Tasman 2020
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@Snowy Of course it is.
It will be eight years on Tuesday since we had a challenge.
Waikato has had six challenges in that time. They have been rewarded for regularly being the weakest team in the first division.
Wellington is coming up to six years without a challenge and Auckland not far from five.
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Three former Ta$man Mako players will return for the campaign – Alex Ainley (92 Mako caps) from Bay of Plenty, Kieron Fonotia (65 caps) from Scarlets in Wales and Quentin MacDonald (78 caps) from Oyonnax in France. They will be joined by former Wanderers club player and Samoan halfback Dwayne Polataivao. The team fields 20 Super Rugby players including new recruits to the Mako ranks, wingers Sevu Reece (Crusaders) and Mark Talea (Blues) and prop Isileli Tu'ungafasi (Crusaders). Other new additions are Anton Segner (Nelson College flanker), lock Mahonri Ngakuru and flanker Hugh Renton. 25 of the squad have played Club rugby in the region with 10 of those graduating from the region’s Schools system. There are 6 contracted players who have suffered season ending injuries - Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders), Atu Moli (Chiefs), Pari Pari Parkinson (Highlanders), Ray Nuia (Blues), James Marshall (Hurricanes) and Jack Grooby (Stoke club). Four club players will train with the squad as potential injury replacements, flanker Braden Stewart (Central), lock Max Hicks (Marist) and prop Kershawl Sykes-Martin (Nelson) and half back Louie Chapman (Kahurangi). -
I see Cameron Suafua, who was on the bench in the preseason game, is not named at all. Strange since they have been trying to lure him down there for a couple of seasons.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Injured?
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Some pretty serious injury losses - with Parkinson, Blackadder and Moli all gone for the season.
Interesting to see that James Marshall was apparently planning to return to his roots.
Big Leicester apparently to be used as a midfielder.
This team doesn't look quite as good as last year's - and if there is test rugby it will look even weaker with my expectation we will probably lose Reece, Jordan, Frizell and Lomax to the ABs.
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@Stargazer said in Ta$man 2020:
Princep - tighthead prop (Lomax)
Robinson - fullback (Jordan)
Tavatavanawai - wing (Reece)
Parata - first five (Frizell or Strange?
Christie? Not sure what the plan is here). -
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@Stargazer I'll be surprised if Dave isn't one of the 11 extras - apart from that they've already got a heap of people that can play fullback.
Parata is pretty highly rated, so I'd guess they're taking the opportunity to bring him into the squad and if we need another halfback in due course they'll bring one in. For now we have Polataivao and Chapman.
Not sure when, or if, Christie will be back. For those who missed it, he had appendicitis.
