Wellington vs Otago
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Trent Renata, Tuitama Malo, Billy Proctor, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Wes Goosen, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Sheridan Rangihuna, Thomas Waldrom (captain), Du’Plessis Kirifi, Vaea Fifita, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Joel Hintz, James O’Reilly, Tolu Fahamokioa.
Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Alexander Barendregt, Will Mangos, Greg Foe, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Thomas Umaga-JensenExperienced No 8 Thomas Waldrom will lead the Wellington Lions out for their opening Mitre 10 Cup match of the 2018 season against Otago at Westpac Stadium on Sunday. .... Several players will make their debut for the Lions, with prop Joel Hintz coming in after Jeff Toómaga-Allen, who was called into the All Blacks squad, while Kaliopasi Uluilakepa and Alexander Barendregt have been named on the bench.
Vilimoni Koroi, Josh Timu, Matt Faddes, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Finn Strawbridge, Josh Renton, Dylan Nel, Slade McDowall, Joketani Koroi, Josh Dickson, Tom Rowe, Hisa Sasagi, Sam Anderson-Heather (captain), Aki Seiuli.
Reserves: Sekonaia Pole, Tom Hill, Donald Brighouse, Sione Misiloi, Sam Dickson, Kurt Hammer, Matt Whaanga, Taylor Haugh
Injury list will usher in up to seven Otago bows
Otago will field up to seven newcomers in its side to take on Wellington tomorrow, but the season appears to be in the balance for flanker James...
Otago will field up to seven newcomers in its side to take on Wellington tomorrow, but the season appears to be in the balance for flanker James Lentjes. Otago has already been hard-hit by injury and have brought in some apprentice players to fill the holes. Finn Strawbridge will start at first five-eighth with Josh Ioane out with a head knock, while No 8 Dylan Nel will play his first game in blue and gold at this level. In the reserves, prop Tom Hill, loose forwards Sam Dickson, Sione Misiloi, midfield back Matt Whaanga and outside back Taylor Haugh will all make their debuts for Otago if they get on -
Billy Proctor must be rated highly. Born 14/05/1999 so just turned 19. With lots of other options for center. Including Goosen and Thomas Umaga-Jensen.
Regarding Goosen. He might have to find a team that will start him in the midfield. its where he wants to play. I think at times 'whats best for the team' is crap. Players need to ensure they play in the best position for them otherwise find another team. Fifita is one example where his option as a AB 6 is stuffed as he always playing lock. Finally he put his foot down so he's now at 6. Whereas if he didn't he would likely be at lock again with Blackwell (too short for lock) at 6 or Teariki Ben-Nicholas at 6. If Goosen wants to advance it will be at 2nd 5 or center not wing and he needs to play there to see if he is good enough. If Wellington won't he needs to find a team that will. Another example si Savea. He needed to move to center and should have insisted on it before he was on the decline. As Umaga did.
Unsure who is the cover for 1st. Was Va'a (still only 21) either injured again. Or not up to it last week. Also Price can play 1st
But will watch Proctor (Matt's younger brother) Joel Hintz (moved from Canterbury 2 months back to try and get NPC game time so with injuries etc his luck is in) Du’Plessis Kirifi who looks very promising and Isaia Walker-Leawere likewise.
The replacement prop Kaliopasi Uluilakepa is a 19 year old Tongan who might be slightly on the heavy side (18th Jan 1999 1.90m/145kg)
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@duluth said in Wellington vs Otago:
Trent Renata, Tuitama Malo, Billy Proctor, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Wes Goosen, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Sheridan Rangihuna, Thomas Waldrom (captain), Du’Plessis Kirifi, Vaea Fifita, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Joel Hintz, James O’Reilly, Tolu Fahamokioa.
Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Alexander Barendregt, Will Mangos, Greg Foe, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Thomas Umaga-JensenExperienced No 8 Thomas Waldrom will lead the Wellington Lions out for their opening Mitre 10 Cup match of the 2018 season against Otago at Westpac Stadium on Sunday. .... Several players will make their debut for the Lions, with prop Joel Hintz coming in after Jeff Toómaga-Allen, who was called into the All Blacks squad, while Kaliopasi Uluilakepa and Alexander Barendregt have been named on the bench.
Vilimoni Koroi, Josh Timu, Matt Faddes, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Finn Strawbridge, Josh Renton, Dylan Nel, Slade McDowall, Joketani Koroi, Josh Dickson, Tom Rowe, Hisa Sasagi, Sam Anderson-Heather (captain), Aki Seiuli.
Reserves: Sekonaia Pole, Tom Hill, Donald Brighouse, Sione Misiloi, Sam Dickson, Kurt Hammer, Matt Whaanga, Taylor Haugh
Injury list will usher in up to seven Otago bows
Otago will field up to seven newcomers in its side to take on Wellington tomorrow, but the season appears to be in the balance for flanker James...
Otago will field up to seven newcomers in its side to take on Wellington tomorrow, but the season appears to be in the balance for flanker James Lentjes. Otago has already been hard-hit by injury and have brought in some apprentice players to fill the holes. Finn Strawbridge will start at first five-eighth with Josh Ioane out with a head knock, while No 8 Dylan Nel will play his first game in blue and gold at this level. In the reserves, prop Tom Hill, loose forwards Sam Dickson, Sione Misiloi, midfield back Matt Whaanga and outside back Taylor Haugh will all make their debuts for Otago if they get onLooking forward to this game, assuming I get to see it. Wellington have set some kind of record here for selecting players with hyphenated surnames.
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Wellington lucky that that intercepted pass from JGB didn't lead to an Otago try as well; instead their prop had a break in the opposite direction, resulting in a try.
Koroi can be so dangerous when his passes stick and his team mates actually catch the ball. Awesome try from Otago. They should have scored more though; too many handling errors.
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Was at the game on Sunday. Wellington always looked in control even though they were fairly sloppy at times. I was amazed at the size of our front row - probably the smallest front row going around the ITM Cup.
Number of classy operators in the backline but our forwards will need to front week in and week out if we are going to contest this year. The return of Aumua and the pending return of Fidow will boost our chances.
