Official Super Rugby 2016 Thread

[Fulcrum29]

Why can't he continue to play for the Brave Blossoms while at Toulon?

He may continue, it is only that Japan has been readying more and more players. They have a much larger Brave Blossom squad now than they had in the past to work with, and they have a couple u/20’s which has shown promise especially the 2 young Tongans which are eligible to represent Japan. At the end it is up to Goromaru to play in the 2019 RWC, they are at a stage where it should be in with the new and out with the old. Goromaru has a role to play though…

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/brown-named-highlanders-coach-20160609

Brown named Highlanders coach

Wellington - Reigning Super Rugby champions Highlanders on Thursday named former New Zealand flyhalf Tony Brown as their coach for the 2017 season, replacing Japan-bound Jamie Joseph.

Joseph will leave the Highlanders at the end of the season to take over as the head coach of the Japan national team.

The Highlanders said Brown will oversee the team on a one-year deal before heading to Japan himself to join the Brave Blossoms' coaching set-up under Joseph.

"I wasn't sure the timing was right for me, but having spoken to people inside and outside the organisation, I know now that this is too good an opportunity to pass up," said current Highlanders assistant coach Brown.

Interesting move made by the Highlanders rugby union, at least it will give them time to ponder their long-term decision on appointing a coach. I guess that Hammett is staying with the Sunwolves then, backed by Jamie Joseph. I did not know that Brown was also pulled into the Brave Blossom setup, wow.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Okay...

https://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2016/06/415715.html

There was mixed news for Japanese rugby from Dunedin, New Zealand, on Thursday as the Highlanders confirmed their coaching staff for the 2017 Super Rugby season.

Japan's Super Rugby franchise, the Sunwolves, will need a new head coach after the Highlanders confirmed that Mark Hammett will be returning to New Zealand to work as an assistant alongside Scott McLeod under the leadership of new head coach Tony Brown.

But in return, Brown will eventually head north to join the Brave Blossoms.

Now I'm sure that Hammett will be appointed as head coach entering 2018.

The former All Blacks hooker said he felt the Sunwolves role should go to someone working closely with new Japan coach Jamie Joseph so the team could fulfill its intended role as a development side for the national team.

Uhm... they are disrupting the Sunwolves, a good coach has to work at least 2 years with a squad to bring out the desired results. Just give Panasonic the call to pull Robbie Deans into the JRFU.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

The dude just doesn't stop... :erm:

Reds sign deal with George Smith

Flank George Smith on Friday signed with Australian Super Rugby side the Reds in a major coup that allows the veteran to also continue playing club rugby in Japan.

The 35-year-old is one of the Wallabies' greatest-ever flanks with 111 Test caps having also won two Super Rugby titles with the Brumbies.

The Reds said Smith would join for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, while juggling stints with Suntory Sungoliath in Japan's Top League.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ach-out-to-Ireland-coach-Joe-Schmidt-for-2018

Joe Schmidt courted by the Highlanders, reports say

New Zealand Herald says Kiwi franchise want Ireland boss when his contract expires

Joe Schmidt is being courted by the reigning Super Rugby champions, the Highlanders, to take over as head coach at the Otago based franchise when his contract with Ireland ends in 2017.

The New Zealand Herald newspaper reported that Highlanders CEO Roger Clark has confirmed he is pursuing the services of Schmidt. The Highlanders agreed a deal with coach Tony Brown to extend for a year until 2017, the same time that Schmidt’s contract with the IRFU expires.

Clark suggested that if Schmidt were to agree to move back to New Zealand and take over the Highlands it could be a precursor to him being offered the All Blacks position at some point. As things stand the indications are the current coach, Steve Hansen, will stay until after the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Big move, Schmidt perhaps chasing the All Blacks helm. It is going to be an interesting race between Gatland and Schmidt, I do not think that Cotter has their pedigree.

 

[Fulcrum29]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...-michael-foley-after-poor-super-rugby-results

Western Force sack coach Michael Foley after poor Super Rugby results

Western Force coach Michael Foley has been sacked by the Super Rugby club, effective immediately. Foley is in his fourth season with the Force, who are last in the Australian conference and third-last overall with a 2-10 record this season.

The decision to change coach comes two weeks after the Australian Rugby Union formed an alliance with the Force to run the franchise, which is struggling with financial difficulty and inability to recruit top-line players.

Assistant Dave Wessels will take over as coach for the final three games of the Super Rugby season, with the club to immediately start a process to appoint a new head coach for next year.

