Hurricanes 2023
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@Winger said in Hurricanes 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes 2023:
Big opportunity for Brett Cameron who has looked a better player since his overseas stint.
Hope he steps up. Morgan and Love are not there yet. JGB was outstanding vs Auckland but ordinary in the final. But Morgan came on with 25 minutes left and was worse than JGB. He might be another player like JGB that can vary a lot week by week
If both were always close to their best they would be good + super rugby players. Love might eventually get there but a long way to go still
Morgan was really consistent for the Lions this year, but I agree he had a bit of a shocker coming on in the final. I was impressed with the way he lead the Canes towards the back end of their campaign this year and I’d prefer him to start over Cameron. I think we’ll see them share the duties though tbh.
The main weakness of Morgan is his kicking, all other areas of his game seem to be top notch so hopefully he can develop that part of his game in the off-season.
I think Love will only come into 10 if needed. He’s been great at fullback for the Lions and it’s definitely his best position.
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@Tim said in Hurricanes 2023:
Mafileo to play tight or loose head next year? Seems like tight head is much stronger at the scrum for the Hurricanes.
He can play both sides at a high level which is a huge asset.
He finished the year as starting loose-head for the Canes but played tight-head for Bay of Plenty.
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Sounds like Barrett will start the year off at 12:
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@Canes4life Good. Hope he stays there.
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@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Canes4life Good. Hope he stays there.
If J Barrett ends up locking down the 12 jersey for both club and country, someone like Higgins might have to shift out one to accommodate. I think Higgins would go alright at centre anyway.
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@Canes4life In the meantime when Jordie is rested Higgins can get time at 12 - I would think in a World Cup year Jordie may have a few breaks.
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@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Canes4life In the meantime when Jordie is rested Higgins can get time at 12 - I would think in a World Cup year Jordie may have a few breaks.
Perfect opportunity to ease Higgins into Super Rugby even though he already looks ready.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Canes4life Good. Hope he stays there.
If J Barrett ends up locking down the 12 jersey for both club and country, someone like Higgins might have to shift out one to accommodate. I think Higgins would go alright at centre anyway.
By geez Canes have already got Sullivan and Proctor at 13, we pretty spoilt in midfield
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@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Canes4life Good. Hope he stays there.
If J Barrett ends up locking down the 12 jersey for both club and country, someone like Higgins might have to shift out one to accommodate. I think Higgins would go alright at centre anyway.
By geez Canes have already got Sullivan and Proctor at 13, we pretty spoilt in midfield
and an All Black in PUJ (when fit).
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@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Canes4life Good. Hope he stays there.
If J Barrett ends up locking down the 12 jersey for both club and country, someone like Higgins might have to shift out one to accommodate. I think Higgins would go alright at centre anyway.
By geez Canes have already got Sullivan and Proctor at 13, we pretty spoilt in midfield
I feel a bit sorry for Sullivan, he might have been better to stay at the Chiefs, and should definitely have gone to the Landers.
Having said that, if he can't shake loose Proctor, maybe he isn't next level good anyway.
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So after the dust has settled and we now know the squad for 2023 I feel like we can name two very solid 15s based off squad depth. There is going to be plenty of competition to get into that match day 23 towards the business end of the season which is always healthy. Some very good players are going to miss out but I’m sure injuries will strike.
1st 15:
- Mafileo
- Aumua
- Lomax
- Sangster
- Walker-Leawere
- Delany
- Savea
- Lakai
- Perenara
- Morgan
- Rayasi
- Higgins
- Proctor
- Moorby
- Barrett
2nd XV:
- Numia/Rakete-Stones
- Coles
- Franks
- Blackwell
- Bird
- Howden
- Kirifi
- Flanders
- Roigard
- Cameron
- Naholo
- Umaga-Jensen
- Sullivan
- Savea
- Love
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@gt12 said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes 2023:
@Canes4life Good. Hope he stays there.
If J Barrett ends up locking down the 12 jersey for both club and country, someone like Higgins might have to shift out one to accommodate. I think Higgins would go alright at centre anyway.
By geez Canes have already got Sullivan and Proctor at 13, we pretty spoilt in midfield
I feel a bit sorry for Sullivan, he might have been better to stay at the Chiefs, and should definitely have gone to the Landers.
Having said that, if he can't shake loose Proctor, maybe he isn't next level good anyway.
Defence wins championships and Proctor has that over Sullivan which is why all these coaches keep picking him. Based on NPC form I would start Proctor over Sullivan.
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@Canes4life Rakete-Stones was first choice LH, last year, until he got injured. He'll definitely be ahead of Numia.
I'm very afread that Blackwell will be in the 1st XV, but I agree with your picks at lock.
Lakai won't be, or shouldn't be, a first choice players from the start of the season. Young lads like him, especially forwards, should be eased in at a higher level. If they don't, they risk wrecking him and he may be destined for a career full of injuries. It would just be irresponsible.
I also don't think they're going to move Ardie to 7, unfortunately.
Sullivan at centre over Proctor any day of the week.
If Jordie starts at 12, Moorby starting at fullback.
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@Stargazer I agree Blackwell will be a show in for the starting locks with Bird. Loosies will be Flanders,Kirifi and Savea with the likes of Delaney covering lock/Loosie
Can see Proctor in that 13 jersey as much as I don’t want it.
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@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2023:
@mikey07 Proctor is a coach's pet.
Not the only coach who rates him highly. And he was much improved playing for Wellington. Still only 23 (14-05-99) so might be finally coming into top form
Even as Leo Crowley tried to avoid being doused by champagne from his elated Wellington players following their 26-18 win over Canterbury in the NPC final on Saturday night, he couldn't bury a nagging sense of disappointment.
How, asked coach Crowley, could centre Billy Proctor have been left out of the All Blacks XV squad to play two games in Ireland and England next month?
That only three Wellington players were included in the 28-strong squad has rankled Crowley ever since it was revealed on October 10.
"Billy Proctor hardly played a game for us last year (due to injury) - he's an outstanding player,'' Crowley said. "Why he's not in the All Blacks XV squad, I will never know.
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@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2023:
@mikey07 Proctor is a coach's pet.
What's Devery like. If he's as good as O'Reilly I'll be happy
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@Stargazer sheesh I wouldn’t say PRS is a definite starter. From where I’ve been sitting over the last couple months Numia is ahead of Rakete-Stones on form. He’s come of age this year and deserves to start after being the best for the Lions. I’d also have Mafileo over PRS but it’s fairly even between the three.
Lakai is already arguably one of our best. If he’s good enough already why not start him? Also, who doesn’t want to see an Ardie/Lakai combo.
You could almost argue every position though which shows a great amount of depth.
Yes Proctor probably shouldn’t have been picked in years gone by but he was exceptional for the Lions on defence this year. Another player coming of age for me and he actually deserves to start on form.
