Hopes for your Rugby teams in 2021?

[Carter's Choice]

How do you hope your teams will fare in 2021?

Crusaders: I think we will be contenders for the Super Rugby Aotearoa title again in 2021. I thought we over-performed this year, and I wasn't honestly expecting to win it. Despite losing Ennor and Bridge for basically the entire SRA season I think our squad is slightly better this season. However, the Blues look bloody strong on paper and are clearly the team to beat.

All Blacks: I predict we will retain the Bledisloe Cup and win the Rugby Championship, but lose one test to the Springboks. South Africa's focus will understandably be on the Lions, and I also think their RWC win was a false dawn, they are a team in decline. We will go undefeated in the June/July tests against Italy and Fiji and beat Italy and Ireland when we tour the NH, but I think we will lose to a resurgent France.

Canterbury: 2021 is another rebuilding year. I will be happy if we stay in the 1st division, and if we make the semi finals that will be an added bonus.

[stemoc]

saffers are shit , Australia will beat them in 2021....

Fiji plays NZ and Ireland next year, i think we will win both matches comfortably (a guy can dream), we are also rebuilding cause we are lacking depth at 10, 15, 12, locks and number 8

[Monkey Magic]

Blues show that their recruiting has worked and perform well to win super rugby Aotearoa and the trans tasman comp.

Auckland to win the shield and the mitre 10.

All blacks, where to start? We get full competitions in with all teams able to play at home with crowds. Hoping that they bring a level of consistency that was hugely lacking this year. Hopefully Jordan starts at 14 after he has another impressive super campaign and only one Barrett in the backline. Can see us losing 1 bledisloe test at least, hoping for a ferocious contest with Australia played in the right spirit

Overall less ridiculous sniping and comments from nzr, ra and saru as all of that kind of media attention damages the game. Also red and yellow cards consistently making sense when they are applied

[FujiKiwi]

Blues: Really have no excuses not to flourish and thrive in 2021. On paper, that forward pack looks ridiculously good, with luxurious depth. We might be missing a good half back or two, and depth at 10, 12 and 13. But that’s just quibbling really. The Blues must perform. My hope is that they do.

North Harbour: Seem a long way off the likes of last year’s finalists. Can’t see them featuring much in finals contention. Being OK will probably have to do, hopefully bringing some new young talent through.

The All Blacks: So much talent and potential. Doomed to be wasted. A frustrating year ahead. I’d love to be wrong. I’d hope Fozzie has some sort of “road to Damascus” conversion to a considered and consistent approach. But that’s just hope against hope desperation.

[Kiwias]

Canterbury: hoping to see them build on their excellent end to the season, knocking off #1 and #2 on consecutive weekends, perhaps making it to the semis this year.

Crusaders: A five-peat would be brilliant, really rubbing into the NZRU's face for their error in not selecting Razor for the ABs.

All Blacks: resigned to no more than a reasonable year, but retaining the BLedisloe and the TRC (with or without theBoks), and to seeing that fat smug-faced prick Foster in the media far more often than he deserves.

[Ymx]

It’s a brand new year with so much hope.

Temporarily excited, but then I remember we still have Foster and COVID

[Flockwitt]

The Canes performed as a unit in 2020 and I'd like to see more of the same. They played as a team, better than the sum of the individual parts and the coaches did well considering the dog's breakfast that they were handed at the start of the year and everything through it. Glaring weakness at 9, 10 means a tough season and injuries are going to be a worry. I'd like to see individuals develop, if Lumpy and UJ can form a first class partnership. They'll remain a team that can spoil the day for anybody and play some excellent rugby in the process, which'll do.

There will need to be some astute recruitment for 2022 though as the end goal.

[laurent]

I hope we can resume playing

[Monkey Magic]

It’s a brand new year with so much hope.

Temporarily excited, but then I remember we still have Foster and COVID

At least one of those things is likely to leave us undefeated, unfortunately its not the one in the coaches box

[Hong Kong]

I hope we can resume playing

This

[sockwithaticket]

Wasps - consolidate last year and make the play offs again

England - start playing some fucking rugby again. We've got the players to do it, Eddie just needs to let them off the leash.

