Magpies - 2019 Mitre 10 Cup
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It's a pity I can't come to the game, because I'm very interested in how they're going to fill the second & third first five-eighth spot (also depending on how they see Stacey Ili's role) as well as the third halfback. So Sheild v Donaldson for the third 9 jersey, and Hape v Drury-Hawkins v Brooks for the first five roles.
Props are interesting, too, assuming Jason Long, Tim Farrell (?), Pourie Rakete-Stones and Ben May are the only certainties for the Magpies, and Tavita-Metcalfe a frontrunner for the remaing spots. I think Joel Hintz will be reasonably certain, too, considering they're giving him the captaincy for this game and he's played for Wellington.
I think hooker is pretty settled, too, with Ash Dixon, Kianu Kereru-Symes and, probably, Jacob Devery. Has Ben Power been spotted in the Bay the last few months?
We have already 4 locks (with Cridge able to play at 6), 5 if you count Tom Parsons; so presumably these players are only playing for a Saracens spot.
Loosies, we have a few already, but I think this is where still spots will be available.
There are also free spots in the midfield, with only Ili a certainty, although it will depend also on where they're going to play Toala and Lowe. Toala may get that 12 jersey, with Sam McNicol probably slotting in at fullback. Emerson and possibly Buckley for the outside backs spots.
So Neria Fomai, Dodds-Edwards and A Mikaele-Tu'u will probably be the main candidates for the remaining midfield spots, and Sapsford and Paese for the remaining outside back spots, with Penikolo Latu possibly as another utility back.
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Well, it was like this.
The Magpies XV led 42-0 after 55 minutes (six converted tries), and Wairarapa Bush won the last 25 minutes 17-0 (three tries), final score 42-17.
The match ended with Wairarapa Bush being held up over the HB line, so the final score was very nearly 42-22 (24).
Whatever aspirants were hopeful of impressing to get a Magpies contract probably had a black line put through their name.
28 players were used, with six of the changes made at halftime. Only two players played the whole 80 - Michael Buckley and Iakopo Mapu, and Mapu looked distinctly struggling at fulltime.
Penalty count was something like 15-3 against HB and spent the last ten minutes with 14 men (yellow card).
The starting fifteen was definitely superior to the finishing fifteen, 28-0 at halftime. Dominated possession and territory, and pushed the WBush scrum back at will. Second half, the dominance was a lot less.
Lincoln McClutchie was one of the six who came on at halftime and played at fullback. When Hintz was subbed off in the second half, McClutchie took over the captaincy.
Only five players used had appeared for the Magpies in Mitre 10 Cup - Pouri Rakete-Stones, Zac Donaldson, Michael Buckley, Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe and McClutchie.
You're right @Higgins, Hintz is small for a prop - I was surprised. Effective? Hard to tell, but probably will get a contract because of his previous experience at first-class level.
Set piece was fine throughout, but the penalty count was atrocious.
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Scorers:
Hawke's Bay Magpies 42 (Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u 2, Iakopo Mapu, Anzelo Tuitavuki, Tyrone Dodd-Edwards, Timo Vaiusu tries; Kodie Drury-Hawkins 4, Lincoln McClutchie 2 cons),
Wairarapa Bush 17 (Brock Price 2, Robbie Anderson tries; Anderson con).
HT: 28-0.https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12236896
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How did Dodds-Edwards go at 12? Like I said about club rugby on Saturday, he seemed to have the size but still a bit raw in terms of skills and decision making
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Yes, he does have size, so does Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u outside him.
Scored a good try unloading, and staying in support for the return pass and through the gap.
He only played the first 40.
I was actually watching Kodie Drury-Hawkins more at first five. Kicked once and ran once and spent every other occasion just passing, but it could well have been under instruction. He looked a bit slow to me on one occasion coming across in cover to get to a kick through.
Donaldson at halfback did the tactical kicking when required.
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I see the match review also mentions the next match is against the 'Poo on July 3. Has the venue for that definitely been confirmed for Napier (hopefully McLean Park) yet? I hope to be up home that week so having that game on makes the visit even more appealing. No doubt the Treasurers of the Tamatea and Tech Club's will be looking forward to increased bar turnover for their June 29 and July 6 fixtures respectively if it all falls into place!
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@Stargazer said in Magpies - 2019 Mitre 10 Cup:
What about Patrick Teddy, Liam Udy-Johns and Shamara Brooks?
They all came on during the second half when Wairarapa Bush started coming back into the game.
Scrum was not as dominant when Teddy was there but that is not all down to one man. Udy Johns got some lineout ball, and Brooks was similar to Drury-Hawkins in just being a link and passing the ball on - again this may have been under instruction.
In the pre-game lineups posted previously - Ricky Hayes, Saia Paese, Sean Morrison did not play.
There was a guy from Japan - Masahiro Senba - who came on at number eight for the last five minutes. I have never heard of him.
Edit: @Higgins - the next preseason match, against Manawatu at McLean Park on July 3 is a 6pm kickoff.
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@Number-10 said in Magpies - 2019 Mitre 10 Cup:
There was a guy from Japan - Masahiro Senba - who came on at number eight for the last five minutes. I have never heard of him.
