Super Rugby Pacific 2023

[Carter's Choice]

Thought I'd start a catch-all for this season's Super Rugby chat and match discussions.

Go the Crusaders!

The draw is below;
https://super.rugby/superrugby/document ... -schedule/

[Gumboot]

Great to hear that Goodhue came through unscathed. If he stays fit, he could be in for a big season.

[Monkey Magic]

Thought I'd start a catch-all for this season's Super Rugby chat and match discussions.

Go the Crusaders!

Will they even have a coach?

For the blues, fingers crossed we can limit the damage our brain dead props like to inflict on us. Dalton and sotutu to create a monster partnership them sit in tracksuits for the All blacks

[Guy Smiley]

The match winning try from the Highlander's reserve hooker was a pearler

[Gumboot]

That was fun.

[Carter's Choice]

Thought I'd start a catch-all for this season's Super Rugby chat and match discussions.

Go the Crusaders!

Will they even have a coach?

Regardless of Robertson's next move, I think it's unlikely that he doesn't finish this season at the Crusaders. This will be his last though, which is a real shame because he's been brilliant for us.

[Carter's Choice]

Great to hear that Goodhue came through unscathed. If he stays fit, he could be in for a big season.

Ian Foster has a raging hard-on for Reiko Ioane wearing the 13 jersey.

[Carter's Choice]

Is anyone else going to Super Round in Melbourne in Round 2? I'm going this year and I'd like to make it a regular thing, but that's only going to happen if it becomes an event. I love the NRL's Magic Round.

[Guy Smiley]

Thought I'd start a catch-all for this season's Super Rugby chat and match discussions.

Go the Crusaders!

Will they even have a coach?

Regardless of Robertson's next move, I think it's unlikely that he doesn't finish this season at the Crusaders. This will be his last though, which is a real shame because he's been brilliant for us.

Yeah... I think he'll see the season out, unless something tectonic rocks the rugby world in the meantime.

[Gumboot]

Great to hear that Goodhue came through unscathed. If he stays fit, he could be in for a big season.

Ian Foster has a raging hard-on for Reiko Ioane wearing the 13 jersey.

Goodhue's been injured and hasn't played a test since 2020.

[Guy Smiley]

Great to hear that Goodhue came through unscathed. If he stays fit, he could be in for a big season.

Ian Foster has a raging hard-on for Reiko Ioane wearing the 13 jersey.

Goodhue's been injured and hasn't played a test since 2020.

Foster played Goodhue at 12 to fit Reiko into the midfield.

Hard on is legit.

[Gumboot]

Ian Foster has a raging hard-on for Reiko Ioane wearing the 13 jersey.

Goodhue's been injured and hasn't played a test since 2020.

Foster played Goodhue at 12 to fit Reiko into the midfield.

Hard on is legit.

Reiko wasn't even considered a serious option at centre until Goodhue got injured. And let's not forget Hansen and Foster's years of dicking around with Goodhue and Lienert-Brown at 12 and 13, or is it 13 and 12, or 12 and... clueless.

[Guy Smiley]

Nah... Rieko was played at centre before Goodhue's injury.

That injury (along with Tupaea's) paved the way for Jordie at 12.

[Gumboot]

Nah... Rieko was played at centre before Goodhue's injury.

That injury (along with Tupaea's) paved the way for Jordie at 12.

Yep, he played just one test at centre before Goodhue's long-term injury. Foster (and Hansen) never saw him as a centre. Reiko fought Foster in the press for the chance to play at 13. And just like Jordie, they eventually landed back in their best position despite their coaches and/or selectors believing they were better utilised elsewhere in the team.

[Carter's Choice]

2 weeks until the season starts (all times are in AEST time);

Crusaders vs Chiefs - Fri 24th Feb - 7.05pm
Waratahs vs Brumbies - Fri 24th Feb - 6.35pm
Moana Pasifika vs Fijian Drua - Sat 25th Feb - 1.35pm
Highlanders vs Blues - Sat 25th Feb - 4.05pm
Reds vs Hurricanes - Sat 25th Feb - 6.35pm
Force vs Rebels - Saturday 25th Feb - 9pm

[Ogre]

Is anyone else going to Super Round in Melbourne in Round 2? I'm going this year and I'd like to make it a regular thing, but that's only going to happen if it becomes an event. I love the NRL's Magic Round.

Im heading along for the Friday games.

[Puku Ioane]

Ian Foster has a raging hard-on for Reiko Ioane wearing the 13 jersey.

Goodhue's been injured and hasn't played a test since 2020.

Foster played Goodhue at 12 to fit Reiko into the midfield.

Hard on is legit.

Razor moved Goodhue into 12 first in 2020 to accommodate Ennor. Foster was just copying Razor.

[Carter's Choice]

Is anyone else going to Super Round in Melbourne in Round 2? I'm going this year and I'd like to make it a regular thing, but that's only going to happen if it becomes an event. I love the NRL's Magic Round.

Im heading along for the Friday games.

Yeah, I'm going for the whole weekend but I'm mainly interested in the Friday night and Sunday games. May even give the Saturday games a miss and just enjoy a day in Melbourne.

[Ogre]

Is anyone else going to Super Round in Melbourne in Round 2? I'm going this year and I'd like to make it a regular thing, but that's only going to happen if it becomes an event. I love the NRL's Magic Round.

Im heading along for the Friday games.

