Magpies - 2018 Mitre 10 Cup
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First preseason game is today. Hawke's Bay Saracens v Ta$man.
Kick-off 2.00pm at Hutt Recreational Ground, Lower Hutt.Team playing the 1st half
1 Mark Braidwood Tech
2 Jason Long HRS
3Joe Apikotoa Taradale
4 Sam Ulufonua Havelock
5 Tom Parsons CHB
6 Fa'aleminga Selesele MAC
7 Chris Johnson NOBM
8 Josh Kaifa Clive
9 Ellery Wilson NOBM
10 Lincoln McClutchie Tamatea
11 Mason Emerson HRS
12 Danny Toala HRS
13 Sasa Tofilau Clive
14 Michael Buckley NOBM
15 JJ Taulagi Tech
16 Sebastian Visinia TechTeam playing the 2nd Half
1 Aleki Vuki HRS
2 Frank Tupuola MAC
3 Josiah Metcalfe HRS
4 Trent Boswell-Wakefield Tech
5 Matt Gardner NOBM
6 Ricky Hayes NOBM
7 Nathan Tweedy Taradale
8 TBC
9 Folau Fakatava HRS
10 Johnny Lauano NOBM
11 Mitch Drew NOBM
12 Timo Vaioso HRS
13 Shae Tucker NOBM
14 Willie McGoon Havelock
15 John Ika MAC
16 Jack Nelson-Murray NOBM -
Managed to get away from work for a few hours, and went to the preseason game. I hope it's a good sign for the rest of the season, because we beat Ta$man 31 to 22. If I recognised the players correctly (some without a number on their shirt), the Bay's tries were scored by Tom Parson, Sebastian Visinia, JJ Taulagi, Sasa Tofilau and Folau Fakatava. Josh Kaifa left the field with an ankle injury. He managed to walk afterwards, but it looked painful.
A few things I noticed:
- giving away too many penalties
- scrum is still a work-on (that's where several of the penalties came from)
- too many handling errors (particularly, dropping balls/knock-ons)
- backs already look exciting (I focused mainly on them, because I found them easier to recognise)
- JJ Taulagi is smaller than I thought and lost a few one-on-one's, possibly because of his size. But when he was able to step his opponents (and that happened often) and went hot on attack, he was really hard to stop.
- I don't know who the very big midfielder was (I first thought he was a prop), but while he is strong and relentless on defence, he is also quite slow.
- our ex-schoolboys are looking good, particularly Toala and Fakatava. Exp Fakatava is pure class. I wish they'd selected him already for the NZ U20s.
- he may not have been the best on the field, but Mason Emerson was good in taking a leadership role. He was screaming his lungs out now and then.
I found two short clips on Twitter (don't watch them full screen because the quality isn't good enough for that):
I think this is Tom Parsons try:
This is - without the lead-up - the try from Folau Fakatava:
I think they were filming, so there will probably be a highlights video later in the week.
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It was interesting to see a whole delegation from the Wellington Lions in the stands, among them, Cory Jane. Spying haha?
I can confirm that Shane Christie was part of the Ta$man coaching staff present at the game.From the Super Rugby Magpies, I did see Gareth Evans. There may have been more of them though, sitting at the reserves bench maybe (too far away for me to see).
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Second pre-season game:
Wairarapa Bush v Hawke's Bay Saracens
Monday, 4 June (Queen's Birthday), kick-off 2pm at Featherston Rugby ClubSquad according to the HBT:
Forwards: Mark Braidwood, Jason Long, Joe Apikotoa, Aleki Vuki, Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Sam Ulufonua, Tom Parsons, Lui Luamanu, Matt Gardner, Fa'alemiga Selesele, Lucas Goodin, Chris Johnston, Ricky Hayes, Nathan Tweedy, Hannon Brighouse, Ben Hamelink, Jack Nelson-Murray, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Frank Tupuola.
Backs: Ellery Wilson, Folau Fakatava, Zac Donaldson, Tianua Poto, Lincoln McClutchie, Sasa Tofilau, Sebastian Visinia, Timo Vaiusu, Shae Tucker, Johnny Ika, Pasqualle Dunn, Mason Emerson, Danny Toala, Willie McGoon, Michael Buckley, JJ Taulagi, Mitch Drew, Hayden Hann.
Injured: Lester Maulolo, Tim Farrell, Jacob Devery, Tamati Samuels, Ryan Tongia, Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Josh Kaifa.
Unavailable: Devan Flanders, Will Tremain (both at Under 20 World Championship).
