NPC 2023
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@Stargazer Well yeah I get that, but the Crusaders do not need to be taking talent from MP. They have plenty of talent at their disposal and coming through. They can leave this option alone surely.
But don't worry, once sigings like this are allowed to happen, we'll get the same shit from the same people wondering what the point of MP existing is and why they aren't improving. Well here's part of the answer why.
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PRESEASON GAMES
Friday 21 July 2023 - 4.30pm - Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
Ta$man v ManawatūSaturday 22 July 2023 - Te Awamutu
Chiefs Centurion Cup
11.00am: Waikato v Counties Manukau
12.00pm: Taranaki v Bay of Plenty
1.00pm: Loser game 1 v loser game 2
2.00pm: Winner game 1 v winner game 2Saturday 22 July 2023 - 2.00pm - Te Anau Rugby Club
Southland v North OtagoSunday 23 July - Owen Delany Park(?), Taupo
Hawke's Bay v Auckland
Are there more games? -
I think this was rumoured previously but not sure if it was confirmed until now -
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Anton Lienert-Brown, Luke Jacobson, Samipeni Finau (Waikato), Josh Lord (Taranaki) and Cam Roigard (Counties Manukau) will all feature in the Chiefs Country Centurion Cup competition – a four-team event which also involves Bay of Plenty.
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Miracle Fai'ilagi Potentially a replacement for Havilli at the Crusaders.
Fai'ilagi to the Crusaders would be a crock of shit, and would be a classic example of a player getting terrible advice.
He would get about two games a year down there... stay at MP or go overseas. I strongly doubt it will be the case, I mean Ta$man have been known to independently chuck the cash about, but if he does go to the Saders, you might as well fold up MP right now. They'll never ever be competitive.
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Auckland will take on Waikato in Round 7 of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC at 2:05pm at Pakuranga United Rugby Club.
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@Stargazer said in NPC 2023:
PRESEASON GAMES
Friday 21 July 2023 - 4.30pm - Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
Ta$man v Manawatū -
@Stargazer Strong looking squad. @Chris-B What is the top 23 going to look like?
"Controversial"!!! - When the players tell Fozzie to fuck his World Cup, they've got something to deal with in Wellington before they're getting on any Air France planes.
Actually, big point of interest is whether Fozzie picks Blackadder, Havili and Fainga'anuku. We'll be quite a bit stronger if he doesn't.
We'll need a lot of luck if he does.
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@Chris-B I reckon put all three on a plane to France to carry water. No need for them to visit Wellington this year.
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Result preseason game:
Ta$man 33 - 19 Manawatū
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Northcote player Tim Sail in there, and Manawatu's Stewart Cruden. Tavatavanawai in the midfield.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Preseason results
Southland 31 - 7 Southland Development
Southland 38 - 7 North Otago
Southland Development 26 - 19 North Otago -
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@Stargazer Wellington will take ‘em again. Too much firepower. 😁
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@Stargazer
Could get McLeod,Ennor and Moody/Williams back after the 2 Aussie tests. -
I can see it being a Cantab vs Welly final again. Both teams look to have plenty of depth.
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The forgotten age-group player Torian Barnes is back. Alaimalo has gone back home.
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If you’re convinced Canterbury will win easily, you can make some money
Cant $4.00
Well $4.00
Auck $6.50
Waik $6.50 -
@Chris what would Canterbury’s best side look like from that squad? (Excluding players likely to picked for the WC)
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McAlister
Moody
Jager
Dunshea
Gallagher
Christie
Harmon
Grace
Drummond
Burke
Crotty
Ennor
Mcleod
Matale
FihakiReserves
Bell
Lienert-Brown
Calder
Darry
Gardiner
Heinz
Poihipi
Punivai -
@Chris looks pretty strong. Wellington have the team to do the business again aswell IMO. Definitely hard to pick between both those sides.
Wellington have Canterbury on the end of their storm week which includes two Ranfurly Shield defenses. I say sack the man who made the schedule.
A Aumua
X Numia
P Sheck
D Bird
H Plummer
C Delany
D Kirifi
P Lakai
T Perenara (not sure if he will make it back or not - still unconfirmed)
A Morgan
P Patafilo
P Umaga-Jensen
B Proctor
J Savea (should be back around the middle of the season)
R LoveJ O'Reilly
B Chrichton/Orr
S Lauaki
A Pettett
B Shields
L Henry
R Higgins (should be back around the middle of the season)
C Garden-Bachop -
@Canes4life southland and Ta$man at home and then Canterbury. Over 8 days
Idiotic scheduling
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@Winger yep, Wellington will be sending a B team down to Chch for sure.
Stupid considering you really want the best players playing in the big city games to attract atleast a modest crowd.
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Cantabs going back to their dark red and black jerseys which are different to the ones in the squad release above.
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Yep could be a Canterbury v Wellington final again.
I hate those storm weeks can be a real disadvantage depending on who you draw. -
McAlister
Moody
Jager
Dunshea
Gallagher
Christie
Harmon
Grace
Drummond
Burke
Crotty
Ennor
Mcleod
Matale
FihakiReserves
Bell
Lienert-Brown
Calder
Darry
Gardiner
Heinz
Poihipi
PunivaiThat's the kind of strength it would be good to see throughout the NPC. Like the late 90s.
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GOAT RYAN CROTTY
Or, as thesilverfern knows him, "solid but unspectacular".
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Yep could be a Canterbury v Wellington final again.
Auckland, Waikato and Ta$man will put out strong sides too
Hard to guess the Auckland side as the squad hasn't been named yet but I suspect the top xv will be something like this:
1 Fusitua
2 Vikena
3 Ta'avao
4 Annandale
5 Tuipulotu
6 Ioane
7 Choat
8 Ekuasi9 Funaki
10 Sullivan
11 Rayasi
12 Plummer
13 Heem
14 Lam
15 RTSSome SR depth outside the top xv: Lay, Renata, Evans, Telea, Gibson, maybe Kalapu? I presume Hodgman is still injured. Plus some u20's guys Che Clark, and Caleb Tangitau
Should be in the mix at least
It looks like a better side than last year without a couple of Aussie duds in the pack, presumably no Hickey and Alama not coaching
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