Super Rugby Aupiki 2023
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The last three spots in the Poua squad have gone to Manawatū front rower Sosoli Talawadua, Black Ferns Sevens Shakira Baker and Kiwi Fern Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly (a wing/fullback in rugby from BOP).
So not a single Hawke's Bay player in this squad.
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Fan experience the focus in Matatū home game venue change | Matatū Rugby
Matatū are excited to announce an updated venue for our first-ever home game in Ōtautahi Christchurch.T he South Island’s only Super Rugby Aupiki team will take the field at Ngā Puna Wai on 4 March 2023, taking on the Hurricanes Poua in Round 2 of the 2023 competition.
Matatū are excited to announce an updated venue for our first-ever home game in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
The South Island’s only Super Rugby Aupiki team will take the field at Ngā Puna Wai on 4 March 2023, taking on the Hurricanes Poua in Round 2 of the 2023 competition.
The game was originally set to take place at Orangetheory Stadium, but Matatū management made the decision to move it to Ngā Puna Wai to create a more intimate and engaged fan experience, with the opportunity to promote a sell out game.Munro said Matatū had spoken to several UK clubs who had experienced success in building big crowds for women’s sport. It was all about creating opportunities for continued demand and not always matching what the men’s game had done.
“Their advice was to choose a venue that we felt confident in selling out to create atmosphere and an appetite to keep coming back,” Munro said. -
@Stargazer said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
Ngā Puna Wai
I like the idea of what they are trying but I had a look and that is a really pissy little ground with a small bank at either end and a stand about half the size of Porirua Park/Jerry Collins Stadium.
They should be aiming a little higher IMO.
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@Crucial Yes, I agree with you. It's all nice and new, looks good, but I've tried to count the seats in the stand and I come to approx. 528. That's very small.
Links to google maps:
According to Google, Jerry Collins Stadium has 5,500. I've been there several times, and it looks smaller than 5,500, and it's also very inaccessible (narrow residential street, very little parking available, quite a walk from the railway station, limited bus service), but at least in can accommodate a reasonable crowd. -
@Stargazer said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
@Crucial Yes, I agree with you. It's all nice and new, looks good, but I've tried to count the seats in the stand and I come to approx. 528. That's very small.
Links to google maps:
According to Google, Jerry Collins Stadium has 5,500. I've been there several times, and it looks smaller than 5,500, and it's also very inaccessible (narrow residential street, very little parking available, quite a walk from the railway station, limited bus service), but at least in can accommodate a reasonable crowd.I went to the Pride v Volcanix game at JCS on a weekend of horrendous weather and there would have been well over 500 spectators. Admittedly it was part of a triple bill but the numbers that watched the womens FPC game were more than Matatū seem to be planning for a Aupiki game.
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Matatū claim 'fan experience' reason for huge Aupiki venue downsize
Following the huge success of the Rugby World Cup, the South Island Super Rugby Aupiki franchise believes a smaller venue - not a bigger one - is the right call.
Orangetheory Stadium, which is the home of the Crusaders and also hosted the Black Ferns earlier this year in their build-up to the World Cup, has a capacity of 18,000 people.
In contrast, Ngā Puna Wai is much, much smaller with just 550 people able to be seated in the complex's grandstand which until now has been used predominantly by Canterbury Rugby League.
A Matatū spokesperson told 1News the embankments at the venue would also be used and "other options" were being explored as they target 3500 fans for the match.I wonder what those "other options" are. Temporary stands?
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@Stargazer said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
Following the huge success of the Rugby World Cup, the South Island Super Rugby Aupiki franchise believes a smaller venue - not a bigger one - is the right call.
Orangetheory Stadium, which is the home of the Crusaders and also hosted the Black Ferns earlier this year in their build-up to the World Cup, has a capacity of 18,000 people.
In contrast, Ngā Puna Wai is much, much smaller with just 550 people able to be seated in the complex's grandstand which until now has been used predominantly by Canterbury Rugby League.