[Carter's Choice]

The Canes performed as a unit in 2020 and I'd like to see more of the same. They played as a team, better than the sum of the individual parts and the coaches did well considering the dog's breakfast that they were handed at the start of the year and everything through it. Glaring weakness at 9, 10 means a tough season and injuries are going to be a worry. I'd like to see individuals develop, if Lumpy and UJ can form a first class partnership. They'll remain a team that can spoil the day for anybody and play some excellent rugby in the process, which'll do.

There will need to be some astute recruitment for 2022 though as the end goal.

The Canes did well in 2020, beating the Crusaders and arguably finishing the comp as the form team.

On paper you have a great looking 1st XV. Is TJP guaranteed to be missing, what with COVID-19 and everything? If so I agree that 9/10 is a worry for you. In saying that, your first choice team looks great! It's as strong as any team in the comp

15. Jordie Barrett
14. Wes Goosen
13. Peter Umaga-Jensen
12. Ngani Laumape
11. Salesi Rayasi
10. Jackson Garden-Bachop
9. Jamie Booth

8. Ardie Savea
7. Kirifi Du Pleesis
6. Vaea Fifita
5. Isaia Walker-Leawere
4. Scott Scrafton
3. Tyrell Lomax
2. Dane Coles
1. Fraser Armstrong

16. Asafo Aumua
17. Tavita Mafileo
18. Alex Fidow
19. Kane Le'aupepe
20. Devan Flanders
21. Jonathan Taumateine
22. Simon Hickey
23. Lolani Visinia

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Mid Canterbury - Build on the successful unbeaten abbreviated rep campaign of 2020. Beat South Canterbury in the Meads Cup final with a pushover try on the 80 minute mark.

Highlanders - Tony Brown's first year as Head Coach to see the 'Landers return immediately to the form of the halcyon days of 2015.

All Blacks - A return to robust forward play and sparkling backline moves, but only after the right to go wide has been earned. Some semblance of a game plan would be a bonus.

[SaintK]

Saints to start putting a winning run together and qualify for a proper version of the ERC
England to start playing to their full abilty and win the 6N again and stop kicking the leather off the fucking ball!
To get some competetive rugby at my little junior club at all age levels and sections going again and the club bar open once again before the season ends (highly unlikely )

[tabascoboy]

Just being able to play a single game before year's end...

[Carter's Choice]

Highlanders - Tony Brown's first year as Head Coach to see the 'Landers return immediately to the form of the halcyon days of 2015.

On paper, you have a squad that is as strong as any in NZ. The Highlanders competed in every game last year, and with a bit more luck would have been pressing hard for the Super Rugby Aotearoa title. Your first choice team looks great - I especially like your depth in the backrow (best in NZ) and at halfback. Plus I think you have the two best young locks in NZ in PPP and Selby-Ricketts.

This is a fantastic 1st choice XXIII;

1. Ayden Johnstone
2. Ash Dixon
3. Siate Tokolahi
4. Manaaki Selby-Rickit
5. Paripari Parkinson
6. Shannon Frizell
7. James Lentjes
8. Marino Mikaele-Tu'u

9. Aaron Smith
10. Josh Ioane
11. Vilimoni Koroi
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen
13. Michael Collins
14. Jona Nareki
15. Solomon Alaimalo

16. Liam Coltman
17. Daniel Lienart-Brown
18. Jeff Thwaites
19. Josh Dickson
20. Liam Squire
21. Folau Fakatava
22. Mitchell Hunt
23. Nehe Milner-Skudder

[Niegs]

I hope we can resume playing

Yeah, I'm not that interested anymore in pro/international sides. Hopefully we'll get to a point where it's safe enough to have our spring/summer season here (modified like the English women's league would be good, though I'd even take a flag league if they had the foresight to put it together).

[Paddington Bear]

Sarries - really ought to walk the revised Championship. Would be nice to have a bit of dignity about it and play by the rules if/when back in the Prem.

England - expect a bit more in attack and holding the 6N is reasonable. Would be nice to have a Grand Slam decider v France but a long way to go before that.

