Kahui heads for Japan
13 Feb 2013
RICHARD FERGUSON updates Keo.co.za followers on latest Super Rugby news from New Zealand.
Richard Kahui to move to Japan
All Black Richard Kahui has confirmed that he will leave New Zealand at the end of the season to further his career in Japan. Kahui will join Toshiba from the Chiefs at the end of the season.
Weepu back in Blue
The Blues team take on the Highlanders on Friday evening, and will be captained by Ali Williams. Piri Weepu gets his first start of the preseason, looking much fitter than he did in 2012. Regular winger, Rene Ranger, will play at outside centre, creating a midfield combination with Francis Saili.
BLUES: 15. Charles Piutau, 14. Frank Halai, 13. Rene Ranger, 12. Francis Saili, 11. George Moala, 10. Chris Noakes, 9. Piri Weepu, 8. Peter Saili, 7. Luke Braid, 6. Steven Luatua, 5. Ali Williams (C), 4. Culum Retallick, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. James Parsons, 1. Tom McCartney
Replacements (from): 16. Quentin MacDonald, 17. Angus Ta’avao, 18. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19. Liaki Moli, 20. Ronald Raaymakers, 21. Sean Polwart, 22. Kane Barrett, 23. Joe Edwards, 24. Bryn Hall, 25. Jackson Willison, 26. Baden Kerr, 27. Marty McKenzie, 28. Pita Ahki
Full strength Canes to face Chiefs
The Hurricanes have named a close to full strength team to face the Chiefs this Saturday. First choice halfbacks TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett join Julian Savea, captain Conrad Smith and Andre Taylor in a star studded backline.
The addition of Ben Franks from the Crusaders will give the forwards a more experienced feel along with the likes of Jeremy Thrush, Jason Eaton and Victor Vito.
16 Comments
13 Feb 2013, 10:58 am
I dunno but i just cant see the Blues doing any better this year than they did last year.
13 Feb 2013, 11:17 am
Whoa, Kahui leaving is not a good thing. We really could do with the extra cover at centre. Can’t blame the guy though, forever injured, has a RWC medal, and plenty of young bucks coming through.
@John Galt-1: I want to be positive and say out back line looks okayish but when I look at last year’s final standings, I’m not sure there’s really any teams above us that we can easily beat. Highlanders look much much better, Canes will be better by a year, Tahs, well, anything is possible, Cheetahs, like us it depends on injuries. We won four last year, this year we’ll make it six I would hope.
13 Feb 2013, 11:20 am
@John Galt-1: @gonzo-2: We would have to wait and see what effect Kirwan has on the side.
That backline looks exciting, Charles Piutau is a handful and Frank Halai is a beast from the All Blacks 7′s team.
Where is Anscombe and Hobbs?
13 Feb 2013, 11:36 am
@Sasuke-3: haha, don’t ask. We dropped them both. Hobbs wasn’t up to scratch, and I hate to say it and I have no real justification for it but I do wonder if he was picked so his old man could see him in Blue before he died. Anscombe was good and getting better but he’s apparently not in the plan so he was delisted and went to the chiefs. We picked up Baden Kerr instead
13 Feb 2013, 11:57 am
@gonzo-4: Oh ok i see. You can be on to something regarding Hobbs. Anscombe looked a bright talent when he man alone destroyed the Bulls at Loftus. Dont really know Baden Kerr, what type of 10 is he? Will Chris Noakes be 1st choice?
13 Feb 2013, 12:30 pm
richard ka-whoee..?
13 Feb 2013, 12:57 pm
@ufo-6: Thank you for that lesson in pronunciation.
13 Feb 2013, 13:10 pm
That’s sad news regarding Kahui. Hope he stays injury free for the rest of his playing days.
13 Feb 2013, 14:24 pm
Kahui is a brilliant player thwarted by injury. AB’s are spoilt for choice at 13 but feared Kahui playing against Boks at 13 – more physical than Smith. Luckily always broke down during Super rugby
13 Feb 2013, 14:35 pm
@Sasuke-7:
13 Feb 2013, 15:07 pm
Wow I didnt see this coming,Kahui is all class and could have been a truly great centre but unfortunately he’s right up there with Andre Pretorius in terms of injury proneness.Will never forget his hit on Cooper in the 2011RWC qf!
13 Feb 2013, 15:59 pm
@sasuke: what i saw of kerr in the itm cup was he likes to run, had decent pace, crisp passing, a little offload game & slightly more assured than anscombe…not sure about tactical kicking or even goal kicking.
14 Feb 2013, 08:45 am
@Transformation-12: Thanks Transie
14 Feb 2013, 08:45 am
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14 Feb 2013, 23:22 pm
@SMB-9: kahui at 12, 13, 14, would be a benefit to any team better than any of the boks by far ,,,,,, a great loss to nz rugby
18 Feb 2013, 19:12 pm
well for me it is simple really. richard kahui is the most talented outside back from NZ in the current generation of players. i curse his injury troubles, for they have deprived many from seeing a man who could have been their greatest 13 ever.
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