Super Rugby 2016

Discussion in 'Rugby Union Discussion' started by Fiery, Feb 13, 2016.

  1. Rego RS Hutchinson

    Super Rugby now (since it's such a long season) early on it's near impossible to pick this sort of thing especially with the sides quite even. On a week by week basis though it's easier. Which makes the comp so enjoyable even with the shit structure.
     
  2. Fiery GR Smith

    Yeah so you have changed you tune from "bottom of the table for NZ conference" to putting them 3rd or 4th.

    Think you might be setting yourself up for disappointing in rating your own Canes so highly tbh.

    Read an article in the Herald by Christian Cullen in the weekend actually, I will try and dig up. He's a staunch Cane obv...who is not quite as optimistic about the Canes chances as you.

    Here is an excerpt from that:
    "Of course, the Hurricanes are the only New Zealand side who haven't won Super Rugby and there's an argument that last season was their year.

    This season was always going to be a difficult one for the Hurricanes. They have lost so much talent and experience with the departures of Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Ben Franks and Jeremy Thrush and that takes time to replace.
    It's a shame both Smith and Nonu left at the same time because it would have been invaluable to have had one around to mentor a new midfielder.

    It's like when you have two farm dogs and you lose one - a new pup can learn off the old dog. In this case, the two old dogs left at the same time and two pups have taken over. This puts added pressure on first five-eighths Beauden Barrett, who had the luxury of playing inside Nonu and Smith last season."
     
  3. Rego RS Hutchinson

    I haven't changed my tune at all, I said could and that all depends on the red herring factor of the Blues but if you absolutely had to predict it from this far out you'd say the Blues potential for inconsistency it'd be wise to stick them at 5th.

    I haven't talked our chances up, like I say our midfield and Ardie leaving halfway through fucks us a bit or could at least. But on paper even with our midfield we're the best squad or thereabouts. The Brumbies game thrahsing I reckon has thrown people a bit but the Brumbies are the only side looking like winning it atm and it was game 1 so it's the best time for that kinda thing. Then the Canes only narrowly lost to the Landers (looked good but couldn't finish) and then we were even better last week, now with 2 easier games, the likelihood we'll see Coles etc. it's not that bad. At this stage on paper we're sweet, all our injuries are short term and nothing major there. We're on the improve. From that alone a 2nd place finish isn't far fetched because, if we keep improving our team will be unstoppable. One thing that's not being factored here is how big of a toll will Savea leaving play on us/ if Aso keeps playing shit/ Proctor doesn't come back soon. Why not factor those things in? Because it's impossible to say what till that'll have, Gibbins is solid so there's no reason to doubt he can't do the job but then no reason to say he won't do it either.

    In terms of being disappointed - I don't think it's really possible to be disappointed anymore as a Wellington/ Canes fan. I'm certainly not expecting us to win the whole comp, it's possible but last year was really the year for that.
     
  4. Rego RS Hutchinson

    All I'm saying is, this far out you can only really predict on the team itself, even if we were 0/3 I'd be saying 2nd with the squad we have. It's too hard to say that squad won't perform at least somewhat decently when there's only been 3 games (all of which are improving anyway) and no major injuries.

    Now if we had say Barret, NMS and Julian out for the rest of the season it'd be another story
     
  5. Fiery GR Smith

    :thumbsup: Good luck. You're gonna need it ;)
     
  6. Rego RS Hutchinson

    The Chiefs are gonna need it more, especially with the schedule not favouring them for the next month or so too.
     
  7. Fiery GR Smith

    We'll see
     
  8. Droos JP Rhodes

    There is quite a big difference between what you quoted here ^ and what he said in that they "could" be bottom, which is by no means impossible. Anyway.