A Matatū spokesperson told 1News the embankments at the venue would also be used and "other options" were being explored as they target 3500 fans for the match.I wonder what those "other options" are. Temporary stands?
Other options =standing on grass
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Not surprised to see Brent Kaua involved. They usually work together.
https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/assistant-coaches-named-for-waitomo-chiefs-manawa
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@Bovidae Great that they have singled out kicking and counterattack as an area that needs develoment. Strange that it is Brent that is leading it as the Volcanix seemed to have no idea in this area during FPC. I will give him the benefit of the doubt that that area was identified in post season review as needing focus and they have also looked at what other teams are doing.
I had heard that he told the players not to kick until they were out of the 22 but it backfired at times. Idea was to compensate for lack of a decent clearing boot by gaining distance on the ground first then kicking down field.
Manawa team is light in the area of 10s and 15s. Needs Tubic to run the game so might need Wickliffe to play 15. At least she is a good talker/organiser.Edit: forgot that Mererangi Paul is a 10 at FPC but named as an outside back in Manawa. She is likely earmarked as 15.
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Grass embankments and maybe temp stands. They might well be thinking (although I’m only speculating here) of turning Nga Puna Wai into some sort of permanent home base for training and games??? The changing rooms might well be quite flash and modern too.
I hope they get the festival tents out and the Childen’s rides and turn it into a day out experience.
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Still no confirmation of the WTG but some other changes to the squad.
https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/league-and-sevens-stars-sign-with-waitomo-chiefs-manawa
They join the squad as replacement players for Renee Wickliffe (retiring), Pia Tapsell (ACL injury), Chelsea Semple (maternity leave) and Merania Paraone (playing overseas).
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@Bovidae A quick google search tells me that Merania Paraone plays for UAS Universitario de Sevilla CR - Cocodrilas Rugby (nick name: Corteva Cocos) in Spain. In that same team are Manawatū's Ngano Tavake, former Counties Manukau player Lavinia Tauhalaliku and Northlands' Justice Karena. The Corteva Cocos play in the Liga Iberdrola de Rugby, the top women's rugby competition in Spain, and are the reigning champions.
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Harono Te Iringa
A lock. So replacement for Tapsell (who was listed as a lock/loosie
Tenika Willison
Willison's strength is setting up others, so replacing Semple (Midfield)
Abigail Roache
Listed in league as a 'playmaker'. Roache is likely a bit of a utility, replacing either Wickliffe (outside back) or Paraone (Wing)
Apii Nicholls-Pualau
A league Fullback so replacing either Wickliffe (outside back) or Paraone (Wing)
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@Bovidae said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
@Stargazer Spain? Interesting. It will be just like Kihikihi.
@Crucial Willison is more a 1st 5/fullback. She was the fullback when Waikato won the FPC. There looks to be plenty of utility options in the backs.
I just thought that given Semple being unavailable and the specific mention of Willison's distribution skills, she may be being considered for the midfield.
Yep, most of the backs have had experience in different roles and the WTG contains more options too should injuries happen. -
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@Yeetyaah said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
Harono is a great player I was surprised she wasn't in the initial squad
Yes, I was surprised too, and had thought that she had made herself unavailable for selection. Getting a current BF lock (Bremner), a former BF lock (Smith), along with Wills, meant they didn't need many other specialist locks.
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@Crucial said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:
Harono Te Iringa
A lock. So replacement for Tapsell (who was listed as a lock/loosie
Tenika Willison
Willison's strength is setting up others, so replacing Semple (Midfield)
Abigail Roache
Listed in league as a 'playmaker'. Roache is likely a bit of a utility, replacing either Wickliffe (outside back) or Paraone (Wing)
Apii Nicholls-Pualau
A league Fullback so replacing either Wickliffe (outside back) or Paraone (Wing)
Roache has been added to the Team page as a first-five
Te Iringa listed as a lock
Nicholls as a centre
Willison as a wingNicholls is the surprise there. A league fullback/union centre?
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