Magpies 2017

Stargazer

I'm worried this season will be a repeat of last season, or worse. I may need a second team to support that wins now and then to avoid getting depressed. Wairarapa Bush?

Number 10

In this morning's HB Today there are two more names in the squad:

Jacob Devery
TJ Vaega

So the full 32-man squad is:

Michael Allardice
Jarvy Aoake
Mark Braidwood
Richard Buckman
Geoff Cridge
Israel Dagg
Jacob Devery - hooker
Ash Dixon
Pasqualle Dunn - midfield
Mason Emerson
Gareth Evans
Tiaan Falcon
Timothy Farrell - prop
Matthew Gardner - loose forward
Hayden Hann - midfield
Mason Kean
Tony Lamborn
Jason Long
Jonah Lowe
Ben May
Sam McNicol - outside back
Marino Mikaele Tu’u
Nick Palmer - lock
Pouri Rakete-Stones - prop
Hugh Renton
Brodie Retallick
Fa’alemiga Selesele
Cardiff Vaega - midfield
TJ Vaega - outside back
Brad Weber
Ihaia West
Ellery Wilson

New Caps in Bold

Local new caps
Jacob Devery - Hastings RS
Tim Farrell - NZ U20/Tech OB
Matthew Gardner - Napier OB Marist
Hayden Hann - Pirates
Pouri Rakete-Stones - NZ U20/Pirates

Halfbacks Brad Weber and Ellery Wilson will apparently miss the first three and six weeks respectively so Chris Eaton and Zac Donaldson are added to the squad as injury cover.

And it seems Sam McNicol is available.

Karl Lowe was not considered as has only played a couple of games after an injury layoff.

Stargazer

Here's the article in the HBT.

I hope they name Karl Lowe in the Saracens (although he doesn't need the "development"), so they can still call him up if/when needed. The way our players have been dropping like flies in previous years, I'd like him to be available.
I don't agree with the reason for not including him, by the way. He'd add experience that's invaluable in a squad with so many rookies. You could clearly see that in the club rugby final. He had a massive game!

I also hope Buckman & particularly Evans can stay fit and healthy this year. Evans has been so unlucky since moving back from Otago. Bucky also missed the most important (last) games of 2015.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11900391

Stargazer

My first attempt at a line-up (assuming everyone fit, except Farrell, Weber and Wilson):

1 Long
2 Dixon
3 May
4 Cridge
5 Allardice
6 Evans
7 Renton
8 Mikaele-Tu'u
9 Eaton
10 West
11 Emerson
12 Falcon
13 Buckman
14 Lowe
15 McNicol

Reserves:
16 Devery
17 Rakete-Stones (he can play TH and LH, can't he?)
18 Aoake
19 Palmer
20 Lamborn, with Evans covering 7 & 8
21 Donaldson
22 C Vaega, with Falcon covering first-five
23 Pasqualle Dunn with Buckman covering wing & fullback

If McNicol is not available yet, I assume Buckman will start at fullback, with Dunn at centre and TJ Vaega on the bench?

What do you guys think?

Stockcar86

That starting 15 is what I would like to see as well

cgrant

@Stargazer said in Magpies 2017:

My first attempt at a line-up (assuming everyone fit, except Farrell, Weber and Wilson):

1 Long
2 Dixon
3 May
4 Cridge
5 Allardice
6 Evans
7 Renton
8 Mikaele-Tu'u
9 Eaton
10 West
11 Emerson
12 Falcon
13 Buckman
14 Lowe
15 McNicol

Reserves:
16 Devery
17 Rakete-Stones (he can play TH and LH, can't he?)
18 Aoake
19 Palmer
20 Lamborn, with Evans covering 7 & 8
21 Donaldson
22 C Vaega, with Falcon covering first-five
23 Pasqualle Dunn with Buckman covering wing & fullback

If McNicol is not available yet, I assume Buckman will start at fullback, with Dunn at centre and TJ Vaega on the bench?

What do you guys think?

I'd go with Weber instead of Eaton at scrumhalf. BTW, where is Riccitelli ?

Higgins

He has signed with Taranaki, not a surprise really as that is where his family lives.

Number 10

The fallout from yesterday's pre-season defeat to Manawatu continues.

Matthew Gardner suffered a broken arm and is out for the rest of the season. Does this mean Ben Hamelink is back in?

Jonah Lowe was a late withdrawl with a foot stress fracture and will miss a "significant part of the Cup campaign".

Chris Eaton injured his groin during the game and will likely miss the opening game against Southland. With Ellery Wilson and Brad Weber still out, this means Dev Team halfbacks Zac Donaldson and Jayden Rihia are likely to play against Southland.

Stargazer

@Number-10 Geez, not again! So many injuries before the season has even started. Jonah is the greatest loss.
I guess, indeed, Hamelink might be back in, although I wish they'd pick Karl Lowe.

