NPC - news, injuries etc

[Canes4life]

@mikey07 how big are the squads?

Could probably name the squad from here with a few spots to fill.

Props:
Pek Cowan
Xavier Numia
Alex Fidow
Fraser Armstrong
?

Hookers:
Asafo Aumua
Dane Coles
Tyrone Thompson
James O'Reilly

Locks:
Taine Plumtree
Dominic Bird
Naitoa Ah Koui
James Blackwell

Loose Forwards:
Caleb Delany
Du'Plessis Kirifi
Sam Smith
Iona Apineru
Keelan Whitman
Ardie Savea
Josh Southall

Halfbacks:
TJ Perenara
Richard Judd
Connor Collins

First Fives:
Jackson Garden-Bachop
Aiden Morgan
Ruben Love

Midfield:
Billy Proctor
Riley Higgins
Vince Aso
Peter Umaga-Jensen

Outside Backs:
Julian Savea
Connor Garden-Bachop
Wes Goosen
Papasani Patafilo
?

[mikey07]

@canes4life That’s probably about spot on

[Steven Harris]

@canes4life Newlands cowardly punch on Neemia Tialata would have to be right up there as one of the grubbiest acts I have ever seen on a rugby field ..the prick got a 10 week suspension, should have been a year ..

[Canes4life]

@steven-harris biggest grub in the game.

[Canes4life]

Latest Wellington Lions update is that Josh Southall has been included in the Lions. An amazing story behind this player - he was one of hottest rugby prospects in NZ before a serious injury derailed any hopes of making the Hurricanes out of school.

He looks like NZ's version of David Pocock, serious guns on the lad. Hope he goes well.

[Steven Harris]

@canes4life no7..?

[Canes4life]

@steven-harris yeah, I've seen him play a couple times when he was at St Pats Silverstream, absolute gun at the breakdown. His stature and the size he's put on since his injury will make him a weapon. Let's hope he stays injury free.

The only other guy I've seen play at school level that I would compare him to is Anton Segner who's coming through the Crusader's Academy atm.

A pretty good reflection of his character from around the 7.30min mark in the vid below when he was still in school. Glad he's finally made it to pro rugby.

[mikey07]

@canes4life The only problem I have with this is that Sam Smith will get limited game time with Southall.

[Canes4life]

@mikey07 Smith should get plenty of game time and I doubt they would want to rush Southall considering he’s been out for nearly two years.

[mikey07]

@canes4life I’m not Wainui biased or anything 😂

[ARHS]

@bovidae yep. I had picked up on other teams being named. It rankles me.

[Canes4life]

@mikey07 I’ve also got my Petone bias hat on. 😀

[mikey07]

@canes4life Just aswell we weren’t playing each other this week in the final then 😂
FYI Tomasi Alisio is the last outside back your looking for to complete that Lions squad.

[Canes4life]

@mikey07 hahah our teams are well off the pace this year.

Alosio is a surprising one. I wonder if this photoshoot also includes the wider training squad members because Riley Higgins and Peter Lakai (who weren't included in the development squad) haven't popped up yet.

[Tim]

Any word on where the Lay brothers are playing, and if they're fit?

[Cpt Kumera]

@tim jordan for auckland

[Tim]

@cpt-kumera Cheers, I thought Jordan played for BOP last year and James for Auckland?

[Tim]

[Stargazer]

@tim There's that "inside backs" thing again. Mandated by NZR, or do they all have the same NH person making their images? I don't like it at all.

[Tim]

There's a few guys in club rugby that would go better than Mahtiaha Martin. Give Eden a call.