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More NZ stars express disappointment at loss of South African competition

Ash Dixon. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Top New Zealand rugby players are continuing to question the direction of the game after Super Rugby was thrown on the scrap heap.

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Highlanders hooker and M?ori All Blacks captain Ash Dixon has expressed his disappointment over New Zealand’s split with South Africa.

And 2018 All Black forward Gareth Evans from the Hurricanes has joined fellow Super Rugby stars Brad Weber and Bryn Hall in warning against New Zealand rugby becoming too isolated.

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Sam Smith travelled to Wellington for Beauden Barrett’s homecoming. He found the pain of Beaudy’s departure is still all too real for Hurricanes fans, where Jordie Barrett is now the favourite Barrett brother in the nation’s capital.

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Sam Smith travelled to Wellington for Beauden Barrett’s homecoming. He found the pain of Beaudy’s departure is still all too real for Hurricanes fans, where Jordie Barrett is now the favourite Barrett brother in the nation’s capital.

New Zealand and Australia are currently wrangling over the makeup of a new competition, but traditional foes South Africa – who were already eyeing up the European competitions – has been sidelined.

New Zealand may also push for limited Australian involvement in a possible eight-team competition, although there is a big move for a Pasifika team to be formed. The Aussies are threatening to go it alone if New Zealand takes its snub too far.

Dixon told Gold AM’s Country Sport Breakfast: “I’d love to see the Africans still there. I think it’s a huge part of the rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa.

“Especially as a young fella who has toured there…it’s a great way to get a lot of gratitude…the way they live their lives and the way we do is completely different.

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“Obviously it is not an easy place to win – I’d love to see the Africans still there.

“I think that what (Weber) said around the sustainability of this competition, there’s a lot of truth to that.

“(Super Rugby Aotearoa) is pretty hard…if we did have semis and finals it would be who is left to play. I know after our game we’ve got a few banged up bodies, this bye week has come at a good time for us.

“If the Africans don’t play, hopefully we can chuck someone in who is a similar beast.”

Evans said the New Zealand-only competition was leading to a high attrition rate among players.

“A few guys are dropping off – great for viewership in New Zealand but I’m not so sure how sustainable it is,” he said.

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“The boys love playing in the comp (but) in short no, I don’t think it is sustainable.

“Most of the boys are only coming right at the captains run the following week.

“Some of those real top games are like test match footy. From an attrition rate and boys bodies it’s pretty tough on the lads.”

When asked by Gold AM host Lee Piper about the prospect of a Pasifika side being included, Evans said: “You’ve got to expand the competition somehow.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCsFbQfgxJL/

“We don’t want to isolate ourselves too much. This has happened because of Covid-19 and so we’re just trying to make the best out of a bad situation and keep trucking on.

“But any expansion can only be good for the game.”

All Black Weber said last week that he enjoyed going to South Africa and playing against the Australians.

“I think it’s the beauty of Super Rugby is that we do have all these different teams from around the world. I actually really enjoy that part of it.”

Crusaders halfback Hall said a New Zealand-only competition would “dilute the product”.

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SK 46 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.

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