Super Rugby NZ - 2021 Squads

[Enzedder]

Oops - I wondered where those posts were on the cricket thread?

Another one missing who I thought was good last night was Caleb Trask. He can't be far away.

Trask is in the Chiefs squad as a first five. I thought he was good last night at 15.

D'oh - I think I had better check the whole squad

[Carter's Choice]

There are some real anomalies in the 2021 squads which I don't think are great for NZ's player development. I know the franchises recruit players independently, but given how much control NZR exerts over all aspects of the game, surely we could have done better?

Highlanders: NZ has been searching for a permanent test bindside flanker since the retirement of Jerome Kaino, yet we once again face the situation where two of the top contenders, Frizell and Squire, are both playing for the same franchise. All that will do is create a logjam and stall both players development.

The Highlanders also boast two of the best ball running no.8's in NZ, in Marino Mika'ele-Tu'u and Teariki Ben-Nicholas. Both should be in the reckoning for the AB's yet niether is currently in the frame because they effectively share the position at SR level. Surely one of them would be better off moving franchises, the Crusaders don't currently have a similar ball running loose forward?

Blues: How have the Blues been able to hoard four test props, (Karl T and Hodgman at LH prop and Laulala and Ofa T at TH prop). Props don't improve by sitting on the bench, they improve with consistent minutes on the park. I've never seen a NZ SR squad boast such front row riches.

Crusaders: The AB's have been searching for a established midfield since the retirement of Smith & Nonu. Goodhue and Ennor are two of the best 13's in NZ, yet they play for the same franchise, forcing Goodhue to wear no.12. The Crusaders also boast two of the top right wings in NZ in Reece and Jordan, which means that someone's development will be stunted.

Chiefs: There is no doubt that Lachlan Boshier is one of the best openside flankers in NZ. His skills at the breakdown are unmatched. Yet he is stuck behind the the All Black captain and NZ's first choice no.7 in Sam Cane. Boshier's refusal to leave the Chiefs seems strange, one can only assume that he doesn't want to play for the All Blacks?

Hurricanes: Asafo Aumua is the 3rd ranked hooker in NZ behind Coles and Taylor. But his development is stunted playing behind Dane Coles at the Hurricanes. He'll never challenge the top two NZ hookers until he is a longterm starting hooker at SR level, but this won't happen unless he moves to a different franchises

[stemoc]

What happened to Jack Whetton? I thought he did pretty well this year.

Joined an aussie franchise i think , tards.

[mrbrownstone]

There are some real anomalies in the 2021 squads which I don't think are great for NZ's player development. I know the franchises recruit players independently, but given how much control NZR exerts over all aspects of the game, surely we could have done better?

Highlanders: NZ has been searching for a permanent test bindside flanker since the retirement of Jerome Kaino, yet we once again face the situation where two of the top contenders, Frizell and Squire, are both playing for the same franchise. All that will do is create a logjam and stall both players development.

The Highlanders also boast two of the best ball running no.8's in NZ, in Marino Mika'ele-Tu'u and Teariki Ben-Nicholas. Both should be in the reckoning for the AB's yet niether is currently in the frame because they effectively share the position at SR level. Surely one of them would be better off moving franchises, the Crusaders don't currently have a similar ball running loose forward?

Blues: How have the Blues been able to hoard four test props, (Karl T and Hodgman at LH prop and Laulala and Ofa T at TH prop). Props don't improve by sitting on the bench, they improve with consistent minutes on the park. I've never seen a NZ SR squad boast such front row riches.

Crusaders: The AB's have been searching for a established midfield since the retirement of Smith & Nonu. Goodhue and Ennor are two of the best 13's in NZ, yet they play for the same franchise, forcing Goodhue to wear no.12. The Crusaders also boast two of the top right wings in NZ in Reece and Jordan, which means that someone's development will be stunted.

Chiefs: There is no doubt that Lachlan Boshier is one of the best openside flankers in NZ. His skills at the breakdown are unmatched. Yet he is stuck behind the the All Black captain and NZ's first choice no.7 in Sam Cane. Boshier's refusal to leave the Chiefs seems strange, one can only assume that he doesn't want to play for the All Blacks?

