Magpies 2020
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@Stargazer We don't know the money situation, everybody is obviously operating on reduced budgets this year and guys like Wa'a and Funaki are already in the bay so it may just be that we didn't have money to recruit a big name prop this year and they may be in by default.
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@kiwimatrix Good point, although I suspect he had a two-year contract and was always going to be in the squad for that reason. I just hated seeing our scrum going backwards as soon as Wa'a came on. Third choice player at best, just like Funaki, for when injury strikes or for rotation against a weaker opponent. Useful to have in the squad, but hopefully not needed in the big games. I hope we have better (preferably local) options, next year. I hope, for example, that Patrick Teddy is progressing well ...
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@Stargazer We might get a better guide tomorrow in the Taradale Marist game of how Wa'as going.
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@kiwimatrix said in Magpies 2020:
@Stargazer We might get a better guide tomorrow in the Taradale v Napier High School Old Boys-
Maristgame of how Wa'as going.Corrected on behalf of Stockcar86
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From HBRU Facebook page:
Allardice and Falcon Heading to Japan The Magpies will be without the services of lock Michael Allardice and utility back Tiaan Falcon who have both decided to ply their trade in Japan. Allardice has been a regular starter in the Magpies pack since 2012 after coming to Hawkes Bay and joining the Napier Pirate Club. The timing is right for Ally, wife Jana and their daughter to experience another culture while their family is young. Allardice’s lineout ability, leadership and work rate has seen many polished performances in the black and white jersey but also added significant value to the team having had a big influence in Magpies set piece play particularly lineouts over the years. Falcon who is Hawkes Bay born and bred attended Lindisfarne College and progressed through the HB Rugby development programme. A star for the NZ Under 20 side he debuted for the Magpies in 2016 and has player several positions in the backline. Falcon is a Clive Rugby and Sports Club member who have benefitted of having his services on and off over the last few seasons when recovering from injuries which have unfortunately limited his time on the field for Hawkes Bay. The Hawkes Bay Rugby Union and all Magpies fans wish both Tiaan and Ally all the best for their Japanese rugby journey where they will be playing for Verblitz. Like all Magpies players we are thankful to have you as Magpies family and hope to see you again on McLean Park in the future. -
So, after all the players that have been confirmed until now, and the departures, where are the gaps in the squad?
This is the 2019 squad. The players who have been confirmed for 2020 are bolded:
Prop
Joe Apikotoa (TH)
Tim Farrell (LH)
Joel Hintz (TH)
Jason Long (LH, also hooker)
Ben May(TH, can cover LH) to Taranaki
Pouri Rakete-Stones (LH & TH)
Sona Taumalolo (LH)
Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe - playing club rugby in Wellington
Namatahi Waa (TH)
Hooker
Jacob Devery
Ash Dixon
Kianu Kereru Symes (also prop)
Lock
Michael Allardiceto Toyota Verblitz
Geoff Cridge (also 6)
Elijah Martin
Tom Parsons
Brodie Retallick - signed (not available in 2020)
Isaia Walker-Leawere
Loose forward
Hannon Brighouse
Gareth Evans (8, also 7, 6)
Devan Flanders (6/8)
Solomone Funaki (7)
Ricky Hayes
Josh Kaifa (7)
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (6/ 8 )
Will Tremain (7)
Brendon O'Connor
Iakopo Mapu - new signing
Halfback
Zach Donaldson
Folau Fakatava
Brad Weber
First five-eighth
Tiaan Falconto Toyota Verblitz
Lincoln McClutchie
Midfielder
Tyrone Dodd-Edwards - injured?
Neria Fomai (13)
Sam McNicol
Danny Toala (12, also 15)
Timo Vaiusu
Outside back
Mason Emerson (wing)
Jonah Lowe (wing, 13)
Saia Paese (fullback) - back playing club rugby in Wellington
Ollie Sapsford (wing, also midfield)
Loloagi Visinia
Utility back
Stacey Ili
Caleb Makene
Kurt Baker
Who will be considered to fill the gaps?
I assume Joe Apikotoa will be considered for Tavita-Metcalfe's spot. The question is whether Tim Farrell will be available and in good form. How is Patrick Teddy developing? Others? I guess it's too soon for youngster Jayden Walker and is he good enough?
