TRC squad
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<p><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Loni Uhila has already turned down the All Blacks.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>See 1:27 mark on this video.</span></p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href=''></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>He could change his mind, but he seemed pretty serious there.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="600365" data-time="1469506792">
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<p><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Loni Uhila has already turned down the All Blacks.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>See 1:27 mark on this video.</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href=''></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>He could change his mind, but he seemed pretty serious there.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Actually, when I looked at his profile I wondered whether he might declare for Tonga.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Being an AB would open a lot of doors, though - including the bank manager's.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="600352" data-time="1469504249">
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<p>I was surprised Hames isn't that big compared to the other Chiefs props. Obviously his forte is scrummaging as he hasn't offered too much around the field as a ball-carrier.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>He really hasn't done much with the ball in hand (4 carries and 3 metres according to NZ herald stats) but I'd still bring him in - he's not as good as Moody, but he's strong enough at set piece to deserve a chance, and pretty good around the field on defense (50 tackles in 328 minutes at 89%).</p> -
<p>good on him...I wonder if Tamanivalu should have held out too as there is a chance he might not get another shot and is no longer eligible for Fiji.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="600369" data-time="1469507236">
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<p>good on him...I wonder if Tamanivalu should have held out too as there is a chance he might not get another shot and is no longer eligible for Fiji.</p>
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<p>I'm not sure that video is completely convincing evidence.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He's talking on a plastic telephone to James McOnie! :)</p> -
<p>I couldn't watch the video, so my evidence was Dice's post!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Stand by my point on Seta though and Mr T if he commits to Tonga.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="600372" data-time="1469508622">
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<p>I couldn't watch the video, so my evidence was Dice's post!</p>
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<p>Stand by my point on Seta though and Mr T if he commits to Tonga.</p>
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<p>Yep - I'm very happy if these guys declare for their country of origin. But, that adds Uhila to the worryingly long list of ineligible tightheads playing in NZ.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>To answer my own question - at present Hansen could go knocking at the door of Josh Hohneck, but he's signed for Gloucester and is England qualified through his mother, so I'm doubtful if he'd take up a one-off. After that, you're down to the likes of Chris Eves and Siale Tokolahi.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hence my interest in Uhila.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="600373" data-time="1469509542">
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<p>Yep - I'm very happy if these guys declare for their country of origin. <strong>But, that adds Uhila to the worryingly long list of ineligible tightheads playing in NZ.</strong></p>
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<p>Loni is a LH.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="600375" data-time="1469509974">
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<p>Loni is a LH.</p>
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<p>Christ - I think he is too. I thought he replaced Eves on the tighthead.</p>
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<p>Well, we're completely fucked then and will have to call up Ben May! :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nairobi" data-cid="600378" data-time="1469511954">
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<p>how come no one's talking about Reggio Goodes.<br>
I really need to unlock the secret to the hurricanes scrum performance.</p>
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<p>Scroll back and read one of my previous posts ...</p> -
<p>The Chiefs scrum has improved one week or two before the inclusion of Hames. Graham and Yamashita suddenly fared far better. Was it because Nathan Harris was introduced at hooker ? Or the backrows pushing harder instead of just putting down an arm on the side of the scrum ?</p>
<p>However, Hames did very well against the strongest South African THP (Koch) and this is a very positive sign.</p>
<p>To answer to Chris B., if Franks broke his arm, the obvious replacement would be Charlie Faumuina with Ofa T on the bench.</p>
<p>Atu Moli is one to watch for the future. He is still very young but his improvement since the Mitre 10 Cup where he was demolished in the scrums has been immense.</p>
<p>JTA also improved his scrummaging this year. Unfortunately for him and the Canes, his injury came at the worst moment.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="600422" data-time="1469520125">
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<p>The Chiefs scrum has improved one week or two before the inclusion of Hames. Graham and Yamashita suddenly fared far better. Was it because Nathan Harris was introduced at hooker ? Or the backrows pushing harder instead of just putting down an arm on the side of the scrum ?</p>
<p>However, Hames did very well against the strongest South African THP (Koch) and this is a very positive sign.</p>
<p>To answer to Chris B., if Franks broke his arm, the obvious replacement would be Charlie Faumuina with Ofa T on the bench.</p>
<p>Atu Moli is one to watch for the future. He is still very young but his improvement since the Mitre 10 Cup where he was demolished in the scrums has been immense.</p>
<p>JTA also improved his scrummaging this year. Unfortunately for him and the Canes, his injury came at the worst moment.</p>
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<p>JTA <strong>has</strong> also improved his scrummaging this year.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="600422" data-time="1469520125">
