Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
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Really the backs are fine, there's enough quality there to go around, experience and exciting newcomers - and well signed returnee! But man do we need some work on the props, locks and (lesser extent) loosies, and we need Coles and Aumua fit & firing, thanks
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Incoming Hurricanes coach John Plumtree wants to recruit a towering, hard-hitting lock for next season, and may look abroad to find that player.He told Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE Sunday Sport that he wanted a South African lock, because New Zealand just "doesn't breed" them like that anymore. "When you look at our pack, we probably need a 6ft 9 [2.10cm] lock that is 140kgs, which would help," he said. "There a couple of big men floating around the country, but they're all in Canterbury at the moment. "We don't breed big guys, not like they do in South African and France." The tallest locks for the Hurricanes this season was Michael Fatialofa and Sam Lousi who stands at 2.01m, which is much shorter than the average South African lock, standing at 2.07m.He hopes to use a foreign-player spot for a second-rower, but he understands the logistics can be complicated. "We are allowed to have a foreigner in the side, and I'd definitely look for a lock. "We only have three more spots to fill, and I'm in no rush to full those up. "If one came available, I would look to sign them, but I'm not going to throw one on a plane and bring him over here. "There is a lot to consider when looking at a player from overseas. -
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@chris-b said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
@cgrant Strange comments fullstop. Who are these massive men who are a) in Canterbury; and b) inaccessible to the Canes?
Well, there's Sam Whitelock, but he's not big enough for Plumtree.
The only one around 140kg I can think of is Will Skelton and if I remember rightly he was a bit shit.
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@cgrant said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
"The average South African lock, standing at 2.07m". Is it a joke ?
It's odd. I looked at the locks in the South African SR squads and checked their height and weight via Wikipedia, and if the numbers are correct, only Lood de Jager and RG Snyman come close to 2.07m (both 2.06m) but are still way too light (both 125kg). Most of them are under 2m.
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@stargazer I think we measure height slightly different down here in Wellington
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@toddy said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
@stargazer I think we measure height slightly different down here in Wellington
This post deserves at least 20 upvotes
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cgrant commented yesterday
Fidow (if not injured) should bring some firepower upfront and Walker-Leawere is a strong lad. Nr.8 is a worry though with only one good option there (Gareth Evans).Agree. we need more firepower in the forwards. What about Walker-Leawere at 8. So Fidow, Coles or Aumua along with Savea and WL. And the huge SA? lock that Plumtree is going to find. Smashing teams apart in the last 20 - 25 minutes (or for the full match).
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Last season I reckon Rory Arnold was the tallest super rugby player at 208, Dom Bird is thereabouts too?
2014 Tahs had a hard hitting saffer in Jacques Potgieter who towers in at 194cm. I just don't see why that recruit needs to so big? Even Bakkies Botha was smaller and he was as mean and hard as they come.
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@stargazer said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
@cgrant said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
"The average South African lock, standing at 2.07m". Is it a joke ?
It's odd. I looked at the locks in the South African SR squads and checked their height and weight via Wikipedia, and if the numbers are correct, only Lood de Jager and RG Snyman come close to 2.07m (both 2.06m) but are still way too light (both 125kg). Most of them are under 2m.
That's not light at all for those heights. That's probably around the ideal weight for locks that tall.
They're both big human beings when you see them on the field.
Snyman looks like he lives in the gym.
Lood de Jager definitely doesn't live in the gym(seriously, somebody get this man a bowflex), but he's still a big boy.
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Sam Lousi doesnt look 121kg or whatever it is he is listed as, think in the graphic shown before the semi last week he was 121 and Whitelock 120 yet the latter looks bigger.
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You get a guy that big and he'll spend half the season injured. People that big don't flex that well.
Or he's really bulky and can take the smashes. In which case he's slow.
I'd take the Brad Thorn type every day of the week if I wanted muscle. The AB selectors prefer Scott Barrett to Dom Bird, for the same reasons. Reliability and speed are important too.
I thought fetishing about height went out with lifting in the lineout. How high are you going to lift 140 kgs?
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Predicted list of those that will be snapped up/ signed for next year. I've included young talent (bolded) that have all but committed to the Canes and a ?? for those players that I think will move on / be surplus to requirements.
We need to strengthen our depth at prop, lock and halfback for obvious reasons, otherwise if we remain fairly healthy we look settled across all other positions. Enough to make the playoffs again but questionable whether we have the metal to compete with the Cantabs.
Props:
- Tim Farrell (Hawkes Bay)
- Toby Smith (Waikato)
- Jeff Toomaga Allen (Wellington)
- Fraser Armstrong (Manawatu)
- Alex Fidow (Wellington)
- Chris Eves ??
- Ben May ??
Hookers:
- Dane Coles (Wellington)
- Asafo Aumua (Wellington)
- Ricky Riccitelli (Taranaki)
-Fourth hooker will be included, hopefully not O'Reilly as he seems too small for Super.
Locks:
- Isaia Walker-Leawere (Wellington)
- Sam Lousi (Wellington)
Liam Mitchell (Manawatu) - Big Safa Lock (S.A)
- Geoff Cridge??
Someone like Mitch Dunshea from the Crusaders would be a great acquisition.
Loose Forwards:
- Vaea Fifita (Wellington)
- Brayden Iose (Manawatu)
- Gareth Evans (Hawkes Bay)
- Devan Flanders (Hawkes Bay)
- Ardie Savea (Wellington)
- Sam Henwood (Counties)
- Reed Prinsep (Canterbury)
- James Blackwell ??
Halfbacks:
- TJ Perenara (Wellington)
- Finlay Christie ( Ta$man) - signed but fairly questionable in playing ability.
- Folau Fakatava (Hawkes Bay) - A young talent that we will need to lock up quickly.
- Carlos Price (Wellington) - pending if he gets much game time for the Lions this year but he was involved with the Canes in 2018 so we must see something in him for further selection.
First Fives:
- Beauden Barrett (Taranaki)
- Jackson Garden Bachop (Wellington)
- James Marshall (Taranaki) / 15
- TJ Va'a (Wellington) / 9
Centres:
- Matt Proctor (Wellington)
- Ngani Laumape (Wellington)
- Billy Proctor (Wellington)
- Peter Umaga Jensen (Wellington)
Outside Backs:
- Vince Aso (Auckland)
- Ben Lam (Wellington)
- Wes Goosen (Wellington)
- Jordie Barrett (Taranaki)
- Nehe Milner Skudder (Manawatu)
Jonah Lowe ??????????????????????????????????????????????????
Another fullback option - we may use James Marshall as a utility like we did when we won the title.
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