NZ latest – Chiefs lose Umaga
19 Apr 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news from New Zealand’s Super Rugby franchises.
Chiefs lose Umaga – Tana Umaga has been ruled out of the Chiefs’ two matches in South Africa after picking up a calf injury at training.
Umaga traveled to Johannesburg with the rest of the team, but went down in a practice session on Monday. The Chiefs’ management has confirmed that Umaga is on his way back to New Zealand and will miss the matches against the Lions and Bulls.
Mealamu to remain in NZ – Keven Mealamu has signed a two-year contract extension, which will keep him in New Zealand and with the Blues until 2013.
The 32-year-old hooker joins a host of All Blacks who have committed to the NZRU beyond this season. Mealamu made his All Blacks debut in 2002 and has played 83 Tests. He finds himself behind Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina (94) and former hooker Sean Fitzpatrick (92) on the all–time Test list.
Other All Blacks who have re-committed to NZRU beyond 2011: hooker Hika Elliot and Keven Mealamu, props Tony Woodcock and Ben Franks, locks Anthony Boric, Tom Donnelly and Sam Whitelock, loose forwards Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Daniel Braid, Liam Messam and Victor Vito, and backs Jimmy Cowan, Conrad Smith, Israel Dagg and Aaron Cruden.
Highlanders recall Brown – Tony Brown has been recalled the Highlanders squad to provide much needed cover at flyhalf.
With Colin Slade picking up another jaw injury, Brown will rejoin the squad this week as the Highlanders prepare for their clash against the Crusaders.
The 36-year-old first joined the squad in February after Slade and Liam Sopoaga were injured. He was then released after the win over the Brumbies on 1 April.
10 Comments
19 Apr 2011, 09:57 am
class act
19 Apr 2011, 10:04 am
I posted that list of players staying on on the NZ Latest – Jane back thread..
also the name of the new Chiefs coach for the next two years…Dave rennie, the man who lead the junior ABs to 3 world titles..
19 Apr 2011, 10:14 am
Never realised Keven is that old. I thought he was in his late twenties. He is still playing great rugga.
19 Apr 2011, 20:56 pm
Umaga played for the Hurricanes in the very first Super 12 game ever, held in Palmerston North well back in the previous century. He’s a tuatara of rugby.
19 Apr 2011, 23:52 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-4:
excellent, 1 of your best evers !
19 Apr 2011, 23:58 pm
Enjoy, but lets not forget how much Rattue hates Lord Ted and always will……
“The Worst XV of King Henry’s reign
Public opinion has not treated the former All Black Shayne Philpott kindly, apparently to the point that he almost sold his test cap.
What on earth is the world coming to?
Philpott wasn’t actually that bad, but since we’re putting the boot in … here’s a composite All Black team from the Graham Henry era that would be dead certs to lose the World Cup (not that it is ours to lose).
15.) SOSENE ANESI
A one-test non-wonder fullback from 2005. Replaced Daniel Carter in his only test appearance – true story. Flashy, but not flash overall. Injury hasn’t helped but goodness knows why the Waratahs signed him when they have enough flakes of their own.
14.) BEN SMITH
The renaissance man according to southerners. Have to take their word for it, since my devotion to Super rugby doesn’t often extend to watching the Highlanders. Looked fairly ordinary in his All Black stint compared with the Sivivatus of this world. As for being Ben Smith – All Black wings need handles like Josevata, Hosea, Rico, Rene, Rudi, Cory, Sitiveni, Zac, Israel, Jonah.
Call it the Engelbert Humperdinck effect. Do you think Sonny Bill Williams would be Sonny Bill Williams if he wasn’t Sonny Bill Williams? Come on. Try Benny Boy Smith-Wesson and just watch your career take off.
13.) ANTHONY TUITAVAKE
Part of a near All Black disaster at Munster in his one All Black centre appearance. Little Toot played for North Harbour, which says a lot, and had a loyal army of supporters. Great to watch and would tear Uruguay and co to bits but you winced at the prospect of him running into the Stirling Mortlocks of the rugby world and there were always better wing prospects about.
12.) MA’A NONU
Struggling to get near the form he displays on the tricky-dicky TV advert. Many of us are big fans of his game but not his rugby brain. Nonu is the bloke most likely to give away the losing World Cup final penalty in front of the sticks in the last second while looking confused. Of course, he might also have won the game for the All Blacks by then, or maybe not. Doesn’t really deserve to be in this lineup, but he is topical and I needed a big-name signing.
11.) LELIA MASAGA
Faster than a speeding bullet … but not exactly a gun. Still has fans waiting for the second coming. Once ran into a lamppost and broke his collarbone – which sneaks him in here just ahead of Scott “Bubbles” Hamilton.
10.) STEPHEN DONALD
A mandatory choice. This team would have no credibility without the Waiuku Wonder. Donald proves that society can’t function without someone to pick on all the time. If he had never made the All Blacks, he might have been regarded as unlucky. The Give Deon Muir a Shot Committee would have held rallies in the Hamilton Town Square, or at least met at the Chartwell Cobb and Co to bemoan Donald’s fate. Interesting to ponder what it is like to dream of becoming an All Black only to be given a right good kicking once you get there … Philpott’s auction ruction has provided one answer to that.
9.) KEVIN SENIO
Huh? Did he win a reality TV series or something?
8.) SIONE LAUAKI (C)
The sky was the limit for this enormous unit, but unfortunately his head was in the clouds.
7.) STEVEN BATES
Bates replaced Richie McCaw in his only test, in Rome. Not the greatest career move.
6.) ANGUS MACDONALD
All Black No 1061. Played against Scotland and never played again. Could be the first time the Scots have ended an opponent’s rugby career.
5.) KEVIN O’NEILL
You think I’m making this up. Check the Rugby Almanack.
4.) ROSS FILIPO
Definitely better than O’Neill.
3.) JOHN SCHWALGER
Graham Henry should be sent a “please explain” note for picking Schwalger. Has anyone come close to working this out. Mind you, Schwalger isn’t the only member of the dodgy All Black prop department. In hindsight, Campbell Johnstone and co look even worse, now that Owen “Real Deal” Franks has turned up. The selectors were bound to get one right some day.
2.) ALED DE MALMANCHE
Oops, another Chief. His lineout throwing is an exceedingly long work in progress.
1.) NEEMIA TIALATA
Could be world class. Should be. There have been worse All Black props in the Henry reign but none who fall so short of potential. Can be a very scary monster, especially on Twitter.
By Chris Rattue”.
20 Apr 2011, 00:07 am
……Ben Smith would have to be 1 of the players of the season so far, consistently HOT for the Mighty Highlanders. Like Conrad Smith (related ?) but a quicker version.
20 Apr 2011, 01:24 am
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZ
My neighbour knocked on my door at 2:30am this morning,
can you believe that, 2:30am?!
Luckily for him I was still up playing my Bagpipes.
.
I sat on the train this morning opposite a stunning Thai girl.
I kept thinking to myself, “please don’t get an erecti0n, please don’t get an erecti0n…”
but she did.
.
The Grim Reaper came for me last night, and I beat him off with a vacuum cleaner.
talk about Dyson with death.
.
Did you hear about the fat alcoholic transvestite?
All he wanted to do was eat, drink and be Mary.
20 Apr 2011, 01:27 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-5: Ka pai.
20 Apr 2011, 01:31 am
Indira Gandhi of India established the greatest male voice choir the world has ever known, made up of 500 eunuchs (castrated men). Everyone’s heard of them, surely?
The Indian Knackerless 500.
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