Wellington vs Waikato (SF)

[Bovidae]

No injury returnees apart from McCurran.

1 Ollie Norris (Hautapu)
2 Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia (University)
3 George Dyer (Fraser Tech)
4. Josh Balme (Hamilton Marist)
5 Laghlan McWhannell (Hautapu)
6 Xavier Saifoloi (University)
7 Senita Lauaki (Hautapu)
8 Malachi Wrampling (Hamilton Old Boys)
9 Xavier Roe (Hamilton Old Boys) – Captain
10 Aaron Cruden (Morrinsville Sports)
11 Aki Tuivailala (Hamilton Old Boys)
12 Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Old Boys)
13 Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)
14 Oli Mathis (University)
15 Tepaea Cook-Savage (Fraser Tech)

16 Sean Ralph (Te Awamutu Sports) – Blazer Game (18th Waikato Cap)
17 Mason Tupaea (Hamilton Marist)
18 Sefo Kautai (Hamilton Marist)
19 Tai Cribb (Hamilton Marist)
20 Patrick McCurran (Fraser Tech)
21 Quintony Ngatai (Hautapu)
22 Newton Tudreu (Hamilton Marist)
23 Waisake Salabiau (Hautapu)

Waikato named for Bunnings NPC semi-final clash with the Wellington Lions.

Waikato will travel to the capital this week to face the Wellington Lions in a Bunnings NPC semi-final at Sky Stadium...

[mikey07]

@Duluth Haha I tried to post it first but wouldn’t let me…glad they’ve gone with Harkin JGB must be injured no other way they’d start him.

[Canes4life]

@mikey07 said in Wellington vs Waikato (SF):

@Duluth Haha I tried to post it first but wouldn’t let me…glad they’ve gone with Harkin JGB must be injured no other way they’d start him.

Awesome to see Harkin start. So JGB and Umaga-Jensen also injured. We won't lose much with Proctor at 13.

[foobaNZ]

JGB has to be injured lol, only other explanation. Can't wait to see Harkin but geez be nice if they had played him last few weeks!

PUJ is a loss as he's been big recently. Hopefully Matt can perform like his brother.

[Canes4life]

@foobaNZ said in Wellington vs Waikato (SF):

JGB has to be injured lol, only other explanation. Can't wait to see Harkin but geez be nice if they had played him last few weeks!

PUJ is a loss as he's been big recently. Hopefully Matt can perform like his brother.

So ABs aside we don't have O'Reilly, Sheck, Patafilo, Umaga-Jensen, Ropeti, and Garden-Bachop available. If you include Lakai the Lions definitely drawing on reserves. Thankfully Shields, Kirifi and Proctor have come back otherwise we would have been in trouble.

[Bovidae]

If I listed the strongest Waikato XV (minus ABs) at the start of the NPC I reckon only six are starting in this match.

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae said in Wellington vs Waikato (SF):

If I listed the strongest Waikato XV (minus ABs) at the start of the NPC I reckon only six are starting in this match.

On paper, Wellington look to have a lot more experience to draw from but slightly down on their strongest side as well. Ah well, it's about who turns up at the end of the day. We've seen a lot of funny results this year so anything can happen.

[Mr Fish]

Somewhat glad that the guys who have against all odds managed to do the job for Waikato thus season get another go in the semi-final. Can't see them firing too much of a shot given the injury situation but hopefully not too embarrassing!

[ARHS]

There is some precocious Mooloo talent, especially the 4 young loosies. And the Roe-Cruden combo has been extremely good in controlling play. If the tight 5 play their part it could be close.

[foobaNZ]

Seems us Lions fans are more concerned than we should be based on what you guys are saying about your team.

I don't even I'll ever in my life think a Wellington based team is a favourite for a knock out game. Been burned (most of) my life.

[Mr Fish]

To be fair, the Lions are kings of choking.

But man for man, they're considerably more experienced!

[Canes4life]

@foobaNZ said in Wellington vs Waikato (SF):

Seems us Lions fans are more concerned than we should be based on what you guys are saying about your team.

I don't even I'll ever in my life think a Wellington based team is a favourite for a knock out game. Been burned (most of) my life.

We’ve been favourites plenty of times, we’ve just choked on so many occasions.

Didn’t we make 7 finals or something between 2000-2012 and won nothing. Crazy.

[foobaNZ]

@Canes4life yea - was crazy. Worst of all was that 6-0 or something loss to Canterbury at the Tin. Horrible stuff,

[canefan]

Finals and Shield challenges have generally not been our friends during my Lions rugby viewing lifetime

[Canes4life]

@foobaNZ said in Wellington vs Waikato (SF):

@Canes4life yea - was crazy. Worst of all was that 6-0 or something loss to Canterbury at the Tin. Horrible stuff,

7-6, was at that game. Super guttering.

[mikey07]

@Canes4life Me2 if I recall correctly it was raining all game and I got drenched.

[BerhamporeNinja]

what a cracker of a day in welly! should be a cracker of a game, and I hope the boys are singing "welly whoooo:" afterwards

[mikedogz]

Mooloo Bells banned I hear.

[mikedogz]

[canefan]

@mikedogz said in Wellington vs Waikato (SF):

Mooloo Bells banned I hear.

What the hell? Next thing we know that guy with the chainsaw will be barred as well....