NPC - news, injuries etc

[Higgins]

@stargazer Thanks, silly me not thinking of that!!!!

[Canes4life]

Highlights of Wellington vs Manawatu

[Nogusta]

@stargazer my bad re Renton. Not sure who the 8 was then. Flanders played at 6. Visinia was at fullback, Jonah Lowe right wing.

[Nogusta]

@nogusta and yea that was Tuitavuki on the left wing 👍

[Tim]

[Yeetyaah]

Maaan can the NPC start already.

[Yeetyaah]

2021 Waikato Bunnings Warehouse NPC Squad Announced

Waikato has announced an initial 34-man Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship squad for the upcoming 2021 ...

2021 Waikato Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship Squad

Hamilton Burr (18) Hautapu

Rob Cobb (15) Hamilton Old Boys

Tepaea Cook-Savage (*) Fraser Tech

Liam Coombes-Fabling (11) Fraser Tech

Mosese Dawai (5) Hautapu

Rhys Dickinson (2) Fraser Tech

George Dyer (2) Fraser Tech

Samipeni Finau (16) Hamilton Old Boys

Luke Jacobson (22) Hautapu

Mitch Jacobson (51) Hautapu

Ayden Johnstone (23) Hautapu

Sefo Kautai (40) Hamilton Marist

Jack Lam (36) Hamilton Marist

Matty Lansdown (32) Fraser Tech

D’Angelo Leuila (*) Fraser Tech

Anton Lienert-Brown (21) University

Sekope Lopeti-Moli (15) University

Tom Martin (*)

Damian McKenzie (26) University

Laghlan McWhannell (15) Hautapu

Steven Misa (20) Hamilton Marist

Liam Messam (93) Hautapu

Ollie Norris (20) Hautapu

Simon Parker (11) Hautapu

Cortez Ratima (10) Otorohanga

Xavier Roe (10) Hamilton Old Boys

Fletcher Smith (30) University

Bailyn Sullivan (35) Hamilton Marist

Samisoni Taukei’aho (44) Fraser Tech

James Thompson (13) Hautapu

James Tucker (42) Hamilton Marist

Quinn Tupaea (30) Hamilton Old Boys

Beaudein Waaka (7) Melville

Gideon Wrampling (9) Te Awamutu Sports

[Bovidae]

I hope WRU also name their Development players.

[Yeetyaah]

For the picture lovers

[Stargazer]

IIRC, Waaka was still in the USA on the weekend, so still has to go through managed isolation.

[Tim]

Hamilton Burr is such a great name.

[Bovidae]

The squad by position would be:

Hookers - Sekope Lopeti-Moli, Steven Misa, Samisoni Taukei’aho
Props - Rob Cobb, George Dyer, Ayden Johnstone, Sefo Kautai, Ollie Norris
Locks - Hamilton Burr, Laghlan McWhannell, James Thompson, James Tucker
Loose forwards - Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Mitch Jacobson, Jack Lam, Liam Messam, Tom Martin, Simon Parker
Halfbacks - Rhys Dickinson, Cortez Ratima, Xavier Roe
1st 5s - D’Angelo Leuila, Fletcher Smith
Midfielders - Anton Lienert-Brown, Bailyn Sullivan, Quinn Tupaea, Gideon Wrampling
Outside backs - Tepaea Cook-Savage, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Mosese Dawai, Matty Lansdown, Damian McKenzie, Beaudein Waaka

In the few minutes I watched of the game against Taranaki I noticed that Leuila was playing 2nd 5 and Coombes-Fabling at fullback.

[Tim]

@bovidae What's the likely 23 with no All Blacks available?

[Bovidae]

@tim said in NPC - news, injuries etc:

@bovidae What's the likely 23 with no All Blacks available?

It could be something like this:

1 Johnstone
2 Taukei’aho (Lopeti-Moli)
3 Kautai
4 Tucker
5 McWhannell
6 Finau
7 M Jacobson
8 Messam/Parker
9 Roe
10 Smith
11 Dawai
12 Leuila
13 Wrampling
14 Sullivan
15 Coombes-Fabling

16 Lopeti-Moli (Misa)
17 Norris
18 Dyer
19 Burr
20 Lam
21 Ratima
22 Waaka
23 Lansdown

I doubt that the newbies will be thrown straight in. If Waaka isn't available yet then Cook-Savage is the only other option and would cover 2nd 5, wing and fullback.

[Tim]

@bovidae Thanks

[Bovidae]

The squad does look a little light in the midfield with ALB and Tupaea in the ABs. I would select Sullivan at 2nd 5, but then there is a lack of options on the wing. Plenty of versatility with lock/loose forwards and midfield/outside backs.

That's why I will be interested to see who the Dev players are, as they would be the cover.

[cliff]

So no valynce te whare

[Bovidae]

@cliff said in NPC - news, injuries etc:

So no valynce te whare

Good spotting. He would offer a point of difference on the wing.

[OleOleOle]

@bovidae No Latrell Smiler Ah Kong, I thought he'd be in the mix having shifted up from HB. I'm assuming Dom Hardman wil provide cover at Hooker. Will be interested to see if they add some midfield cover

[Bovidae]

@oleoleole said in NPC - news, injuries etc:

No Latrell Smiler Ah Kong, oi thought he'd be in the mix having shifted up from HB.

I'm not sure what the deal is there. He was playing fullback for TA, but obviously is a 1st 5. I may be able to speak to someone on Sat to enquire.

I'm assuming Dom Hardman wil provide cover at Hooker.

Or Anton Milnes.

Will be interested to see if they add some midfield cover

Any ideas? Te Whare would be the obvious choice as he was playing centre in club rugby.