Super Rugby 2022
- Thread starter Dismal Pillock
- Start date
Dan54
Tim Horan (67)
Hells teeth! Still I trying to look at positive side and ignore what's slapping me in the face, so I just going on as though it all going ahead!
Dan54
Tim Horan (67)
Ok how I looking at Chiefs
Positives
1 Front row is looking pretty ok Ta'aovo, Ross and Atu Moli are prtty competent props at this level, Norris and O'Neil are ok too, at Hooker they got Taukei'aho who was bloody good at test level, Slater from the Naki who is npt bad, and young Thompson from Wellington for future
2 Look bloody good in 2nd row, Lurch is back, along with Lord and Vai'i they are pretty well served along with Ah Khuoi
3 Loosies are a pretty good bunch, Cane, Jacobson and Sowakula will be pretty handy
4 9-10 will bw pretty ok, Weber and Roe along with Josh Ioane, Gatland etc will be ok.
5 Like the first choice mid field of Tupaea and ALB, with Nankivell also handy.
Negatives (not a lot
1 Maybe mobility of front row apart from Taukei'aho
2 Can Lurch get back his dominant form?
3 Maybe could consider the back 3 as just pretty good super players, but none that would consider a real star.
If Abs in team can fire up early after huge season last year, I really see them capable of beating anyone, but would think a top 4-5 finish is realistic, but wouldn't surprise me if they nake the big dance at end of comp!
Positives
1 Front row is looking pretty ok Ta'aovo, Ross and Atu Moli are prtty competent props at this level, Norris and O'Neil are ok too, at Hooker they got Taukei'aho who was bloody good at test level, Slater from the Naki who is npt bad, and young Thompson from Wellington for future
2 Look bloody good in 2nd row, Lurch is back, along with Lord and Vai'i they are pretty well served along with Ah Khuoi
3 Loosies are a pretty good bunch, Cane, Jacobson and Sowakula will be pretty handy
4 9-10 will bw pretty ok, Weber and Roe along with Josh Ioane, Gatland etc will be ok.
5 Like the first choice mid field of Tupaea and ALB, with Nankivell also handy.
Negatives (not a lot
1 Maybe mobility of front row apart from Taukei'aho
2 Can Lurch get back his dominant form?
3 Maybe could consider the back 3 as just pretty good super players, but none that would consider a real star.
If Abs in team can fire up early after huge season last year, I really see them capable of beating anyone, but would think a top 4-5 finish is realistic, but wouldn't surprise me if they nake the big dance at end of comp!
The Nomad
Bob Davidson (42)
Let me guess , all at Noosa for NYE?
PhilClinton
Geoff Shaw (53)
I know a group of 4 players and their mates were together for a party on 26th/27th December and since then have all contracted it, no major illness though.
I would have thought they'd all be cleared by now so I'm not sure if the 11 current players are a new group.
PhilClinton
Geoff Shaw (53)
Surely the general issue of player safety plays much more of a factor in rugby than cricket.
The only real winning result is playing the games as per program, but outside of that, I think they’d just cancel games if player availability becomes a problem.
The only real winning result is playing the games as per program, but outside of that, I think they’d just cancel games if player availability becomes a problem.
Members Section
John Thornett (49)
I was actually there tonight & yeah it didnt have a great feel to it. I mean it as fun to watch Finchy put a few into the stands but we all knew the result before it started.
Dan54
Tim Horan (67)
Ok , I still pretending covid not going to interfere and as none of Blues supprters are willing to look at their team, my take on them is
Positives
1 Strong scrummaging front row, Laulala, Tu'inukufase, Tuungafasi, Hodgeman etc
2 Good loosies. Papalii,Sotutu, Ioane (if he really turns up) Segner (I really like this kid) Robinson (who may cover lock a fair bit) and Plumtree are all pretty capable to really good players.
3 Good inside backs ,Christie will go well after AB spell, Barrett is as good a 10 as there is around and will play there this year, backed up by Perofata, so ggod there.
4 Biggest question , so I taking people's word for it but if RTS (Roger Tuivasa-Sheck) is as good as some say, him and Ioane will be bloody good midfield, suspect this could be Reiko's real breakout year at 13
5 Pretty handy back 3, Zarn Sullivan I salivate over how good this kid might be, Caleb Clarke back, and really think rest of their wingers are pretty good.
Negatives (not a lot)
1 Not overly convinced with their locks, good but not scarey
2 If RTS (Roger Tuivasa-Sheck) isn't as good as some saying they maybe a little light at 12
I guessing a top 3 finish for them, and can see them winning the big dance if they play to potential!
Positives
1 Strong scrummaging front row, Laulala, Tu'inukufase, Tuungafasi, Hodgeman etc
2 Good loosies. Papalii,Sotutu, Ioane (if he really turns up) Segner (I really like this kid) Robinson (who may cover lock a fair bit) and Plumtree are all pretty capable to really good players.
3 Good inside backs ,Christie will go well after AB spell, Barrett is as good a 10 as there is around and will play there this year, backed up by Perofata, so ggod there.
