Wellington Lions 2023
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Unless I missed something I don't think there are any outside backs there.
Hugo Plummer is a lock, Dominic Ropeti is a loose forward (but played lock for the U20 team recently - I'd be surprised if we saw him play there at NPC) and Bradley Crichton at prop.
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Yeah Plummer is a lock out of Tawa, played for most of the Wellington rugby rep teams but I know the academy have taken their time with him. He's 1.98m but Wellington have held him back and have instead tried to beef him up before offering him a full contract. He looks the part now and I think he's weighing in at 115kg. Hopefully he can play well enough this year to compete for a Canes contract.
Ropeti (blindside flanker) and Chrichton (prop) are two players coming through the system, I don't expect to see much of them this season.
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So the Wellington Lions will need to put together a make-shift side going into the first two Ranfurly Shield defences against Horewhenua and South Canterbury thanks to the Under 20 WC, the All Blacks XV commitments and obviously the All Blacks.
Players they won't have available for those first two matches are:
Bradley Chrichton - prop (Under 20s)
Siale Lauaki - prop (Under 20s)
Xavier Numia - prop (All Blacks XV)
Asafo Aumua - hooker (All Blacks XV)
Du Plessis Kirifi - loose forward (All Blacks XV)
Peter Lakai - loose forward (Under 20s)
Billy Proctor - centre (All Blacks XV)
Ruben Love - fullback (All Blacks XV)
Dane Coles - All Blacks
Ardie Savea - All Blacks
TJ Perenara - injured
Julian Savea - injuredWith the retirement of Pek Cowan we will only have one prop (PJ Sheck) available from last year's squad meaning we will have to dig deep into club rugby to find a few replacements. Other areas should hopefully be covered.
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@Canes4life Has Pek Cowan really retired? He was recently named in the initial Wellington Māori squad for 2023.
Te Upoko O Te Ika 2023 Initial Squad
The Initial Te Upoko O Te Ika Squad for 2023 has today been announced.
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@Stargazer an article came out last year of him retiring at the end of the season. He's been in the coaching setup for Petone and was going to be the next man up for the Crusaders if they had any further propping injuries apparently.
He's 36/37 now so he might step in for those easy Shield games but I don't think he'll feature for the Lions in the season proper unless things get dire.
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Riley Higgins out for 10 weeks with a broken wrist. An injury he sustained in last week’s McBain Shield.
This would put him out until at least midway through the upcoming NPC and Ranfurly Shield season.
Thankfully the Lions are well equipped in the midfield with Umaga-Jensen, Proctor and the upcoming Jack O'Brien.
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@Canes4life bugger. One player I rate and was wanting to see more of. Hopefully he's back before the NPC finishes
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@Bones now that’s one light weight player that had game.
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@Canes4life jeez high standards. I don't recall him being lightweight, seemed a similar size to Mils.
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Wider squad named for the first Shield defence. Plenty of club players in there.
Looks like Logan Henry has returned to Wellington.
Wellington Lions Name Wider Training Squad
Wellington Lions Head Coach Tamati Ellison has named his Wider Training Squad, to prepare for the first Ranfurly Shield defence of 2023 against Horowhenua-Kapiti in three weeks.
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@Canes4life what's your 23 with everyone available? (e.g. when Love and co are back).
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@foobaNZ with everyone available minus A Savea & Coles (ABs) and Higgins & J Savea (injured), I would reward mostly last year's players and go with the following 23:
- X Numia
- A Aumua
- PJ Sheck
- J Blackwell
- D Bird
- C Delany
- D Kirifi (c)
- P Lakai
- T Perenara
- A Morgan
- P Patafilo
- P Umaga-Jensen (Riley is out until mid NPC)
- B Proctor
- C Garden-Bachop (Savea is out until mid NPC)
- R Love
- O'Reilly / Gaulalofa (there are talks of O'Reilly making a return)
- B Chrichton (I can't think of anyone else)
- S Lauaki
- H Plummer
- T Plumtree / B Shields
- L Henry
- Sam Clarke or TJ Clarke (or someone else coming through the club scene)
- L Filipo
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Touch wood, but if that 15 stays together we should be able to go back to back. Possibly some question marks on the bench.
Morgan was disappointing during Super, but I think will go okay at NPC level. He's a pretty damaging runner against NPC level players, and his lack of a big boot won't matter so much. I'd like to see him improve his decision making this season.
Higgins is a loss for sure, him or PUJ on the bench would add a lot of strength.
Even with Jules fit I don't think he'd start for me over anyone in your back line.
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Blackwell, Shields and Delany missing in the forwards
Bird and Sheck the only 2 starting forwards from last year's final
The only starting back is Pepesana Patafilo. PUJ is also there along with Morgan
It will give the next level players game time. Including Hugo Plummer who hopefully impresses
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@foobaNZ said in Wellington Lions 2023:
@Canes4life what's your 23 with everyone available? (e.g. when Love and co are back).
It will be a strong starting forward pack. Hopefully injuries are few
Numia Aumua Sheck >> ?? ?? Lauaki >> O’Reilly might be a big loss
Blackwell Bird >>Hugo Plummer. Alos Delany.
Delany Lakai Kirifi >> Shields
Hopefully the team can find a strong backup LH prop and hooker
Backline could be very good. Hopefully TJ returns soon and Morgan can find better form at 1st than last year and SRP
TJ >> Richard Judd or Hauiti-Parapara
Morgan >> ??
PUJ >> Higgins when recovered
Proctor
Savea / Patafilo / Connor Garden-Bachop
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@Winger Gaulalofa is ready for the step up, he's been fantastic for Tawa this year. He's been a part of that awesome Tawa front row alongside Sheck and Lauaki for a couple seasons. Getting O'Reilly back will be a bonus though.
Overall we are covered in most areas which is great to see. Hopefully we can have another fairly injury free year and go back to back. I'm not saying it's a given by any stretch because of our history but we have the squad to compete for another title.