Good chance that Devery will again be our third hooker, but I've no idea how well the upcoming youngsters, such as Damarus Hokianga, from our academy are playing.
Locks, I assume Cridge will get signed; maybe Martin, too. But who'll replace Allardice? Bryn Evans is back, but will he be available and will they sign him? Or will Donovan Mataira make the step up? Emil Crichton is a bit young, just out of school.
Of the remaining loosies, Brighouse seems to be injured a lot and I have no idea how good he is. Ricky Hayes, same story. Will Tremain is a promising player, but also breaks easily. Is Liam Udy-Johns in the picture? Iakopo Mapu was good, last year. How is his 2020 season going?
Connor McLeod (last year playing for Otago) could maybe be our third halfback. Or Humphrey Shield? What I saw from Sheridan Rangihuna for Tech, last weekend, didn't give me the confidence he's good enough.
Will they replace Falcon with a specialist 10? I sure hope so. Makene, Toala, Baker and Ili are all capable of covering 10, but one specialist doesn't seem enough. I hear Trinity Spooner-Neera has been playing well? So well, that he kept Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong out of the Havelock North 10 jersey. Speaking of the latter, this year is probably too soon for NPC?
Assuming Kurt Baker has taken Paese's spot, we still have two backs spots to fill, if the squad will have the same size as last year's. Who are they looking at? Bas Visinia? Michael Buckley? I assume it's too soon for Jordan Thompson-Dunn (who - I think - has played at 10 for Hastings)?
Arggghh, the team naming can't come soon enough!
Edited to include further confirmed signings -
@Stargazer First five and lock depth are a worry.
Not sure they have locals that can cover it,perhaps they will give locals a chance in the 2 trial games but may have to recruit from outside if nobody suitable steps up.I have a feeling they may run with Illi as backup five eight. -
@kiwimatrix I agree. I hope they sign Bryn Evans. I'm not convinced they can find a good lock in other provinces. NZ is generally short on good locks, at the moment. I'd rather have a talented, recent school leaver and an old one to mentor him, than average imports who aren't good enough to be signed by their home province.
Ili at 10 hasn't been a success, thus far. The prospect of not having another specialist 10 worries me. Zarn Sullivan is very young, too, and wasn't as good as McClutchie at age grade level, but he may have improved a lot and maybe they should go after him?
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@Stargazer Yeah locks are in short supply at the moment unless someone came back from during covid maybe. A lot probably depends on how long the management have known that Falcon and Allerdice wouldn't be there this season. If they have known for a while then we may have players lined up but if they just found out recently we could struggle to find decent replacements at short notice.
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As expected, confirmed for 2020:
Originally a product of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Academy, Geoff Cridge looks forward to his 7th season with the Magpies. With Cridgeys' versatility and size, the powerful lock has also been seen running around in the number 6 Magpies jersey. -
New signing!
Iakapo Mapu eyes a Magpies debut off the back of some great club form for Taradale Rugby Club. The barnstorming loose forward provides a huge physical presence on both attack and defence, and will be looking to continue this is the Black and White hoops.
He was already close to selection, last year, after a good club rugby season. He impressed me during the preseason game against Ta$man. IIRC he got injured? With O'Connor, Evans, Mikaele-Tu'u, Flanders, Funaki and Kaifa already in the mix, you have to wonder whether he'll get much game time and whose spot in the squad he takes. The spot of often injured Hannon Brighouse? Or Will Tremain's? I can't remember exactly, does he prefer openside? Does anyone know?
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Here's a club rugby highlights video from 2019. Mapu seems to be a good ballrunner, who likes bulldozing opposition players. Mostly wearing the 7 or 8 jersey.
Link to a try he scored for Samoa A during last year's Americas Pacific Challenge against Argentina XV. I haven't been able to find out how many times he has played for Samoa and - if any - how many of those tests were for the senior squad.
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Article in the Samoan Observer from May 2019:
Samoans making Taradale the team to beat
Samoan players are spurring Taradale Rugby Club on to success in Hawke's Bay's premier club competition this year, in a region that has had a longstanding relationship with the nation and its players.Taradale won the Tui Nash Cup on Saturday having gone through the first round of the club season ...
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@Stargazer That's a good article, I was a bit bemused when he turned up but he acquitted himself pretty well last year.
