NPC 2023

[Chris B.]

@Tim said in NPC 2023:

@Stargazer Strong looking squad. @Chris-B What is the top 23 going to look like?

"Controversial"!!! - When the players tell Fozzie to fuck his World Cup, they've got something to deal with in Wellington before they're getting on any Air France planes.

Actually, big point of interest is whether Fozzie picks Blackadder, Havili and Fainga'anuku. We'll be quite a bit stronger if he doesn't.

We'll need a lot of luck if he does.

[Canes4life]

@Chris-B I reckon put all three on a plane to France to carry water. No need for them to visit Wellington this year.

[Stargazer]

Result preseason game:

Ta$man 33 - 19 Manawatū

[Tim]

Northcote player Tim Sail in there, and Manawatu's Stewart Cruden. Tavatavanawai in the midfield.

[Bovidae]

I don't know what the instructions were for the ABs playing in Te Awamutu today, but the player (Lord) who has actually played test rugby this year played the most minutes. He played all of the first game (minus his time in the bin) and nearly half of the second game. Lord showed some speed to score the first try of the day.

ALB never played for Waikato, Jacobson played only about half a game and Finau a little longer (~ 30 mins).

Roigard was the star of the "final" scoring a hat-trick of tries, the first displaying some exceptional speed for a long-range try. Put him on the bench in Melbourne. I believe Foster was there watching.

[Machpants]

@Bovidae said in NPC 2023:

Roigard was the star of the "final" scoring a hat-trick of tries, the first displaying some exceptional speed for a long-range try. Put him on the bench in Melbourne. I believe Foster was there watching.

Totally, easily our second best nine, but needs international exposure to prove that he can step up

[Bovidae]

Here are the results from the Chiefs Centurions Cup.

Counties Manukau 19 - 10 Waikato (HT: 5-10)
Sotutu played for CM, as did Malimali and Hohepa. Jacobson and Finau for Waikato with Dev/U20 players.

Bay of Plenty 36 - 21 Taranaki 21 (HT: 24-14)
BOP went strong as Eklund, Tosi, MSR and Sangster all started in the tight five. TTT, Cashmore, Lalomilo amongst the backs.

Waikato 31 - 21 Taranaki (HT: 7-7)
A stronger Waikato team but still missing a number of players. Tupaea looked good in his return.

Counties Manukau 35 - 26 Bay of Plenty (HT: 21-14)
Jamie King was also very good at 1st 5 for CM. They also won a number of scrum penalties as Toby Taylor was pinged for collapsing.

So CM wins this for the second year in a row.

[Higgins]

@Bovidae said in NPC 2023:

Chiefs Centurions Cup.

CM wins this for the second year in a row.

Where is @Crucial these days? It's not like him to miss out on bringing news like this to us.

[Bovidae]

Here are the squads used today (from the programme). There were other players involved that aren't listed, and the occasional typo like that BOP lock.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Facebook stream of yesterdays Southland v Southland Dev. and North Otago game.

The Pits TV | Welcome to The Pits TV Livestream. Whether it be a 30...

Welcome to The Pits TV Livestream. Whether it be a 30 min free preview or a full stream to Facebook, The Pits TV have you covered for high quality...

[Stargazer]

Preseason results

Southland 31 - 7 Southland Development
Southland 38 - 7 North Otago
Southland Development 26 - 19 North Otago

[KiwiPie]

The team of steam (well the squad anyway)

[Duluth]

@KiwiPie

I wonder if Nanai will play a bit at 13? I've seen him play well there in Auckland club rugby a few years back. 29/30 years old is probably a good time to make that move

[KiwiPie]

@Duluth He might get a chance there - we've lost Walton from last season who was very solid in the midfield. We have our usual Sevens flyers to go onto the wing!

[Chris]

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[Stargazer]

@Chris I can't see anyone beating that team. So stacked, even if you'd remove the current ABs.

Crotty will be huge as a leader for Canterbury.

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer Wellington will take ‘em again. Too much firepower. 😁

[Chris]

@Stargazer
Could get McLeod,Ennor and Moody/Williams back after the 2 Aussie tests.

[Canes4life]

I can see it being a Cantab vs Welly final again. Both teams look to have plenty of depth.

[Bovidae]

The forgotten age-group player Torian Barnes is back. Alaimalo has gone back home.