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‘A clean slate’: Why Patrick Tuipulotu expects tougher Super Rugby Pacific
Injured Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu believes Super Rugby Pacific will “definitely” be tougher in 2024 as teams start back “at the beginning” after farewelling several greats last time around.
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What happened in 2023 doesn’t mean too much anymore. Sure, teams including the Chiefs, Blues and Brumbies can be considered favourites, but they’ve still got to prove it on the field.
With some teams looking noticeably different, there’s a fair bit of uncertainty surrounding the season ahead. New coaches and new players is a recipe for either glorious success or shortcomings in elite sport.
The Highlanders don’t have the likes of Aaron Smith or Shannon Frizell to call upon, the Crusaders are without Richie Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Sam Whitelock, and the Hurricanes don’t’ have Ardie Savea or Dane Coles.
But that’s just to name a few teams. That list really does go on and on. With the new season rapidly approaching, All Black Patrick Tuipulotu believes it might be a little while until we know who the teams to beat are.
“There’s a few key players who have left a few different teams. It almost feels like a clean slate, everyone’s sort of at the beginning again,” Tuipulotu told reporters at the season launch in Auckland.
“I think by a few rounds in we’ll know where everyone stands.”
But the absence of some genuine New Zealand rugby greats in Super Rugby Pacific doesn’t just create holes in some franchises, but the national team as well.
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The All Blacks ushered in a new dawn last month with coach Scott Robertson assembling 22 players for a two-day camp in Auckland. But there are still so many unanswered questions.
With no Whitelock or long-lasting partner in crime Brodie Retallick, the All Blacks will have to turn to a new locking duo – with Scott Barrett seeming all but certain to hold down a starting spot.
If that is to be the case, then Barrett needs someone to join him in the second row – and Tuipulotu, who will miss the early rounds of the season with a broken jaw, wants to be back in black.
“It is, it’s at the top of my list as well as trying to play well for the Blues and win a championship,” Tuipulotu said.
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“It’s one thing to get there but it’s another thing to be consistent so that’s the goal.
“Obviously Sam and Brodie have been there for a long time… getting there and staying there, it’s a tough one.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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