Canes vs Sharks

Higgins

I didn't either but then again OBU do have a couple of guys on their books that have played at a fairly high level at No 8 (NZ Under 20s?) recently so maybe he is rated below them in terms of selection for that particular club.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="578722" data-time="1462935653">
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We may finally catch a glimpse of a rare Hurricane breed in Renton and Cridge who haven't been seen since signing for the Canes at the start of 2014. Renton has been playing 7 for OBU in Wellington club rugby, I didn't realize he was an open-side.
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Renton didn't make the NZ team for the Oceania Cup or for the JWC so I assumed he was injured again. Has he actually been stringing a few games together?

Canes4life

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.clubrugby.co.nz/wellington/games-results.php?competition=1&season=12&round=9 '>http://www.clubrugby.co.nz/wellington/games-results.php?competition=1&season=12&round=9 </a>

Higgins

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="578726" data-time="1462935987">
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Renton didn't make the NZ team for the Oceania Cup or for the JWC so I assumed he was injured again. Has he actually been stringing a few games together?
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There is no mention of him not being considered because of injury in the article announcing the team on the NZRFU website.
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/News/29146/nz-squad-named-for-world-rugby-under-20-championship'>http://www.allblacks.com/News/29146/nz-squad-named-for-world-rugby-under-20-championship</a>
Maybe he is not rated by the selectors of those teams?

Canes4life

I think he has only played 2 games of Club Rugby since returning from injury so probably just needs a bit of time to return to full fitness.
 
Id say the selectors have not seen enough of him to take a gamble on him for the Jnr RWC.

Higgins

They did not see him play at all the season he was awarded his first Hurricanes contract as he was missed the entire season for his school team through injury. That did not count against him them and this time he has managed to play some games at club level for them to gauge his ability against men, something that cannot be said for Alex Fidow who has not yet taken the field for the Oriental-Rongotai premier team.

Canes4life

It will be interesting to see how good he actually is then. He must have quite a high skill set.
Fidow came off the bench in round 5. I only know that as that game was televised on Grass Roots Rugby.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="578730" data-time="1462936329">
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There is no mention of him not being considered because of injury in the article announcing the team on the NZRFU website.
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/News/29146/nz-squad-named-for-world-rugby-under-20-championship'>http://www.allblacks.com/News/29146/nz-squad-named-for-world-rugby-under-20-championship</a>
Maybe he is not rated by the selectors of those teams?
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There is no mention of anyone being injured, though and I'm pretty sure someone must be (Peter Umaga-Jenson, for example).

Canes4life

PUJ has to be injured, plus he went off injured in that first game against Aus. Surely he was good enough to make the RWC Squad.
 
Emerson though had a blinder and didn't make it so maybe they just didn't feel like Peter was playing well enough to warrant selection. Everyone that has seen him play knows full well what he is capable of. 
 
In regards to Renton it was mentioned in the initial Oceania squad that he was injured so maybe they just don't think that he has had enough time in the saddle to perform by the time RWC comes around.

Stargazer

From Hawke's Bay Today: 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Lowe and loosie Marino Mikaele-Tu'u were the only Hawke's Bay players out of the five who travelled with the Baby Blacks team which won the recent Oceania Championship in Australia to get the nod for Manchester. 
 
Magpies head coach Craig Philpott, who is an assistant coach of the national team, said the other three, Emerson and frontrowers Mason Kean and Pouri Rakete-Stones, along with Magpies loosie Hugh Renton, who recently returned to club play in the capital, are among 10 players in a wider training group who are on standby in case of injuries. 

"Mason [Emerson] went very close with some strong performances and put his best foot forward. But he was up against two guys who are already proven at the next level," Philpott said in reference to Chiefs player Shaun Stevenson and Blues player Jordan Trainor. 

Kean was hindered by an injury across the Ta$man and Rakete-Stones will be eligible for the Baby Blacks next year.
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 <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11637287'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11637287</a>

Higgins

Does holding a HBRFU contract make you a Magpie? I would not classify him as one until he has actually taken part in an official first class fixture played by the first xv.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="578793" data-time="1462947070">
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Does holding a HBRFU contract make you a Magpie? I would not classify him as one until he has actually taken part in an official first class fixture played by the first xv.
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No, it doesn't, but Renton was named in the Magpies squad in August last year. That officially made him a Magpie, but yeah, I do agree with what you're saying. I even find it difficult to see Cridge as a Magpie, because he only played a few minutes in one game in 2014 before he ended up in the sinbin and was never seen again.

taniwharugby

TV1 in thier headlines and one I heard on the radio are reporting 5 have been dropped, but nothing online says this...

