Hurricanes 2021

[mikey07]

@Bovidae Must be no.6 in the Canes pecking order

[Stargazer]

@mikey07 Which makes me think that Kereru-Symes is training with another franchise, although I haven't seen him in photos. Most likely Blues or Highlanders.

[mikey07]

@Stargazer Nothing Surprises me with this management tbh

[Stargazer]

@mikey07 Tbh, I think Darren Larsen is currently one of the weak spots in the Canes' staff. He's responsible for recruitment and development. He's the one who has mades the wrong selections at Hurricanes age grade level, year in, year out. That doesn't take away the responsibility of the other coaches though.

[mikey07]

@Stargazer Castle doesn’t exactly cover himself with sunshine in terms of recruitment either.

[Bovidae]

@mikey07 Laubscher is a 6/8.

https://www.turbosrugby.co.nz/news/tyler-laubscher-on-his-way-up

[bobily2]

@mikey07

Kyle Stewart is a prop. Pretty sure he is a tighthead, primarily.

[Stargazer]

[Canes4life]

With the season fast approaching what are everyones thoughts on the first starting 23 of the year.

Here's what I would pick:

1. Armstrong
2. Coles (c)
3. Lomax
4. Fifita
5. Scrafton
6. Flanders
7. Kirifi
8. Savea
9. Campbell
10. Garden-Bachop
11. Rayasi
12. Laumape
13. Umaga-Jensen
14. Goosen
15. Barrett
16. Aumua
17. Numia
18. Fidow
19. Walker-Leawere
20. Evans
21. Taumatiene
22. Love/Hickey
23. Aso/Toala/Proctor

VS what I think the coaches will pick:

1. Armstrong
2. Coles (c)
3. Lomax
4. Blackwell
5. Scrafton
6. Prinsep
7. Kirifi
8. Savea
9. Taumatiene
10. Garden-Bachop
11. Savea
12. Laumape
13. Umaga-Jensen
14. Goosen
15. Barrett
16. Aumua
17. Numia
18. Fidow
19. Fifita
20. Flanders
21. Campbell
22. Hickey
23. Aso/Proctor

[Stargazer]

@Canes4life

I'd pick:

1 Armstrong
2 Coles
3 Lomax
4 Fifita/Le'aupepe, or
5 Scrafton/Le'aupepe
6 Flanders/A Savea
7 Kirifi
8 A Savea/Flanders
9 Campbell
10 Hickey
11 Rayasi
12 Laumape
13 Umaga-Jensen
14 Visinia
15 Barrett
16 Aumua
17 Rakete-Stones
18 Fidow
19 Walker-Leawere
20 Evans
21 Taumateine
22 Garden-Bachop
23 Toala/Aso/Goosen

If Le'aupepe is available (I haven't seen any injury update about him), that might change more than the locking spots. Either IWL will miss out completely, or they shift Fifita to the 20 jersey and Flanders will miss out completely (because the coaches will pick Prinsep to start). I'd expect Le'aupepe to start with Scrafton.

My picks for 6, 7 and 8 are only to keep Kirifi in the starting line-up, but in reality I still think Ardie is more a 7 than an 8, which would mean 6 (yuck) Prinsep, 7 A Savea, 8 Flanders and 20 Kirifi, and Evans missing out. (I'd prefer Evans at 6, but we know that won't happen).

There obvioulsy is no rugby journo in Wellington anymore, so the media coverage of the Canes' preseason has been terrible.

[Bovidae]

Why the love for Campbell over Taumateine? I think the latter is a good halfback but hasn't had many opportunities yet.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae I don't really care. Campbell is inexperienced, but probably has more talent. I find Taumateine pretty average, even in Mitre 10 Cup.

[KiwiMurph]

Hickey over Garden-Bachop? Surely not.

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph Yeah, I wasn't sure. They're both terrible. I thought maybe his goal kicking might be better.

[canefan]

@KiwiMurph said in 2021 Hurricanes:

Hickey over Garden-Bachop? Surely not.

I am no JGB fan. But he upped his game as last season went along. He'll never have a ceiling any higher than a Jimmy Gopperth type (he's not there yet!!) but he will probably be the place holder until we can unearth another

[Canes4life]

@canefan agree, JGB was very solid last year. Defs have him starting over Hickey.

@Stargazer I love your attempt to get as many HB players in there as possible but I can't see Visinia starting at 14 over Goosen. Goosen stood up massively with that performance against the Crusaders last year. Also, I think they will want a bit of consistency with selection from the back end of last year, so I doubt we will see too many new faces until injuries strike.

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae I have Campbell ahead of Taumateine just because he performed better in the Mitre 10 Cup.

[Stargazer]

@Canes4life It's not an attempt to get as many HB players in the squad. I think Visinia offers more than Goosen.

But don't worry, knowing the Canes coaches' previous selections, they will make sure they won't exceed their HB quota. We'll be lucky to have two players in the match day 23.

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer he certainly didn’t offer more when playing for the Blues. Can’t see it happening tbh, Goosen deserves first crack at 14 with the way he finished the season last year.

[Stargazer]

The last hurrah: Dane Coles eyes Super Rugby glory in Canes swansong

Dane Coles' is off contract at the conclusion of 2021 and the All Blacks hooker is determined to make his last year with the Hurricanes a winning one.

"Obviously my last year coming up with the Canes. I haven't completely ruled out staying on, but I've just got to appreciate it this year mate," Coles said on his future.

(...)

Coles had planned on retiring from professional rugby at the end of 2021 and the Covid-19 disrupted 2020 season left Coles reflecting on that move. If he does pull the pin he will step away from the game completely, with no desire to get into media, punditry or coaching.

He may become a firefighter and plans to play one last season for his beloved Paraparaumu Rugby Club (where he first played and grew up), before hanging up the boots for good.

This year though he has things to achieve with the Hurricanes and the All Blacks.

"I still love playing for New Zealand and still passionate about it. I'm still driven to get there and it all starts by performing for the Hurricanes."

And while retirement seems more likely, would the 2023 tournament be a bridge too far?

"Haha, never say never mate. Especially with Roger (Tuivasa-Sheck) coming over to rugby, it would be awesome to play with him. I'm not ruling out anything, I'm likely to keep going as long as I can until the coaches say that's enough, haha."

(...)