NPC - news, injuries etc
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@Higgins Wellington XV line-up was posted earlier. This was the Turbos squad:
Fraser Armstrong, Tim Cadwallader, Sione Asi, Liam Mitchell, Liam Hallam-Eames, Nick Crosswell, Brice Henderson, Harrison Brewer, Jamie Booth, Jade Te Rure, Willy Ambaka, Curtis Reid, Lewis Marshall, Patrick Tafili-Reid, Te Rangatira Waitokia, Hunter Prescott, Tuki Raimona, Sam Tufuga, Brayden Iose, George MacPherson, Atu Henare, Ben Wyness, Nathan Tudreu, Newton Tudreu
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@Higgins said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Has anyone been made to front up to the fans and account for the arse raping HB got from Waikato yesterday?
The same person who was made to front up for last season's nightmare. His name is "no one".
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@Stargazer said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Duluth If you have a look at this FB page (link below), you'll find several photos & video clips. I haven't seen a team line-up but you might recognise players from the photos.
This is one of them:
So Seu is fit again. I thought that he was out for the season.
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Talent aplenty in extended Mitre 10 Cup squad
Auckland coach Nick White has named a talented extended group from which the core of the Mitre 10 squad will be formed. ...
Outside backs:
Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)
Melani Nanai (Manukau)
Joe Ravouvou (College Rifles)
Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
Caleb Clarke (Suburbs)
Rieko Ioane (Ponsonby)
Midfielders:
George Moala (Grammar TEC)
Loketi Manu (College Rifles)
Malakai Fekitoa (Pakuranga)
TJ Faiane (Pakuranga)
Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
Vince Aso (Ponsonby)
First fives:
Daniel Bowden (Ponsonby)
Otu Mausia (College Rifles)
Wiseguy Faiane (Pakuranga)
Halfbacks:
Jono Hickey (Grammar TEC)
Leon Fukofuka (Marist)
Lisati Milo-Harris (Grammar TEC)
Loose forwards:
Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)
Blake Gibson (Ponsonby)
Jerome Kaino (University)
Jamason Fa’anana-Shultz (Suburbs)
Dalton Papali’i (Pakuranga)
Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray (University)
Taleni Seu (Grammar TEC)
Locks:
Patrick Tuipulotu (Ponsonby)
Ben Neenee (Pakuranga)
Michael Fatialofa (Ponsonby)
Sam Ulufonua (Ponsonby)
Scott Scrafton (Grammar TEC)
Samuel Slade (Ponsonby)
Hookers:
Greg Pleasants-Tate (Ponsonby)
Kurt Eklund (University)
JP Sauni (College Rifles)
Props:
Dexter Fa’amoana (College Rifles)
Emersen Tamura-Paki (College Rifles)
Isi Tu’ungafasi (Suburbs)
Marcel Renata (University)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Grammar TEC)
Sam Prattley (Pakuranga)
Tom McHugh (Grammar TEC)
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Mako$ squad named this morning. Worryingly, the official announcement omits any props and hookers, but with a bit of research I think the team is (could be slightly wrong on the props and hookers - e.g. we may not have any and be planning on being so perfect we won't need scrums):
HOOKERS
Andrew Makalio, Ti'i Paulo
PROPS
Kane Hames, Tim Perry, Siosiua Halanukonuka, Ryan Coxon, Tom Hill
LOCKS
Alex Ainley (Highlanders - 80), Pari Pari Parkinson (Stoke - 3), Quinten Strange (Crusaders - 11)BACK ROW
Ethan Blackadder (Nelson – 9), Vernon Fredericks (Crusaders / Moutere - 46), Shannon Frizell (Marist – 12), Pete Samu (Crusaders - 29), Liam Squire (Highlanders - 38), Jordan Taufua (Crusaders – 10)HALF BACKS
Finlay Christie (Chiefs - 10), Billy Guyton (Blues - 42),FIRST - FIVES
Mitchell Hunt (Crusaders - 12), Tim O'Malley (Waitohi - 1)MID-FIELD BACKS
Levi Aumua (Kahurangi *), David Havili (Crusaders - 31), Trael Joass (Wanderers - 11), Alex Nankivell (Chiefs - 15)OUTSIDE BACKS
Tima Faingaanuku (Nelson - 8), Will Jordan (Christchurch *), Viliami Lolohea (Harlequins - 13), James Lowe (Chiefs - 37). -
Counties Manukau PIC Steelers 2017 Squad Announced
Coaches Darryl Suasua, Grant Henson and Semo Sititi have named their team with a blend of popular long-serving Steelers, new local talent, brothers, Super Rugby players and internationals.
