NPC - news, injuries etc
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I noticed the last couple of weeks that North Harbour calls its NPC team "Heat". Is that a new name? I thought their men's and women's team were called Hibiscus, but apprently that's only their FPC team.
It's confusing, because also the Counties Manukau FPC team is called "Heat".
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All Blacks released to play NPC this weekend:
Loose forward Hoskins Sotutu will be available for the Counties Manukau Steelers for their opening match against the Manawatu Turbos in Palmerston North on Friday night, lock Tupou Vaa’i is available for Taranaki for their match against Hawke’s Bay in New Plymouth on Saturday; and hooker Asafo Aumua and halfback TJ Perenara are available for the Wellington Lions vs Northland Taniwha clash in Wellington.
Meanwhile, midfielder Braydon Ennor will also return to his Canterbury team this week to prepare for his return to rugby.
The players left the All Blacks camp tonight to assemble with their provincial teams.
Some additional All Blacks squad players may also be released for Bunnings Warehouse NPC matches on Sunday, with a decision to be made following this weekend’s opening Bledisloe Cup Test presented by Steinlager Test. -
Links to all the NPC squads listed together -
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@taniwharugby Our Wellington team are notoriously slow starters so your definitely in with a chance.
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@tim said in NPC - news, injuries etc:
NPC predictions
Premiership winner: Ta$man
Finalists: Ta$man, Auckland, Canterbury, BOP
Relegated: WaikatoChampionship winner: Otago
Finalists: Otago, North Harbour, Northland, Taranaki
Last: SouthlandWhere's the down vote option
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This is a fan competition on the Waikato FB page. As I am not on FB I haven't voted but have kept an interested eye in who has been selected, and will eventually compare it to the all-time Waikato XV from the thread last year.
When I saw the front row chosen I was half-expecting the late 1980s-early 1990s team to be selected en masse, but no. The forward pack has now been selected. There is some recency bias with the selections. Personally, I would have chosen Ian Clarke at LH and moved Loe to TH. However, this front row was dominant in its era. I'd also have picked Holah over local legend Monkley in a close call. I was also expecting Mitchell to be the no.8. Muir was a favourite of mine and another centurion.
Let's see who the backline is.
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Referees:
Manawatu v Counties Manukau
Friday 6 August
7.05pm, CET Arena, Palmerston North
Downer Referee: Angus MabeyTaranaki v Hawke’s Bay
Saturday 7 August
2.05pm, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Downer Referee: Jono BredinWellington v Northland
Saturday 7 August
2.05pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Downer Referee: Tipene CottrellOtago v Southland
Saturday 7 August
4.35pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Downer Referee: Dan WaengaBay of Plenty v Ta$man
Sunday 8 August
2.05pm, Tauranga Domain
Downer Referee: Brendon PickerillNorth Harbour v Waikato
Sunday 8 August
2.05pm, North Harbour Stadium
Downer Referee: Nick HoganAuckland v Canterbury
Sunday 8 August
4.35pm, Eden Park, Auckland
Downer Referee: Nick Briant