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If some of the names on the NZ Super Rugby team sheets announced yesterday sound familiar, it’s because they are. At the risk of making a few people out there feel a bit old, we can now announce we’ve officially reached the stage of the competition where we can get used to the sons of former players regularly popping up – some even in the teams their dads used to play for.
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Here’s some of the second generation of pro rugby players that we can look forward to seeing in 2018:
Jackson Garden-Bachop, Hurricanes
The son of former All Black, Hurricanes, Highlanders and Otago first five Stephen Bachop and Black Fern Sue Garden-Bachop, Jackson was a highly rated prospect in the Wellington school scene while at Scots College. After playing for the NZ Schoolboys and under-20’s, he had one season at the lowly Melbourne Rebels earlier this year. His recent form for the Wellington Mitre 10 Cup side made him hard to leave out of the Hurricanes, but he’ll have a tough time seeing much action at first five considering he’s got Beauden Barrett in front of him – fitting, given that the Barretts were the first ever father/sons Super Rugby combination themselves.
Ethan Blackadder, Crusaders
No pressure at all Ethan – your old man was not only an All Black captain but also the captain, then coach, of the team you’ve just been drafted into. Father Todd Blackadder lifted the Super Rugby trophy in 1998, 1999 and 2000 – then went on to coach the side for eight years. The younger Blackadder has been in impressive form for Tasman in the Mitre 10 Cup, helping them reach a second consecutive final against Canterbury. The big loose forward may well find himself in the starting line for the champions too, lining up alongside the likes of Kieran Read and Matt Todd.
Caleb Clarke, Blues
At 107 kgs, it’s no wonder the son of All Black, Blues and Auckland stalwart Eroni Clarke caused such a splash at the World Under 20’s tournament earlier this year. He is the most youthful component of a (once again) youthful Blues squad, in fact he’s the youngest contracted player at only 18. The Blues are certainly a very different side to when his dad was playing, Clarke Senior was part of two championship sides in the first couple of years in the competition. What they wouldn’t give for that sort of pedigree now, so the potentially desperate situation they may find themselves in could give Caleb Clarke the opportunity he needs.
Bryn Gatland, Blues
While his dad managed to almost pull off an unlikely series win over the All Blacks as coach of the British & Irish Lions earlier this season, Bryn Gatland managed to make a name for himself on the tour as well. Playing for the NZ Barbarians, Gatland grabbed the attention of the media – however this will actually be his second season in Super Rugby after breaking into the Blues squad last year. It’ll be an interesting battle for the number 10 jersey between him, new signing Daniel Kirkpatrick and the highly rated Stephen Perofeta. Warren Gatland will most definitely be watching on with interest from Wales, where he would’ve seen Bryn put in an impressive season for North Harbour in the Mitre 10 Cup recently.
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Hi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
3 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
3 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to comments