NPC - news, injuries etc

[Tim]

Mitre 10 Cup 2018: U20 players to watch

[shark]

Looks like these are the strips for this season, sans a supplier brand although I'm not sure how you can have a playing strip without a manufacturer. Unless this is the same as last years' jersey with a new main sponsor? I'd love to see a return to full hoops rather than have that dinky side panel, but never mind.

[Daffy Jaffy]

This post is deleted!

[Tim]

Still no mention of the Mitre 10 Cup in the Herald. Last article is dated January. Guess there's just too much big celebrity news to cover in NZ.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/106242378/mitre-10-cup-premiership-preview-can-anyone-stop-the-canterbury-procession

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/106302511/mitre-10-cup-talking-points-five-things-to-look-out-for-this-weekend

[ARHS]

@tim
There was a centre-page spread on Friday August 10th - with wall-chart of match schedule and 9 players featured in previews.

But, no sign of playing XV announcements for Harbour, Northland, Ta$man, Canterbury, Manawatu, Waikato, Auckland. Counties. One has to go searching most times now. Waikato didn't even cover their two pre-season matches.

[Stargazer]

@tim

Will Friday's game between  Ta$man and Canterbury be the precursor to the final yet again?

For the past two years these provinces have met in the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership final and it would take a brave person to bet against that happening again.

I can see a possibility that Canterbury won't reach the final. They have lost some of their best players in Mo'unga & L Whitelock (ABs), Todd (Japan) & Thompson (Manawatu), although they've gained Whetu Douglas who can capably replace Whitelock.

We'll know more after tomorrow's game against Ta$man, but Ta$man are my favourites for that game.

[Tim]

@stargazer Is MacDonald coaching Ta$man still? I wonder if he and Coventry will be distracted by their Blues roles?

[Stargazer]

@tim Yeah, MacDonald is still there for his final season with the Mako.

[chchfanatic]

Ta$man at $3.05 head to head is a steal.

[KiwiMurph]

Didn't Ta$man get pumped by Canterbury last year in Round 1?

[Stargazer]

@kiwimurph If last year's results have any predictive value for this season, I'll run to the pharmacy now to get some anti-depressants.

[Nepia]

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

@kiwimurph If last year's results have any predictive value for this season, I'll run to the pharmacy now to get some anti-depressants.

I think you should grab them any way - it's going to be a tough year for the Baby Magpies but might set us up for future years.

[Stargazer]

@nepia If I had too much time, I'd calculate the average age of each squad, but I'm reasanbly sure we have the youngest squad in the comp. It will be a huge learning curve for all those young lads. For the coaches as well, btw.

[Nepia]

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

@nepia If I had too much time, I'd calculate the average age of each squad, but I'm reasanbly sure we have the youngest squad in the comp. It will be a huge learning curve for all those young lads. For the coaches as well, btw.

It's handy, we have our excuses locked and loaded.

[Bovidae]

Waikato has confirmed that the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup campaign will be led by co-captains Luke Jacobson and Dwayne Sweeney.

Waikato Announces Co-Captains for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup Season

Waikato has confirmed that the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup campaign will be led by co-captains Luke Jacobson and Dwayne Sweeney. ...

[ARHS]

@bovidae

This is strange to be announcing so very late. Still no team announcement for tomorrow? No team announcements or match reports for practice games.

The new website takes an age to load, and hard to find what I am looking for. Do you, or anyone, know what is going on with Waikato rugby's apparent cutback in news coverage

[ACT Crusader]

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

It's handy, we have our excuses locked and loaded.

So just like every other season then....

[Bovidae]

@arhs No idea. I only saw the co-captain announcement while checking if the team to play Manawatu had been released.

I didn't know about the pre-season games until after they had been played. Poor from the media person at the WRU.

[Steven Harris]

[Steven Harris]