Hurricanes 2021
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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. -
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@Stargazer Nothing Surprises me with this management tbh
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@mikey07 Tbh, I think Darren Larsen is currently one of the weak spots in the Canes' staff. He's responsible for recruitment and development. He's the one who has mades the wrong selections at Hurricanes age grade level, year in, year out. That doesn't take away the responsibility of the other coaches though.
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@Stargazer Castle doesn’t exactly cover himself with sunshine in terms of recruitment either.
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With the season fast approaching what are everyones thoughts on the first starting 23 of the year.
Here's what I would pick:
- Armstrong
- Coles (c)
- Lomax
- Fifita
- Scrafton
- Flanders
- Kirifi
- Savea
- Campbell
- Garden-Bachop
- Rayasi
- Laumape
- Umaga-Jensen
- Goosen
- Barrett
- Aumua
- Numia
- Fidow
- Walker-Leawere
- Evans
- Taumatiene
- Love/Hickey
- Aso/Toala/Proctor
VS what I think the coaches will pick:
- Armstrong
- Coles (c)
- Lomax
- Blackwell
- Scrafton
- Prinsep
- Kirifi
- Savea
- Taumatiene
- Garden-Bachop
- Savea
- Laumape
- Umaga-Jensen
- Goosen
- Barrett
- Aumua
- Numia
- Fidow
- Fifita
- Flanders
- Campbell
- Hickey
- Aso/Proctor
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I'd pick:
1 Armstrong
2 Coles
3 Lomax
4 Fifita/Le'aupepe, or
5 Scrafton/Le'aupepe
6 Flanders/A Savea
7 Kirifi
8 A Savea/Flanders
9 Campbell
10 Hickey
11 Rayasi
12 Laumape
13 Umaga-Jensen
14 Visinia
15 Barrett
16 Aumua
17 Rakete-Stones
18 Fidow
19 Walker-Leawere
20 Evans
21 Taumateine
22 Garden-Bachop
23 Toala/Aso/GoosenIf Le'aupepe is available (I haven't seen any injury update about him), that might change more than the locking spots. Either IWL will miss out completely, or they shift Fifita to the 20 jersey and Flanders will miss out completely (because the coaches will pick Prinsep to start). I'd expect Le'aupepe to start with Scrafton.
My picks for 6, 7 and 8 are only to keep Kirifi in the starting line-up, but in reality I still think Ardie is more a 7 than an 8, which would mean 6 (yuck) Prinsep, 7 A Savea, 8 Flanders and 20 Kirifi, and Evans missing out. (I'd prefer Evans at 6, but we know that won't happen).
There obvioulsy is no rugby journo in Wellington anymore, so the media coverage of the Canes' preseason has been terrible.
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