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<p>The Chiefs scrum has improved one week or two before the inclusion of Hames. Graham and Yamashita suddenly fared far better. Was it because Nathan Harris was introduced at hooker ? Or the backrows pushing harder instead of just putting down an arm on the side of the scrum ?</p>
<p>However, Hames did very well against the strongest South African THP (Koch) and this is a very positive sign.</p>
<p>To answer to Chris B., if Franks broke his arm, the obvious replacement would be Charlie Faumuina with Ofa T on the bench.</p>
<p>Atu Moli is one to watch for the future. He is still very young but his improvement since the Mitre 10 Cup where he was demolished in the scrums has been immense.</p>
<p>JTA also improved his scrummaging this year. Unfortunately for him and the Canes, his injury came at the worst moment.</p>
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<p> i think the scrum improved when bird returned from injury and partnered lurch </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="600422" data-time="1469520125">
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<p> </p>
<p>To answer to Chris B., if Franks broke his arm, the obvious replacement would be Charlie Faumuina with Ofa T on the bench.</p>
<p> </p>
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<p>That's not really the question, though. There needs to be a third player in the squad who can play tighthead. At the moment I can only see a handful of guys who struggle at Super level.</p>
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<p>I hope someone's making sure that Owen's not carelessly leaving the soap lying on the shower floor! :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="600571" data-time="1469583763">
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<p>That's not really the question, though. There needs to be a third player in the squad who can play tighthead. At the moment I can only see a handful of guys who struggle at Super level.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I hope someone's making sure that Owen's not carelessly leaving the soap lying on the shower floor! :)</p>
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<p>I'm sure there are a few cantabs who will pick it up for him...</p> -
<p><strong>Veteran playmaker Matt Giteau will join the Wallabies in camp next week, after Toulon agreed to release him for the Rugby Championship.</strong></p>
<p>The development comes after speculation that Giteau would be staying with his French club, with owner Mourad Boudjellal threatening to withhold player salaries if the star received a Test call-up.</p>
<p>Under World Rugby regulation 9, international clubs can’t withdraw player salaries, but Boudjellal has a long history of strong arming his players into staying at their club.</p>
<p>Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver expressed his confidence on Thursday that an agreement would be reached without needing World Rugby intervention.</p>
<p>Wallabies winger and Toulon team-mate Drew Mitchell said there was always going to be complications with negotiations, given the pair signed before last year’s eligibility changes.</p>
<p>“Because Matt and I went over there when it wasn’t possible, we agreed in our contract that we wouldn’t’ play international footy – our owner was under the understanding that we’d be available through reg 9 windows,†he told the Australian Rugby Union’s official website.</p>
<p>“I can definitely empathise with Toulon and understand their concerns but if there’s an opportunity that’s the pinnacle that’s what we want to do.â€</p>
<p>Mitchell said the only way to avoid tension between clubs and national unions was everyone being transparent and working to find some sort of middle ground.</p>
<p>“For Matt and I and guys going over there now, it’s just about being completely open with everyone, which we have been,†he added.</p>
<p>“It all changed after we signed our contract and each time, these things come up it’s differing things whether it’s salary, time we’re allowed away, insurance if we get injured playing Tests.</p>
<p>“There’s so many different aspects that make it a pretty complex massage our way through it – not everyone’s going to be entirely happy but we can accept what we come to.â€</p>
<p>The announcement has come as Wallabies coach Michael Cheika named his 36-man Wallabies training squad, to convene in Sydney on Monday, ahead of the August 20 Bledisloe Cup fixture.</p>
<p>Cheika also revealed the veteran back-row Wycliff Palu’s Wallabies days are done, announcing his international retirement on Friday.</p>
<p>None of the Brumbies players have joined camp, finishing their Super Rugby campaign just last week in a quarter-final loss to the Highlanders.</p>
<p>With Giteau returning, Christian Lealifano has not been included in that initial training squad.</p>
<p>Flanker Liam Gill is another notable absentee, with the Reds flanker now potentially free to head overseas to join Toulon’s pre-season, while Greg Holmes’s Wallabies days look over, with the Reds veteran released to join Exeter in the Premiership.</p>
<p>Waratahs prop Tom Robertson has been rewarded for his Super Rugby form with inclusion in the 36-man training squad, while June series bolter Reece Hodge has also been given another national shot.</p>
<p>Lopeti Timani comes into the fold in search of his first cap, with Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Will Skelton and Adam Coleman making up the lock stocks.</p>
<p>Brumbies lock Rory Arnold has been ruled out of the squad after an elbow injury suffered a fortnight ago, along with injured winger Joe Tomane, while his club second row partner, Sam Carter has been left out.</p>
<p>With Will Genia back in camp, young scrum-half Joe Powell has missed out on selection.</p>
<p>Hulking winger Taqele Naiyaravoro is already fulfilling commitments with his Japanese club, but Cheika is hopeful of him returning for part of the Rugby Championship.</p>
<p>The squad will be trimmed in the coming weeks, with the first Bledisloe on August 20 in Sydney.</p>
<p><strong>Wallabies 36-man training squad:</strong><br>
Allan Alaalatoa, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Adam Coleman, Quade Cooper, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Nick Frisby, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, James Hanson, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Michael Hooper, Rob Horne, Sekope Kepu, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Drew Mitchell, Luke Morahan, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Toby Smith, Lopeti Timani, Matt Toomua</p>
