NPC 2022
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Given the ABs are content on letting the provinces have a moment in the sunshine by naming ABs in their teams, we won't know exactly who is playing NPC until the teams are named. With teams not required to be named until 24 hours out from kickoff, we'll have to wait until Saturday for some. But we can speculate around the eight players. Leicester Fainga'anuku and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are confirmed, while it's clear Sevu Reece won't play for Ta$man on Friday night. Others who should get a run are Braydon Ennor (Canterbury), loose forward Hoskins Sotutu (Counties), Otago lock Josh Dickson, Taranaki pivot Stephen Perofeta, and Auckland prop Angus Ta’avao.
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@Stargazer and Ofa.
Is just daft not giving these guys game time....I can understand they may not confirm thier availability until late in the piece, that should be upto the province if they allow for that, but jeez, let them play rugby!!
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The ABs will need to have enough cover available in case of a late injury. As mentioned in the other thread, both Ofa and Angus can't be released for a game played only a few hours beforehand.
If Perofeta or Vaa'i plays for Taranaki they would need to fly from NP to Hamilton to be back in time. The games played on the Sunday are different, provided the players can travel to where they need to be.
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RTS among eight All Blacks released to NPC teams
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could be in line for some game time this weekend.
Both he and prop Angus Ta'avao will be available for selection for Auckland.
Ta$man, looking to bounce back from a thumping at the hands of Canterbury last weekend, will have Leicester Fainga'anuku available for their match against Manawatū on Friday night.
Elsewhere, Canterbury welcome back Braydon Ennor, Taranaki will have Tupou Vaa'i available to them, Aidan Ross has been released to Bay of Plenty, while Nepo Laulala and Hoskins Sotutu will be available for Counties Manukau.
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this is pretty cool!
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Here's what your team need to make next week's playoffs...
Wellington - Sitting atop odds conference and safely into the top four, but could still miss out on home advantage, if they lose to Counties Manukau, and Bay of Plenty and Waikato both win this weekend.
Bay of Plenty - Have two games (against Northland and Waikato) and still need a bonus point to be absolutely safe in the quarter-finals. Could easily steal top spot in the conference with a pair of wins or if Wellington stumble.
Waikato - Also need a bonus point to draw clear of elimination, but could also finish top of the conference. Ultimately, their fate may come down to the final game of the regular season at home game against the Steamers on Sunday.
Otago - Tied with Hawke's Bay for the final spot from their conference, but hold a head-to-head countback. Their fate will depend on what they can achieve against red-hot Canterbuy, compared to the Magpies' fortunes against Ta$man - both home games.
Hawke's Bay - See above
Canterbury - Have lost just once all season (to Taranaki) and have wrapped up home advantage through the playoffs. The team to beat.
North Harbour - Second in the evens conference, but could still miss the post-season, if Auckland, Ta$man and Northland all win out this weekend. They face a banana-skin game against Southland - fresh off their first win - in the deep south.
Auckland - Could still grab home advantage with victory over Taranaki, but could also miss out, if Ta$man and Northland win out this weekend.
Ta$man - Could still grab home advantage with a road win over Hawke's Bay, but could also miss out, if Northland manage a bonus-point win and draw over their 'storm' week.
Northland - Have two games up their sleeves and can snatch a quarter-final with a bonus-point win and draw against Bay of Plenty and winless Manawatū, but their season would end with a road loss to the Steamers on Wednesday. They hold head-to-head countback over Auckland, but not Ta$man.
Counties Manukau, Southland, Taranaki & Manawatū - out of contention
National Provincial Championship: Week nine team announcements, how your team can still reach quarter-finals | Newshub
Also how your team can still reach next week's quarter-finals...
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