Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes
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I pretty comfortable if the coaches make a few changes. I personally believe Canes have got Drua in best time. Theier last game they had 2 players red carded, and I have a feeling they may just try and make sure they play pretty controlled rugby. That doesn't suit their play.
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@foobaNZ said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
As good as our depth in most positions Judd and Morgan doesn't inspire much confidence in me against the Drua away.
At least play TJ as his minutes have been limited behind Roigard most of the season anyway.
Drua and Brumbies both warrant playing close to our top 15 IMO.
I was anti Morgan. But he was VG in his one and only start so far. But he needs a tougher challenge to see how he goes. In case Cameron is not available at some point
Judd has looked good so far. But he also needs more game time against tougher opposition. And Penenara is not the youngest anymore and needs to be looked after. And there's always Viljoen (who looks a future star) in the reserves
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TJ and Morgan I'm okay with. Not the biggest Morgan fan, but we can't play Cameron every game, and I don't think they'll give Godfrey a go over Morgan even if I think that would be a better idea moving forward.
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@foobaNZ yeah they won't play Godfrey before Morgan this year. Mind you from the few pictures I saw of the Dev game on Saturday, Godfrey was doing all the goal kicking so maybe they are slowly blooding him for a bigger role next season. I wouldn't mind if Godfrey got another crack at 15 soon just to get him on the field, he's a class player and needs a few mins here and there at the top level to develop.
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1 Tevita Mafileo
2 James O’Reilly
3 Pasilio Tosi
4 Ben Grant*
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere
6 Brad Shields (Captain)
7 Du’Plessis Kirifi
8 Devan Flanders
9 TJ Perenara
10 Aidan Morgan
11 Salesi Rayasi
12 Jordie Barrett
13 Billy Proctor
14 Kini Naholo
15 Josh Moorby16 Asafo Aumua
17 Xavier Numia
18 Siale Lauaki*
19 Caleb Delany
20 Peter Lakai
21 Richard Judd
22 Ruben Love
23 Bailyn Sullivan -
Haereiti Hetet, Tevita Ikanivere (c), Mesake Doge, Isoa Nasilasila, Leone Rotuisolia, Vilive Miramira, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Isikeli Rabitu, Epeli Momo, Kemu Valetini, Iosefo Masi, Selestino Ravutaumada, Ilaisa Droasese
Reserves: Zuriel Togiatama, Livai Natave, Samu Tawake, Mesake Vocevoce, Meli Derenalagi, Peni Matawalu, Michael Naitokani, Junior Ratuva
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@Duluth interesting no Godfrey or Higgins named at all. Plenty of changes, hope it doesn’t bite us.
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@Canes4life said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Duluth interesting no Godfrey or Higgins named at all. Plenty of changes, hope it doesn’t bite us.
Yup not what we thought, fingers crossed
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Love to get some minutes at 10? Seems likely.
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Ben GRANT (Benjamin William GRANT) is a 25-year-old Australian rugby player standing at 2.05 m tall (6 ft 9 in) and weighing in at 118 kg (18 st 8.15 lb; 260.15 lb) , who currently plays for Hurricanes in New Zealand as lock.
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Grant played 8 games for Harbour last year. The pack went ok but I can’t remember anything about him other than he was a beanpole.
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@Bones said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Duluth appears he's not so beanpole anymore!
definitely beanpole 2.05cm usually a lock that tall weigh well over 120kg
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@Canes4life said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Duluth interesting no Godfrey or Higgins named at all. Plenty of changes, hope it doesn’t bite us.
Godfrey isn't it seems seen as the backup FB to Love. Moorby seems to be.
Higgins seems to be on the outer a bit now. Also surprised to not see PRS in the 23. Iose might not be available this week
Rayasi gets another start, He looks ordinary now
Im keen to see how Lauaki goes. And Grant
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@Winger not too sure if it means they (Godfrey and Higgins) are on the outer as such. Higgins was very good when Barrett was on suspension so they will have a plan for both players I'm sure. Both players may have picked up niggles last week, we don't fully know so I guess no point speculating. They've both proven they can play well at this level, I'm sure we will see them again, potentially against the Tahs when they return to Welly. By then the likes of Barrett, Moorby etc will probably be rested.
Will be interesting to see how Grant goes, he looks to be a big lad so if they can get him involved in a few games this year, it will give us even more depth next year (pending who we sign). Lauaki is another player that looks to have a big future, he's pretty much the player we thought Alex Fidow might be. Instead Lauaki can actually scrum but has that devastating ball running ability aswell.
