NPR

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 6:48 am What's with this dire Blues strip?

Gumboot wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 7:49 am Blues squeak it by a point, 19-18.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 6:23 pm Article in Stuff this morning suggests the Canes might start Reuben Love at 10 at home against the Crusaders this weekend. Team to be named this afternoon... I finally got around to catching up with the Aotearoa Rugby Pod yesterday, last week's edition, and the boys were singing his praises as an organiser.

Salivating times. I'd like to see him start and do well. It's time.

We play him at fullback because right now we think he’s probably better at fullback and moving to 10 but what I like about Ruben is he really wants to contribute and take ownership, he wants to know the ‘why’, and he wants to drive the team,” Laidlaw added.

“Those are a lot of attributes of a traditional first-five. We’re really enjoying that but he doesn’t need to have 10 on his back or start at 10 to do that. We need him to do that whether he’s starting at 15 or 10.

Hugo wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 7:02 pm Has Jordan had any rest at all this season ? I feel like he has played every minute of every match thus far.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 7:04 pm

Hugo wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 7:02 pm Has Jordan had any rest at all this season ? I feel like he has played every minute of every match thus far.

I think you're right, he's been on most of the game time. I think he might have come off late in one game, can't really remember.

Enzedder wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 7:23 pm The ball is in play for about 30/35 minutes a game. He gets plenty of rest, especially as a back

Scott Robertson has confirmed he will make changes to the minute management plans of All Blacks in Super Rugby Pacific, moving to an individualised approach to load management this year.

Rather than a blanket rule for all All Blacks playing in Super Rugby Pacific, Robertson will implement a player-specific restriction plan that will see minutes distribution dependent on the player and what will allow them to be at their best come test season.

In recent seasons, All Blacks have been limited to playing no more than five games in a row and the uncertainty of player availability was highlighted as a sticking point among fans in last year’s New Zealand rugby governance review.

Under Robertson’s model, players will still have to observe rest weeks, but there will be flexibility around when those rest weeks are observed, based on the player’s workload and the team’s draw. The Herald understands there will be a requirement for two rest weeks, but there is the opportunity for players to feature in more than the previous threshold of five games in a row before observing one.

However, high-minute players from the previous season are likely to observe a few games where they play limited minutes on top of their two rest weeks to ensure they are fresh for the Super Rugby Pacific finals series and the test season.

“You can’t expect they’re going to play 17 games and then go and play 14 tests. They’re not going to play 31 games this year, and players aren’t going to play 17 games of Super Rugby and get them peaking for finals footy,” Robertson said.

“They’re going to have to be managed, and what does that individual athlete need... then it’s individualised conversations, medical are involved, and we’re open and honest.

“It’s a fine balance for everyone.”

New Zealand hooker Codie Taylor returned to rugby refreshed after a six-month sabbatical last year and hopes more of his teammates can benefit from time away from the coal-face.

Taylor took time off with the blessing of New Zealand Rugby which lets long-serving All Blacks down tools for a period so long as they return to domestic duty.

The sabbaticals are seen as an important tool to retain talent in a nation which bars overseas-based players from All Blacks selection.

Yet for every player "saved" by a sabbatical, there is a stampede for the exits at the end of every Rugby World Cup cycle as players chase lucrative club contracts in Japan and Europe.

Some disappear for years, others for good and rugby in New Zealand is poorer for their loss.

While NZR has limited sabbaticals to a small cohort of long-serving All Blacks, Taylor says the governing body could relax the policy to allow more players the option of a break which could rejuvenate a career.

"Yeah, I think so. It's been something that has been in a few players' contracts, and whether or not they've wanted to take it ... that's for them to decide," the 96-cap All Black told Reuters.

"I've talked to a couple of players already around what it was like for me. Whether or not they're thinking about it themselves, the fact that they're asking the question gives you the sense that maybe they're seeing some value in it.

"I definitely think there is [value], especially if you want to stay in the game as long as possible at a high level."

Taylor opted to take his sabbatical after helping the All Blacks make the 2023 World Cup final in France.

While the Canterbury Crusaders sorely missed him for most of their failed Super Rugby title defence in 2024, few could begrudge Taylor time out after more than a decade's service.

Most of the All Blacks granted sabbaticals have spent them playing rugby in Japan to maximise their earnings, including flyhalf Beauden Barrett and lock Brodie Retallick.


