Force v Hurricanes
-
@Canes4life Australian S&C coaches earning their wage again...
-
@Canes4life extremely handy looking bench though.
-
@frugby said in Force v Hurricanes:
Jordi Viljoen could be the biggest of biggest All Black bolters this year... kid is special.
Agree.
The only concern I have is his size and defense. And how he takes the physical side of rugby.
But otherwise, he looks to have it all. Excellent passing. A joy to watch. Backed up with what seems like a first rate kicking and great running game. He also seems to read the game well.
And super confident. Maybe too much so and he needs to tone it down a bit.
I will watch his progress with interest. How some team didn't pick him up is beyond me. But Canes need to hold onto him for sure. In some way.
-
@Canes4life said in Force v Hurricanes:
I'm disappointed Godfrey didn't make the 23 but I'm sure he'll get his chance. Would rather him instead of Rayasi. Also surprised that Tosi is starting, he looks to have improved his scrummaging and could be a bit of a weapon if he can stay fit.
Our centre pairing and our outsides are very solid. Hopefully the forwards can lay a good platform.
After the rubbish selections at times last and previous years (no unbelievably bad Blackwell or even Prinsep type selections. Or some of the limited 1st 5s after Barrett). And some unbelievably bad selections for the Lions last year. I have no complaints at all.
Tosi looked promising against the Highlanders so pleased he gets a start and a sort of rest for Lomax. The rest of the forwards seem spot on to me. Likewise, the backs. I am a fan of Higgins and hope he gets lots of game time somewhere. I have doubts about Moorby but no one is clearly better so fair enough. He's a safe option that won't set the world on fire.
And no Morgan. He had his chances and hasn't got it. But I've said previously my backup to Cameron is Barrett, then Love and then Godfrey. Godfrey needs to find an NPC team who will start him at first if he sees first as his long-term future
-
The Force going with a 6/2 bench. Two loose forwards.
-
-
@Winger said in Force v Hurricanes:
I have doubts about Moorby but no one is clearly better so fair enough. He's a safe option that won't set the world on fire.
That's super interesting, I feel like he's been one of our more consistent backs of the last couple seasons. Having him on the wing instead of fullback is a great move aswell, I think he's more suited there. Shields highlighted him as the player to watch for the Canes in 2024, apparently he's been gassing people at training and is in great nick. Alongside Roigard he's apparently the fittest player in the team so hopefully he can have a breakout year and make that 14 jersey his own. I'm expecting big campaigns from our back three (Love, Naholo and Moorby), they are well balanced and they have the capability of taking our attacking game to a new level.
-
Tosi's a big lad
-
@Canes4life said in Force v Hurricanes:
Walker-Leawere
Isaia WALKER-LEAWERE profile and stats
Isaia WALKER-LEAWERE : bio, stats, play time, birthdate, height, weight...
And the contrast
-
@Winger Tosi could be secret weapon for the Canes. He's a massive lad and can move around the park fairly well. If they can keep improving his scrummaging he could be a real weapon off the bench.
Our propping stocks are looking fairly solid, we've got three fringe AB props in Mafileo, Numia and Rakete-Stones and then obviously Lomax as an incumbent AB. If Tosi comes on we could be set in those positions for a while as they are all around a similar age.
Hopefully Tosi can be that Loni Uhila type player that was solid without being spectacular. He was influential in our first title win in 2016.
-
@Canes4life Funny thing with Tosi, he is actually from Levin originally, went to school with my granddaughter, and she always talked about this friend who used to eat her egg sandwiches (she hated them), and I always refer to him as the égg sandwich guy' when talking to my wife etc!
-
-
@Duluth as in within the last 24 hours? That's good news for the Canes if true but a blow for the Force. I can't really see them beating us tbh. With their captain out, their young gun first five not available, and a host of tight forwards injured it's going to be a big ask. Looks like they don't have too much impact off the bench. Lacking a bit of firepower tbh.
-
@Canes4life Yeah a training injury just after the team was named apparently
-
Found an article - https://www.rugbypass.com/news/wallaby-lock-rodda-in-doubt-for-force-opener/
-
Anyone else stayed up for this?
