Cowan signs with the Blues, Lee-Lo returns to the Hurricanes

[TRF Mr Fish]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10509004/Jimmy-Cowan-signs-with-Blues-for-Super-Rugby

A good signing, adds some experience to their inside halves.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10506461/Lee-Lo-returns-as-Boyd-builds-Canes-roster

Will make a good injury fill in whenever Nonu is unavailable (or needs a rest), but he was very average for the Crusaders this season.

Geoff Cridge (Hawke's Bay) and Callum Gibbins (Manawatu) has also been signed by the Hurricanes - it's good to see some local players from outside Wellington getting picked up.

Also worth noting that Ash Dixon has likely signed with the Highlanders, effectively replaced Jed Robinson.

 

[nickdnz]

On Jimmy Cowan: I can see the logic in signing him, but he's a pretty average player. Bryn Hall and Jamison Gibson-Park are both better options, while I don't think Brad Weber has been picked up by anyone yet, and he really ought to be

Edit: (jokes, he's in the Chiefs team).

 

[Darwin]

Cowan: Meh. He's experienced and still tenacious on defense, and to be honest their isn't an abundance of quality 9's in the country. Hall should obviously be 1st choice, meaning Cowan will be battling Gibson-Park for a spot on the bench. I'm somewhat surprised the Highlanders didn't sign him (though not really disappointed), as we don't have anyone to back-up Smith at this stage (Tanaka is gone, and Frae Wilson is rubbish). There doesn't seem to be any obvious halfback options for the Highlanders either. Scott Eade (Southland's 9) is pretty average (and is a converted 10), Renton is apparently very talented but I'm yet to see it, while I have no idea who Nick Ealey is and why he is playing for Otago. I'm struggling to think of any unsigned halfbacks in the country that would make good Super Rugby players.....

Lee Lo: He's ok - he certainly played better for the Canes than he did for the Crusaders - but again hardly an outstanding signing. I suppose he is no worse than Parkes, probably better than Bateman was last season (what happened to him?), and is certainly a big step-up from Cardiff Vaega....

The Gibbins signing was confirmed a few months ago (I think?), and he is a handy pick-up. He often leads the NPC in tackles made and is good at the breakdown too. Unless Savea is injured I expect to see him start almost every week next season, so Gibbins is unlikely to see a lot of game-time. Cridge is a bit of a strange pick-up. He was pretty average in my opinion at U20 level. He is quite tall (so good at lineout time) but lacked the required power even at that level. He will obviously bulk up at he matures, but to be honest I'm not convinced he is ready for ITM Cup level yet, let alone Super Rugby level. His U20's locking partner - James Tucker - looked a far better prospect in my opinion (though will have to improve his discipline).

I'm very happy to see Dixon looks to have signed for the Highlanders. I'm a bit fan of his - I think he is the sort of player the AB's selectors should be considering. He does the basics well, but is also pretty handy with ball in hand. He was clearly the 3rd ranked hooker at the Canes (though personally I rate him higher than Matu'u), but he has the chance to compete for a starting spot at the Highlanders. Unless Coltman makes massive improvements in his lineout throwing I would probably prefer Dixon to start ahead of him (though I am a Coltman fan too). I assume Mitchell will be at the Highlanders again too next season, but like Coltman needs to work on his throwing, and I'm yet to be convinced he has the required physicality at Super Rugby level....

 

[Darwin]

In other news..... Auckland wing/centre Vince Aso has signed a 2 year deal with the Hurricanes. I think he is a very good signing. He is big, strong, quite quick,versatile, and is still very young (still 19 - he will be eligible for the U20's again next year).

Perhaps we could get a mod to change the name of the thread to something like "New Zealand Super Rugby 2015 signings" so we don't need a new thread every time their is a new signing confirmed. It sounds like NZ Sevens players Ben Lam, Joe Webber, and Bryce Heem may have signed Super Rugby contracts, but I haven't seen anything confirmed yet.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

In other news..... Auckland wing/centre Vince Aso has signed a 2 year deal with the Hurricanes. I think he is a very good signing. He is big, strong, quite quick,versatile, and is still very young (still 19 - he will be eligible for the U20's again next year).

Perhaps we could get a mod to change the name of the thread to something like "New Zealand Super Rugby 2015 signings" so we don't need a new thread every time their is a new signing confirmed. It sounds like NZ Sevens players Ben Lam, Joe Webber, and Bryce Heem may have signed Super Rugby contracts, but I haven't seen anything confirmed yet.

Bryce Heem has looked very good for Tasman thus season - to be honest the whole team look like they could be playing Super Rugby! Joe Webber has been around for a couple of seasons but he's still only 21, I think. He has a few things to work on, it will be interesting to see who has picked him up. Ben Lam could fit in somewhere like he Crusaders where they need a big power runner or two in the back line.

I was actually going to call it something along those lines, but I can guarantee we'd have new threads every time a new player signed anyway

Regardless, I'll ask a mod.

 

[Darwin]

Bryce Heem has looked very good for Tasman thus season - to be honest the whole team look like they could be playing Super Rugby! Joe Webber has been around for a couple of seasons but he's still only 21, I think. He has a few things to work on, it will be interesting to see who has picked him up. Ben Lam could fit in somewhere like he Crusaders where they need a big power runner or two in the back line.

I was actually going to call it something along those lines, but I can guarantee we'd have new threads every time a new player signed anyway

Regardless, I'll ask a mod.

Almost certainly. It will just be down to the lovely mods to merge all the new threads together

Heem, Webber, and Lam could all be handy at Super Rugby level, and it will be interesting to see where exactly they end up (if the rumors are indeed true). As you mention the Crusaders are on the look-out for a powerful wing so Lam (and/or Heem) could be heading that way. The Highlanders have a shortage of wings, so perhaps Webber is heading to the far South? Declan O'Donnell has looked pretty good this year too, so the Highlanders (and other franchises) may be interested in him....

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

In other news..... Auckland wing/centre Vince Aso has signed a 2 year deal with the Hurricanes. I think he is a very good signing. He is big, strong, quite quick,versatile, and is still very young (still 19 - he will be eligible for the U20's again next year).

Perhaps we could get a mod to change the name of the thread to something like "New Zealand Super Rugby 2015 signings" so we don't need a new thread every time their is a new signing confirmed. It sounds like NZ Sevens players Ben Lam, Joe Webber, and Bryce Heem may have signed Super Rugby contracts, but I haven't seen anything confirmed yet.

The release of the NZ Sevens squad all but confirms that the above trio have picked up Super Rugby contracts (though will they be NZ contracts, hmmm?).

 

[Larksea]

would be good for the blues if Ranger came back...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/10570220/Rene-Ranger-return-would-be-a-gamble

going to be interesting next year with a number of big names returning for potential WC spots.

Gear
SBW
Ranger?
Kahui?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Sounds like Kahui won't be returning next season, which is very disappointing as he is probably my favourite player at the moment

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10577398/No-Kahui-but-Chiefs-have-2015-squad-sorted

The Chiefs have apparently signed (or are about to sign) Canterbury prop Siate Tokolahi and Hawke's Bay lock Michael Allardice (who spent time with the Chiefs during this year's pre-season). Lelia Masaga is also rumoured to be returning, which will leave room for one more player, possibly Seta Tamanivalu or Robbie Fruean.