Canes4life

Hawkes Bay will have a bloody talented squad if they can get all players on the field fit and firing. Im not sure if you Magpies supporters know but you were able to nab 3 promising players out of St Pats Town in Welington. 
Article on them also came out today. <a class="bbc_url" href="http://m.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11637282">http://m.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11637282</a> 
The Mags will have three promising no8s at their disposale. Mikaele Tu'u, Renton and Brighouse.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="578816" data-time="1462951432">
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Hawkes Bay will have a bloody talented squad if they can get all players on the field fit and firing. Im not sure if you Magpies supporters know but you were able to nab 3 promising players out of St Pats Town in Welington. 
Article on them also came out today. <a class="bbc_url" href="http://m.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11637282">http://m.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11637282</a> 
The Mags will have three promising no8s at their disposale. Mikaele Tu'u, Renton and Brighouse.
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Yes, we know this for a while (<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/college-sport/73839362/St-Pats-Town-Premier-1-winning-trio-sign-with-Hawkes-Bay-Rugby-Union'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/college-sport/73839362/St-Pats-Town-Premier-1-winning-trio-sign-with-Hawkes-Bay-Rugby-Union</a>). I doubt Hannon Brighouse (loose forward), Jack Nelson-Murray (flanker) and Zac Donaldson (halfback) will make the Magpies though; they might first be tested in the development squad (HB Saracens).

Higgins

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="578816" data-time="1462951432"></blockquote>
The Mags will have three promising no8s at their disposale. Mikaele Tu'u, Renton and Brighouse.
 
 
 
Not to mention Trent Boswell-Wakefield and Joe Penitito.

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="578853" data-time="1462968213">
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The Mags will have three promising no8s at their disposale. Mikaele Tu'u, Renton and Brighouse.
 
 
 
Not to mention Trent Boswell-Wakefield and Joe Penitito.
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I don't know where Wellington's head is at by letting all these guys go. Henry Stowers (Under 20s 2015) and Teariki Ben Nicholas have also been dejected from the Capital recently. Adam Hill has also gone from last year. This means that Blackwell, Shields, Savea and Fifita are our only loose forwards with Savea likely to be included in the All Blacks.
 
Do you know anyone coming through the system Higgins?

Higgins

There are a number or good players plying their trade in club rugby but whether they are capabale of making it at Mitre10 cup level remains to be seen. Luke Tauâ€™alupe (Ories), Greg Foe (Poneke), Mateaki Kafatolu (Petone â€“ but seems to have injury problems) have looked the best of the No 8s I have seen so far this season. Matt Peni (MSP) is also making a comeback from some major injury that kept him out last season but needs to trim a bit of weight before becoming a serious contender. 
 
I keep hearing good things about Mitchell Markov (Upper Hutt) at openside but have not seen him play this season, could be a good replacement for Pau Halafihi who seems to have disappeared over to Aussie (he had some sort of major shoulder injury the last time I was talking to him). Seem to recall Markov being a bit on the short side when I saw him last (about three seasons ago).
 
On the blindside I have been quite impressed by the Hutt Old Boys guy, Lui Okeamoa-Luamanu, but he will need to lift his work rate a bit. Kane Leaupepe (Ories) has been going good at lock in the two games I have seen him but he has also played blindside as well. Both these guys are big physical specimens.
 
None of these are â€œschoolboy wondersâ€ coming through the system so I guess they will all miss out to some guy straight out of school yet to prove himself against open grade players. I will see what I can find out about from "those in the know" about these boy wonders over a few beers next Saturday night (will probably be at Poneke v Wellington).
 
You must remember there are only a certain number of players required for each position and if you have six or seven good guys you sadly cannot fit them all into your squad hence the Wellington fish heads must have something up their sleeves if they are letting those players you named depart.

Higgins

Early indications are that A Savea, J Savea, Vito, Jane, and Chris Eves have missed selection for the game against the Reds. More news to come shortly.

KiwiMurph

That is some next level dumb stuff from Ardie especially. Quits 7s to push for an AB spot in a few weeks - is in a very tight race with Matt Todd and then goes and breaks curfew.....

The Silver Fern

Canes vs Sharks