[Flockwitt]

The Canes performed as a unit in 2020 and I'd like to see more of the same. They played as a team, better than the sum of the individual parts and the coaches did well considering the dog's breakfast that they were handed at the start of the year and everything through it. Glaring weakness at 9, 10 means a tough season and injuries are going to be a worry. I'd like to see individuals develop, if Lumpy and UJ can form a first class partnership. They'll remain a team that can spoil the day for anybody and play some excellent rugby in the process, which'll do.

There will need to be some astute recruitment for 2022 though as the end goal.

The Canes did well in 2020, beating the Crusaders and arguably finishing the comp as the form team.

On paper you have a great looking 1st XV. Is TJP guaranteed to be missing, what with COVID-19 and everything? If so I agree that 9/10 is a worry for you. In saying that, your first choice team looks great! It's as strong as any team in the comp

15. Jordie Barrett
14. Wes Goosen
13. Peter Umaga-Jensen
12. Ngani Laumape
11. Salesi Rayasi
10. Jackson Garden-Bachop
9. Jamie Booth

8. Ardie Savea
7. Kirifi Du Pleesis
6. Vaea Fifita
5. Isaia Walker-Leawere
4. Scott Scrafton
3. Tyrell Lomax
2. Dane Coles
1. Fraser Armstrong

16. Asafo Aumua
17. Tavita Mafileo
18. Alex Fidow
19. Kane Le'aupepe
20. Devan Flanders
21. Jonathan Taumateine
22. Simon Hickey
23. Lolani Visinia

TJ's out. Just as a comment AC, that's a reasonable stab at the first team, but the team that played the best rugby last year had Prinsep playing at 6 , Fifita off the bench. Also Blackwell would start having Isaia Walker-Leawere coming in second half. I suspect that was because the coaches wanted a lineout target to come on if Scrafton went down... while he always gave his all Blackwell is, as another poster put it, that unhappy combo of not being quite fast enough for the loosies and not being quite tall enough for a lock so he should be superseded but let's see who the coaches run with. Reed was well worth his starting spot, experience, pace, strength and accuracy in the tight, the balance with him, Ardie and Kirifi worked. Which also emphasizes how important Scrafton was to the team in 2020, a line out target who won his ball even when the opposition knew the bulk of the throws were going to him.

[Hal Jordan]

Quins: Doing more than just enough during the season. Phasing out the old guard for players of equal quality. Not putting out locking combinations with a combined age of less than mine due to injuries.

England: Replace Ben Fucking Youngs. One good game in 10 isn't good enough, but Jones is harder than diamond for him, so that ain't gonna happen. Stop picking Daly at full back. Stop picking Joseph on the wing when we have guys like Thorley sitting idle. It would also be nice to find a genuinely world class inside centre as we still haven't seen one since Greenwood, FFS. Farrell has performed well in the system, and he and Ford are a good pairing, but I'd like someone who plays the position week in, week out at club level.

Local: Just to get players on the pitch in a game. My son to fall in love with the game as I did - Covid hasn't helped the games and drills they can do.

International: Survive the incoming concussion tornado.

[Dan54]

Hope the Canes can keep on from where they ended up last year, though a bit worried with Booth out for first part as I don't know a lot about other 9s. So 9-10 axis (which is major part of team) is a worry, but I don't have incredibly high hopes.
ABs to show improvement and remember that we win games in forwards first!
Mitre 10, well as I now living in the Naki I will have to have a serious look at them, I will of course now have to insist that Vaii should be starting lock for ABs along side of Scott barrett and probably have to have all 3 Barrett boys starting all tests , and Smiley as manager?
In club stuff I shall be going along and supporting Southern in the naki comp, and will endeavour to get to as many games as possible as I always do for club rugby, so 'C'mon Southern'.
Most of all I hope all teams are able to play uniterupted by Covid!

[Gumboot]

Hope the Canes can keep on from where they ended up last year, though a bit worried with Booth out for first part as I don't know a lot about other 9s. So 9-10 axis (which is major part of team) is a worry, but I don't have incredibly high hopes.

The Canes have no hope with Garden-Bachop at 10.

[Sandstorm]

Boks: actually play the Lions and beat them

Stomps: stay liquid

[Gumboot]

Highlanders - Tony Brown's first year as Head Coach to see the 'Landers return immediately to the form of the halcyon days of 2015.

