2016 Mitre10 Cup
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<p>Shield Snorters have signed Ross Filipo and Ben May.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Number 10" data-cid="598765" data-time="1469168982">
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<p>Shield Snorters have signed Ross Filipo and Ben May.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Not bad. I assume both have been brought in to cover for Allardice and Edmonds and only signed for one year?</p> -
<p>Hardly inspiring, one a virtual Super Gold Card Holder and the other was not even given a contract with the Championship Level Wellington Lions team last season. How Ben May keeps getting selected is one of lifes mysteries. Perhaps he is related to Chris Eaton? I suppose it could have been marginally worse considering Jamie MacIntosh is also out there looking for someone to pick him up after he could not make the Southland team.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mr. Philpott rates Bendon Edmonds and Ben May on the same level talent (and experience) wise. Well I'm afraid I don't see it that way.</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/82403272/hawkes-bay-Shield Snorters-sign-ross-filipo-and-ben-may-for-2016-provincial-season'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/82403272/hawkes-bay-Shield Snorters-sign-ross-filipo-and-ben-may-for-2016-provincial-season</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="599027" data-time="1469189796">
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<p>Hardly inspiring, one a virtual Super Gold Card Holder and <strong>the other was not even given a contract with the Championship Level Wellington Lions team last season</strong>. How Ben May keeps getting selected is one of lifes mysteries. Perhaps he is related to Chris Eaton? I suppose it could have been marginally worse considering Jamie MacIntosh is also out there looking for someone to pick him up after he could not make the Southland team.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mr. Philpott rates Bendon Edmonds and Ben May on the same level talent (and experience) wise. Well I'm afraid I don't see it that way.</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/82403272/hawkes-bay-Shield Snorters-sign-ross-filipo-and-ben-may-for-2016-provincial-season'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/82403272/hawkes-bay-Shield Snorters-sign-ross-filipo-and-ben-may-for-2016-provincial-season</a></p>
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<p>That's incorrect. May was in the 2015 Lions squad but wasn't available for personal reasons initially, and then out injured (knee). He played a couple of games for them last season.</p>
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<p>I assume there were no better, experienced players available (like Dominic Bird) who were willing to move to the Bay. I think Filippo in particular can add a lot of value due to his experience.</p> -
<p>I'm okay with the two signings - they are just for one year only.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Andrew Horrell, Brendon Edmonds, Richard Buckman, Michael Allardice, Robbie Fruean (probably), Sanaila Waqa (shoulder injury), are all out for the year. The first five of them all had starting positions last year.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2016, rather eerily, was starting to look a bit like 2012 where, in our first year after promotion, we were lost a lot of front line players, struggled, and got relegated.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Even with Filipo and May, when I look at the announced 2016 squads for Auckland and Taranaki, I get a feeling of inferiority which would be more so if Filipo and May weren't there.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Our first choice starting lineup would be (excluding Dagg and Retallick) what?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>15 McNicol</p>
<p> </p>
<p>14 Tongia</p>
<p>11 Chase</p>
<p> </p>
<p>13 Marshall?</p>
<p>12 Ropiha</p>
<p> </p>
<p>10 West</p>
<p>9 Weber</p>
<p> </p>
<p>8 Evans</p>
<p>7 Renton?</p>
<p>6 Boswell-Wakefield</p>
<p> </p>
<p>5 Cridge</p>
<p>4 Abbott</p>
<p> </p>
<p>3 May</p>
<p>2 Dixon</p>
<p>1 Fahamokioa</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Number 10" data-cid="599118" data-time="1469239650">
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<p>I'm okay with the two signings - they are just for one year only.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Andrew Horrell, Brendon Edmonds, Richard Buckman, Michael Allardice, Robbie Fruean (probably), Sanaila Waqa (shoulder injury), are all out for the year. The first five of them all had starting positions last year.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2016, rather eerily, was starting to look a bit like 2012 where, in our first year after promotion, we were lost a lot of front line players, struggled, and got relegated.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Even with Filipo and May, when I look at the announced 2016 squads for Auckland and Taranaki, I get a feeling of inferiority which would be more so if Filipo and May weren't there.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Our first choice starting lineup would be (excluding Dagg and Retallick) what?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>15 McNicol</p>
<p> </p>
<p>14 Tongia</p>
<p>11 Chase</p>
<p> </p>
<p>13 Marshall?</p>
<p>12 Ropiha</p>
<p> </p>
<p>10 West</p>
<p>9 Weber</p>
<p> </p>
<p>8 Evans</p>
<p>7 Renton?</p>
<p>6 Boswell-Wakefield</p>
<p> </p>
<p>5 Cridge</p>
<p>4 Abbott</p>
<p> </p>
<p>3 May</p>
<p>2 Dixon</p>
<p>1 Fahamokioa</p>
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<p>I'd put Lamborn at 7 and maybe Emerson at 11. Despite Chase having slightly more experience at NPC level, I think Emerson is better.</p>
<p>At 12, either Marshall or Lowe.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have the same reaction as you after seeing other teams. I'm worried we'll go straight back to the Championship if they're not hiring a few more experienced backs.</p> -
