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Super Rugby Pacific

The Rug - Round 3 Super Rugby Preview

The Rug

The Rug is New Zealand’s premier Super Rugby preview podcast. Join BK and Townley as they put forward this week’s best bets and gut instincts. Go well Punters.

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Trending on RugbyPass

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'I don't think fans understand some of the consequences' – Peter O’Mahony on the worrying trend in modern rugby

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2

New Harlequins head coach in sights as two candidates ruled out

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Andy Farrell makes 6 changes to Ireland team for Italian job in Dublin

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Townsend makes shock decision as Scotland make 4 changes for England

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Rob Baxter admits Christ Tshiunza 'rumours could be entirely true'

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Fissler Extra: RWC winner on URC shortlist, Italian eyed as Faf back-up

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Another ex-player weighs in on new Jacques Nienaber theory in Ireland

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Ireland coach John Fogarty makes frank Tadhg Furlong admission

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Latest Long Reads

LONG READ

'I don't think fans understand some of the consequences' – Peter O’Mahony on the worrying trend in modern rugby

Ahead of his punditry debut, the former Ireland captain gives his take on the "circus" surrounding Ireland's fly-half debate

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LONG READ

Freddie Steward and Fraser Dingwall are quietly becoming crucial for England

Wales thrashing comes with its caveats but the centre and full-back are making real strides in an England shirt

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LONG READ

Wales brace themselves for French invasion knowing they simply have to do better

The French juggernaut will roll into Cardiff hellbent and demolishing any Welsh resistance and Steve Tandy's men must show smarts and grit

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 30 minutes ago
All Blacks duo ink new two-year deals with Chiefs

Yup, Reece won’t be included in any squads, sadly, just like Tele’a wasn’t.

Yeah I can see Ioane still there providing a defensive midfield option, but he certainly won’t be in the role Razor tried him out for, that will be Leicesters. Some of course might hope they are a straight swap in general, but if your wanting LF to be in midfield I’d say he has to push out ALB. Not the most encouraging to hear how Saders want to try and use him in the forwards.



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G
GS 2 hours ago
All Blacks duo ink new two-year deals with Chiefs

Reece is off to France post Super, so he is gone and not sure about Ioane - might be back to 13, even though not the greatest Centre, very good defensively.

Tangitau, I think, is the one to watch. Looking at the pre-season games for Highlanders, he looks to have bulked up, hopefully without any loss of speed.



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14 Go to comments
f
fl 2 hours ago
New Harlequins head coach in sights as two candidates ruled out

It would be a shame if Mark Mapletoft left the RFU given he’s just taken on a new role as head of development.

Nick Easter could be a good appointment though. Robertson would be a great appointment. If I owned a prem club I’d also be desperate to sign Matt Everard.



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S
SB 2 hours ago
Patrick Pellegrini on Moana Pasifika getting 'stung' in 2025



“You can’t replace Ardie, no matter how hard you try. He’s the best player in the world,” Pellegrini acclaimed.

Sigh, he’s not even the best in his position.



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1 Go to comments
S
SB 2 hours ago
The one goal for every Aussie Super Rugby side in round 1

To win.

1 Go to comments
S
SB 2 hours ago
RugbyPass' Top 50 Players for Super Rugby Pacific 2026: 20-11

Nice to see STT on the list.

2 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 2 hours ago
Townsend makes shock decision as Scotland make 4 changes for England

Ah ok, so you don’t want to discuss GT but he will come under severe pressure if this goes badly again. Fwiw my sense on England is that they are very much fixed in the present, looking no further than the game that’s in front of them and pretty comfortable in their own skin with the run they’re on. Hasn’t always been this way with England ofc…

11 Go to comments
C
CM 3 hours ago
Townsend makes shock decision as Scotland make 4 changes for England

The big challenge for England is living up to the expectation and dealing with the pressure that comes with that. If things start going wrong we’ll see what they are made of.

11 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 3 hours ago
Townsend makes shock decision as Scotland make 4 changes for England

If you watch closely it was a pretty poor defensive read and he was left for dead under his own steam, regardless of cover. I’m not sure scotland will find it easy to wear England out this time, or at least it will be a lot tougher than it’s been before. England have developed a highly mobile forward pack game plan with their br selections and that includes bringing on two equally mobile and rapid replacements to maintain tempo.

How do you reckon this plays out for Townsend IF England win, and win well?