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Slightly corrected Hawke's Bay Saracens squad for Monday's preseason game v Wairarapa Bush:
1 Jason Long, 2 Jacob Devery, 3 Joe Apikotoa, 4 Tom Parsons, 5 Matt Gardner, 6 Lui Luamanu, 7 Richy Hayes, 8 Hannon Brighouse, 9 Ellery Wilson, 10 Lincoln McClutchie, 11 Mason Emerson, 12 Pasqualle Dunn, 13 Sasa Tofilau, 14 Ryan Tongia, 15 Danny Toala
Reserves: 16 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17 Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe, 18 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 19 Chris Johnston, 20 Ben Hamelink, 21 Sam Ulufonua, 22 Folau Fakatava, 23 Tianua Poto, 24 Shae Tucker, 25 Hayden Hann, 26 Michael Buckley, 27 Mitch Drew
And according to the HBT:
Injured: Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Tim Farrell, Lester Maulolo, Tamati Samuels, Fa'alemiga Selesele, Josh Kaifa, JJ Taulagi, Mark Braidwood, Lucas Goodin, Aleki Vuki.
Unavailable: Devan Flanders, Will Tremain (both with NZ 20s), Johnny Ika (Tonga A), Will McGoon (Away).
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Full time: Hawke's Bay Saracens 57 - 14 Wairarapa Bush
Tries: Ricky Hayes, Pasquelle Dunn, Joe Apikatoa, Hayden Hann, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Michael Buckley, Folou Fakatava, Josiah Tevita-Metcalfe 2x
Conversions: Lincoln McClutchie 4 and Tianua Poto 2.
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@number-10 That would be awesome! He's been extremely unlucky with injuries, but I think he could become a very good lock. I hope a good season for us will give him an opportunity to get another SR contract. I'm afraid the Canes will dump him like they've done with Renton though.
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Magpies prop Pouri Rakete-Stones is included in the Hurricanes team to play the Chiefs in a friendly at Hawera tomorrow.
15 Chase Tiatia
14 Julian Savea
13 Wes Goosen
12 Peter Umaga-Jensen
11 Jonah Lowe
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop
9 Finlay Christie
8 Gareth Evans
7 Sam Henwood
6 Reed Prinsep (c)
5 Sam Lousi
4 James Blackwell
3 Marcel Renata
2 James O'Reilly
1 Fraser ArmstrongReserves
16 Nathan Vella
17 Chris Eves
18 Pouri Rakete-Stones
19 Michael Fatialofa
20 Isaia Walker-Leawere
21 Murray Douglas
22 Du'Plessis Kirifi
23 Jamie Booth
24 Ihaia West
25 Ben Lam -
@number-10 Yeah, I noticed that. He seems to be replacing Ben May (assuming Renata replaces JTA). I wonder whether Ben is injured? It looks like PR-S is now no. 4 in the TH pecking order at the Canes. Has May re-signed yet? If my notes are correct, his Canes' contract expires after this SR season (his Magpies contract, too, after this season). He's 35 years old. It would be awesome if PR-S could score a Canes contract if he has a good M10 Cup season. Btw, Eves is 30 and Toby Smith 29. The Canes propping stocks could use some rejuvenation.
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Tomorrow, the Hawke's Bay Saracens will play their third preseason game. Opponents this time are the Manawatu Evergreens, for whom it's the first preseason game. Venue: Sports & Rugby Institute, Palmerston North. K/o 6.00pm.
Anyone going?
This is the Saracens line-up:
1 Jason Long (vc)(HRS)
2 Jacob Devery (HRS)
3 Joe Apikotoa (Taradale)
4 Tom Parsons (c) (CHB)
5 Lui Luamanu (Taradale)
6 Hannon Brighouse (NOBM)
7 Chris Johnston (NOBM)
8 Solomone Funaki (MAC)
9 Folau Fakatava (HRS)
10 Lincoln McClutchie (Tamatea)
11 Sebastian Visinia (Tech)
12 Sasa Tofilau (Clive)
13 Shae Tucker (NOBM)
14 Mitch Drew (NOBM)
15 JJ Taulagi (Clive)Reserves
16 Ben Power (Havelock N), 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones (Pirates), 18 Mark Braidwood (Tech), 19 Sam Ulufonua (Havelock N), 20 Ricky Hayes (NOBM), 21 Tyler Symon-Burke (NOBM), 22 Will Tremain (NOBM), 23 Ellery Wilson (NOBM), 24 Tianua Poto (Clive), 25 Pasqualle Dunn (CHB), 26 Lewis Marshall (CHB), 27 Danny Toala (HRS)I've posted the Manawatu line-up in the Mitre 10 Cup thread.
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