Magpies 2020
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The Magpies 2020 Mitre 10 Cup squad is:
Joe Apikotoa, Kurt Baker, Geoff Cridge, Jacob Devery, Ash Dixon (captain), Mason Emerson, Bryn Evans, Gareth Evans, Folau Fakatava, Devan Flanders, Neria Fomai, Solomone Funaki, Joel Hintz, Stracey Ili, Josh Kaifa, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Jason Long, Jonah Lowe, Caleb Makene, Iakopo Mapu, Elijah Martin, Lincoln McClutchie, Connor McLeod, Sam McNicol, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Brendon O'Connor, Tom Parsons, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Ollie Sapsford, Sona Taumalolo, Danny Toala, Will Tremain, Anzelo Tuitavuki, Lolagi Visinia, Sebastian Visinia, Namatahi Waa, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Brad Weber.
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I think this is the squad by position:
Prop
Joe Apikotoa (TH)
Joel Hintz (TH)
Jason Long (LH, also hooker)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (LH & TH)
Sona Taumalolo (LH)
Namatahi Waa (TH)Hooker
Jacob Devery
Ash Dixon
Kianu Kereru Symes (also prop)Lock
Geoff Cridge (also 6)
Bryn Evans
Elijah Martin
Tom Parsons
Isaia Walker-LeawereLoose forward
Gareth Evans (8, also 7 & 6)
Devan Flanders (8/6, can cover lock)
Solomone Funaki (7 & 6)
Josh Kaifa (7)
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (8/6)
Will Tremain (7)
Brendon O'Connor (7 & 8 )
Iakopo Mapu (7, 8 )Halfback
Folau Fakatava
Connor McLeod
Brad Weber (will be with the ABs for most of the season)First five-eighth
Lincoln McClutchieMidfielder
Neria Fomai (13)
Danny Toala (12, 15, may be used at 10)
Loloagi Visinia
Sebastian VisiniaOutside back
Mason Emerson (wing)
Jonah Lowe (wing, also 13)
Ollie Sapsford (wing, also midfield)
Anzelo Tuitavuki (wing)Utility back
Kurt Baker (will probably be used at 15)
Stacey Ili (may be used at 10)
Caleb Makene (may be used at 10)
Sam McNicolGreat looking squad, but ... I'm not happy with only one specialist first five-eighth in the team. They must have known for quite a while that Falcon wouldn't be available. Was it really that hard to find one more 10? We have Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong and Jordan Thompson-Dunn for the future, and they'll probably be on standby, but it's probably too early for both of them.
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2020:
The Magpies 2020 Mitre 10 Cup squad is:
Joe Apikotoa, Kurt Baker, Geoff Cridge, Jacob Devery, Ash Dixon (captain), Mason Emerson, Bryn Evans, Gareth Evans, Folau Fakatava, Devan Flanders, Neria Fomai, Solomone Funaki, Joel Hintz, Stracey Ili, Josh Kaifa, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Jason Long, Jonah Lowe, Caleb Makene, Iakopo Mapu, Elijah Martin, Lincoln McClutchie, Connor McLeod, Sam McNicol, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Brendon O'Connor, Tom Parsons, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Ollie Sapsford, Sona Taumalolo, Danny Toala, Will Tremain, Anzelo Tuitavuki, Lolagi Visinia, Sebastian Visinia, Namatahi Waa, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Brad Weber.
A fairly predictable squad in the end,not so sure I like the cocky attitude of the reporter,I hope the players aren't thinking they are sure things to win it.Whats everyones predicted best 23???
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@kiwimatrix I think we've got one of the best Magpies squads of the last few years, with a good combo of experience and youthful talent, and some depth. One of the best, on paper. You always have to wait and see how players perform on the day. I do hope everyone will underestimate the Magpies again, just like last year. Nobody gave us a chance of a semifinals spot in 2019, and we convincingly reached the final. I can see us do that again, but only if we're being spared major injuries. I still have nightmares of that year we had approx 16 players in the injury ward (was it 2017?).