Foley led the team to just 18 wins and a draw from his 60 games in charge. His best season came in 2014, when the Force only narrowly missed the finals with a franchise-best 9-7 record.

The Force still has to play the Cheetahs, Stormers and Brumbies. I do not see them recycled into a better team, not now, not next year. They are pretty much in the same boat as the Southern Kings. The Union wanted out, but the ARU has committed them to Super Rugby.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Is Dave Wessels South African?

 

[Fulcrum29]

Is Dave Wessels South African?

According to Wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wessels

In summary:

South African - Capetonian

Stormers - 2008-2009 (Defensive Consultant/Assistant)
UCT - 2009-2011 (Assistant Coach)
Brumbies - 2012 (Defensive Consultant/Assistant)
Western Force - 2013-2016 (Assistant Coach)
Perth Spirit - 2014 (Co-head Coach)
Western Force - 2016 (Interim Head Coach)

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/s...h/news-story/dbeb10a3a56090d866d3d29c3f5f979d

Super Rugby: Former All Blacks forward Scott Robertson announced as new Crusaders head coach

FORMER All Black Scott Robertson was named on Friday as the Canterbury Crusaders new coach, replacing Todd Blackadder at the seven-time Super Rugby champions from next year.

Robertson, a 23-Test loose forward whose uncompromising style earned him the nickname ‘Razor’, is currently head of the Canterbury provincial team, which he has led to two titles.

The 41-year-old has strong ties to the Crusaders, playing for them 86 times, including a role in their three titles from 1998-2000.

He also guided the Baby Blacks to the World Rugby Under-20 Championship last year.

...

Speculation has linked Blackadder to the vacant coaching job at Bath in the English Premiership.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Quite like ol' Razor. Going to be interesting to see what he does with the Crusaders.

 

[Fulcrum29]

OT:

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-unio...ar-ayumu-goromaru-begins-training-with-toulon

Japan superstar Ayumu Goromaru begins training with Toulon

Japan World Cup star Ayumu Goromaru has started training for the first time with his new French club Toulon.

Toulon, France's wealthiest club, have signed Goromaru on a one-year deal with a one-year extension on option.

"There was no reason to refuse an offer to play here," the 30-year-old full-back said as he was officially presented to the press.

"There isn't a club like Toulon anywhere else in the world. It's a big challenge but one which will be worth it."

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal said the decision to sign Goromaru was purely sporting and not a bid to break into the Japanese and Asian market.

...

"Of course it provides a window on Asia but we don't have the means to pay just for a window," said Boudjellal.

Yah-yah...

I thought that Goromaru was initially done with Japan, but had publically stated at his Toulon media introduction that he will continue to be internationally available which had people at the media event surprised.

Now consider that he has to compete with Leigh Halfpenny which is on the Wales roster. Now…

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...h-Halfpenny-and-Top-14-stars-ahead-of-NZ-tour

British and Irish Lions chief executive John Feehan has warned the likes of Leigh Halfpenny that they won't be considered for the tour to New Zealand next year if they opt to play in France's Top 14 play-offs.

The Welsh fullback hadn't played since September because of a serious knee injury until last month when he returned to action for his club side Toulon.

are the unions on a club crackdown, not wanting players to be overplayed or injury prone for union (or international) duty?

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/ru...woes-ahead-of-return-to-Super-Rugby-next-week

No end in sight to Bulls' injury woes ahead of return to Super Rugby next week

Trevor Nyakane‚ Jan Serfontein and RG Snyman will be lost to the Bulls when they take on the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on July 2 due to injury.

There is also the possibility that they will all not feature for the remainder of the Super Rugby season for the Pretoria side after all three were injured on national duty.

EDIT: To add,

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/season-over-for-bulls-fullback-gelant-20160621

Season over for Bulls fullback Gelant

Cape Town - The Bulls have received a blow with the news that fullback Warrick Gelant will be sidelined for the remainder of the year with a knee injury.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/stormers-no-9-set-for-japan-move-20160622

Stormers No 9 set for Japan move

Cape Town - Stormers and Western Province scrumhalf Louis Schreuder has reportedly signed a deal with Japanese club Kubota Spears.

...

The Stormers are also set to lose the services of scrumhalf Nic Groom, who will join English club Northampton Saints after this year's Super Rugby competition.

Fleck, tyd om vir Kolbe in te span. I am also in the opinion that Zas is not the best replacement at the back, he made me cringe at times playing with the A team at the back, Zas should stay on the wing.

