Hawke's Bay v Otago (Ranfurly Shield)
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so, looks like Hohneck, Ioane and Narkei will be out
i thought Koroi played well at 10 when he came on and hopefully a week training there he'll look even better, less worried about 10 than i am missing Narkei, for all the chat about his super form or rightly or wrongly the chat about him as an AB bolter...this is undoubtedly a level he shines at and one we will no doubt have planned around using him
team naming will be interesting
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I would almost be tempted to put Vahaakolo back to the wing, Sio out to Centre and put Nu'u in at 12.
The other option is to bring either Manson or Fine on the wing in the place of Nareki.
Option one gives us our best players on the paddock. Option two just swaps out a wing for a wing.
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Otago: Sam Gilbert, Viliame Fine, Freedom Vahaakolo, Patelesio Tomkinson, Matt Faddes, Vilimoni Koroi, Kayne Hamminton, Dylan Nel, Slade McDowall, Sam Fischli, Josh Dickson, Joshua Hill, Tau Koloamatangi, Ricky Jackson, Abraham Pole.
Reserves: Henry Bell, Jonah Aoina, Tevita Pole, Will Tucker, Christian Lio-Willie, James Arscott, Raymond Nu’u, Michael Manson.
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For those that like pictures
Have to say I think the sio, vahaakolo midfield just hadn’t looked like doing much, neither are creators, freedom is a finisher and sio is lucky to be there, faddes IS a creator but gets put out on the wing…just don’t get it
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Four changes forced on Otago
Otago had the best part of an hour to get used to its changes this week. The team lost three players in the first quarter of its season opener...
The team lost three players in the first quarter of its season opener against Southland at Forsyth Barr Stadium last Saturday. They were not just any old players, either. They were pretty much Otago’s leading players. Elusive winger Jona Nareki injured his knee and is out for the season. First five-eighth Josh Ioane picked up a head knock and is going through the return-to-play protocols. And prop Josh Hohneck added to Otago’s front-row shortage when he limped off with a calf strain. There is one other notable absence for the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Hawke’s Bay in Napier tomorrow. Captain James Lentjes has the weekend off. His first child was born earlier this week. -
@stargazer Not a bad team, think I'd prefer Visinia back on the wing but he's no old man Baker so that's all good. Plus good to have Fomai back. G Evans and Kereru Symes injured?
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@nepia I suspect Visinia will play fullback until Caleb Makene returns from injury. It looks like the coaches see Falcon only as a 10, who can cover 15. It will be interesting to see what they're going to do with especially the wing spots, once Makene returns. Lowe will start, but who of Fomai and Visinia will play on the other wing? Or will they go back to last year's line-up and move Fomai to 12? I guess that depends on how Toala goes (who's likely to play for a SR contract at the moment) ...
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i just dont feel that optimistic about this one. Hawkes Bay always turns up for the games let alone with the shield on the line
then add to the the reshuffled backline and just dont see what we're trying to achieve with our selections...honestly think a close game and no injuries would be a "win"
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Looks like Evans was dropped.
From this morning's HB Today
This week has been about standards, with Ozich demanding an improved performance, particularly in contact. He wants his players to be more accurate in this area, which helps explain the selction of physical openside flanker Solomone Funaki over Gareth Evans, who drops out of the 23.
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@number-10 @stargazer Don't panic I am taking my boots and jockstrap along just in case anyone pulls up lame in the warmup. Sadly not available for selection in the boat race team should there be one at the aftermatch function.
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Don't be shocked to see the Magpies run out in a different jersey, today. They'll be wearing the charity jersey that will be auctioned off for "Nourished for Nil".
More info:
Magpies muscle up for charity - and Shield defence
Magpies well-dressed for Saturday's big Ranfurly Shield defence.
The TradeMe link is here, for anyone interested:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/search?search_string=magpies 2021 charity jersey&user_region=100&bof=wsf0wlcC/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/nzme/7POB4R56YC2HKXUUTRJ5LNXJVE.jpg)
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@stargazer said in Hawke's Bay v Otago (Ranfurly Shield):
Don't be shocked to see the Magpies run out in a different jersey, today. They'll be wearing the charity jersey that will be auctioned off for "Nourished for Nil".
More info:
Magpies muscle up for charity - and Shield defence
Magpies well-dressed for Saturday's big Ranfurly Shield defence.
The TradeMe link is here, for anyone interested:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/search?search_string=magpies 2021 charity jersey&user_region=100&bof=wsf0wlcCWould anyone be interested? It looks like a league jersey.
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Just hanging out the washing and can report it is a beautiful HB winters day so far. Not a cloud in the sky and warming up nicely, must be close to ten degrees now and completely windless. Min you this is after a rather chilly Otago like frost here this morning, hopefully the only thing Otago will have had going for them today!!!
Forecast is not that flash as the day goes on with the wind to pick up strongly toward kick off time, first from the north west then swinging south so take plenty of warm clothes to counteract that (or slip you hipflask into your back pocket!). With a bit of luck any forecasted showers will go along the hills and miss Napier like they often do. -
@kiwiwomble said in Hawke's Bay v Otago (Ranfurly Shield):
i just dont feel that optimistic about this one. Hawkes Bay always turns up for the games let alone with the shield on the line
then add to the the reshuffled backline and just dont see what we're trying to achieve with our selections...honestly think a close game and no injuries would be a "win"
Shit jinx attempt
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Ash Dixon is a late withdrawal.
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@number-10 said in Hawke's Bay v Otago (Ranfurly Shield):
Ash Dixon is a late withdrawal.
Schedule clash with Japanese lessons?
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@antipodean said in Hawke's Bay v Otago (Ranfurly Shield):
@number-10 said in Hawke's Bay v Otago (Ranfurly Shield):
Ash Dixon is a late withdrawal.
Schedule clash with Japanese lessons?
Told ya he should get on to all that house moving stuff @Stargazer
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Where is Walker-Leawere for this match? Is he injured?