The Counties Manukau squad features 23 players who have previously been part of the Steelers environment and seven new additions. Thirteen players have Super Rugby experience and 10 have earned international honours.
Young rookies to the PIC Steelers family include McNamara Cup winning halfback Liam Daniela from Bombay, Waiuku speedster winger Tevita Nabura and Pukekohe midfielder Salimoni Tukinia. At 20 years of age, Junior World Cup champion Orbyn ‘Go the Fro’ Leger, whose father Gus also played for the Steelers, is the youngest player in the team.
Also joining the side this year is Maori All Black Joe Royal who has spent part of the Super Rugby season training with the Blues, and Brumbies midfielder Nigel Ah Wong who scored the Brumbies only try against the Chiefs in their last New Zealand outing.
South Auckland born Samoan international Albert Nikoro formerly from the Western Force, has joined the Steelers for the first time, having been sidelines since receiving an eye injury against the All Blacks earlier in the year. All Blacks captain Kieran Read will be welcomed back home to ECOLight Stadium on Friday August 11 when Read’s two teams play each other in the Game of Three Halves.
Brothers Nepo and Luteru Laulala are expected to take the field together for the first time for the Steelers to add to the collection of brothers who have represented Counties Manukau.
The PIC Steelers will be again led by two born-and-bred Counties players. Augustine Pulu is the highest capped Steelers player in the squad and freshly back from a strong season for the Blues, joining with his Super Rugby teammate Jimmy Tupou, who welcomed a new son in late July. Tupou is on target to join a special group Steelers to have played 50 matches in the red, black and white jersey when the Steelers host Auckland in their opening Mitre 10 Cup game at ECOLight Stadium on Saturday night 19 August.
Steelers Head Coach Darryl Suasua said “It is great to have retained a core group of passionate Steelers while being able to blood-in new players. The Mitre 10 Cup is the springboard for many careers, so we are excited at the prospect of introducing our new players to this level of rugby while being surrounded by experienced players.”
It is expected that Toni Pulu and Sione Fifita, who both experienced long term injuries whilst on contract with the Chiefs and Crusaders respectively, will spend the Mitre 10 Cup season recovering. Due to Super Rugby commitments, some temporary extra players have been bought in as cover and will also be used as injury cover should the need arise.
2017 PIC Steelers Squad
Nigel Ah Wong Brumbies Midfield 0 caps*
Sean Bagshaw Onewhero Prop 32 caps
Liam Daniela Bombay Halfback 0 caps*
Sione Fifita Pukekohe wing 18 caps **
Glen Fisi’iahi Bombay Wing 0 caps
Sam Henwood Pukekohe Loose forward 12 caps
Jonathan Kawau Bombay Loose forward 6 caps
Baden Kerr Karaka First Five-Eighth 29 caps
Luteru Laulala Ardmore Marist First Five-eighth 11 caps
Nepo Laulala Ardmore Marist Prop 0 caps
Orbyn Leger Karaka Midfield 0 caps
Fotu Lokotui Patumahoe Loose forward 1 caps
Pauliasi Manu Karaka Prop 25 caps
Matiaha Martin Bombay Lock 11 caps
Tevita Nabura Waiuku Wing 0 caps*
Tim Nanai-Williams Manurewa Fullback 56 caps
Albert Nikoro Western Force Ultility Back 0 caps*
Augustine Pulu Karaka Halfback 66 caps
Toni Pulu Bombay Wing 44 caps **
Ronald Raaymakers Waiuku Loose forward 51 caps
Viliame Rarasea Ardmore Marist Lock 24 caps
Kieran Read Crusaders Loose forward 0 caps*
Joe Royal Patumahoe Hooker 0 caps*
Salimoni Tukinia Pukekohe Midfield 0 caps*
Viliami Taulani Manurewa Loose forward 4 caps
Suliasi Taufalele Ardmore Marist Hooker 35 caps
Kalolo Tuiloma Bombay Prop 11 caps
Jimmy Tupou Pautmahoe Loose forward 49 caps
Jonathan Taumateine Ardmore Marist Halfback 4 caps
Matt Vaai Manurewa Loose forward 8 caps
Sonny Bill Williams Puni Midfield 2 caps
Sam Furniss Patumahoe Midfield 0 capsSuper Rugby Cover
