Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#3480738 14-Apr-2026 10:17

I agree, they do look pretty compelling. I guess most Hurricanes fans have been here before. The Hurricanes rarely can sustain this level of performance, and they do seem to struggle at the business end of the competition.

They are great to watch at the moment, though I do feel like they aren't really being challenged the way they might have been in the past. The quality of super rugby this year has been extremely average in my opinion.

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#3480743 14-Apr-2026 10:49

networkn:

They are great to watch at the moment, though I do feel like they aren't really being challenged the way they might have been in the past. The quality of super rugby this year has been extremely average in my opinion.

Hard agree. This year has been an absolute waste of time watching most games. 2025 got rugby back into the spotlight with quite a close fought season even with a predictable ending. It had a lot more gusto in the media and a lot more people talking about it. Now its regressed to just garbage games and blowouts.

I crunched the numbers SRP average winning margin (up to round 9)

2025 = 11.86 points

2026 = 18.35 points

To put that in perspective, most sports only differ 1-2 points per year. Even NRL which has had large rule changes this year is currently on 1.6 points higher than 2025.

To have such a massive increase (without large rule changes) in one sided games makes the whole competition lack watchability and enjoyment. Not to mention the terrible level of handling, disipline and everything else which is turning off more people by the week.

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#3480902 14-Apr-2026 22:01

Gee - a couple of salty Crusaders fans lamenting the state of the competition?

If the Crusaders were posting margins like the Hurricanes then it would be because they were awesome.

Anyway - as a Hurricanes fan I've been here before and have no expectations.

I see there's a bit of a kerfuffle down south with the cancellation of the horses. Didn't see us getting all hot under the collar when they cancelled Captain Hurricane.

lachlanw

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#3480909 14-Apr-2026 23:15

networkn:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/ardie-savea-inside-the-all-blacks-loosies-relationship-with-the-team-and-new-zealand-rugby/premium/WOJ7W6MXHBAY5CTQAKRXZDXY3U/

This seems to paint a significantly different picture to what was originally claimed in the press over Savea wanting to leave the AB's as a result of Scott Robertsons leadership.

From memory this wasn't widely claimed by the NZ press, ZB maybe? I felt like it gathered momentum on social media and btl comments

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#3480910 14-Apr-2026 23:16

tukapa1:

Gee - a couple of salty Crusaders fans lamenting the state of the competition?

If the Crusaders were posting margins like the Hurricanes then it would be because they were awesome.

Bit of a stretch there?

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#3480934 15-Apr-2026 08:03

tukapa1:

Gee - a couple of salty Crusaders fans lamenting the state of the competition?

With the just announced loss of Moana I take it you think the competition is in better place than last year?

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#3480942 15-Apr-2026 08:40

The Canes look awesome. Yes, there's still a long way to go and the weather will deteriorate pretty quickly from here, but they seem to have all the pieces. Previous Canes teams had world class loosies and loads of backline x-factor, but their tight five was always a weakness. As I keep saying, IMO that's way more important than what the high scoring games seem to lead people to believe. Now the Canes have a world class lock (Dearns) for the first time in ages, have Numia finally fully back from injury - and still Lomax to come. Add a commanding 10 (Love), which is always critical in Super Rugby, and you have a potential comp winning team.

IMO, similar reasons explain why the Saders are struggling a bit. People always talk about the Saders without Jordan (as they do about the Chiefs without DMac). That's a fair point, as he's an amazing player, but again, I'd point to the loss of Tamaiti Williams and the sabbatical by Barrett. When you have Williams, Taylor, Newell, Barrett, etc all playing, you can just destroy oppositions at the set piece, pick up easy penalties, kick to corners, lineout drive, etc - and you force a few yellow cards along the way. Anyone recall the Saders/Blues final from 2022 (or 2023 for that matter)?

For exactly the same reasons, I've never been overly bullish about the Chiefs this year. The locks and loosies are great, but the front row is a definite weakness. Ollie Norris is a talented mobile prop, but when the blow torch goes on, especially when the weather turns, they look vulnerable at set piece.

In all cases, injuries are so important with what is now a much more competitive comp, due to only 4 Aussie franchises. Time will tell.

networkn

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#3480943 15-Apr-2026 08:44

lachlanw:

Bit of a stretch there?

If you spend sometime here you'll get used to the @tukapa1 trolling.

He has a chip on his shoulder I am surprised he can walk with :)

networkn

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#3480944 15-Apr-2026 08:46

tukapa1:

If the Crusaders were posting margins like the Hurricanes then it would be because they were awesome.

So this.....

Anyway - as a Hurricanes fan I've been here before and have no expectations.

and one sentence later, agreeing with us. Pick a side.

Didn't see us getting all hot under the collar when they cancelled Captain Hurricane.

Who?

networkn

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#3482052 19-Apr-2026 10:21

What a match between the Chiefs and Hurricanes! I was supporting the canes for this one.

That was some comeback by the Chiefs. At 17-10 and the Canes were on the Chiefs line, it looked like it was all over. Absolutely deserved their win and it was pretty much one of the better match ups in the Kiwi derbies.

It genuinely felt like a contest the whole way, though it didnt really feel like the Canes were going to lose, many times in the match. Where it was apparent was this was one of the first rounds without a big scoreline for the Canes, with the Chiefs really slowing down and neurtralising the threats.

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#3482071 19-Apr-2026 11:15

The Crusaders are a discouraging watch at the moment. Started so well, had full control, basically lost all composure again.

Having said that, the last try awarded to the Force was a disgrace! It was clearly absolutely and 100% not a try and on any other day wouldn't have been awarded.

Two losses to two teams in a row that we shouldn't have lost to, and having our maul defense look so poor again to two teams who shouldn't trouble us, is concerning to say the least.

Hopefully, some difficult conversations are about to be had to determine what needs to change.

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#3482226 19-Apr-2026 17:56

networkn:

What a match between the Chiefs and Hurricanes! I was supporting the canes for this one.

That was some comeback by the Chiefs. At 17-10 and the Canes were on the Chiefs line, it looked like it was all over. Absolutely deserved their win and it was pretty much one of the better match ups in the Kiwi derbies.

It genuinely felt like a contest the whole way, though it didnt really feel like the Canes were going to lose, many times in the match. Where it was apparent was this was one of the first rounds without a big scoreline for the Canes, with the Chiefs really slowing down and neurtralising the threats.

Game of the round, and possibly the season so far for me. Gutted for the Canes but man what a watch it was. I never felt like either team had it in the bag at any stage. I do think the ref was quite poor though and let both teams get away with stuff and missed some crucial calls but in the end the Chiefs did enough to win. Can't wait for these two teams to play each other again.

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#3482311 19-Apr-2026 22:05

Felt like the canes were in control the majority of the game and deserved the win. Chiefs lineout handed over too much ball, it has been functioning well this season and looks like they missed Vaa'i.

Vaa'i and Lord must be close to locked in AB's second row although there is so much quality in that position amongst the NZ teams.

Dmac looked more involved and threatening than Love, but it doesn't feel that either are the solution at the moment at 1st 5, but both would add value off the bench.

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#3482313 19-Apr-2026 22:06

Also Lakai and Kirifi were superb, hard to reconcile Kirifi's lack of impact at international level vs his super form.

networkn

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#3482368 20-Apr-2026 09:24

The Black Ferns v Canada in the weekend was excellent. We probably could have put 70 points on them, if not for an absolutely horrendous first half riddled with handling errors. We really put our loss to them in the RWC last year, behind us. We were massively physical. The real acid test is England, however, based on what I am seeing, Whitney Hansen has the team well in hand.

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