Presumably for Wairarapa-Bush? We seem to have a fair few decent No 8s running around available for the Bay without needing foreign imports. Even then if the worst comes to the worst we could always politely request TBW to make himself available again after reminding him Mr. Philpott is no longer involved.
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@Higgins That Japanese player may be a player who's temporarily in the Bay for the international academy programme. I doubt he'll be competing for a spot in the Magpies (or even the Saracens) squad, unless he's here on similar terms as other foreigners we've had in the squad, like that Canadian prop a few years ago. We've had another one, that I've forgotten. Hopefully, he isn't a new, Japanese version of Nick Palmer
Yes, for no. 8 we have Evans, Mikaele-Tu'u, Flanders, a players who's signing hasn't yet been announced (so can't be named). Liam Udy-John's is maybe a bit raw for Mitre 10 Cup level, but surely he's ahead of any import in the pecking order, too? Fa'alemiga Selesele is still playing in the Bay, too. Oh, and Hannon Brighouse.
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@Stargazer said in Magpies - 2019 Mitre 10 Cup:
@Higgins That Japanese player may be a player who's temporarily in the Bay for the international academy programme. I doubt he'll be competing for a spot in the Magpies (or even the Saracens) squad, unless he's here on similar terms as other foreigners we've had in the squad, like that Canadian prop a few years ago. We've had another one, that I've forgotten. Hopefully, he isn't a new, Japanese version of Nick Palmer
Yes, for no. 8 we have Evans, Mikaele-Tu'u, Flanders, a players who's signing hasn't yet been announced (so can't be named). Liam Udy-John's is maybe a bit raw for Mitre 10 Cup level, but surely he's ahead of any import in the pecking order, too? Fa'alemiga Selesele is still playing in the Bay, too. Oh, and Hannon Brighouse.
I'm horrified about that, how can anyone possibly forget Luke Rooney?
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@Higgins I had even forgotten that I had forgotten him. I don't remember him at all haha.
The Canadian prop is Jason Marshall. Before that, there was Max Lahiff. We've also had Frenchie Regis Lespinas and South African Johan Schoonbee. Geez, I'm going to stop now ...
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Considering the HBRU seem to be doing their announcements via the HBT rather than on their own media platforms, I think it's safe to say it's now official:
Isaia Walker-Leawere has signed with the Magpies for 3 years, and Brendon O'Connor is returning to the Bay. This article doesn't say for how many seasons though.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12238209
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Magpies wider training squad for the July 3 pre-season match against Manawatu
From HBRU Facebook:
Mark, Josh and Francisco have announced a 42 man wider training squad who will prepare for the July 3 pre-season match against Manawatu at Napier's McLean Park. "We've got the likes of Donovan Mataira, Liam Udy-Johns and Tyrone Dodd-Edwards in there. They are seen as potential future Magpies and while it may not be this year it will be in the next year or two." "This squad has a good mix of older and younger guys. While all of them may not play against Manawatu being involved in the training's will assist their progress," Ozich said. Congratulations to all those named in the squad..
From HBT:
Hawke's Bay Magpies utility back Stacey Ili will return to the province on Sunday and will play club rugby for Napier Old Boys Marist from June 22. The return of Ili and former Magpies prop Jody Allen are features of a 42-strong Magpies squad named today to prepare for the July 3 pre-season match against Manawatu at Napier's McLean Park. Ili, 28, played 10 first class games for the Magpies in the starting XV last year, nine at centre and one at first five-eighth, before heading overseas for a stint with the Singapore-based Asia Pacific Dragons in the Global Rapid competition. Before coming to the Bay last year Ili spent two years with Irish provincial side Connacht after previous playing for Auckland and Melbourne Rising. Allen, 31, played the last of his 10 first class games for the Magpies in 2013. The former North Harbour rep recently returned to the Bay after playing in Spain and had his first starting XV appearance for Taradale Rugby and Sports against Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports at the weekend after an appearance as a substitute the previous weekend.Ozich has also named the injured pair of Napier Old Boys Marist loosie Ricky Hayes and Napier Technical outside back Penikolo Latu. Hayes is expected to be back in action in a fortnight after recovering from a leg injury and while Latu will be out of action for another 10 weeks Ozich said it is crucial to keep Latu in the training environment.Ozich agreed his latest squad had a "developmental look".He intends to play 26 players against Manawatu. "This squad has a good mix of older and younger guys. While all of them may not play against Manawatu being involved in the trainings will assist their progress," Ozich added.www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12238981
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I see that McNicol and Makene have already been included. I hope that that means they will already be available to play in the preseason game. For Sam, it has been ages ago since he played, so the sooner the better from a match fitness p.o.v..
Maybe my memory is wrong, but wasn't Jody Allen one of those props who was playing well above his level? In other words, he was terrible and he shouldn't be in the squad? I hope the fact that he has played for the Magpies previously doesn't automatically mean that he gets selected ahead of young blokes like Farrell or Tavita-Metcalfe. And if it's been Allen and Long, I'd pick Long, too.
