Magpies - 2018 Mitre 10 Cup
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Geez, 10 injuries.
From the HBT article below:
"When the ambulance came on for Will Tremain in the 70th minute we were down to 14 players. It was a physical game and while we had a lot of injuries Manawatu had nothing major. That can be the nature of the beast when it comes to rugby," Ozich said. Substitute flanker Tremain was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg. He had a huge gash from his knee down to his ankle. Prop Joe Apikotoa will be sidelined for three to four weeks with a knee injury. Flanker Ricky Hayes will be out for a similar period with a shoulder injury. Locks Tom Parsons and Lui Luamanu will be sidelined for up to four weeks with respective shin and knee injuries. First five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie has a groin injury and will be sidelined for two weeks. Utility back Danny Toala and lock Sam Ulufonua will both be out of action for two to three weeks with ankle injuries and winger Mitch Drew and No 8 Solomone Funaki face at least two weeks with spectator roles after collecting calf and hip injuries respectively.https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12083212
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Two videos of the preseason game between the Saracens and Manawatu Evergreens.
Unfortunately, they positioned the camera wrong, so you can't see tries scored in the corners.First, long video (42 min), with sound from referee mic:
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Second, highlights video (11 min):
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I know that it was paraded during the 60's Shield era, so at least that old. @Higgins probably knows...
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@stargazer said in Magpies - 2018 Mitre 10 Cup:
Does anyone know how old this bird is? It seems to have been around for ages!
Hawkeye's debut was the unsuccessful 1965 Ranfurly Shield challenge v Taranaki at New Plymouth.
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Apparently, the HBRU have signed another import: Stacey Ily. I'm struggling to get this "my team" feeling with all these non-Bay players in the squad. I get that they want a strong squad and that there may not be enough local players that are up to it, but do they have the balance right?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12100809
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@stargazer said in Magpies - 2018 Mitre 10 Cup:
Apparently, the HBRU have signed another import: Stacey Ily. I'm struggling to get this "my team" feeling with all these non-Bay players in the squad. I get that they want a strong squad and that there may not be enough local players that are up to it, but do they have the balance right?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12100809
Ili is the only "import" who has not played club rugby this season in the province. All the others have.
I'm quite okay with "imports" playing club rugby - it's been happening for years. Kel Tremain arrived in 1962 and Ian MacRae arrived in 1963. No one complained, in fact they were most welcomed.
But in all honesty, the coach is charged with producing a winning team by the union. He is not there to strengthen the club competition and identify local upcoming talent - that's what the Academy Manager is there to do. The coachs' job description is to lead a winning team of the best available players not select local players just because they are local. If local players don't have the skill factor required then the coach is quite justified in not picking them and looking outside the province.
If the coach doesn't produce a winning team, then the public criticise him, posters on the Silverfern criticise him, and the Board finds another coach. That's why the coach's actions count and ours don't.
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@number-10 I think you're misinterpreting my previous post. I'm not criticising the selectors for importing so many players from other provinces in the apparent absence of quality local players. I'm just saying that the team doesn't give me as much of the tribal "feels" as it used to with so many imports in the squad. I guess that's because they were not drip-fed over the years, but have been coming by the bucket-loads this year. Playing club rugby doesn't instantly change them into Bay players. We have to get to know them first.
I guess they'll also have to show some pride in the jersey first; something that comes naturally if you play for your "own" province. I want to be convinced that they're not just playing for themselves and their own (legitimate) career purposes, but also for the province. They can only show that on the field & I'll be watching with interest. I'll happily cheer them on in the black & white, but initially I'll do that sitting on the fence.
