NPC - news, injuries etc

[Stargazer]

Another Counties signing.

[Stargazer]

And, of course, another Mako signing, too.

[shark]

So Connor Collins has moved to Wellington?

[Stargazer]

@shark Looks like it. Wouldn't have got much game time for Canterbury behind Enari & Drummond, so I guess he's trying his luck in the Capital? Wellington have lost at least one (Price), possibly two (Rangihuna), of last year's halfbacks.

[Yeetyaah]

@Stargazer Yeah I saw Price doing promo stuff for Waikato so I assume he's there now.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah Price has been a regular for Marist so will likely be one of the 3 halfbacks in the squad along with Stratton and Takarangi/O’Donnell.

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae Hopefully they retain Stratton, he was great last year. Like what I saw from Takarangi as well.

[ploughboy]

i would imagine stratton is locked in as he has been turnjng out for the hautapu invintational xv

[Dice]

Is Sweeney doing another season with Waikato?

[Stargazer]

@Dice Yes, he's already signed.

[Bovidae]

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

Is Sweeney doing another season with Waikato?

And likely captain again.

Unfortunately this also limits who plays in the midfield. I'd like to see a Tupaea-Sullivan combo at some stage.

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae Same here. I like Sweeney, dudes a legend. But Tupaea and Sullivan are next gen. Tupaea especially so, he's such a talent.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah New coach of course, so Strawbridge might have different ideas to a players best position, but Tupaea is best suited to 2nd 5.

We should have a decent team with the new additions.

[Dice]

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

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

Is Sweeney doing another season with Waikato?

And likely captain again.

Unfortunately this also limits who plays in the midfield. I'd like to see a Tupaea-Sullivan combo at some stage.

We got a look at the Tupaea-Sullivan combo against Northland last year when they rested Sweeney, and they went pretty well together. It might just mean the midfield gets more rotation this year due to how they went.

[Dice]

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

@Yeetyaah New coach of course, so Strawbridge might have different ideas to a players best position, but Tupaea is best suited to 2nd 5.

We should have a decent team with the new additions.

I rate you guys highly this year. You guys had one of the best attacks last season, if not the best attack. You then get Luke Jacobson back this season and have also added Alaimalo and Seu.

I actually have you guys slightly ahead of Wellington to make the top 4. The only question mark for me is how much impact will losing Gibbes have on the team?

[Bovidae]

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

I rate you guys highly this year. You guys had one of the best attacks last season, if not the best attack. You then get Luke Jacobson back this season, plus have added Alaimalo and Seu.

I'd be happy if Jacobson wasn't available.

Other players like Johnstone have SR experience now. Iosefa-Scott was involved too but didn't get much time on the park. Same for McWhannell.

I actually have you guys slightly ahead of Wellington to make the top 4. The only question mark for me is how much impact will losing Gibbes have on the team?

I think Randle and White are still involved so there will be some continuity amongst the coaches. Canty first up.

[mikey07]

@Dice Wouldn’t be hard do we even have any players left they seem to have all left

[mikey07]

@Stargazer that’s alright Kemara Hauiti-Parapara is more then enough I rarely rate hi should get a Canes contract next year.

[Stargazer]

This Saturday, 13 July, is the first Ranfurly Shield game of the 2019 season. The first of two (?) against a Heartland team.

This is the Otago squad that will play Thames Valley (Wanaka Showgrounds, k/o 2.05pm - Sky Sport 3):

[Stargazer]

Thames Valley team:

NAME – (Caps)
1 Lance Mclntyre (Debut)
2 Glen McIntyre * (18 + 2 NZH= 20)
3 Sitiveni Tupou * (15)
4 Cameron Dromgool * (10) {Blazer Game}
5 Connor McVerry * (27)
6 Brett Ranga * (Captain) (42 + 2 NZH = 44)
7 Frederick Kei (Debut)
8 Matty Axtens (7 BoP)
9 Ben Bonnar * (vc) (27)
10 Reece Boughton * (10)
11 Kieran Lee * (10)
12 Danny Kayes (Debut)
13 Sam McCahon * (18 + 1 NZH= 19)
14 Harry Lafituanai * (18)
15 Jason Laurich (20) {Last game 2014}

Replacements
16 Brooklyn Toia (Debut)
17 Sergio De La Fuente * (6)
18 Lance Easton * (75 + 3 NZH + 3 C-M =81)
19 Sione To’a (Debut)
20 Laulea Mau (Debut)
21 Cole Berridge (Debut)
22 Regan Crosland (Debut)
23 Mathew Abraham * (7)

Total Caps = 310 +11 = 321 First Class Games
*= Meads Cup Final 2019 = 13 players
NZH = New Zealand Heartland XV Caps
BoP = Bay of Plenty Caps
C-M = Counties Manukau Caps