NPC 2024

[Chris B.]

@SouthernMann Yeah - maybe both teams have flown down this morning and are flying home tonight - zero accommodation costs.

It's kicking off at 12.30 (in 15 minutes) on a Friday in neutral territory, so they're obviously not planning on big gate takings.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah The NZH was wrong about the venue for the Waikato-HB game. It's in Taupō. This is often the venue due to its central location.

HB has had a couple of RS defences while this must be Waikato's one and only pre-season match.

[antipodean]

@Bovidae said in NPC 2024:

@Yeetyaah The NZH was wrong about the venue for the Waikato-HB game. It's in Taupō. This is often the venue due to its central location.

You'd think their AI would know that.

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Chris]

[Chris]

[Bovidae]

A nice boutique ground in Urenui. Taranaki beat BOP 31-26.

[Daffy Jaffy]

final score - Auckland 34 - 12 Counties.

[Canes4life]

Wellington beat Manawatu 31-24.

Not sure who played for Wellington but the Manawatu team were the below.

[Canes4life]

This was the Wellington team that played Manawatu. What is Riley doing on the right wing. Savea isn’t a better 12 than him ffs. 🤦‍♂️

Wellington Lions:

Kazuki Kato – Western Suburbs
Penieli Poasa – Ories
Siale Lauaki – Tawa
Hugo Plummer – Tawa
Akira Ieremia – Tawa
Dominic Ropeti – Ories
Peter Lakai – Petone
Benjamin Tuiomanufili – HOBM
Kyle Preston – OBU
Jackson Garden-Bachop – Norths
Pepesana Patafilo – Tawa
Julian Savea – Ories
Peter Umaga-Jenson – Wainui
Riley Higgins – Petone
Stanley Solomon – Petone
Leon Tuiloma – UH Rams
Yota Kamimori – Stokes Valley
Ruben Ape – Norths
Teofilo Paulo – HOBM
Conner Tuifao – Petone
Isaac Bracewell – Ories
Callum Harkin – OBU
Matt Proctor – Ories
Billy Proctor – Marist St Pats
Tjay Clarke – Petone
Chicago Doyle – Ories

[nzzp]

@Bovidae said in NPC 2024:

Urenui

nice ground!

[Winger]

@Canes4life said in NPC 2024:

This was the Wellington team that played Manawatu. What is Riley doing on the right wing. Savea isn’t a better 12 than him ffs. 🤦‍♂️

Wellington Lions:

Kazuki Kato – Western Suburbs
Penieli Poasa – Ories
Siale Lauaki – Tawa
Hugo Plummer – Tawa
Akira Ieremia – Tawa
Dominic Ropeti – Ories
Peter Lakai – Petone
Benjamin Tuiomanufili – HOBM

Kyle Preston – OBU
Jackson Garden-Bachop – Norths
Pepesana Patafilo – Tawa
Julian Savea – Ories
Peter Umaga-Jenson – Wainui
Riley Higgins – Petone
Stanley Solomon – Petone

I agree re Savea. But he will start and he's now far too slow for a wing. TBH I would prefer Savea at 2nd than can't or won't pass PUJ. I would have PUJ on the wing though with Higgins at centre. Then this would be a good (enough) NPC backline. With Preston far and away better than the rubbish we had last year. And JGB good enough at NPC level unlike Morgan.

Re the forwards. Hopefully this isn't the starting team when it all kicks off

[Canes4life]

@Winger id have Higgins at 12, Umaga-Jensen at 13 and Proctor, Patafilo and Clarke in the back three. Savea can come off the bench, he’s not good enough to start.

[MN5]

Savea and PUJ is a nice huge midfield at least.

[Canes4life]

@MN5 two guys that struggle to pass. No thanks.

[Bovidae]

Reading an article by Paul Cully, who says that NH originally tried to sign Lucas Cashmore. Edmed was later signed.

[taniwharugby]

@Bovidae I'd heard Edmed was being signed a few months back.

[Nepia]

@Bovidae said in NPC 2024:

Reading an article by Paul Cully, who says that NH originally tried to sign Lucas Cashmore. Edmed was later signed.

What else does he say in it? I saw the headline but it's paywalled.

I guess the gist is lots of NPC teams are bringing in foreigners (so it's not just the my beloved Pies being stupid this year).

[taniwharugby]

@Nepia whispers are, change is on the horizon so teams are looking to go higher up the table...luckily NZR has history of bailing those out whenever they need it.

[Bovidae]

@Nepia

Here you go.