EDIT:

The Stormers scrummies,

1. Vermaak
2. Masimla

I can only trust that Vermaak is ready to return...

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2016/06/17/south-africa-vs-ireland-second-test-live/

Meyer linked to Western Force job

Discarded former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has reportedly set his sights on the Western Force head coach role left vacant after Michael Foley’s sacking. Meyer had previously been touted as the front runner for the director of rugby position at England rugby club Bath.

Meyer has now been linked to the head coach vacancy at the Western Force, according to Perth daily newspaper The West Australian.
Head coach Foley was unceremoniously dumped following the Perth-based Super Rugby side’s poor showing in the tournament that currently sees them propping up the Australian Conference and Australasian Group standings from the bottom.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2016/06/417552.html

FOCUS: Rugby Sunwolves over-performing on field, under-performing off it

The general view -- particularly from overseas observers -- is that Japan's new Super Rugby side have performed way beyond expectations.

I expected them to take the Cheetahs, Kings, Rebels and Western Force, but then they went to draw with the Stormers and take one over the Jaguares. I also expected them to take the Reds as I was watching the competition, they did play their best game that day.

Sadly, at this stage, it looks like many of the issues that had tournament organizers SANZAAR seriously contemplating scratching the side back in September 2015 are about to come back to haunt the Sunwolves, who are on a break of sorts with their coaching staff currently employed by the national team and those players not with the Brave Blossoms back with their club sides or training alone.

With Mark Hammett announcing he is returning to New Zealand to work as an assistant coach with the Highlanders, next season's side, as of now, is without a head coach. To compound matters, not a single player or assistant coach has publicly committed to the team.

"I've got no idea what is going on," one member of the coaching crew told Kyodo News.

A source within the Japan Rugby Football Union has said the union wants consistency between the Brave Blossoms and the Sunwolves.

And it is understood that negotiations are ongoing with Jamie Joseph, who takes over the national team in August, about who will run the Super Rugby franchise.

But the longer the talks take, the more likely it is players will sign contracts elsewhere.

I do not see Jamie being happy with the circumstances… which is however interesting is that he had a meeting with Eddie Jones on the Japanese player’s condition than consulting with the JRFU directly… They already lost Goromaru, Tui and Pisi.

Lack of depth has been the main reason the side weren't able to close out games, and there are worries management will once again put themselves in a position whereby they end up signing less than qualified players simply to fill out the roster.

True, and the Top League will not support them without being exposed to the TV deals... and then there is this,

The TV deal in place with SANZAAR is for five years, meaning the existing arrangement by which the Sunwolves play a number of home games in Singapore to appease the South African sides remains.

Next year will see just four games in Tokyo (and three in Singapore), hardly the ideal way to build on the tremendous support shown by the crowds that have turned up at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

so they are dictated... so much for trial and error. By 2018 the Sunwolves will need their own franchise grounds, SANZAAR will expand the competition to likely include the Asia Pacific Dragons which will then take back their home ground in Singapore.

I do not see the Sunwolves exceed 'beyond' expectations in 2017.

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.radionz.co.nz/internatio...2/sport-manu-samoa-demanding-better-execution

Tusi Pisi said his thumb has been shattered in three places and he is likely to miss the remainder of the Sunwolves debut Super Rugby campaign.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Well, that's unfortunate.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Stormers touring squad for matches versus The Melbourne Rebels & The Western Force accounced.

DHL STORMERS TOURING SQUAD: Schalk Burger (captain), Nizaam Carr, Damian de Allende, Daniel du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Rynhardt Elstadt, Nic Groom, Huw Jones, Oli Kebble, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Scarra Ntubeni, JD Schickerling, Louis Schreuder, JP Smith, Jaco Taute, Brandon Thomson, Scott van Breda, Kobus van Wyk, Alistair Vermaak, Leolin Zas

 

[Fulcrum29]

Stormers touring squad for matches versus The Melbourne Rebels & The Western Force accounced.

Schalk is not a Springbok anymore, but he should had carried the Stormers captaincy from the very beginning. The co-captaincy between Malherbe and de Jongh did not bare any fruit, and the de Allende stint as captain was a failed experiment.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Schalk is not a Springbok anymore, but he should had carried the Stormers captaincy from the very beginning. The co-captaincy between Malherbe and de Jongh did not bare any fruit, and the de Allende stint as captain was a failed experiment.

Was Schalk involved from the beginning though? Didn't he still have commitments in Japan when the season kicked off? Agree nonetheless. The Stormers captaincy has been a sore point this whole season.