<p>I cannot see what you guys see in Ben May. I have watched him a few times in club rugby over these last two seasons (he has not played much at all) and apart from one game when he played against lowly Avalon about five weeks back I have seen nothing to suggest he is he is a solution to any teams propping problems at ITM Cup level much less at super XV level. I can't comment on his play in tonights super rugby quarter final as I was otherwise engaged but is he was any good some other team would have signed him up adminst much fanfare way before now. Ross Filipo off the pace when he last turned out for Wellington two years ago and I seriously doubt he has found any new lease of live since then. I do have a fond memory as in his last appeqarance for Wellington (against North Harbour possibly from memory) he did knock over a couple of conversions one from wide out on the right hand side of the field so maybe he has been acquired for that skill.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Number 10" data-cid="599118" data-time="1469239650">
<p>Andrew Horrell, Brendon Edmonds, Richard Buckman, Michael Allardice, Robbie Fruean (probably), <strong>Sanaila Waqa</strong> (shoulder injury), are all out for the year. The first five of them all had starting positions last year.</p>
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<p>I don't think Waqa is injured because he played club rugby yesterday ... unless Hastings have another S Waqa in their squad (who scored a try).</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=e51d21e7-9f2c-4ae4-9b9e-6aa6eebe031d'>http://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=e51d21e7-9f2c-4ae4-9b9e-6aa6eebe031d</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="599634" data-time="1469315675">
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<p>I don't think Waqa is injured because he played club rugby yesterday ... unless Hastings have another S Waqa in their squad (who scored a try).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=e51d21e7-9f2c-4ae4-9b9e-6aa6eebe031d'>http://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=e51d21e7-9f2c-4ae4-9b9e-6aa6eebe031d</a></p>
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<p>Hmmm, got that about Waqa being out for the season from Shane Hurndell's writeup in yesterday's <em>HB Today.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11679786'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11679786</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Number 10" data-cid="599646" data-time="1469319597">
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<p>Hmmm, got that about Waqa being out for the season from Shane Hurndell's writeup in yesterday's <em>HB Today.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11679786'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11679786</a></p>
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<p>I guess the line-up for next weekend's preseason game will give us a clue ...</p> -
<p>This afternoon, Manawatu Evergreens defeated HB Saracens 54-17.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Saracens used 27 players.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The only players that played the whole 80 minutes were Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Mason Emerson and Jonah Lowe (at centre).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mystery man Hugh Renton played the whole second half, as did Robbie Fruean (on the right wing).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>NZ Under 20 number eight Marino Mikaele-Tu'u is quite a big boy and I thought played well when he came on in the second half.</p>
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<p>Gareth Evans was a spectator and had quite an impressive looking brace on his left knee and was on crutches.</p>
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<p>Fruean was the only Super Rugby player that HB Saracens fielded.</p>
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<p>Played under the new laws, the first three tries in the match (two Evergreens and one Saracens) all came from forward drives off lineouts five metres from the line. Neither side took a penalty kick at goal.</p> -
<p>Filipo. Go Eskview!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="https://scontent.fakl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13686498_1269532369754168_4082943946252715576_n.png?oh=c0a4a0071bbfb48ee2cfa24f1f100d1f&oe=58543010" alt="13686498_1269532369754168_40829439462527"></p> -
<p>My mate and I are travelling over to Hawera to watch the game - coming back Sunday - so I'll write a review when I get back.</p>
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<p>Sorry guys.</p>
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<p>My mate and I did not travel.</p>
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<p>Crap weather on each coast.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="603259" data-time="1470400227">
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<p>Hugh Renton is absent. Has he been dropped?</p>
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<p>I assume all the Canes full squad members will be in Wellington supporting the team?</p> -
A couple of interesting rumors doing the rounds.Fruean is not wanted by Philpott and Lee but the ceo wants to sign him for this season and Shannon Chase was given the rounds of the kitchen by his club coach due to poor form recently.
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<p>Hmm, usually the CEO and coach are of one mind when it comes to jettisoning players (with the assistant thinking differently).</p>
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<p>As we have a pretty weak squad this year I wonder if Trinity Spooner-Neera will return from the Naki after not making the squad. It would be funny if him and Timu finally lived up to their potential in an inexperienced backline.</p>