Yep, I also expect the Highlanders to have a very good season.

Hope the Butcher Boys win the Meads Cup.

I have low expectations for the ABs this year, but hope we can at least retain the Bledisloe.

[sturginho]

I hope we win the grand slam, then thump the All Blacks 2-0 away from home and complete the hat trick of wins against them in the Autumn only to then lose to Uruguay the following week

[Enzedder]

Have a guess.

[Carter's Choice]

Hope the Canes can keep on from where they ended up last year, though a bit worried with Booth out for first part as I don't know a lot about other 9s. So 9-10 axis (which is major part of team) is a worry, but I don't have incredibly high hopes.

I don't think NZ has ever had worse depth at SR level. It's terrible.

Crusaders: Mo'unga, Cameron, Burke
Highlanders: Ioane, Hunt
Hurricanes: Garden-Bachop, Hickey
Chiefs: Gatland, Reihana, Trask
Blues: Black, Perofeta, Plummer

That's a whole bunch of youngsters and journeymen, sprinkled with a few never-will-be's. Makes in more infuriating that Foster didn't give the best of the next generation of 10's, Ioane, Black and Hunt, a bit more time with the AB's squad last year.

[Jb1981]

In no particular order:

1. The Crusaders continue to set the bar high and do the five-peat.

2. The trans-Tasman competition is able to proceed.

3. The All Blacks play to a plan. If selected, Beauden Barrett plays as a fullback, not a “dual playmaker”. Retallick returns the player he was before.

4. Canterbury make the semi-finals.

5. Outside of NZ, the Lions tour happens. Happening in front of a crowd would be great but I will take the tour happening at all right now.

[Carter's Choice]

5. Outside of NZ, the Lions tour happens. Happening in front of a crowd would be great but I will take the tour happening at all right now.

Just thought, is there any point of a Lions tour if crowds are prohibited? IMO the whole point of the Lions tour is the touring Home Nations supporters.

[wet-socks]

How do you hope your teams will fare in 2021?

Crusaders: I think we will be contenders for the Super Rugby Aotearoa title again in 2021. I thought we over-performed this year, and I wasn't honestly expecting to win it. Despite losing Ennor and Bridge for basically the entire SRA season I think our squad is slightly better this season. However, the Blues look bloody strong on paper and are clearly the team to beat.

AC, remember when you outlandishly predicted the Crusaders wouldn't even make the playoffs in 2020 before Covid shutdown the competition in March? Seems as if you've over-corrected your predictions for 2021 to make up for it.

[Carter's Choice]

How do you hope your teams will fare in 2021?

Crusaders: I think we will be contenders for the Super Rugby Aotearoa title again in 2021. I thought we over-performed this year, and I wasn't honestly expecting to win it. Despite losing Ennor and Bridge for basically the entire SRA season I think our squad is slightly better this season. However, the Blues look bloody strong on paper and are clearly the team to beat.

AC, remember when you outlandishly predicted the Crusaders wouldn't even make the playoffs in 2020 before Covid shutdown the competition in March? Seems as if you've over-corrected your predictions for 2021 to make up for it.

I honestly thought that this year would be a rebuilding year, after losing Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Ryan Crotty, Jordan Taufua etc. We lost over 1000 Super Rugby caps of experience. I was very happy to be proven wrong. So very happy.

[Carter's Choice]

..

[Dan54]

5. Outside of NZ, the Lions tour happens. Happening in front of a crowd would be great but I will take the tour happening at all right now.

Just thought, is there any point of a Lions tour if crowds are prohibited? IMO the whole point of the Lions tour is the touring Home Nations supporters.

Too true, Lions without supporters isn't really a Lions tour is it?

[Dan54]

Hope the Canes can keep on from where they ended up last year, though a bit worried with Booth out for first part as I don't know a lot about other 9s. So 9-10 axis (which is major part of team) is a worry, but I don't have incredibly high hopes.

I don't think NZ has ever had worse depth at SR level. It's terrible.

