NPC - news, injuries etc
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Ponsonby 10/12 Will Talataina-Mu (Blues dev) might be another candidate for Auckland 1st 5 this year.
Ponsonby comeback sinks University
It would be great to see some video coverage from that game.
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There's more going on here than anyone is letting on...
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@Stargazer said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Are there more foreign imports into the Mitre 10 Cup this year, or does it just look that way because they get more publicity? I can't say I find it a good development. Surely there must be good NZ locks that Otago could have signed?
Hemopo was great v Lions , plus the young guy who made his debut as replacement v Lions was also good (Dickson).
Are they Otago signed? As well as Highlanders?
But in general I disagree with your point about foreigners. 14 teams, 2 starters plus a sub = 42 locks required each round by the 14 NPC teams.
Add in the confusion of NH bound exodusers usually leaving at end of SR rather than end of NPC, there's plenty of holes to fill.
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@Rapido Generally speaking, I agree with you that there may not be enough players in NZ for each position in every Mitre 10 Cup team and that that could be an excuse for signing a limited number of overseas' players. However, considering that the Otago squad is based in one of the (bigger) main centres, I assumed they would have enough local players to chose from. Quite possibly that assumption is wrong, because players don't stay in their own province anymore like they used to (although the main centres are also likely to attract more players from smaller provinces due to the presence of tertiary education institutions and better employment opportunities).
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Mako$ have signed Faingaanuku Jr. for next year, when he finishes school. Pretty sure he featured for the NZ Schools side last year.
Interesting to see the Parramatta Eels making a play for him.
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Apparently James Lay and Liam Steel are leaving Auckland to sign for BOP.
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Here's a list of (nine) players from last years squad who aren't available this year:
Charlie Faumuina
James Lay
Liaki Moli
Joe Edwards
Steven Luatua
Simon Hickey
Stacey Ili
Liam Steel
Lolagi VisiniaWe might be missing Fatialofa, Seu, and Ravouvou through injury.
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@Duluth said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
I see Dan Bowden is playing 10 for Ponsonby. If he's over his injuries, he would be a decent stop gap until one of the younger flyhalfs is ready
Sounds like he injured himself again last weekend, and was not named in the team this weekend:
Ponies fullback Pryor Collier showed a good step to score for the lead, which Ponies held via some tenacious defence. The downside was that first five Daniel Bowden limped off with what looked to be a leg injury.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11885016
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@Tim spent a lot of his last stint in NZ on the sidelines injured too.
Shame, because he has the skills to be a very good 10 at Super level, but father time catching up (in his 30's now right?)
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@taniwharugby Yeah, turned 31 this year.
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@Tim said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
BTW, 2016 Wellington player Salesi Rayasi is playing club rugby in Auckland for Marist, and was in the 2017 Blues U20 squad. He's the leading try scorer in Auckland club rugby so far this year.
Jebus I remember him as a small shy kid coming along to 7's training with dad. I'm old.
