Hurricanes 2022
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@machpants said in Hurricanes 2022:
Jordie is the canes best 15, 10, and maybe 12. Time for some cloning
Or maybe the Canes selecting the best possible players in their best possible positions? Just a thought.
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@bones I assume you're referring to Walden? I agree, I think alot of people are underestimating that signing, he was class for the Highlanders a few seasons back and could be that experienced voice in the backline this year, especially with young Love at 10. A centre pairing of Walden and Umaga-Jensen would do nicely for me. A back three of Rayasi, Goosen and Barrett has a nice mix to it aswell.
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@winger I personally would like to see TK Howden, Savea and Devan Flanders start the year, with both Delany (covering lock/6) and Brayden Iose (covering 7/8) on the bench.
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@canes4life said in Hurricanes 2022:
@winger I personally would like to see TK Howden, Savea and Devan Flanders start the year, with both Delany (covering lock/6) and Brayden Iose (covering 7/8) on the bench.
I like the look of Howden playing for Turbos, though maybe a year or so short of being a super player. But I would happily see him tried there, but can't see Kirifi not starting. I like the idea fo Flanders and Ardie with whoever big time! I a real fan of Flanders. We also got Gibson covering 7 haven't we.
Have to say NZ is kind of spoiled with depth looking at players that struggle to get on bench for super teams. -
@dan54 I think Howden already looks physically up to it, he was man handling guys in the NPC, but yeah they might keep him on ice like they did with Flanders in his first couple years and give him the odd game here and there. It really depends on what they do with Ardie aswell, if he's at 8 then Kirifi probably has a shot, otherwise I can't see him making the 23. The Hurricanes have a really strong loose forward unit so whoever starts will hopefully do the jersey proud.
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@canes4life it's funny how Canes have ended up with such a tidy looking loose forward group, the last few years they have looked serviceable and not a lot more, now I am starting to get quite excited about them. Hope the tighties go good enough to allow them to flourish a bit.
I think in NZ Blues are running the best loosie set, followed by potentially Canes and then Chiefs,, but Crusaders are only short of a 7 from being a very good set too. -
@dan54 that's always the same old story with the Canes, it's whether the tight five will step up when it matters. My biggest worry is lock, we a missing alot of experience and size in that department. It hasn't helped with the injuries to D Bird and IWL.
Overall, I think if the Canes can keep their top team fit then they will be there or there abouts come the business end of the season, however if lose too much more depth in that tight five we could really struggle.
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@canes4life said in Hurricanes 2022:
@dan54 that's always the same old story with the Canes, it's whether the tight five will step up when it matters. My biggest worry is lock, we a missing alot of experience and size in that department. It hasn't helped with the injuries to D Bird and IWL.
Overall, I think if the Canes can keep their top team fit then they will be there or there abouts come the business end of the season, however if lose too much more depth in that tight five we could really struggle.
Our Achilles heel is certainly our scrums, every team we play are going to target us there - Bird & IWL are very big loses... those big power locks are vital to add that real pushing power behind our front row at scrum time.
Great Depth off the bench, especially in the forwards plays a massive part in a team making a final, the Crusaders are a great example of that. -
My worry as usual with this coaching group is more the selections than the squad. There is a lot of quality and depth this year but if they choose the same old shit we're boned.
Please no more Prinsep, JGB & Blackwell. Please!
I like the Walden & PUJ midfield, but I think they'll go PUJ Proctor. Proctor has thankfully improved a lot recently.
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@foobanz said in Hurricanes 2022:
My worry as usual with this coaching group is more the selections than the squad. There is a lot of quality and depth this year but if they choose the same old shit we're boned.
Please no more Prinsep, JGB & Blackwell. Please!
I like the Walden & PUJ midfield, but I think they'll go PUJ Proctor. Proctor has thankfully improved a lot recently.
I can tell you right now that you'll likely see a lot of Blackwell this year due to injuries already. I think there is a little more hope that JGB and Prinsep will be ousted at some point.
