NPC - news, injuries etc

[Canes4life]

@Steven-Harris what does the Waikato 15 look like?

[African Monkey]

@Tim Suprised Canterbury are such overwhelming favourites. They'll always be there or there abouts but they're not looking that strong this year, no better than last year anyway.

[Tim]

@African-Monkey Yeah, I'd expect Ta$man to be pretty strong this year too, so I'm surprised that Canterbury are at such short odds.

[Tim]

@Chris-B What's Ta$man's best XXIII likely to be this season?

[Steven Harris]

@Canes4life

It will be pretty strong line up based on their form from last year and some pretty impressive signings for this year.
This was the team that beat Otago in the championship final last year..I will add in some of their signings

1: Ayden Johnstone
2: Samisoni Taukei’aho
3: Joshua Iosefa-Scott
4: Laghlan McWhannell
5: James Tucker
6: Adam Burn Teleni Seu
7: Mitch Jacobsen
8: Jordan Manihera /Luke Jacobson /All Blacks..?
9: Jack Stratton
10: Fletcher Smith
11: Sevu Reece /All Blacks...?
12: Dwayne Sweeney
13: Quinn Tupaea
14: Tyler Campbell
15: Mathew Landsdown. /Solomon Alaimalo

Reserves: Sekope Lopeti Moli, Toby Smith, Sosaia Fale, Tim Bond, Murray Iti, Kylem O’Donnell, Bailyn Sullivan, Declan O’Donnell

[Stargazer]

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

@Chris-B What's Ta$man's best XXIII likely to be this season?

Based on the signings that I've seen/remember, Ta$man's starting XV could be something like:

1 Atu Moli
2 Andrew Makalio
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 Quinten Strange
5 Pari Pari Parkinson
6 Liam Squire
7 Ethan Blackadder???
8 Jordan Taufua
9 Finlay Christie
10 Mitch Hunt
11 Leicester Fainga'anuku
12 David Havili (c)
13 Alex Nankivell
14 Tima Fainga'anuku
15 Will Jordan

16
17 Wyatt Crockett

You could swap Squire and Taufua. Not sure whether Blackadder plays openside. They might move Taufua there (and then Blackadder at 6); he's played openside before.

A very strong squad.

[Tim]

@Stargazer Think Havili has signed at 7 for them. Strong pack, good team.

[Stargazer]

@Tim As far as Ta$man is concerned, you have to add first names to the name Havili .

If Sione Havili plays openside, Blackadder might end up on the bench, probably rotating with Taufua.

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer Wellington will put something out like this: the fact that I can’t name the whole team is a worry. Walker-Leawere is a huge loss.

1. Numia
2. Aumua
3. Fidow
4. Blackwell
5. ?
6. ? Fifita
7. Kirifi
8. Ben Nicholas
9. Hauiti-Parapara
10. Garden Bachop
11. Lam
12. Umaga-Jensen
13. Umaga-Jensen
14. Goosen
15. Garden-Bachop
16. Apisai
17. Poi
18. ?
19. ?
20. Southall
21. Va’a
22. Renata
23. Proctor

[Tim]

What's the team that Canterbury will roll out?

Ta$man look like favourites so far.

[Stargazer]

@Tim I think Canterbury have lost a few players again this year, but they don't publish their signings, so hard to guess what their starting line-up might look like. Maybe @Chris knows?

[Chris]

@Stargazer @Tim
1.Lienart-Brown
2.Funnell
3.Tokalahi
4.Dunshea
5.Romano
7.Harmon/Todd
6.Prinseep
8.Douglas
9.Drumond
10.Cameron
12.Polihipi
13.Punivai/Ennor
11.????
14.????
15.McKay

Subs
McAlister,Allen,Jager/Williams,Renton,Christie,Enari,Burke,McLeod

Something like this maybe a couple of signings not announced yet

[Stargazer]

@Chris Funnell is off to Japan.

[Chris]

@Stargazer I think after the Mitre10 cup ? if he leaves McAlister will probably start Siataga or Klein on the bench

[Stargazer]

@Chris Oh, yes, that might be. Their competition format has changed.

[Bovidae]

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

1: Ayden Johnstone
2: Samisoni Taukei’aho
3: Joshua Iosefa-Scott
4: Laghlan McWhannell
5: James Tucker
6: Adam Burn Teleni Seu
7: Mitch Jacobsen
8: Jordan Manihera /Luke Jacobson /All Blacks..?
9: Jack Stratton
10: Fletcher Smith
11: Sevu Reece /All Blacks...?
12: Dwayne Sweeney
13: Quinn Tupaea
14: Tyler Campbell
15: Mathew Landsdown. /Solomon Alaimalo

Smith and Johnstone will be interchangeable. Hetet as the 3rd LH.
The other TH will be Kautai (assuming he is still signed for Waikato).
Not sure where Bond is. We've signed a lock from Canterbury apparently.
Seu likely to start at 6.
Price or Takarangi as the reserve halfback.
Alaimalo will start either at 11 or 15.
Sullivan could be the right winger.

A few of the U20s could also make the squad, e.g., Reihana, Finau, one of the props. Quade Tapsell has been playing very well in club rugby and could be a utility loose forward. He must be injured at the moment.

[Chris B.]

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

@Chris-B What's Ta$man's best XXIII likely to be this season?

I tried to do a team, but I got stuck at 1.

I'm not sure which of our four All Black looseheads should start?

[chchfanatic]

@Chris I’m pretty sure Ollie Dawe from sumner has signed as well. Very good prop sent over from Bristol
I’d say Sam Gilbert will be in there somewhere as well

[Chris B.]

@chchfanatic Is he a tighthead? Hope so - seems like we have a profusion of looseheads - though I'm pretty doubtful Kane Hames will be playing. I heard he was running the flag in club rugby a couple of weeks ago.

In addition to what Stargazer named, as far as I know we should have have Jed Brown, Levi Aumua, and Jone Macilai (I see he was playing for the Ta$man HP team) contending for the top XV - plus a few other squaddies from last year.

[Chris]

@chchfanatic I was going to put Gilbert in one of the wing spots but left them open as there a few contenders ?