Otago v Wellington

[frugby]

Flush the dunny on that game v Ta$man, was always going to be tricky. Wellington this week will be tricky. I've heard Millar might have re-injured his ankle which is why he missed v Ta$man, though I don't know whether that was a one week, or one month thing. As neither he or Faleafaga were listed as injured, I'm assuming they are back. I also think Abraham Pole should be back

My team v Wellington

1. Wingham

2. Jackson

3. Ainsley

4. Holland

5. Dickson

6. Fischli

7. Withy

8. Lio-Willie

9. Arscott

10. Millar

11. Nareki

12. Te Hiwi

13. Umaga-Jensen

14. Whaanga

15. Gilbert

16. Bell

17. Pole

18. Ma'u

19. Tucker

20. Sanders

21. Hastie

22. Faleafaga

23. Asi

• Hard to know when only a handful of players were listed as injured, but I'd hope we can use Sanders and co. this week.

• One thing is for sure, I don't think Caleb Leef will be sighted, and if I'm correct on availability, I think Hurley could probably do with some time out the spotlight.

[NateHill74]

STARTING XV
Wingham
Bell
Ainsley
Tucker
Holland
Dickson
Withy
Lio-Willie
Arscott
Gilbert
Nareki
TUJ
Te Hiwi
Whaanga
Hurley

Jackson
Lopas
Mau
Hill
Fischli
McClea
Millar
Leef

Millar and Faleafaga are in training running around so good promise.
Naholo on crutches so a few weeks minimum

[frugby]

@NateHill74 said in Otago v Wellington:

STARTING XV
Wingham
Bell
Ainsley
Tucker
Holland
Dickson
Withy
Lio-Willie
Arscott
Gilbert
Nareki
TUJ
Te Hiwi
Whaanga
Hurley

Jackson
Lopas
Mau
Hill
Fischli
McClea
Millar
Leef

Millar and Faleafaga are in training running around so good promise.
Naholo on crutches so a few weeks minimum

No chance they carry Leef on the bench. The only reason he was there was because Millar and Faleafaga were injured, no point having two first fives on the bench.

Playing Dickson on the blindside would be a massive error... playing locks on the blindside has never worked.

[foobaNZ]

Wellington will need to be a lot better this week. Quite a few starters were missing for whatever reason so hopefully back to full strength this week.

Early days but half back is a worry for us without TJ.

[Kiwiwomble]

@frugby im a big dickson fan but he was a bit of a liability at 6 on sat, he was just playing as a lock, small stuff like he was standing as a pillar on the side of ruck rather than out ready to receive the ball...lock stuff

[Canes4life]

@foobaNZ the Aumua injury sets us back a bit aswell with O’Reilly still being injured and Coles obviously away with the ABs. Hopefully Gaulalofa comes back from injury because he’s been awesome at club level this year.

I expect a fairly similar team to Manawatu even though Morgan was fairly rubbish at 10. Hopefully Lakai and Bird come back into the fold and Preston gets the nod at halfback.

My team for Otago:

1. Numia
2. Gaulalofa
3. Sheck
4. Delany
5. Bird
6. Shields
7. Kirifi
8. Lakai
9. Preston
10. Morgan
11. Patafilo
12. Umaga-Jensen
13. Proctor
14. Filipo
15. Love
16. Southall
17. Orr
18. Lauaki
19. Plummer
20. Whitman
21. Hauiti-Parapara
22. Clarke
23. Webster-Nonu

[foobaNZ]

I thought Southall went okay last week, but my main concern is 9. Hauiti-Parapara is very pedestrian. Preston worth a start.

[BerhamporeNinja]

@Canes4life Southall did ok, i thought Penieli Poasa did well with the 7mins he got, id like to see him get more time at this level. one of the stand outs for Ories this season, a very underrated player with alot of potential.

impressed with Shields, it was like he never left! with Lakai back would be a Lethal back 3

our downfall would be 9 and Morgan, still erratic with some decision making and still cannot kick a goal esp the ones right infront lol. there is some reassurance knowing Love is at the back though

will be a good game, otago have a great side

[Stargazer]

[SouthernMann]

Forwards and bench look great. Backs look a bit confused.

[Canes4life]

@SouthernMann is Jack Leslie any relation to John? Assuming son or nephew…

[frugby]

@Canes4life Son of.

[Canes4life]

@BerhamporeNinja agreed, our halves could be our downfall this year if they don’t step up. I just can’t see Ellison moving Love from fullback, he’s too solid for us at the back.

[NateHill74]

I wasn't far off with my lineup. I did cheat a little as I saw them training on Tuesday so had a good idea on who may have been. Which is why Leef was in my team cause he was in the 'second half team'

Changes from my team to real team. Ma'u and Ainsley switch, Lopas out Pole in, Leef out Leslie in. Holland to bench Taylor in, Fischli to 6 from bench and Dickson to lock from 6. Backline bang on

[Canes4life]

Wellington starting to get some firepower back. Good to see Riley Higgins make an early return.

Wellington Lions team to take on Otago:

1. Xavier Numia
2. James O’Reilly
3. Siale Lauaki
4. Caleb Delany
5. Hugo Plummer
6. Brad Shields
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi ©
8. Peter Lakai
9. Kemara Hauiti-Parapara
10. Aidan Morgan
11. Pepesana Patafilo
12. Peter Umaga-Jensen
13. Billy Proctor*
14. Losi Filipo
15. Ruben Love
16. Josh Southall
17. Cameron Orr
18. PJ Sheck
19. Akira Ieremia
20. Dominic Ropeti
21. Kyle Preston
22. Riley Higgins
23. Connor Garden-Bachop

[Canes4life]

Lions Make Five Changes as Proctor Reaches 50

After an opening round victory over Manawatū last weekend, the Wellington Lions head south to Forsyth Barr, taking on Otago this Saturday.

[SouthernMann]

Well I wonder who will run over Hurley this week

[Canes4life]

@SouthernMann he’s lucky Savea and Aumua aren’t playing.

[foobaNZ]

Very strong Wellington team. Higgins and Garden-Bachop on the bench at this level is pretty damn good.

Is TJ confirmed out for the whole season?

[Canes4life]

@foobaNZ hasn’t really been confirmed. The way TJ trains though I wouldn’t be surprised if he was named at some point.