Stargazer

Hmm, so according to Philpott this explains the bad preseason results?

He pointed out his troops are still coming to grips with their new attacking systems and this contributed to the Magpies high error rate.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11902610

Stargazer

One more halfback out with injury, and we might see Folau Fakatava playing Mitre 10 Cup before he plays for NZ Schools this year?

Stockcar86

This pre-season seems shocking similar to last years.

Last year it was complaining about the new rules. How does not coming to grips with a new attacking system means they leak 38 points

Stargazer

@Stockcar86 If this season is going to be just as awful as last year's, surely they can't extend Philpott's contract again? Someone must be held responsible, and I don't mean the players. Would Mark Ozich be ready to take over as head coach and could he achieve with the Magpies what he's achieved with Hastings Boys?

Stargazer

Was just thinking, but not sure it would be legally possible, that with our halfback crisis, the HBRU should try getting Michael Ruru back to the Bay. He looked good in his first year of SR for the Force. Maybe he's contracted to the Perth Spirit NRC team, but he'll be looking for a job in Super Rugby & that may be easier from the Mitre 10 Cup than from the NRC.

Stargazer

Team launch was early this morning. It looks like Mitch Drew (NOBM?) has been brought in as injury cover for Jonah Lowe (clearly limping in the video below), and no one seems to have been added to replace Matt Gardner. Rihia as injury cover for injury cover Eaton.

So this is the updated, full Magpies squad:

FORWARDS
Props: Jarvy Aoake (TH), Mark Braidwood (LH), Mason Kean (TH?), Jason Long (LH), Tim Farrell (LH), Ben May (LH/TH), Pouri Rakete-Stones (LH/TH)
Hookers: Ash Dixon (captain), Jacob Devery
Locks: Michael Allardice, Geoff Cridge, Nick Palmer, Brodie Retallick (ABs)
Loosies: Gareth Evans (co-vice captain), Matt Gardner (injured), Tony Lamborn, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (no. 8 ), Hugh Renton, Fa'alemiga Selesele

BACKS
Halfback: Zac Donaldson (injury cover), Chris Eaton (injured injury cover), Jayden Rihia (injury cover), Brad Weber (co-vice captain; injured), Ellery Wilson (injured)
First-five: Tiaan Falcon (fullback, second-five), Ihaia West
Midfield: Pasqualle Dunn, Hayden Hann, Cardiff Vaega
Outside back: Israel Dagg (ABs), Mason Emerson, Sam McNicoll, Tj Vaega
Utility back: Richard Buckman, Mitch Drew (injury cover), Jonah Lowe (injured)

Stockcar86

Yes, Mitch Drew is a winger for NOBM

Still gutted that Penitito did not make the squad

wow, full moonboot for Lowe

Higgins

@Stargazer Just looking at that squad and allowing for guys that won't be available for selection there is not a lot there that screams "Winners of the Championship Division". Won't be holding my breath as that would lead to fatal consequences so will just have to resort to simply crossing my fingers nd hoping for some divine intervention. Even Southland on Saturday has got me a little anxious.

Crucial

The Stags have had a reasonable pre-season. I think they are flying under the radar a little and won't be as weak as some think.

Nepia

@Crucial said in Magpies 2017:

The Stags have had a reasonable pre-season. I think they are flying under the radar a little and won't be as weak as some think.

I don't think anyone is talking down Southland's chances, we're more inclined to talk down ours. We look a bit rubbish - I think even the bumpkin, three digit, potato farmers are going to beat us ....

Stargazer

Nice reward for unlucky Tim Farrell, who will be out action for at least another two weeks.

Previous winners of the award are: 2006 Bryn Evans, 2007 Israel Dagg, 2008 Zac Guildford, 2009 Richard Buckman, 2010 Ihaia West, 2011 Brodie Retallick, 2012 Brendon Edmonds, 2013 Jason Long, 2014 Geoff Cridge, 2015 Hugh Renton and 2016 Pouri Rakete-Stones.

Four of these players, Evans, Dagg, Guildford and Retallick, went on to become All Blacks and only two, Long and Rakete-Stones, have yet to gain Super Rugby selection.

In other news:

Philpott had some good news on the Magpies' injury list. Winger Mason Emerson's ankle sprain isn't as bad as first feared and he is expected to be available to play within three weeks.

New Hurricanes No 8 Gareth Evans' chances of playing against Bay of Plenty on Friday night in the wake of his thigh injury collected against the Stags at the weekend are considered 50-50. Former Hurricanes flanker Tony Lamborn is unlikely to require surgery on his dislocated shoulder and could resume playing within four to six weeks.

In Lamborn's absence Fa'alemiga Selesele will be in the Magpies 23 for Friday night's match against the Bay of Plenty Steamers in Rotorua and Hawke's Bay Saracens captain and flanker Ben Hamelink will train with the Magpies this week.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11908358

The Silver Fern

Magpies 2017