    I agree with one thing that Rego said and that is that the NZ conference is much closer this year than it was in a long time. The Crusaders and Chiefs have traditionally been the stronger two teams, with the Canes and Landers only beating them to the top spots last year for the first time in quite a while. But this year both the Chiefs and Saders are considerably weaker than last year, and even so the Canes. I personally reckon the Landers are the strongest NZ side despite losing to the Canes. My prediction for the NZ conference is also Landers and Canes as 1 and 2 in which ever order, and then the other three too close to each other to place them. If someone put a gun to my head and said rank them I would go:

    Landers
    Canes
    Saders
    Chiefs
    Blues

    I hence also predict that the Chiefs COULD potentially finish lowest of the NZ teams, or at least very near to it.

    But, as SD also correctly predicted: "We'll see". :p
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2016
  9. Fiery GR Smith

    I like the way you have quoted me and then referred to me in the 3rd person as "SD" :rolleyes:

    Won't bother responding. Will just let my team doing the talking.
     
  10. Rego RS Hutchinson

    Milner-Skudder out for the rest of the season. :(
     
  11. Droos JP Rhodes

    There goes a very strong component in the Canes' attacking arsenal. Hard blow for them.
     
  12. Rego RS Hutchinson

    I'm not so sure, people seemed to be working him out a bit more than last year. James Marshall has been immense so he'll keep his 15 spot, Jane on the wing is well a lil meh. Not the player he use to be. Maybe once Proctor's back we'll see a bit more of him on the wing - but probably see him mainly at centre.
     
  13. Fiery GR Smith

    Who do you think will replace Nehe in the ABs, [MENTION=2357]Rego[/MENTION]?

    Noholo when he recovers from his injury? Maybe put Ben Smith on the wing and McKenzie at fullback? Because he will be an All Black soon...surely. But then Smith is such a great fullback it might be silly to move him. They could even give Rene Ranger a run on the wing perhaps...or go back to Jane if he regains some form.

    Your thoughts?
     
  14. Rego RS Hutchinson

    I'd say Naholo if he wasn't injured, we'll see how he goes. I just can't really see McKenzie having a crack at the AB's this year (well at least I don't want him to). Plenty of options tbh and nah, need to keep Smith at 15. You'd suspect Ranger will be in the centres but definitely a viable option for the wing too. There's lots of options really Moala (more of a midfielder though), Osborne, Dagg (lol), Jane (an option at least) Lowe (not a fan), Proctor (at a stretch if he gets played at wing and comes back soon) Visinia, Li (he's starting to finally look good and only 20). In no particular order, plenty of options and we'll get a better idea over the next month as we see more rugby from these boys. Front runner atm for me would be Osborne.
     
  15. Fiery GR Smith

    Interesting. Forgot about Osborne tbh. Didn't he called up to the ABs squad last season? Don't think he actually played though.

    Getting a bit old for a debut on the wing at 28 though isn't he? I would prefer to blood a younger bloke.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2016
  16. Rego RS Hutchinson

    Yep he was, never played just trained.

    I wouldn't say too old tbh but if they are going for complete youth, players like Visinia, Li, Proctor and Lowe would be front runners.
     
  17. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Lowe is a poor player. Who gets by due to his resume rather than his on field deeds. He has personally lowered my life expectancy by stressing me out so much with his play for the chiefs. He is NPC standard at best.

    I think they are going to have to give real thought to who plays 12 and 13 and pick players with a view to the next world cup. Surely Ranger is too old for that.
     
  18. Rego RS Hutchinson

    Agree 100%

    I don't know, he's 29, could quite easily play a world cup at 33. I don't think we should only choose young guns because these experienced players have a lot to teach too.
     
  19. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    On that basis I Wouldn't mind him playing. But we need a young gun with him and Fekitoa is not the answer. It seems strange to say this about a Kiwi player but Malakai has simply not had enough rugby in his life and consistently makes wrong pass vs run decisions. He might be better as a winger where he can just run.
     
  20. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    [video=youtube;evVedJ3P78U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evVedJ3P78U[/video]

    This bloke is coming to the Canes back from league...won't be a prospect until next year but should get in some premier level club rugby this season.
     

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