Hurricanes 2021
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@Stargazer do you know who the players are either side of Zane Kepeli (far left middle) in the photo below from todays boxing session?
I also notice G Evans at the back, along with Kirifi and P Umaga-Jensen.
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@Canes4life Your mystery player above isn't Kapeli but the player with the longer hair could be. Kapeli is a loose forward whereas the other guy is taller than IWL.
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@Canes4life @Bovidae I think we may be looking at different players when talking about "mystery player" haha.
My attempt at naming most players in this photo:
Left to right, starting at the back:
Patafilo, Proctor, Evans, Iose (in front of Evans), Scrafton, Thompson, 1: someone hiding behind Thompson, maybe T Mafileo?, Taumateine, Aso, J. Savea, Toala, 2: don't know, Numia, 3: don't know (at the back, looks a little bit like Cory Jane but doubt it's him), Kirifi (hiding behind Numia's shoulder), Prinsep, Armstrong, Love (hiding behind Armstrong), 4 and 5: two players I don't know the name of, Umaga-Jensen, Fidow, Laumape, Rakete-Stones, Blackwell.
Middle row: 6: I don't know the blond guy, 7: the one next to him might or might not be Kapeli, 8: I don't know the long haired guy, Delany (in front of Taumateine and Toala), Garden-Bachop (in front of Kirifi), Roigard, Fifita, Flanders and Rayasi (head in front of Blackwell).
Front row: Goosen, Campbell, 9: I recognise him but can't remember who he is, 10: I don't know, 11: I don't know (is it Le'aupepe hiding behind a beard?), Hickey, O'Reilly, Morgan, IWL.
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@Stargazer said in 2021 Hurricanes:
Middle row: 6: I don't know the blond guy, 7: the one next to him might or might not be Kapeli, 8: I don't know the long haired guy, Delany?
What I was saying is that the guy with the long hair could be Kapeli, not the player in the photo next to Holland you posted above.
Kapeli is in the middle of this photo.
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I really don't know. I've just been guessing with those two guys (7 and 8 in my numbering). I don't think either one of them looks like Kapeli haha. I'm sure from Delany to Rayasi in that middle row, but not the players on the other side of Delany.
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@Stargazer 2. that is Numia.
4 is the Manawatu loose forward / number 8 and 5 is Liam Mitchell.
- is the Southland Stags centre
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@Canes4life I had already named Numia (he has his hand on Delany's shoulder. With number 2, I'm referring to the player in-between him and Toala.
I'm not sure, but could number 3 be Connor Collins?
No. 4, do you mean Tyler Laubsher? Could be him ...
No. 5 is indeed Liam Mitchell.
9: Not sure who you mean with the Southland centre. They used Te Tamaki and Jay Thompson at centre. Do you mean Isaac Te Tamaki? I don't think he looks like Te Tamaki but it's hard to say; his face was hidden behind all that hair during Mitre 10 Cup haha. He must have had a good trim then.
@Bovidae I think you're right about no. 7! Looks like Howden.
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The 2 blokes at the back behind the likes of Numia could be trainers from the boxing gym they were at.
Defs not Connor Collins. Ray Nu’u is the player I was thinking of from Southland. There is a post about him higher up the thread but I’m not sure which one he is.
That blonde guy is someone I have never seen.
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Armstrong looks like he's bulked up (but maybe not in a good way)
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@Stargazer out of all people I've heard Fifita is the player that looks to have had the best off-season.
The Canes are going to need everyone in tip top shape if they have any chance of challenging this year.
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@Stargazer said in 2021 Hurricanes:
@Winger Flanders looks huge, too, but in a good way.
Agree. My view was last year he needed to bulk up a lot (and learn the ropes). This year he certain has. I hope to see him at 6 this year and being looked at as a prospect for higher honours.
Fifita is another one looking in great form. Maybe him at lock (replacing Blackwell) with IWL off the bench (although maybe too many HB players to be considered of course)
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From the Turbos FB page (posted here as most are Hurricanes and I'm too lazy to split it out into each squad) :
Congratulations to all our Turbo's men that have been fully contracted (SRC) or have been selected for an Interim Training Contract or Player Replacement Contract (PRC) with Super Rugby Aotearoa rugby clubs. They are all finishing their 2-3weeks of preseason. Great to see them being recognised for their efforts during a tough Mitre 10. Stay well men. Hurricanes: Liam Mitchell, Ngani Laumape, Brayden Iose, Jamie Booth (SRC) Shamus Hurley-Langton, Kyle Stewart* (Player Replacement), Tk Howden, Tyler Laubscher, Ben Strang (ITC). Highlanders: Aaron Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder. (SRC) Crusaders: Michael Alaalatoa (SRC) Siua Elone Male (PRC) Blues: Josiah Maraku (PRC). *Kyle Stewart returning to Taranaki.