I think a good 23 would be (assuming everyone is fit and healthy):
1 Sona Taumalolo (depending on what form he's in, it's hard to know without having seen him play recently)
2 Ash Dixon
3 Pouri Rakete-Stones
4 Bryn Evans
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere
6 Devan Flanders
7 Gareth Evans
8 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u
9 Brad Weber / Folau Fakatava (Brad only available in round 1?)
10 Lincoln McClutchie
11 Lolagi Visinia (or Sam McNicol, if Lolagi plays in the midfield)
12 Danny Toala
13 Neria Fomai / Lolagi Visinia
14 Jonah Lowe
15 Kurt Baker (I'm far from convinced, but as an AB7s player, he's likely to get the start, I guess)16 Kianu Kereru-Symes
17 Jason Long
18 Joe Apikotoa or Joel Hintz
19 Tom Parsons or Geoff Cridge
20 Brendon O'Connor
21 Folau Fakatava / Connor McLeod
22 Caleb Makene (covers 10 and fullback)
23 Sam McNicol (covers wing and midfield) / Neria Fomai if Lolagi Visinia start at 13The line-up for the first game against Southland may be different though, considering some SR players have just returned, Bryn Evans has only just joined the squad, Taumalolo hasn't played for a while, O'Connor same same (did he play club rugby at all?) and there are some question marks about the fitness of players such as Gareth Evans, Danny Toala (got injured in club final) and Sam McNicol. Also, are Kereru-Symes and Lolagi Visinia injured; they weren't in the line-up for the PS game against Auckland?
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@Stargazer Surely this is last chance for McNicol if he doesn't last most of this season they have to cut him loose.
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@stargazer Remind me please, what has happened to Tiaan Falcon?
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@Stargazer I watched Ihia West playing for La Rochelle this morning, he went OK, even scoring a try.
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Injury update in the article below.
...Hurricanes midfielder Danny Toala has been named on the bench after returning from a shoulder injury collected in the Maddison Trophy final.
Ozich said former All Black lock Bryn Evans and former Tonga prop Sona Taumalolo are both available for selection and their opportunities will come. Chiefs midfield back Sam McNicol is expected to be available around rounds four and five and prop Namatahi Waa is also expected to return in the later rounds after recovering from appendix surgery.
It also sounds like Lolagi Visinia - who already knew the coaches before signing with the HBRU - has only been signed for one season, but wants to stay longer.The 27-year-old, who is also a former Blues Super player, is being coached by Mark Ozich and Josh Syms who were his Kelston Boys' High School 1st XV coaches in 2009 and '10. Magpies assistant coach Syms was also his Auckland under-16 team coach.
"My goal is to get as many minutes as I can and be consistent week in and week out. Hopefully I can do enough to get re-signed for next year," Visinia said.
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@Number-10 said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
Just spoken to Sam McNicol, hopes to be available next week.
That's good to hear! I assume he'll makes his comeback via the bench. I wonder where they're going to play him and who'll lose his spot in the 23. Sapsford?
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Most interesting bit from this article on Hawke's Bay app:
Inspirational Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby captain Ash Dixon is unsure whether this season will be his last with the team.
But the 32-year-old Maori All Black and Highlanders hooker agreed if the Magpies could capture the Ranfurly Shield in his 100th appearance for the team in tomorrow's challenge against Otago in Dunedin and go on to win the Mitre 10 Cup Championship it would make a memorable final season.
"One of the reasons I came back this season was to try and get my 100 ...
If this is Ash Dixon's last season, I hope the HBRU makes an attempt to get Tyrone Thompson back to the Bay.
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@Stargazer you can have James O’Reilly. Tyrone looks to be fairly comfortable in Yellow and Black. 😁
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@Canes4life said in Magpies 2020:
@Stargazer you can have James O’Reilly. Tyrone looks to be fairly comfortable in Yellow and Black. 😁
Mods, can we ban posters from threads?
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If we have a spot for a midfielder next season (not sure they'll re-sign McNicol), I hope they'll have a good look at Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u. I like what I've seen from him thus far for Harbour. Still a rookie at this level, of course, so plenty to learn and improve.
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2020:
If we have a spot for a midfielder next season (not sure they'll re-sign McNicol), I hope they'll have a good look at Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u. I like what I've seen from him thus far for Harbour. Still a rookie at this level, of course, so plenty to learn and improve.
Maybe Ben Lewis will have a big club season and step up to rep level. There was also a big centre playing for Pirates who was pretty raw but had size and some skills. Too many beers celebrating retaining the shield and can't remember his name
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@Stockcar86 The Pirates centre, do you mean Al Momoisea?
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@Stargazer No, nor Hayden Hann. I didn't see any Pirates games this year, but he played inside centre I think last year for Pirates. Young kid just out of school, about 6ft 2 or 3. Made a few mistakes but had silky skills too.
https://cdn.hbapp.co.nz/news/plenty-of-depth-in-magpies-mitre-10-cup-rugby-squad
