Abbott, James Broadhurst, Geoff Cridge, Michael Fatialofa, Sam Lousi, Callum Gibbins, Vaea Fifita, Reed Prinsep, Hugh Renton, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Blade Thomson, Toa Halafihi.

Backs: TJ Perenara, Te Toiria Tahuiorangi, Kylem O'Donnell, Beauden Barrett, Otere Black, Vince Aso, Ngani Laumape, Matt Proctor, Pita Ahki, Wes Goosen, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Ben Lam, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Jordie Barrett.

Crusaders

Forwards: Michael Ala'alatoa, Wyatt Crockett, Oliver Jager, Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Andrew Makalio, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Quinten Strange, Sam Whitelock, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Jed Brown, Mitchell Dunshea, Kieran Read, Pete Samu, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd.

Backs: Mitchell Drummond, Leon Fukofuka, Bryn Hall, Tim Bateman, Marty McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Seta Tamanivalu, Sean Wainui, George Bridge, Israel Dagg, Sione Fifita, Mitchell Hunt, Digby Ioane, Jone Macilai, Manasa Mataele.

Highlanders

Forwards: Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Siosuia Halanukonuka, Guy Millar, Siate Tokolahi, Aki Seiuli, Craig Millar, Tom Franklin, Joe Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Josh Dickson, Jackson Hemopo, Luke Whitelock, Liam Squire, James Lentjes, Gareth Evans, Dan Pryor, Shane Christie, Elliot Dixon.

Backs: Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Josh Renton, Lima Sopoaga, Hayden Parker, Fletcher Smith, Rob Thompson, Patelesio Tomkinson, Teihorangi Walden, Richard Buckman, Matt Faddes, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Patrick Osborne, Tevita Li, Jason Emery, Ben Smith.


Transferring in:

Blues
Alex Hodgman (Crusaders)
Augustine Pulu (Chiefs)
Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs)
Jimmy Tupou (Crusaders)
Pauliasi Manu (Chiefs)

Chiefs
NONE

Hurricanes
Reed Prinsep (Crusaders)
Ben Lam (Blues)

Crusaders
Seta Tamanivalu (Chiefs)
Bryn Hall (Blues)

Highlanders
Tevita Li (Blues)
Siate Tokolahi (Chiefs)

Recruited from overseas:

Japan
Tim Bateman (Crusaders)
Liam Messam (Chiefs)
Digby Ioane (Crusaders)
Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs)

Australia
Sam Lousi (Hurricanes)
Guy Millar (Highlanders)

Eye-opener for me is that the Chiefs haven't recruited anyone other than Nanai-Williams (cousin of SBW), Messam being a returning player IMO, despite losing quite a few guys to the other franchises. Strange.

I see the Bloos list is alphabetical not positional (typical that they just have to be different ) I'll rejig & repost when I get time & work out who plays where.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Ben Vola Vola out of the Crusaders? Blues again look to have a very strong squad and will have the benefit of the two Ioanes for the whole season, injury permitting of course.

Any news on the fitness of Ngatai and Milner-Skudder?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NMS will be good to go, last I heard he was back into light contact training. Not so sure about Ngatai, haven't seen much about him recently but hopefully the extended break does the trick & he comes back with no long-term issues.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Word has it Colin Cooper (Hurricanes coach 2003-11 & current Maori AB coach) will take over at the Chiefs, appointment to be announced this week.

EDIT: there's also a story on stuff.co.nz that has Gatland staying in NZ after the Lions tour & potentially taking over the Highlanders.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...nd-to-live-after-british-and-irish-lions-tour

Not sure how seriously to take the Highlanders bit, but if his wife & kids are already living back in NZ it would make sense for him to also move back.

EDIT: updated story has Gatland totally denying it but as he'd have to exit his contract early in order to move back to NZ, he would, wouldn't he?

 

[zer0]

Will be interested to see how much, if any, we see of Stephen Perofeta at first five for the Blues. Apparently he's impressed at all levels so far.

 

[The torpedo]

Holy shit that Blues backline is dangerous:

9. Pulu
10. West
11. Ranger
12. SBW
13. R.Ioane
14. Moala
15. Nanai

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^^ West will need to have a breakout season a la Richie Mo'unga last season or it'll all end in what might've beens. Again.

 

[zer0]

TBF West did finally start to look good at the back end of last season, but that was with Francis at second five. Given the backlog of midfield options -- many of which are vying for midfield test positions -- playing a West/Francis five-eight pairing isn't possible IMO. Whichever of West, Francis or Perofeta that plays at first five will have to run the show on their own. That doesn't bode well for West, I don't think.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Kieran Read is having wrist surgery & won't play until April. Sam Whitelock has been named as Crusaders captain.

 

[Hawko]

Will be interested to see how much, if any, we see of Stephen Perofeta at first five for the Blues. Apparently he's impressed at all levels so far.

Another one off the NZ production line! And our best two emerging 10's are McIntyre and Jooste???

 

[Brumby Runner]

^^^^ Jooste more than matched the Baby Blacks' No 10 in the second U20s game this year. Not sure now if Perofeta or Barratt was playing 10 for the BBs.

 

[HJ Nelson]

^^^^ Jooste more than matched the Baby Blacks' No 10 in the second U20s game this year. Not sure now if Perofeta or Barratt was playing 10 for the BBs.

According to my notes from the 2 games at Bond Uni this year

Game 1 (NZ 30 - Aus 10)

10 Mason
12 JJH

and

10 Perofeta
12 Barrett

Game 2 (Aus 25 - NZL 24)

Named team

10 Mason
12 Tuipulotu

But, Jooste was a late call-up for Liam Jurd and played 12

10 Orbyn Leger
12 Barrett
22 Perofeta

Then at the World Championships (NZL 55 - Aus 24)

10 Jooste
12 Tuipulotu

10 Perofeta
12 Barrett

 

[amirite]

^^^^^^^^^^ West will need to have a breakout season a la Richie Mo'unga last season or it'll all end in what might've beens. Again.

Don't know if I agree there, he wouldn't be the first player to disappear to Europe and then pop up in a test squad in 3 years time.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Colin Cooper confirmed as Chiefs coach from 2018:

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/cooper-to-take-over-chiefs-reins-in-2018/

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Marty Banks is training with the Highlanders & the Italian Club he's meant to be playing for aren't impressed:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...s-as-highlanders-confirm-openness-to-sign-him

It'd be nice to think theClan wouldn't sign him should he renege on his contract with Treviso but I wouldn't put money on it...........

 

[TOCC]

When did the Italian season start? Surely they have sorted something out by by now, he is already months over due...


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[waiopehu oldboy]

Treviso have played 13 Pro12 & six Challenge Cup fixtures this season. Banks was meant to join them pretty much immediately after M10 Cup finished but so far has been a total no-show. Very, very unprofessional IMO.

 

[amirite]

There's probably more to it.

 

[mst]

I see the Bloos list is alphabetical not positional (typical that they just have to be different ) I'll rejig & repost when I get time & work out who plays where.

 

[mst]

There's probably more to it.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...eps-having-yet-to-turn-up-to-his-italian-club

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...s-as-highlanders-confirm-openness-to-sign-him

Looks like a simple case of "ïdontwannas".