NPC - news, injuries etc

[taniwharugby]

@Steven-Harris you still gonna get along?

[Steven Harris]

@taniwharugby said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

@Steven-Harris you still gonna get along?,

will be there,as I am away for the first game against BOP on the 20th

[taniwharugby]

@Steven-Harris cool, expect NH will be fizzing to get one over us.

[Tim]

There has been no coverage of the Mitre 10 Cup squads from either the Herald or Stuff. Garbage papers.

[Duluth]

The Auckland Rugby website isn't exactly prompt with updates

They have just posted an article about the game from Saturday and talks about the upcoming 'game of 3 halves' that was in fact played yesterday

The only info about yesterdays game seems to be that Auckland won the half against the Coca Cola Red Sparks 19-7

Opening Pre-Season win for our Mitre 10 Cup squad

With the opening game of the competition less than 10 days away, the team has been enduring a pre-season of a different ...

[Stargazer]

The Mitre 10 Cup website is being filled with season previews at the moment. Haven't read them yet, so don't know whether they are any good. Here are the team previews that are already available. I'll post the remaining ones (Counties, Ta$man & Hawke's Bay) later when they are available:

Premiership test for North Harbour

Otago look to build on 2016 effort

Taniwha looking to breathe fire into Championship

[Stargazer]

Taranaki to build on Super Rugby exposure

Manawatu players sticking with home

Southland laying groundwork for better campaign

[Stargazer]

Auckland have experienced core

Delany relishing his Bay of Plenty return

Experience a key asset for Wellington in 2017

[Stargazer]

Sweeney reconnects with his Waikato rugby roots

Canterbury shape as frontrunner again

[Stargazer]

PRESEASON GAMES:

Half time scores:
Ta$man 28 - 7 Wellington XV
North Harbour 14 - 5 Northland

[Stargazer]

PRESEASON GAMES:

Full time scores:
Ta$man 54
Wellington XV 35 (Malo Tuitama 3, Lester Maulolo, Trent Renata tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 5 con)

North Harbour 31
Northland 5

[Stargazer]

Manawatu Turbos squad for the preseason game against the Magpies tomorrow:

1 Fraser Armstrong
2 Hunter Prescott
3 Sione Asi
4 Jackson Hemopo
5 Tom Parsons
6 Nick Crosswell
7 Antonio Kirikiri ©
8 Harrison Brewer
9 Jamie Booth
10 Jade Te Rure
11 Willy Ambaka
12 Hamish Northcott
13 Lewis Marshall
14 Ambrose Curtis
15 Te Rangatira Waitokia

16 Tim Cadwallader
17 Tuki Raimona
18 Sam Tufuga
19 Liam Hallam-Eames
20 Brice Henderson
21 Brayden Iose
22 Kayne Hammington
23 Ben Wyness
24 Curtis Reid
25 Newton Tudreu
26 Patrick Tafili-Reid

[Stargazer]

Okay, one is funny, but I'm pretty certain this is the new Mitre 10 Cup advertising campaign, so I expect them to post more videos like these (like they did with those billboards last season). Hopefully, they won't all be similar to this one:

[Higgins]

Will have to keep a close eye on Jade Te Rure, he looked pretty good before he buggered off overseas a couple of years back

[shark]

@Duluth

Yeah I don't get all this chatter about Bowden. He never settled at 10 or 12 at super rugby level and was only marginally above serviceable at npc level. Why people would now think the same player at 31 and riddled by injury, might make a good signing is bloody beyond me.

[shark]

@SammyC

Probably McKay as Delaney has been talking him up. He's been playing in the outside backs but he's another from the CBHS 10 academy. But Cameron is the other specialist after Richie.

[Higgins]

WELLINGTON
Joe Apikotoa (Tighthead), Alex Fidow (Tighthead), Reggie Goodes (Tighthead), Tolu Fahamokioa (Loosehed/Thighthead), Vince Sakaria (Loosehead), Jeffery To’omaga-Allen (Loosehead), Dane Coles (Hooker), Leni Apisai (Hooker), Asafo Aumua (Hooker), James Blackwell (Lock), Sam Lousi (Lock), Isaia Walker–Leawere (Lock), Lui Okeamoa-Luamanu (Lock/Blindside), Brad Shields (Blindside/No 8), Galu Taufale (Blindside), Vaea Fifita (Blindside/Lock), Greg Foe (Openside), Ardie Savea (Loose Forward), Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Halfback), TJ Perenara (Halfback), Carlos Price (Halfback), Sheridan Rangihuna (Halfback), Dan Kirkpatrick (1st 5), Trent Renata (1st 5), Jackson Garden-Bachop (1st 5), TJ Va’a (1st 5), Wes Goosen (Midfield/Outside Back), Matt Proctor (Midfield/Outside Back), Peter Umaga-Jensen (Midfield), Ben Lam (Winger), Malo Tuitama (Winger),Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Wing/Fullback)..

Julian Savea makes it!

EDIT: I have sorted out the positions the players generally play and it does look a bit top heavy in a couple of areas and wafer thin in others. Presumably they are hoping that some of the utility type players might be able to cover spots like fullback. Four first fives and three halfbacks (TJ Perenana obviously won't play) does seem to be a bit of a luxury.

[Stargazer]

@Higgins

Brad Shields to captain Lions into new era

[Higgins]

Thanks, the one I got was from the official Mitre10 Cup Website, my how things can quickly change.
They have named a guy that has not played anywhere other than loosehead prop for as long as I can recall as one of the four hookers and no one as a specialist fullback - misplaced confidence!
I am so exceedingly pleased to see one player that owes me two jugs from two seasons ago named in the squad. Hopefully he will now have enough cash to front up and settle the debt!

[Crucial]

Seeing JTAs name there makes me think he has been 'bubbling under' for too long now and must find motivation difficult at this level. Surely overseas clubs have a big target on his back. He could have a long and lucrative career up north.