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Michael Hooper, Matt Toomua to hold talks with top Kiwi players about trans-Tasman future next week

Michael Hooper. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Wallabies veterans Michael Hooper and Matt Toomua are set to meet with some of New Zealand’s top players next week to explore scenarios for trans-Tasman fixtures to be held later this year.

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According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Hooper, who captained Australia to last year’s World Cup in Japan, and Toomua will be joined by Rugby Union Players Association president Damien Fitzpatrick on a call with their Kiwi counterparts.

In the absence of the suspended Super Rugby, the possibility of combining the two nations’ domestic competitions featuring their Super Rugby franchises is expected to be discussed.

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RUPA boss Justin Harrison told the Herald that he has been talking with New Zealand Rugby Players Association chief executive Rob Nichol regarding such a prospect.

“I’ve been talking with Rob about the potential for a competition between the two countries and their view is very encouraging about wanting to reach out and have senior player interaction,” Harrison told the Herald.

“We are scheduling a call for next week so Hoops, Toomua, Fitzy and other players from our side can talk with senior New Zealand players to start to develop a framework around player desires for involvement.

“We’d all like to present something that has support from the playing groups and feel this is a good way to start that.”

After SANZAAR halted Super Rugby after seven rounds of action in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, both Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby have been working on starting respective domestic competitions in the coming months.

According to the Herald, a start date for a competition featuring all four Australian franchises and the Western Force is expected to get underway in July, while revelations were made on Friday about a potential New Zealand competition featuring up to eight professional teams being played nationwide.

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The formation of an Australasian Super Rugby competition could provide a much-needed boost to the coffers of both governing bodies on either side of the ditch.

NZR yesterday posted a loss of NZ$7.4m for 2019, while RA announced a A$9.4m loss in that same timeframe last month.

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AM 43 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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