NPC - news, injuries etc
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="604653" data-time="1470800244">
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<p>Good squad, but 9 out for AB duties or injury. No full-back with any real experience is a concern, Probably play Volavola there. It will be interesting to see what they do with Jordie. He's a massive talent, but still only 19 and we have Thompson who is a class 2nd 5 at NPC level.</p>
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<p>Possible XV</p>
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<p>1. Leinart-Brown</p>
<p>2. Funnell</p>
<p>3. Tokalahi</p>
<p>4. Bird</p>
<p>5. Barrett</p>
<p>6. Sanders</p>
<p>7. Todd</p>
<p>8. Whitelock</p>
<p>9. Drummond</p>
<p>10. Mo'unga</p>
<p>11. McNicholl</p>
<p>12. Thompson</p>
<p>13. Goodhue</p>
<p>14. Keresoma</p>
<p>15. Volavola</p>
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<p>Jordie Barrett played fullback in the club final last weekend, and was bloody good, despite brighton really targeting him with big hits and off the ball play..</p> -
<p>Only a few provinces used the new ruck laws in their club competitions. That includes Northland, Bay of Plenty, North Harbour, Taranaki and Ta$man. Players coming back from Super rugby won't be familar with them either.</p>
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<p>I found it strange watching the Waikato RS games live and the penalty count was high against both teams in those games.</p> -
That's all of Harbour's wins for the year then...
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<p>haha, we won all our pre-season games about 5 or 6 years ago, think we won 2 games in the competition proper...ah the joys of being a Northland fan! </p>
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<p>bop just beat auckland in auckland 22 to 21, only preseason but good to see</p>
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<p>Wellington will be stronger than last year but will be fairly inexperienced at 7 and 10. We all know you need a solid 7, 10 combo to win championships.</p>
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<p>Id say our strongest XV - All Blacks would be:</p>
<p>1. Reggie Goodes</p>
<p>2. Leni Apisai</p>
<p>3. Chris Baumann (USA Eagles) in for Jeff Toomaga Allen (Broken Arm)</p>
<p>4. Isaia Walker-Leawere</p>
<p>5. Sione Louse (Signed from Waratahs)</p>
<p>6. Vaea Fifita</p>
<p>7. (Not sure here)</p>
<p>8. Brad Shields</p>
<p>9. Tomasi Palu</p>
<p>10. Jackson Garden Bachop</p>
<p>11. Malo Tuitama</p>
<p>12. Wesley Goosen</p>
<p>13. Matt Proctor</p>
<p>14. Jason Woodward</p>
<p>15. Peter Umaga Jensen</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua 17. Alex Fidow 18. Joe Apikitoa 19. Christian Lloyd 20. James Blackwell 21. TJ Va'a 22. Shaun Treeby 23. Losi Filipo </p> -
<p><strong>Wellington Lions Mitre 10 Cup Squad:</strong><br>
<br><strong>Forwards:</strong> Asafo Aumua*, Leni Apasai, Valentine Meachen*, Alex Fidow, Chris Baumann*, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Joe Apikotoa, Reg Goodes, Vince Sakaria, Christian Lloyd, Hoani Matenga, Kane Leaupepe, Mark Reddish, Sam Lousi*, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Vaea Fifita, Brad Shields (c), Galu Taufale*, Greg Foe, Issac O'Connor*. <strong>Backs:</strong> Sheridan Rangihuna<strong>, </strong>Tomasi Palu<strong>, </strong>TJ Va'a*<strong>, </strong>Jackson Garden-Bachop, Matt Proctor, Mike Lealavaa, Shaun Treeby, Wesley Goosen, Jason Woodward<strong>, </strong>Joe Hill, Losi Filipo, Malo Tuitama, Peter Umaga-Jensen. <strong>All Blacks:</strong> Dane Coles, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Julian Savea. * Uncapped for the Lions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/news/baumann-and-lousi-add-bulk-to-young-lions/'>http://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/news/baumann-and-lousi-add-bulk-to-young-lions/</a></p>
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<p>Seems to be a bit overloaded in the locking position with eight locks named (V Fifita classified as a lock given that was his starting position for the Hurricanes). Christian Lloyd is still hanging in there despite playing about four games of rugby in total over the last three or four seasons, must be close to using all his nine lives up by now. Looks to a bit of a risk in naming a squad without a tried and trusted first five eight (given that Garden-Bachop has been tried in the past and discarded and spent the first half of this club season at fullback until being tried at first five once the lower grade Hardham Cup started and Va'a is another that seems to be almost permanently injured). I do like the looks of Losi Filipo in the limited amount of time I have seen him play but he still has to show me he can do it at a higher level. Umaga-Jensen has the chance to prove all the wraps he has been getting are true (saw him go pretty good in a couple of club games I watched him in).</p>
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<p>Just a shame my HB side look to be worringly weaker than normal and have to front up against this mob first up before formlines and expected performance levels have been established.</p> -
<p>Taranaki beat Waikato 21-12 in a pre-season game in Inglewood today.</p>
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<p><strong>Waikato 12</strong> (James Tucker, Sevu Reece tries; Jordan Trainor con) <strong>Taranaki 21</strong> (Leon Power, Stephen Perofeta, Rhys Marshall tries; Perofeta 3 cons). HT: 7-7.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="605322" data-time="1470969085">
