NPC 2023
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@Chris what would Canterbury’s best side look like from that squad? (Excluding players likely to picked for the WC)
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McAlister
Moody
Jager
Dunshea
Gallagher
Christie
Harmon
Grace
Drummond
Burke
Crotty
Ennor
Mcleod
Matale
FihakiReserves
Bell
Lienert-Brown
Calder
Darry
Gardiner
Heinz
Poihipi
Punivai -
@Chris looks pretty strong. Wellington have the team to do the business again aswell IMO. Definitely hard to pick between both those sides.
Wellington have Canterbury on the end of their storm week which includes two Ranfurly Shield defenses. I say sack the man who made the schedule.
A Aumua
X Numia
P Sheck
D Bird
H Plummer
C Delany
D Kirifi
P Lakai
T Perenara (not sure if he will make it back or not - still unconfirmed)
A Morgan
P Patafilo
P Umaga-Jensen
B Proctor
J Savea (should be back around the middle of the season)
R LoveJ O'Reilly
B Chrichton/Orr
S Lauaki
A Pettett
B Shields
L Henry
R Higgins (should be back around the middle of the season)
C Garden-Bachop -
@Canes4life southland and Ta$man at home and then Canterbury. Over 8 days
Idiotic scheduling
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Cantabs going back to their dark red and black jerseys which are different to the ones in the squad release above.
Zach Gallagher.jpg | Photosport New Zealand
Zach Gallagher.<br /> Canterbury NPC Rugby squad photo session at Rugby Park, Christchurch, New Zealand on Monday 24 July 2023. Mandaotory credit: Darin Young / www.photosport.nz
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Yep could be a Canterbury v Wellington final again.
I hate those storm weeks can be a real disadvantage depending on who you draw. -
McAlister
Moody
Jager
Dunshea
Gallagher
Christie
Harmon
Grace
Drummond
Burke
Crotty
Ennor
Mcleod
Matale
FihakiReserves
Bell
Lienert-Brown
Calder
Darry
Gardiner
Heinz
Poihipi
PunivaiThat's the kind of strength it would be good to see throughout the NPC. Like the late 90s.
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Yep could be a Canterbury v Wellington final again.
Auckland, Waikato and Ta$man will put out strong sides too
Hard to guess the Auckland side as the squad hasn't been named yet but I suspect the top xv will be something like this:
1 Fusitua
2 Vikena
3 Ta'avao
4 Annandale
5 Tuipulotu
6 Ioane
7 Choat
8 Ekuasi9 Funaki
10 Sullivan
11 Rayasi
12 Plummer
13 Heem
14 Lam
15 RTSSome SR depth outside the top xv: Lay, Renata, Evans, Telea, Gibson, maybe Kalapu? I presume Hodgman is still injured. Plus some u20's guys Che Clark, and Caleb Tangitau
Should be in the mix at least
It looks like a better side than last year without a couple of Aussie duds in the pack, presumably no Hickey and Alama not coaching
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Yeah good looking side as well,it could be a really good NPC this year,
I always enjoy it also to watch the new players that come through and push for a super rugby contract.
Just an edit on Hickey he was with the Crusaders at the end of the comp covering for Kemera when he went away with the U/20s. -
List of preseason games for this weekend:
Friday 28 July 2023 - 12.00pm - Massey Park, Papakura
Counties Manukau v North HarbourFriday 28 July 2023 - 1.30pm - Hanmer Springs Domain
Canterbury v Ta$manFriday 28 July 2023 - 2.05pm - Kettle Park, Dunedin
Otago v SouthlandFriday 28 July - Taupo
Waikato v Hawke's BaySaturday 29 July 2023 - 2.00pm - Manaia Domain, Manaia
Taranaki v Wellington
Are Northland and Auckland playing each other in a preseason game? And what about Manawatū and BOP? -
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Name no 30 is a new addition. Tom Sanders.
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@Stargazer I work at the place that sometimes streams games, Elevate Analysis. We currently from what I know don't have anyone that has said they can stream or film it so that game currently won't be getting streamed unless someone else decides to try and do it
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@NateHill74 On the Otago FB page they answered someone's question whether the game would be livestreamed with "we're working on it". They have now removed that comment and have amended the post, adding "There will be a LIVESTREAM on this Facebook page for anyone who cannot make it".