4 Biggest question , so I taking people's word for it but if RTS (Roger Tuivasa-Sheck) is as good as some say, him and Ioane will be bloody good midfield, suspect this could be Reiko's real breakout year at 13
5 Pretty handy back 3, Zarn Sullivan I salivate over how good this kid might be, Caleb Clarke back, and really think rest of their wingers are pretty good.
Negatives (not a lot)
1 Not overly convinced with their locks, good but not scarey
2 If RTS (Roger Tuivasa-Sheck) isn't as good as some saying they maybe a little light at 12
I guessing a top 3 finish for them, and can see them winning the big dance if they play to potential!
zer0
Jim Lenehan (48)
Yes he's likely going to be played at 12, specifically.
www.rugbypass.com
The alternatives are Teleʻa (who I believe is more of a centre, and had some good outings there last season IIRC), Plummer (as an older style Aaron Mauger/pre-Nonu style second-five better suited for the bench) or Clarke (also wants to eventually transition into the midfield). Clarke might be a longer term option but doubt he'll be too keen to move there this close to the RWC.
Blues boss Leon MacDonald reveals where Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will play
The Blues have hinted where in the backline cross-code star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could play in round one of next year's Super Rugby Pacific.
www.rugbypass.com
The alternatives are Teleʻa (who I believe is more of a centre, and had some good outings there last season IIRC), Plummer (as an older style Aaron Mauger/pre-Nonu style second-five better suited for the bench) or Clarke (also wants to eventually transition into the midfield). Clarke might be a longer term option but doubt he'll be too keen to move there this close to the RWC.
KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
Similar numbers in Mexico
Dan54
Tim Horan (67)
Rangi said the intention had been to play him on wing during NPC, but missed chance because of covid and seemed to say a couple of weeks back he intended to go ahead with plans for him to play 12.
Whoops just seen zer0's post. And I agree Plummer is a reasonable cover at 12 if they want a second five, rather than inside centre.
Dan54
Tim Horan (67)
Ok, I'll throw in Crusaders too
Positives
1 Front row is pretty handy. Moody,Bower Codie Taylor are a pretty bloody good starting front row, back ups are all ok, and I admit to being fan of young Tamaiti Williams, think he another young un with a future, f***en big and mobile!
2 Best second row in comp fullstop!! Whitelock, Barrett,Strange, Dunshea are all quality!
3 good loosies, without being brilliant, maybe light on a real good openside, maybe see Ethan blackadder there a bit, but matera a good catch.
4 Good 9s Drummond and Hall both would be test players in most other countries, and TTT been there. Mounga at 10, though not sure when he will start season.
5 Havili/Goodhue ,Ennor (although yet to fulfill promise) and MacLeod and even Fainganu'uku who is bloody good 13
6 Back 3 with Will Jordan, George Bridge, Sevu Reece and Fainganu'uku will be pretty handy, Jordan may play a bit at 15?
7 It's the F***en Sadists, they used to being bloody good and know how to win!!
Negatives, (not many)
1 Last year or so have relied on Richie Mo, and with him maybe starting season late, and them now playing all the NZ teams early, may just cause a problem as yet.
2 Not real sure who will be 15? (I maybe grasping at straws)
3 I suspect that a few of the team were inolved in an awful lot of test rugby last year and away from home forever and a day, so maybe a little tired early, Codie Taylor etc were looking at going through motions a bit during test season.
Obviously guessing a top 3 finish, and could well be in final!
Positives
1 Front row is pretty handy. Moody,Bower Codie Taylor are a pretty bloody good starting front row, back ups are all ok, and I admit to being fan of young Tamaiti Williams, think he another young un with a future, f***en big and mobile!
2 Best second row in comp fullstop!! Whitelock, Barrett,Strange, Dunshea are all quality!
3 good loosies, without being brilliant, maybe light on a real good openside, maybe see Ethan blackadder there a bit, but matera a good catch.
4 Good 9s Drummond and Hall both would be test players in most other countries, and TTT been there. Mounga at 10, though not sure when he will start season.
5 Havili/Goodhue ,Ennor (although yet to fulfill promise) and MacLeod and even Fainganu'uku who is bloody good 13
6 Back 3 with Will Jordan, George Bridge, Sevu Reece and Fainganu'uku will be pretty handy, Jordan may play a bit at 15?
7 It's the F***en Sadists, they used to being bloody good and know how to win!!
Negatives, (not many)
1 Last year or so have relied on Richie Mo, and with him maybe starting season late, and them now playing all the NZ teams early, may just cause a problem as yet.
2 Not real sure who will be 15? (I maybe grasping at straws)
3 I suspect that a few of the team were inolved in an awful lot of test rugby last year and away from home forever and a day, so maybe a little tired early, Codie Taylor etc were looking at going through motions a bit during test season.
Obviously guessing a top 3 finish, and could well be in final!
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
We don't want to give too much away. (Or we just don't know).