Riley Hohepa Patumahoe First five-eighth
Kalione Hala Karaka Fullback
George Maka Pukekohe Midfield
Gafatasi Su’a Pukekohe Hooker
Corey Te Whata-Colley Bombay Prop
Sesimani Tupou Ardmore Marist Prop
Daymon Leasuasu Ardmore Marist Lock
Romero Tagi
Onewhero
Prop -
- Sam Prattley
- Greg Pleasants-Tate
- Marcel Renata
- Patrick Tuipulotu
- Scott Scrafton
- Taleni Seu
- Blake Gibson
- Akira Ioane
- Jono Hickey
- Daniel Bowden
- Melani Nanai
- TJ Faiane
- George Moala
- Vince Aso
- Jordan Trainor
- Kurt Eklund
- Samuel Slade
- Dalton Papali’i
- Lisati Milo-Harris
- Malakai Fekitoa
So, props, 9, and 10 our areas of concern.
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Port Taranaki Bulls squad for the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup:
Forwards: Mitchell Graham (34 caps), Jared Proffit (6), Reuben O’Neill (13), Asaeli Sorovaki (2), Mike Kainga (4), Angus Ta’avao (22), Ricky Riccitelli (0), Sione Lea (46), Donald Maaka (0), Leon Power (28), Leighton Price (18), Finn Hoeata (0), Brad Tucker (0), Pita-Gus Sowakula (0), Adrian Wyrill (5), Lachlan Boshier (16), Toa Halafihi (24), Tom Florence (0).
Backs: Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (21), Kylem O’Donnell (26), Logan Crowley (0), Marty McKenzie (27), Ciarahn Matoe (0), Stephen Perofeta (11), Charlie Ngatai (20), Johnny Fa’auli (10), Sean Wainui (25), Seta Tamanivalu (44), Manasa Mataele (6), Latu Vaeno (16), Declan O’Donnell (9), Beaudein Waaka (18).
Unavailable because of injury: Blade Thomson, James Broadhurst, Mitchell Brown, Berny Hall, Mitchell Crosswell, Ben Matwijou, Jackson Ormond.
Unavailable because of All Blacks selection: Beauden Barrett, Scott Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Waisake Naholo.
Taranaki Rugby
The official website of Taranaki Rugby and the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls. Inspiring Taranaki. Enriching Lives.
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@Tim said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Hickey will probably start or be on the bench though
Initially I would start Hickey and give Milo-Harris plenty of time from the bench.
No point investing in Fukofuka any more. He hasn't improved much and now he has played for Tonga I suspect he'll leave after his current contract
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A few summarizing comments about that Mako$ team.
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I wonder who the captain is? I'd be inclined to think Alex Ainley - but, at his age, he won't be on the field for every minute of every game - maybe Taufua or Samu?
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It's a smaller squad than last year - significant losses from last year (from memory) - Jesse MacDonald, Ross Geldenhuys, Shane Christie, Tevita Koloamatangi, Marty Banks, Kieran Fonotia, Caleb Makene - plus a couple who barely featured. Banks (especially) and Christie are serious losses.
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Significant gains - Ti'i Paulo, Jordan Taufua, Will Jordan - plus some rookies I know little or nothing about - Coxon and Aumua. Paulo, Taufua and Jordan should be upgrades on MacDonald, Koloamatangi and Hunt (as a fullback).
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The starting XV looks pretty strong, but if injuries bite in crucial positions we could be badly exposed - cover looks particularly thin at tighthead prop and first five. With a squad of only 28 it's hard to know who else is around to be called up.
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We don't really have a specialist openside - I presume Samu will start there with Blackadder as cover.
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Joass makes the team, but neither of the other Ta$man NZ sevens players - Knewstubb or Ng Shiu - are in there - but, maybe they have signed elsewhere?
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