Hurricanes: Asafo Aumua is the 3rd ranked hooker in NZ behind Coles and Taylor. But his development is stunted playing behind Dane Coles at the Hurricanes. He'll never challenge the top two NZ hookers until he is a longterm starting hooker at SR level, but this won't happen unless he moves to a different franchises

Totally agree. You can also add to this the Highlanders having both Aaron Smith and Folau Fakatava, the Crusaders holding onto 5 test quality locks (3 capped, 2 more who were in the squad this year), and the Blues hoarding 4 capped All Black loose forwards in Hunt, Papalii, Ioane, and Sotutu, plus Gibson and Robinson who have been in the mix.

I know teams are always going to be strong in different areas, but a few swaps would strengthen every team, and more importantly the development of some current/future All Blacks.

Hurricanes and Blues swap Aumua for one of Hodgman/Tuinukuafe and both benefit.

Crusaders and Highlanders swap a centre for a ball-running backrower and both benefit.

Chiefs and Highlanders swap a blindside for Boshier and both benefit.

Blues swap one of their All Black tightheads for Fakatava and both teams benefit.

etc.

[Carter's Choice]

Probably the biggest problem is the distribution of the front row. On any given weekend half our All Black squad props plus Asafo Aumua won't be starting for their SR franchises. That's a worry.

[Ted.]

There are some real anomalies in the 2021 squads which I don't think are great for NZ's player development. I know the franchises recruit players independently, but given how much control NZR exerts over all aspects of the game, surely we could have done better?

Highlanders: NZ has been searching for a permanent test bindside flanker since the retirement of Jerome Kaino, yet we once again face the situation where two of the top contenders, Frizell and Squire, are both playing for the same franchise. All that will do is create a logjam and stall both players development.

The Highlanders also boast two of the best ball running no.8's in NZ, in Marino Mika'ele-Tu'u and Teariki Ben-Nicholas. Both should be in the reckoning for the AB's yet niether is currently in the frame because they effectively share the position at SR level. Surely one of them would be better off moving franchises, the Crusaders don't currently have a similar ball running loose forward?

Blues: How have the Blues been able to hoard four test props, (Karl T and Hodgman at LH prop and Laulala and Ofa T at TH prop). Props don't improve by sitting on the bench, they improve with consistent minutes on the park. I've never seen a NZ SR squad boast such front row riches.

Crusaders: The AB's have been searching for a established midfield since the retirement of Smith & Nonu. Goodhue and Ennor are two of the best 13's in NZ, yet they play for the same franchise, forcing Goodhue to wear no.12. The Crusaders also boast two of the top right wings in NZ in Reece and Jordan, which means that someone's development will be stunted.

Chiefs: There is no doubt that Lachlan Boshier is one of the best openside flankers in NZ. His skills at the breakdown are unmatched. Yet he is stuck behind the the All Black captain and NZ's first choice no.7 in Sam Cane. Boshier's refusal to leave the Chiefs seems strange, one can only assume that he doesn't want to play for the All Blacks?

Hurricanes: Asafo Aumua is the 3rd ranked hooker in NZ behind Coles and Taylor. But his development is stunted playing behind Dane Coles at the Hurricanes. He'll never challenge the top two NZ hookers until he is a longterm starting hooker at SR level, but this won't happen unless he moves to a different franchises

Totally agree. You can also add to this the Highlanders having both Aaron Smith and Folau Fakatava, the Crusaders holding onto 5 test quality locks (3 capped, 2 more who were in the squad this year), and the Blues hoarding 4 capped All Black loose forwards in Hunt, Papalii, Ioane, and Sotutu, plus Gibson and Robinson who have been in the mix.

I know teams are always going to be strong in different areas, but a few swaps would strengthen every team, and more importantly the development of some current/future All Blacks.

Hurricanes and Blues swap Aumua for one of Hodgman/Tuinukuafe and both benefit.

Crusaders and Highlanders swap a centre for a ball-running backrower and both benefit.

Chiefs and Highlanders swap a blindside for Boshier and both benefit.

Blues swap one of their All Black tightheads for Fakatava and both teams benefit.

etc.