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@bobily2 said in Hurricanes 2022:
@foobanz said in Hurricanes 2022:
My worry as usual with this coaching group is more the selections than the squad. There is a lot of quality and depth this year but if they choose the same old shit we're boned.
Please no more Prinsep, JGB & Blackwell. Please!
I like the Walden & PUJ midfield, but I think they'll go PUJ Proctor. Proctor has thankfully improved a lot recently.
I can tell you right now that you'll likely see a lot of Blackwell this year due to injuries already. I think there is a little more hope that JGB and Prinsep will be ousted at some point.
I not a huge Blackwell fan, but don't think he a poor player, just not big enough, he certainly a huge toiler. I live in hope that Love or someone will come on at 10, same as I would love to see Flanders make 6 his own. As I said as a Canes'man this is the best time , when we still full of hope!!
Even if realisticallyI can't see us making top 4. -
Not counting those injured, who's everyone picking for their first 23 of the season, I'd be happy if we selected the below:
- Numia
- Coles
- Lomax
- Blackwell
- Scrafton
- Howden
- Savea (c)
- Flanders
- Perenara
- Love
- Rayasi
- Walden
- Umaga Jensen
- Goosen
- Barrett
- Aumua
- Rakete-Stones
- Mafileo
- Delany
- Iose
- Judd
- Garden-Bachop
- Proctor
Not available due to injury: Isaia Walker-Leawere, Owen Franks, Dominic Bird, Tyler Laubasher, Cam Roigard, Jamie Booth
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@canes4life come on you know deep down that Garden-Bachop will be starting
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@canes4life Do you think Sullivan heads south to be outside the 23?
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@bovidae not saying I agree with it but the Canes have invested too much into Proctor for him to be behind Sullivan in their setup, also Sullivan isn’t better than Walden/Umaga-Jensen so yes he misses out on that 23 for me, unless he can grab one of those wing spots. Not saying he’s a bad player or anything I just think he might have to wait a few games before getting an opportunity.
@Crucial wouldn’t be surprised if half the team I’ve picked above don’t even feature for the Canes in that first game, especially if you go from Holland’s selections previously.
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@canes4life said in Hurricanes 2022:
@bovidae not saying I agree with it but the Canes have invested too much into Proctor for him to be behind Sullivan in their setup, also Sullivan isn’t better than Walden/Umaga-Jensen so yes he misses out on that 23 for me, unless he can grab one of those wing spots. Not saying he’s a bad player or anything I just think he might have to wait a few games before getting an opportunity.
@Crucial wouldn’t be surprised if half the team I’ve picked above don’t even feature for the Canes in that first game, especially if you go from Holland’s selections previously.
How do you compare Walden to Umaga-Jensen? (I mean, who would you rank higher?)
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@nostrildamus hard to say as they have completely different skill sets but together I think they would compliment each other really well as a combination. All I know is they are above both Proctor and Sullivan in my pecking order, however that’s probably completely different to how old mate Holland sees it.
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@canes4life said in Hurricanes 2022:
Not counting those injured, who's everyone picking for their first 23 of the season, I'd be happy if we selected the below:
- Numia
- Coles
- Lomax
- Blackwell
- Scrafton
- Howden
- Savea (c)
- Flanders
- Perenara
- Love
- Rayasi
- Walden
- Umaga Jensen
- Goosen
- Barrett
- Aumua
- Rakete-Stones
- Mafileo
- Delany
- Iose
- Judd
- Garden-Bachop
- Proctor
Not available due to injury: Isaia Walker-Leawere, Owen Franks, Dominic Bird, Tyler Laubasher, Cam Roigard, Jamie Booth
Parsons >>> Blackwell
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Loosies - would be Flanders {6}, Kirifi {7}, Seavea {8}
Midfielders - Umaga-Jensen at 13... 12 certainly isn't clear though, have to see who performs the best out of Proctor & Walden.
Back 3 - Barrett, Rayasi & Goosen are brilliant players, just hope our forwards can give them consistently decent platforms to attack from.