Yeah, I'm going for the whole weekend but I'm mainly interested in the Friday night and Sunday games. May even give the Saturday games a miss and just enjoy a day in Melbourne.

Melbourne cabal is best cabal dont forget.

[Puku Ioane]

Ive bought a ticket for Friday. Not sure about the other days yet but would likely be Sunday.

[Guy Smiley]

Goodhue's been injured and hasn't played a test since 2020.

Foster played Goodhue at 12 to fit Reiko into the midfield.

Hard on is legit.

Razor moved Goodhue into 12 first in 2020 to accommodate Ennor. Foster was just copying Razor.

Foster was copying Razor but Razor didn't play Goodhue at 12 to accommodate Ennor, he moved him in to cover the loss of Ryan Crotty. Ennor was always more of an outside back / centre who looked unlikely to be an effective 12, whereas they thought Goodhue could cover it, which he did. His best spot is 13, where he's a natural.

[Puku Ioane]

Foster played Goodhue at 12 to fit Reiko into the midfield.

Hard on is legit.

Razor moved Goodhue into 12 first in 2020 to accommodate Ennor. Foster was just copying Razor.

Foster was copying Razor but Razor didn't play Goodhue at 12 to accommodate Ennor, he moved him in to cover the loss of Ryan Crotty. Ennor was always more of an outside back / centre who looked unlikely to be an effective 12, whereas they thought Goodhue could cover it, which he did. His best spot is 13, where he's a natural.

From what I have seen I agree that Goodhue is best at 13.

[Guy Smiley]

Teams named for the first game. Some notable inclusions and selections...

[Kiwias]

Sam Whitelock and Will Jordan the key players not starting, Jordan because of head issues.

Interesting to see Goodhue and ALB both starting at 12, and Sowakula at 6. Expecting a great battle between him and Blackadder.

[Gumboot]

Great to see Grace, Blackadder and Goodhue coming back from their serious injuries.

Reckon the Chiefs will go close to winning the lot this year. I hope McKenzie can stay fit and get to the RWC, after missing out on the last one through injury... and given the ABs are gonna be short of proven 10s come 2024.

[Guy Smiley]

Great to see Grace, Blackadder and Goodhue coming back from their serious injuries.

Reckon the Chiefs will go close to winning the lot this year. I hope McKenzie can stay fit and get to the RWC, after missing out on the last one through injury... and given the ABs are gonna be short of proven 10s come 2024.

I think it's a stretch calling DMac a proven 10. He's capable of delivering a good game but his record suggests he's a flaky proposition. I read an opinion piece the other day suggesting he'll be needed as a back up option at 10 because, in the writer's view, BB isn't. He also suggested the AB coaches would be asking the Chiefs to play him at 10 because....


we're desperately short of depth at 10 again.

I would prefer to see Perofeta and Fergus Burke get major game time at 10 this year because those two are the future and the likely depth options if we end up going to a 5th cab off the rank scenario again.

[Gumboot]

At test level, I still think McKenzie's best position may end up being 23, but he's played a lot of his career at 10, and another Supe season in the saddle certainly won't hurt.

Much as I love Perofeta, having followed him since his school days (shout out to Harry Godfrey on making the Canes squad btw), I don't really see him as the long term solution. Would love to see more of Zarn Sullivan at 10, and I'm disappointed that Alex Harford missed out on a Supe contract as I thought he oozed quality in his limited game time for Canterbury last year.

[Guy Smiley]

I liked the partnership that Sullivan and Perofeta had last year when BB was out of the team. The backline looked switched on and dangerous with those two in control.

[Gumboot]

I liked the partnership that Sullivan and Perofeta had last year when BB was out of the team. The backline looked switched on and dangerous with those two in control.

It was a shame about Zarn's injury - I was expecting him to have a big NPC.

[Guy Smiley]

10 minutes to go...

[Gumboot]

https://rugbystreams.me/crusaders-vs-ch ... e/stream-1

https://tm.fbstream.tv/live/stream/crus ... iefs-fb-1/

https://www.vipbox.lc/crusaders-vs-chiefs-1-live

https://sportshd.co/live/sky-sport-nz-1

Get in!

[Gumboot]

Ah shit, Cullen Grace is already off injured. Doesn't look good - shoulder/collar bone?

[Guy Smiley]

Yup, Grace didn’t look good. Medics clearly checking his shoulder / AC joint, goes off favouring an arm and 5 minutes later a breathless Goldy tells us it’s a shoulder injury. Brilliant.

Fletcher Newell looks wobbly too. Not a good start, injury wise.

Great to see the best comp in the world back. Best players, best grounds, best music, best rugby. Such atmosphere. Much wow.

[Gumboot]

Grace's replacement Christian Lio-Willie is having a helluva game.

[Guy Smiley]

He is having a blinder, it’s great to see…

And there are too many Barrett’s in this game.

[Gumboot]

Not sure Scooter's the right Barrett to be trying these tricky kicks...

[Gumboot]

Saders ahead 10-7 at HT.

The players look gassed. This could really open up in the second 40.

[Guy Smiley]

Not sure Scooter's the right Barrett to be trying these tricky kicks...

It looks to be genetics

[Kiwias]

Saders ahead 10-7 at HT.

The players look gassed. This could really open up in the second 40.

It is not that hot in ChCh tonight but the pace of a real game is clearly higher than the pre-season friendlies

[Torquemada 1420]

Already can't see past either of these 2!