Good to see Sullivan back in the frame, hopefully he can have an injury free run for a while.
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@Winger said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
Ben GRANT (Benjamin William GRANT) is a 25-year-old Australian rugby player standing at 2.05 m tall (6 ft 9 in) and weighing in at 118 kg (18 st 8.15 lb; 260.15 lb) , who currently plays for Hurricanes in New Zealand as lock.
Immediate dislike.
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@Duluth said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
Grant played 8 games for Harbour last year. The pack went ok but I can’t remember anything about him other than he was a beanpole.
He played in the MLR aswell for the same team as Ma'a Nonu and Richard Judd.
Some highlights of the big man, he looks to have gained a couple kegs in the last year. Kind of looks like a taller and slimmer version of Jeremy Thrush.
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@Canes4life reminds me a heck of a lot of Chris Jack. Got some acceleration for a lanky fucker.
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Siale Lauaki for a 20 year old is a big lad. At 125kg and 1.94m, he's taller and will most likely be heavier than Lomax in the next year or so. Hopefully he can learn off Lomax in the next four or five seasons and can take over once he moves on.
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@Bones haha he looks extra lanky in those picks VS the pre-season games playing for the Canes. Could be a solid lock if he can put 5-10 more kg on that frame of his.
The Canes have definitely flipped the script by signing extra tall locks versus the hobbits from the last few seasons.
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Ben Grant and Siale Lauaki both have to be All Blacks options for the mid-year Tests too, naturally. Don't care if Grant's technically not eligible yet.
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@Canes4life big locks? What a novel idea!
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120kg is still 120kg. Putting on more weight may not be beneficial if he doesn't have the engine for it.
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@Mr-Fish said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
Ben Grant and Siale Lauaki both have to be All Blacks options for the mid-year Tests too, naturally. Don't care if Grant's technically not eligible yet.
I'll wait to see how they perform in this game first
But what are the details on Grants eligibility? And if he was good enough maybe Aust is the better option for him. Esp with the Lions getting close
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@foobaNZ said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life big locks? What a novel idea!
Thankfully in the past now. And hopefully Razor can keep Holland in check with any strange ideas he might have
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Thought we might have put Higgins and Punivai in the midfield. I have a bit of doing about this game.
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Since the start of the 2023 season the Drua have played nine times in Fiji. They've won 8 of those matches
They lost in April last year against the Blues. In the other matches they have beaten: Crusaders, Rebels, Hurricanes, Pasifika, Reds, Crusaders, Waratahs, Force
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@Duluth said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
Since the start of the 2023 season the Drua have played nine times in Fiji. They've won 8 of those matches
They lost in April last year against the Blues. In the other matches they have beaten: Crusaders, Rebels, Hurricanes, Pasifika, Reds, Crusaders, Waratahs, Force
We shouldn't take this game lightly then. Put the best team on the park and get the points
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The forecast for tonight's game in Suva is for rain so not sure who that will benefit. I'd like to think it will benefit the Canes with the way our tight five have been performing but with the changes I'm a little unsure. We also lose some of that tactical kicking advantage with Moorby at fullback instead of Love but hopefully we can atleast bank 4 points to put a bit of a buffer on the chasing pack.
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How many Drua home games have been played under lights? It would only be games in Suva.
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@Bovidae said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
How many Drua home games have been played under lights? It would only be games in Suva.
There's been 4 games in Suva
I had a quick look at the highlights and it seems two of them finished with the lights on
(started in daylight though)April 2022 vs Highlanders. Drua lost 24-27
June 2023 vs Reds. Drua won 41-17 -
The Reds game is the one I had remembered. A quick search says both of these games started at 4:35 pm.
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@Canes4life said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
The forecast for tonight's game in Suva is for rain so not sure who that will benefit.
The Drua's handling in the appalling conditions last time wasn't shabby. Major point of difference IMO.
If they can play like that again and get some early points, it could be trouble.
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Harry Godfrey and Riley Higgins are playing for Petone in Wellington's club comp this weekend. Godfrey playing at 10 and Riley playing at 12. Punivai is on the bench for Petone aswell.
Other Hurricanes playing club rugby in Welly are Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wainuiomata) and Reon Paul (Norths)
Interesting to note that 3/4 of the Canes players playing club rugby this week in Welly are playing at 12.
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Lauaki is a big prospect but I don't see him leapfrog Tosi very soon as the latter has been outstanding so far.
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@Bones said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
@mikey07 said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
I have a bit of doing about this game.
I'm stumped
If there ever was a reason to proof read there it is.
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