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11 Go to comments
J
JW 3 hours ago
RugbyPass' Top 50 Players for Super Rugby Pacific 2026: 20-11

first

2 Go to comments
J
JW 3 hours ago
12-year wait ended as major World Ranking change lands

Yeah for sure, those things are huge boosts, 1995 and 2011, maybe Englands? on a similar level of importance (2023 was really a lost opportunity in that respect, a final nobody wanted).

All tournaments are a lottery, I think you’ll need to look at yourself for placing more importance on it than is warranted. As I’ve often said, you take it way too far. if it’s meaningless behaving like that, you’ll send a better message than carrying on like you do. You’re hurting yourself.



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30 Go to comments
t
tf 3 hours ago
Andy Farrell makes 6 changes to Ireland team for Italian job in Dublin

Really don't like Doris at 7. It always seems a little forced trying to get him and Conan on to the same team when both are best at 8. At 6 its ok as they can carry it off. But Dorris just doesn't do the dirty stuff you want from a 7 as well. Great 8 but only ever plays 7 once a year at most. Timoney was really good last week as well.

Great to see some of the other new faces. Although I think Lowe in for Stockdale is a step back.



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7 Go to comments
J
JW 3 hours ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

Again, you are unable to see the error of your ways. What Wayne is trying to impart are options, what you are trying to impart reduces options.

It simply makes the throwback a poor option. There is potential for you being stubborn and not actually believing what your saying though. It’s like you think your linking me a video done by Carlos Spencer instead of Wayne Smith.



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321 Go to comments
C
CM 3 hours ago
Townsend makes shock decision as Scotland make 4 changes for England

If Jordan is out the back on that play then their is a massive overlap for Italy to exploit. What do you do in that situation? Exactly what he did, and hope that a teammate sees the space and covers your absence. Jordan is there as another fulcrum in the attack whilst also offering a strong kicking game. I agree with the selection, he’s outperformed Kinghorn at club level. We didnt see the best of him last week due to the conditions.

Hastings is there as backup for Finn, a straight swap if he goes down.



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11 Go to comments
J
JW 3 hours ago
All Blacks duo ink new two-year deals with Chiefs

Yes that’s it in simplicity. Lets hope the next coach(s) are going to be able to impart a bit of extra performance out of the defence. The offense I think can handle it with simple changes like that of personal. To be fair to Carter he provided the most spark in offence (that England game (perhaps his best) in a stagnant back three with Reece, Ioane and Jordan there. Much needed in replacement of Tele’a and Narawa. I only see straight swaps happening this year, Caleb in for Reece and Leicester for Ioane, with Carter and Narawa to battle it out again.

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J
JJ 3 hours ago
Wales brace themselves for French invasion knowing they simply have to do better

There are also reports coming in that the WRU are giving away thousands of free tickets to sponsors, as well as 2,000 free tickets for this Sunday to the stewards at the stadium. Not good at all.

8 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 3 hours ago
Townsend makes shock decision as Scotland make 4 changes for England

Yeah I take your point, kinda. Jordan was nowhere and left for dead with Italy’s try last week. He’s been great for Bristol this season but he ain’t a Test full back by any measure currently and certainly nowhere near Kinghorn’s levels. Scotland aren’t bad, their record at murrayfield is strong, but they are absolutely inconsistent and I can see this version of England overrunning them in ways that Ireland have for some time, albeit via very different methods. And looking at last week again, Hastings didn’t even get on the pitch so a 6/2 would have at least offered something with another fresh forward, as they tried in vain at the death for an undeserved win…

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A
Archibald 4 hours ago
Where Irish rugby should actually look if they want to play blame game

You are the last person who should accuse anyone of dishonesty.

130 Go to comments
C
CM 4 hours ago
Townsend makes shock decision as Scotland make 4 changes for England

Not sure if you have seen them play much, Scotland are always underpowered relative to Ire, Fra and Eng. They dont rely on power, so no need for a 6/2. Pretty sure Jordan knows where to stand, Ford would catch a lot of fullbacks out of pos with his kicking game. Scotland need to go for it, take risks and play on the idea that England are not only expected to win this game but also the tournament.

England have improved since last year but they are still hanging their hat on that All Blacks victory in Nov. Really they are still unproven, especially away from home. We’ll see how they go, they are a good team, but Scotland arent as bad as people make them out to be. People bang on about their loss to Arg in Nov, but dont forget that they were good enough to go out to a 21-0 lead in that game. Dry conditions for Sat. Love ya!



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11 Go to comments
S
SB 4 hours ago
Red card results in ban for Josua Tuisova

It was kind of an unlucky red card but you can understand the ban.

Tuisova’s coach Frederic Michalak has also been banned for one week due to “indiscipline, specifically ‘nervousness'” in the win over Perpignan.



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