Taylor stayed away from the pitch, though, to maximise time with his wife and kids, enjoying simple routines and a bit of family travel.

Wellbeing was not on his radar when he entered the professional ranks but becoming a dad changed his perspective.

"Being away from [family] with the away trips and all that, that's where I have struggled in the past," said Taylor, who was speaking as part of a health campaign for NZR's healthcare partner BUPA.

"Being able to acknowledge that and having the rest and that quality time has been really powerful for me."

Highlanders No 8 Sean Withy has been banned for three weeks for kneeing Western Force wing Harry Potter in the face during the Super Rugby Pacific match in Perth last weekend.

The Super Rugby Pacific foul play review committee (FPRC) found Withy guilty of reckless or dangerous play in contravention of Law 9.11.



The incident, for which Withy received a red card, occurred in the 48th minute of the match - which the Highlanders lost - at HBF Park.

The FPRC determined the mid-range entry point of six weeks/matches was appropriate for the incident.

In light of the player accepting he committed an act of foul play as well as mitigating factors such as his prior disciplinary record, the FPRC applied the full 50 per cent reduction in sanction.

Withy was also given permission to apply to take part in World Rugby's Coaching Intervention Programme as a substitute for the final match of the sanction.

Withy has been suspended from all forms of the game for three weeks, meaning he will miss the Highlanders’ upcoming matches against the Fijian Drua, Chiefs and Crusaders.

He will be available to play the Crusaders if he he completes the coaching intervention programme course.

Gumboot wrote: Wed Apr 09, 2025 4:45 am Yep, that loose forward combo brings plenty of clout.

Interesting move switching up the playmakers. It's good they're starting Jacomb again - thought he was top value when he came on last week.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 6:23 pm Article in Stuff this morning suggests the Canes might start Reuben Love at 10 at home against the Crusaders this weekend. Team to be named this afternoon... I finally got around to catching up with the Aotearoa Rugby Pod yesterday, last week's edition, and the boys were singing his praises as an organiser.

Salivating times. I'd like to see him start and do well. It's time.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 6:59 pm I like this from Laidlaw...

We play him at fullback because right now we think he’s probably better at fullback and moving to 10 but what I like about Ruben is he really wants to contribute and take ownership, he wants to know the ‘why’, and he wants to drive the team,” Laidlaw added.

“Those are a lot of attributes of a traditional first-five. We’re really enjoying that but he doesn’t need to have 10 on his back or start at 10 to do that. We need him to do that whether he’s starting at 15 or 10.

They've got Hohepa starting at 10 at the moment, covering Godfrey. 3 missed shots on goal is one thing but they scored 2 tries to 1 against the Blues, going down by a point. That suggests to me that Hohepa is going ok setting them up (with Love coming in as well) so it's not like they HAVE to start Love at 10 and they are thin on the ground for fullbacks but it's an interesting proposition without even factoring in whether the Saders rest Jordan or not. I reckon they might leave that for their home game against the Highlanders.

Gumboot wrote: Wed Apr 09, 2025 4:45 am Yep, that loose forward combo brings plenty of clout.

Interesting move switching up the playmakers. It's good they're starting Jacomb again - thought he was top value when he came on last week.

Firewater wrote: Thu Apr 10, 2025 1:45 amHe wasn't as bad as Perofeta for the Blues (in his previous start) at 1st but close.

Gumboot wrote: Thu Apr 10, 2025 1:55 am

Firewater wrote: Thu Apr 10, 2025 1:45 amHe wasn't as bad as Perofeta for the Blues (in his previous start) at 1st but close.

That's at least half a dozen times you've mentioned how badly Perofeta played. Obsessed much?

Gumboot wrote: Thu Apr 10, 2025 2:01 am Riley Higgins can't be far away from his injury return. It'd be nice to see him and Proctor paired up at some stage, although the midfield's been going OK for the Canes in the meantime.

Firewater wrote: Thu Apr 10, 2025 2:01 am

Gumboot wrote: Thu Apr 10, 2025 1:55 am

Firewater wrote: Thu Apr 10, 2025 1:45 amHe wasn't as bad as Perofeta for the Blues (in his previous start) at 1st but close.

That's at least half a dozen times you've mentioned how badly Perofeta played. Obsessed much?

He was awful. One of the worst individual games I've seen. And this from an AB.