NPC 2023
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@Stargazer said in NPC 2023:
Friday 28 July - Taupo
Waikato v Hawke's BayKick-off is at 1.00pm at Owen Delany Park.
I've posted the Magpies line-up in the Magpies thread.
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@Stargazer the Naki vs Welly game is being streamed via the TRFU Ch1 Youtube channel.
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Because I have too much time on my hands on this wonderful Friday, I've had a crack at predicting how the NPC might break down. I went game by game, and this is what I came out with:
- Canterbury 42
- Auckland 38
- Bay of Plenty 36
- Waikato 36
- Otago 35
- Wellington 33
- Ta$man
- Taranaki 25
- Hawke's Bay 25
- North Harbour 22
- Southland 16
- Northland 14
- Counties Manukau 14 (RS)
- Manawatu 3
Before I say how the finals would work, a few things to note:
- Yes I am an Otago fan, so have probably given us one too many wins in there (Picked us to beat Wellington at home) but feel like Otago are there or thereabouts with a good draw after a tough first three games.
- That loss to Otago is what knocks Wellington down, who I feel are better than the 6th best team, but they do have quite a tricky draw, particularly round the storm week
- The Shield. Counties. Wellington will lose it midweek to Ta$man, who'll hold onto is comfortably until being butchered by Counties big pack in the latter rounds, despite the Steelers coming 13th in the final washup.
FINALS:
Canterbury beat Taranaki
Auckland beat Ta$man
Bay of Plenty lose to Wellington
Waikato lose to OtagoSemi Finals:
Canterbury beat Wellington
Auckland beat OtagoFinal:
Canterbury beat Auckland -
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@frugby lol how are Wellington so far down? They've kept the majority of their squad from last season. The only team I can honestly see them losing to is Canterbury at the end of their storm week which consists of two Ranfurly Shield defences.
Interesting take, but I can't really see it panning out like this. BOP and Otago are way too high IMO. I can't see Counties getting the Shield either, especially without Roigard.
I think Canterbury and Wellington will top their pools, and then win their semis to meet in the final down in Canterbury again.
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@Canes4life said in NPC 2023:
think Canterbury and Wellington will top their pools
There are no pools in the NPC this year. Just the one single table.
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@Stargazer that's good, I found that tables setup a little odd.
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My prediction of the table at season's end:
- Canterbury
- Wellington (RS)
- Auckland
- Waikato
- Ta$man
- Bay of Plenty
- Hawkes Bay
- Otago
- Taranaki
- North Harbour
- Northland
- Counties Manukau
- Manawatu
- Southland
I'm predicting Canterbury to beat Wellington in the final. I think defending the Shield all year and also defending their title may be too much of a tall order for the Lions. Hope I'm wrong.
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@Canes4life said in NPC 2023:
@frugby lol how are Wellington so far down? They've kept the majority of their squad from last season. The only team I can honestly see them losing to is Canterbury at the end of their storm week which consists of two Ranfurly Shield defences.
I can certainly see them losing to Ta$man. Midweek Shield games against good opposition have a history of being shockers... add in a defeat against Otago, which I don't think is that unreasonable under the roof, and I get what I got. Have them winning 7 games, just it is tight AF, and the way I had bonus points working out. If you have them beating Otago, they take 3rd, and Otago slip to 6th, and not much changes.
Interesting take, but I can't really see it panning out like this. BOP and Otago are way too high IMO. I can't see Counties getting the Shield either, especially without Roigard.
BOP have a good pack, though I agree might not do so well. They went well last year though, and might get Narawa which will be a big plus.
As for Counties and the shield, I sort of think they match up quite well against Ta$man, who I'm picking won't be the best in the forwards.
I think Canterbury and Wellington will top their pools, and then win their semis to meet in the final down in Canterbury again.
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@frugby it really depends on who Ta$man have available. If they have the likes of Havili, Blackadder etc for that match then yeah it will be a dog fight mid-week. But if they don't then I just don't see them having the firepower.
I think Wellington will play a weaker team against Southland and then save their best for Ta$man before sending a B team to Canterbury. I have Wellington beating both Ta$man and Otago. The only team I have Wellington losing to is Canterbury (twice).
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@Canes4life Dane Coles in the Auckland departure lounge....
"Hey where's Tyrel?"
"And where's Will? And Frizz? And Ethan? And Finlay? And Leicester?
Fozzie....you caaaarnt!!!!"
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Wellington XV confirmed to take on Taranaki:
Wellington XV:
Cameron Orr β Western Suburbs
Joyner Gaualofa β Tawa
PJ Sheck β Tawa
Caleb Delany β Old Boys University
Hugo Plummer β Tawa
Brad Shields β Petone
Sione Halalilo β Oriental-Rongotai
Keelan Whitman β Marist St Pats
Kemara Hauiti-Parapara β Tawa
Aidan Morgan β Marist St Pats
Pepesana Patafilo β Tawa
Peter Umaga-Jensen β Wainuiomata Β©
Losi Filipo β Petone
Ethan Webster-Nonu β Paremata-Plimmerton
Ruben Love β Wainuiomata
Josh Southall β Petone
Senio Sanele β Upper Hutt Rams
Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe β Northern United
Akira Ieremia β Tawa
Filo Paulo β Hutt Old Boys Marist
Dominic Ropeti β Oriental-Rongotai
Sam Howling β PΕneke
Kyle Preston β Old Boys University
Isi Saumaki β Tawa
Tjay Clarke β Petone
Chicago Doyle β Marist St Pats
Sam Clarke β Paremata-PlimmertonNotable players not selected / unavailable:
- Du Plessis Kirifi
- Anthony Pettett
- Asafo Aumua
- Xavier Numia
- Siale Lauaki
- Dominic Bird
- Billy Proctor
- Logan Henry
- Riley Hiiggins (Injured)
- TJ Perenara (injured)
- Connor Garden-Bachop (injured)
- James O'Reilly (Injured)
- Julian Savea (Injured)
- Ardie Savea (All Blacks)
- Dane Coles (All Blacks)
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My hopes.
Otago makes the semi finals. Our promising young players have good seasons.
Wellington loses the Ranfurly Shield and misses the semi finals.
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@SouthernMann no chance mate.
