Ranfurly Shield: Canterbury v Wanganui (Wed 21 June, 7.35pm in Chch)
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Gotta admit I'm slightly worried about this game. Really tests the depth of Canterbury rugby with so many debutantes and so few Canterbury regulars (those that are, are only a maximum of two seasons deep).
Still, I'm always excited by this stage of the season and can't wait to see who of this current new crop will go on to stardom.
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@Stargazer said in Ranfurly Shield: Canterbury v Wanganui (Wed 21 June, 7.35pm in Chch):
And I think Punivai was the player who last year won the Sky try of the year award (scored when playing for his school)?
It was his younger brother that scored that try. Ngane was the one that threw the outrageous offload earlier in the movement.
Has been absolutley tearing it up at club level this year apparently. He's seen as a very promising future prospect at full back, have heard the comparison made to Israel Dagg.
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@shark said in Ranfurly Shield: Canterbury v Wanganui (Wed 21 June, 7.35pm in Chch):
Gotta admit I'm slightly worried about this game. Really tests the depth of Canterbury rugby with so many debutantes and so few Canterbury regulars (those that are, are only a maximum of two seasons deep).
Still, I'm always excited by this stage of the season and can't wait to see who of this current new crop will go on to stardom.
I wouldn't worry. The standard of club rugby has never been higher down here. Any of these players would be an automatic selection for the likes of Wanganui I reckon.
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@shark It should be a good game with Wanganui being the best Heartland team for the last few years. Not sure about Canterbury, but Wanganui has already played a few preseason games, including a 17-52 loss to a (not-full strength) Hurricanes Development team and a 7 - 52 loss to the Manawatu Evergreens (the development/trial squad of the Turbos). Looking at those results, this Canterbury squad should be able to do the job quite easily, especially if they are still battling with each other for places in the Mitre 10 Cup squad.
This is the Wanganui team for Wednesday's game (don't know how many players from last year are in this squad):
FORWARDS
Cole Baldwin ~ Border
Sam Dawson ~ Kaierau
Campbell Hart ~ Ruapehu
Bryn Hudson ~ Ngamatapouri
Jamie Hughes ~ Ruapehu
Sokonaia Kalou ~ Border
Sam Madams ~ Marist
Hamish Mellow ~ Border
Karl Parker ~ Ruapehu
Peter Rowe ~ Ruapehu
Ranato Tikoisolomone ~ Border
Viki Tofa ~ Marist
Roman Tutauha ~ RuapehuBACKS
Craig Clare ~ Ruapehu
Cameron Crowley ~ Marist
Kaveni Dabenaise ~ Border
Simon Dibben ~ Marist
Lindsay Horrocks ~ Border
Faalele Iosua ~ Pirates
Samu Kubunavanua ~ Ngamatapouri
Ace Malo ~ Kaierau
Timoci Seruwalu ~ Ngamatapouri
Dane Whale ~ Taihape -
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@Wurzel said in Ranfurly Shield: Canterbury v Wanganui (Wed 21 June, 7.35pm in Chch):
I know it's 'only' Heartland opposition and these pre-season Ranfurly Shield fixtures have traditionally seen NPC teams field B teams but given the big June/July break in Super Rugby you'd think there might have been merit in giving Mo'unga, etc a run.
Likewise would be nice to see them turn out in club rugby once or twice.
Looking at last weeks team sheets there wasnt a single Crusader playing, even guys like Macalai/ Wainui who have been playing in recent weeks were absent.
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@Nepia said in Ranfurly Shield: Canterbury v Wanganui (Wed 21 June, 7.35pm in Chch):
@SammyC Isn't Wainui a Tarananki player?
I was talking about club rugby, not the Canterbury game.
He's been playing club rugby down here all year, I wondered why he wasn't playing last week.
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Canterbury 71 (Jack Stratton, Mark Maitland, Dylan Nel, Nick Werahiko 2, Marshall Suckling, Mitch Dunshea, Poasa Waqanibau, Steve Alfeld, Caleb Makene tries; Brett Cameron pen, 7 con, Finn Strawbridge 2 con ) Wanganui 5 (Timoci Seruwalu try) HT: 36-5
