Waikato 2023

[Bovidae]

Last year 38 players were named, compared to only 33 this year so it will be interesting to see which other players are involved in the pre-season games. There will be cover for the ABs and only two halfbacks are listed.

I wonder what Sefo Kautai is up to? I am happy to invest in youth and local players.

[ARHS]

@Bovidae wow strong squad. Look forward to seeing it perform

[OleOleOle]

The squad seems light at lock, especially with McWhannell unavailable for the first couple of rounds. Burr is the obvious option but isn't the tallest lock around. Maybe Parker will cover at lock....

[Bovidae]

@OleOleOle Agree. One of the things I noticed as well. Burr has played a lot at lock for Waikato.

It will be interesting to see who is used at lock on Sat. Last year Andrew Smith and Zinzan Hansen played at the Chiefs Centurions Cup. The former is really a 6, and still very young. Hansen is also U20 but has height.

The locks in the NZ Harlequins squad are Hansen, Luke White and Josh Coffin. Coffin has some first class experience so might be the obvious choice.

Tom Martin hasn't made the squad and wasn't in the Marist teams during the latter stages of the club season, so may be injured again.

[WillieTheWaiter]

@Bovidae

@Bovidae said in Waikato 2023:

I would think Tucker will be looking overseas soon unless he picks up a SR contract.

both his bros are over in the states so might end up that way.. but was saying that agents etc are all pretty focused on world cup and guys there and what they're doing after so not getting loads of attention

[Bovidae]

From the Stuff article:

Waikato coach Ross Filipo said he would run his three All Blacks in the opening game alongside many of the province’s academy and wider-group players, before putting out a mostly contracted squad in the second match.

“We think it’s going to be a great opportunity for those younger guys to be on the pitch with some of our All Blacks,” he said, of what he hopes will be the last time he sees the trio this year, despite the boost they could provide during the provincial season.

I wouldn't be surprised if Finau played at lock to accommodate some of the loose forwards. He actually played at no.8 in this fixture last year. It sounds like Quinn Tupaea is ready to go too.

[Bovidae]

From memory these were the teams that started each game:

(vs Counties Manukau)
Mason Tupaea
Sean Ralph
Sosaia Folau - a new name for me
Andrew Smith
Zinzan Hansen
Samipeni Finau
Senita Lauaki
Luke Jacobson

Te Aonui Wharawhara-Muriwai
Dominic Clapcott
Waisake Salibiau
Austin Anderson
Tana Tuhakaraina
Cody Nordstrom
Jole Naufahu

(vs Taranaki)
Ayden Johnstone
Pita Anae-Ah Sue
Solomone Tukuafu
Hamilton Burr
Tai Cribb
Xavier Saifoloi
Simon Parker
Te Rama Reuben

Cortez Ratima
Josh Ioane
Daniel Sinkinson
Gideon Wrampling
Quinn Tupaea
Cody Nordstrom
Tepaea Cook-Savage

The lineout had some issues in both games, a combination of overthrows from the hookers and getting picked off at the front. Not having any of the main locks didn't help.

Roe is still not available for a few weeks.

[OleOleOle]

Sosaia Folau - a new name for me, are you sure this wasn't Sosaia Fale from HOB?

I see McWhannell is not available until week 3 or 4 as well

[Bovidae]

@OleOleOle said in Waikato 2023:

Sosaia Folau - a new name for me, are you sure this wasn't Sosaia Fale from HOB?

I was relying on the name listed in the programme I was given. I would describe him as a prop carrying some extra weight. If that's him, what is his background/age?

I see McWhannell is not available until week 3 or 4 as well

We need Tucker to be fit from Rd 1 then. As I said I would look at bringing in a more experienced lock like Josh Coffin. Maybe Sam Pou, based on my limited knowledge of the locks in club rugby. The other three locks used were 19/20 yrs old.

[OleOleOle]

@Bovidae It sounds like him, early to mid 20's, fair to say he is carrying a little extra weight. A big man and a hell of a scrummager.

I think Tucker will be fit for round 1, probably just pulling the veteran card by not playing pre-season haha.