We'll take it, but than a prop, we desperately need a 1st 5, a half back and a lock, along with 3/4s of a brain to go around our management team.

[Carter's Choice]

Ted,

First five is a worry across all teams. Especially with BB missing for the Blues next year. We really need some of these young 10's to step up.

[mrbrownstone]

Ted,

First five is a worry across all teams. Especially with BB missing for the Blues next year. We really need some of these young 10's to step up.

You can almost add Ioane and Hunt to the list of players impeding development.

Obviously Ioane is already capped, and Hunt has now led Tasman to back-to-back titles. You could argue that with BB overseas they're two of the next in line to the 10 jersey (with Black and maybe Perofeta also somewhere in the mix). It's not ideal that they'll be competing for minutes, while the Hurricanes and Chiefs trot out journeymen and never-will-bes like JGB, Hickey, and Gatland.

[Flockwitt]

Oops - I wondered where those posts were on the cricket thread?

Another one missing who I thought was good last night was Caleb Trask. He can't be far away.

Trask is in the Chiefs squad as a first five. I thought he was good last night at 15.

D'oh - I think I had better check the whole squad

Also agree that Trask might be one to step up going forward. Fingers-crossed.

[mrbrownstone]

Trans-tasman Super Rugby draw announced:



The Friday double-header follower by a Saturday triple-header is a thing of beauty.

How does this work logistically though? What happens in terms of finals qualification if 3 or 4 NZ teams go unbeaten against the Aussie teams? Not inconcievable.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

How great to see the Force back. They never deserved to get binned in the first place.

[mrbrownstone]

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to the Blues officially confirmed for 2022 on a two-year deal. He's also signed with Auckland and expected to feature in the Mitre 10 Cup this year, pending when the Warriors season ends (regular NRL season ends on Sept 5, with the final on Oct 3, Mitre 10 Cup runs from Sept 11-Nov 27).

In theory, a backline featuring BB, Ioane, Clarke, RTS behind a pack with 4 All Black props and more loose forwards than they know what to do with should be a thing of beauty.

Sounds like he's taken a significant pay-cut, although there's a third-party deal making the difference up:

Tuivasa-Sheck earns an estimated A$1.1 million a year playing for the Warriors, but his rugby deal is more likely to be in the region of $400,000 until he establishes himself in the national setup. However, Stuff understands that the Blues and Auckland have been able to add a significant third-party aspect to his contract which will ease the pain of that cut.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sup ... party-deal

Found this interesting too:

Tuivasa-Sheck last played rugby in 2011 when he was a nationals schools representative alongside Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea and Ngani Laumape. The path has now been mapped towards a potential reunion

[Biffer]

Still no UK broadcast deal signed.

Something better get sorted soon or I’m going to have a very small, localised, socially distanced riot.

[Dan54]

We'll take it, but than a prop, we desperately need a 1st 5, a half back and a lock, along with 3/4s of a brain to go around our management team.

Yep Ted I would swap a few for a Fakatave, at least until Booth comes right, and only trouble with looking for a 10 not sure who I would chase. I reckon with Flanders to play 8 we could either throw Kirifi in the pot as a swap? And buggered if I know where the spare brains are either, be honest one I liked the look of got the Chiefs gig with Gatland going, I like the sound of what McMillan has to say, sounds like he may have some brain.

[JPNZ]

Highlanders pre season squad named for the clash with the Crusaders on Friday the 12th at Temuka

Highlanders (first half): Connor Garden-Bachop, Ngatungane Punivai, Fetuli Paea, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Folau Fakatava, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Billy Harmon, Hugh Renton, Jack Regan, Josh Dickson, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown.

Highlanders (second half): Connor Garden-Bachop, Freedom Vahaakolo, Michael Collins, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Scot Gregory, Caleb Makene, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Sean Withy, Sione Misiloi, Bryn Evans, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Jermaine Ainsley, Ricky Joackson, Ethan de Groot.

Aaron Smith, Ash Dixon, Liam Squire, Shannon Frizell, Josh Ioane and Nehe Milner-Skudder are all missing from the XVs to start in each half.

The game, the sixth year of the Farmlands Cup, kicks off at 5.30pm this Friday.