Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes
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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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@Canes4life looking at the names in the other team I can only think they're playing OBU?
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@Bones yup, the Billy Goats.
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Rayasi has been busy
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Who held that?
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Impressive desire in defence by Drua
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Moorby off early
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Sorry Morgan off early
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Lovely try by Proctor
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@Canes4life said in Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes:
Sorry Morgan off early
And that leads to Love looking sharp at 10.
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Nice kick, fortuitous bounce. Easy try to Proctor.
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Drua left wing should have done better. Nice use of space by Canes
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Surprisingly the kick came from Rayasi. Unusual for him to put in the effort and not screw it up.
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Masi Drua 13 is so fun to watch
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Yuuuuuck canes
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Over committing at the ruck
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