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<p><strong>Wellington Lions Mitre 10 Cup Squad:</strong><br>
<br><strong>Forwards:</strong> Asafo Aumua*, Leni Apasai, Valentine Meachen*, Alex Fidow, Chris Baumann*, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Joe Apikotoa, Reg Goodes, Vince Sakaria, Christian Lloyd, Hoani Matenga, Kane Leaupepe, Mark Reddish, Sam Lousi*, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Vaea Fifita, Brad Shields (c), Galu Taufale*, Greg Foe, Issac O'Connor*. <strong>Backs:</strong> Sheridan Rangihuna<strong>, </strong>Tomasi Palu<strong>, </strong>TJ Va'a*<strong>, </strong>Jackson Garden-Bachop, Matt Proctor, Mike Lealavaa, Shaun Treeby, Wesley Goosen, Jason Woodward<strong>, </strong>Joe Hill, Losi Filipo, Malo Tuitama, Peter Umaga-Jensen. <strong>All Blacks:</strong> Dane Coles, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Julian Savea. * Uncapped for the Lions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/news/baumann-and-lousi-add-bulk-to-young-lions/'>http://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/news/baumann-and-lousi-add-bulk-to-young-lions/</a></p>
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<p>Seems to be a bit overloaded in the locking position with eight locks named (V Fifita classified as a lock given that was his starting position for the Hurricanes). Christian Lloyd is still hanging in there despite playing about four games of rugby in total over the last three or four seasons, must be close to using all his nine lives up by now. Looks to a bit of a risk in naming a squad without a tried and trusted first five eight (given that Garden-Bachop has been tried in the past and discarded and spent the first half of this club season at fullback until being tried at first five once the lower grade Hardham Cup started and Va'a is another that seems to be almost permanently injured). I do like the looks of Losi Filipo in the limited amount of time I have seen him play but he still has to show me he can do it at a higher level. Umaga-Jensen has the chance to prove all the wraps he has been getting are true (saw him go pretty good in a couple of club games I watched him in).</p>
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<p>Just a shame my HB side look to be worringly weaker than normal and have to front up against this mob first up before formlines and expected performance levels have been established.</p>
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<p>Interesting that Wellington named 8 locks - BOP went the other way and only named 4! I think the BOP named more hookers than locks...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cpt Kumera" data-cid="605300" data-time="1470966955">
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<p>bop just beat auckland in auckland 22 to 21, only preseason but good to see</p>
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<p>Nick White on the game:</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="605797" data-time="1471336761">
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<p>Nick White on the game:</p>
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<p>Yeah, I watched that Video and was at the game. I was surprised how upbeat he was considering he got deservedly beaten by lowly ranked BOP and his team had a few Super players (including Steven Luatua) playing. Also BOP, at one stage, had one reserve halfback playing first five and the other playing on the wing. Hopefully (for his sake) the inclusion of a few more Super players will aid his cause.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="604676" data-time="1470803999">
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<p>Only a few provinces used the new ruck laws in their club competitions. That includes <strong>Northland, Bay of Plenty, North Harbour, Taranaki and Ta$man</strong>. Players coming back from Super rugby won't be familar with them either.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I found it strange watching the Waikato RS games live and the penalty count was high against both teams in those games.</p>
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<p>Anyone know if this is a complete list of the provinces that used the new laws in club rugby?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="606321" data-time="1471487579">
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<p>Anyone know if this is a complete list of the provinces that used the new laws in club rugby?</p>
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<p>The Mitre 10 Cup website mentions 8 provinces: Bay of Plenty, North Harbour, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Ta$man and Waikato</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.mitre10cup.co.nz/News/28989/law-trials-for-nz-domestic-competitions-in-2016'>http://www.mitre10cup.co.nz/News/28989/law-trials-for-nz-domestic-competitions-in-2016</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="606698" data-time="1471580928">
<p>So, Otere Black can't even get a start for Manawatu?</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
<p><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regular captain Callum Gibbins is on the bench, as is first five-eighth Otere Black, who had a back strain and only had his first training with the team on Wednesday.</span></span></p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/sport/rugby-union/83293485/turbos-opt-for-experience-in-starting-xv-for-opening-side-npc-match-against-northland'>Turbos opt for experience in starting XV for opening side NPC match against Northland</a></p> -