Maybe they bring in coffin as cover, I see they used Cribb & Smith, but they're on the smaller side for a lock. Hansen has potential.

[Bovidae]

Smith started the first game but went off injured and was replaced by Cribb. Both are really 6s although Cribb played at no.8 for TA Sports.

Yeah, I first saw Hansen a couple of years back playing for the Waikato Juniors. He's got height, which is always an advantage for a lock. I also thought he played OK for the NZ Barbarians U21s in the U20 tournament after missing selection for the Chiefs U20s.

[Bovidae]

Changes from the original squad listed above. I am assuming some players like Rhys Dickinson are needed for Waikato with Roe being unavailable. Quintony Ngatai is one addition.

[Yeetyaah]

Just confirmed Josh Ioane has a broken arm, that'll pretty much be his season. Pretty gutting.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah said in Waikato 2023:

Just confirmed Josh Ioane has a broken arm, that'll pretty much be his season. Pretty gutting.

Bugger.

A lot more pressure on Kemara now. With Leuila now also unavailable, Cook-Savage or Coombes-Fabling might be used as the backup 1st 5.

[Bovidae]

Gallagher 2023 Waikato Rugby Awards Evening

Waikato Rugby celebrated their Gallagher 2023 rugby awards last night (Tuesday 19 th September) at K aute Pasifika...

[Bovidae]

Even though there are never any injury updates I did notice that Patrick McCurran has a moon boot on and in a post-game photo it looks like Rhys Marshall is on crutches.

Mitch Jacobson was one of the waterboys along with Messam.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Rhys Marshall was one of the commentators. Can't remember whether it was on tv or radio.

[Bovidae]

As the 2023 NPC is now over for Waikato I was curious to know how many players were used by Ross Filipo this season. Originally a 33-man squad was named. The replacement players used are in italics.

Hookers
Samisoni Taukei’aho - RWC
Rhys Marshall - played 2 games
Pita Anae-Ah Sue

Sean Ralph - NPC debut

Props
Ayden Johnstone
Ollie Norris
Mason Tupaea - NPC debut
George Dyer
Solomone Tukuafu
Gabe Robinson - never played

Tolu Fahamokioa

Locks
James Tucker
Laghlan McWhannell
Hamilton Burr

Tai Cribb - NPC debut
Zinzan Hansen - NPC debut

Loose forwards
Mitch Jacobson - played < 3 games
Patrick McCurran - played < 3 games
Samipeni Finau
Luke Jacobson - RWC
Simon Parker
Te Rama Reuben

Malachi Wrampling - NPC debut
Jack Lam
Xavier Saifoloi - NPC debut
Joe Johnston

Halfbacks
Xavier Roe
Cortez Ratima

Nui Muriwai - NPC debut
Quintony Ngatai - NPC debut

1st 5s
Damian McKenzie - RWC
Josh Ioane - played < 40 mins
Taha Kemara

Aaron Cruden

Midfield
D’Angelo Leuila - RWC
Anton Lienert-Brown - RWC
Bailyn Sullivan
Quinn Tupaea
Gideon Wrampling

Tana Tuhakaraina
Austin Anderson - NPC debut

Outside backs
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Liam Coombes-Fabling
Mosese Dawai - never played
Cody Nordstrom - NPC debut
Daniel Sinkinson

Aki Tuivailala - NPC debut

Therefore an additional 14 players had to be used during the season, and many ended up playing in a lot of the games.

Waikato’s final record was P11 W5 L6. On the strength of the end to the season and making the QFs, and taking into account the number of players missing at different times, I’d give a B grade. A lot of the debutants are 20 years old or younger so they’ve now had a taste of the NPC and can hopefully kick on in future seasons.

My MVP would be James Tucker with Simon Parker a close second (Ollie Norris was chosen in the WR awards).
My rookie of the year is Malachi Wrampling (Austin Anderson was chosen in the WR awards).

[Bovidae]

Rep Team Review | Waikato U18 Girls

Our first Rep Team Review of the 2023 season is that of our undefeated Waikato U18 Girls side. Coahed by Raquel...

[Stargazer]

Shoulder surgery?