Crusaders: Mo'unga, Cameron, Burke
Highlanders: Ioane, Hunt
Hurricanes: Garden-Bachop, Hickey
Chiefs: Gatland, Reihana, Trask
Blues: Black, Perofeta, Plummer

That's a whole bunch of youngsters and journeymen, sprinkled with a few never-will-be's. Makes in more infuriating that Foster didn't give the best of the next generation of 10's, Ioane, Black and Hunt, a bit more time with the AB's squad last year.

I not one of the huge Ioane fans , he can play well at Super level (when he can get a start there) , but haven't really seen that much of him to think he would be all that great at test level. Hunt, much as I used to have high hopes, another who at this stage looks to me not quite there. Black is another competent super player.
Like it or not we have Mounga and Barrett as only 2 with the ability to play 10 at International level. I know there plenty of anti Barrett brigade here, but I reckon he still a bloody sight better option than either Hunt,Black or Ioane at test level, and would love to be proved wrong. Holding out hope that one of the young brigade in Trask, Sullivan or someone will come through.

[Jb1981]

5. Outside of NZ, the Lions tour happens. Happening in front of a crowd would be great but I will take the tour happening at all right now.

Just thought, is there any point of a Lions tour if crowds are prohibited? IMO the whole point of the Lions tour is the touring Home Nations supporters.

It would be a Clayton’s tour without fans. In that sense, a postponement may be preferable for South Africa even though watching from NZ, I would love to see the series take place.

Is a delay feasible with scheduling though? And would that be fair on the Lions - imagine the Springboks with 1,000 minutes of play under their belts!

[wet-socks]

How do you hope your teams will fare in 2021?

Crusaders: I think we will be contenders for the Super Rugby Aotearoa title again in 2021. I thought we over-performed this year, and I wasn't honestly expecting to win it. Despite losing Ennor and Bridge for basically the entire SRA season I think our squad is slightly better this season. However, the Blues look bloody strong on paper and are clearly the team to beat.

AC, remember when you outlandishly predicted the Crusaders wouldn't even make the playoffs in 2020 before Covid shutdown the competition in March? Seems as if you've over-corrected your predictions for 2021 to make up for it.

I honestly thought that this year would be a rebuilding year, after losing Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Ryan Crotty, Jordan Taufua etc. We lost over 1000 Super Rugby caps of experience. I was very happy to be proven wrong. So very happy.

I found your lack of faith in Scott Robertson disturbing..

[wet-socks]

Hope the Canes can keep on from where they ended up last year, though a bit worried with Booth out for first part as I don't know a lot about other 9s. So 9-10 axis (which is major part of team) is a worry, but I don't have incredibly high hopes.

I don't think NZ has ever had worse depth at SR level. It's terrible.

Crusaders: Mo'unga, Cameron, Burke
Highlanders: Ioane, Hunt
Hurricanes: Garden-Bachop, Hickey
Chiefs: Gatland, Reihana, Trask
Blues: Black, Perofeta, Plummer

Zarn Sullivan (Blues) and Ruben Love (Hurricanes) could be great first-five prospects with time.

[Carter's Choice]

I found your lack of faith in Scott Robertson disturbing..

That's interesting.

[Hugo]

I just want an absorbing and entertaining Lions test match series in South Africa.

The older I get the less partisan I get about all things in life and rugby is no exception. So, whilst I want the Lions to win I am more invested in the tour being an overall success and the test match series in particular being a classic.

[Dan54]

I just want an absorbing and entertaining Lions test match series in South Africa.

The older I get the less partisan I get about all things in life and rugby is no exception. So, whilst I want the Lions to win I am more invested in the tour being an overall success and the test match series in particular being a classic.

Isn't that strange Hugo, I have found the same thing, I found as I have got older I have got a lot less partisan too, find I am able to enjoy the game for what it is, and don't really get too upset if tea, I supporting loses. Once upon a time if ABs (or any team I was supporting) lost, I would not enjoy a game as much, then one day I learnt that team I support could lose a bloody good game . I personally think I enjoy the game a hell of a lot more now when I can just want my team to win without it being the reason for it being a great or ordianry game of rugby. I always believe the 95 WC final was the game that I woke up.
I would also enjoy watching Lions/boks tests as a neutral, but somehow without Lions supporters it would not seem right.