NPC - news, injuries etc

[Tim]

@bovidae Thanks

[Bovidae]

The squad does look a little light in the midfield with ALB and Tupaea in the ABs. I would select Sullivan at 2nd 5, but then there is a lack of options on the wing. Plenty of versatility with lock/loose forwards and midfield/outside backs.

That's why I will be interested to see who the Dev players are, as they would be the cover.

[cliff]

So no valynce te whare

[Bovidae]

@cliff said in NPC - news, injuries etc:

So no valynce te whare

Good spotting. He would offer a point of difference on the wing.

[OleOleOle]

@bovidae No Latrell Smiler Ah Kong, I thought he'd be in the mix having shifted up from HB. I'm assuming Dom Hardman wil provide cover at Hooker. Will be interested to see if they add some midfield cover

[Bovidae]

@oleoleole said in NPC - news, injuries etc:

No Latrell Smiler Ah Kong, oi thought he'd be in the mix having shifted up from HB.

I'm not sure what the deal is there. He was playing fullback for TA, but obviously is a 1st 5. I may be able to speak to someone on Sat to enquire.

I'm assuming Dom Hardman wil provide cover at Hooker.

Or Anton Milnes.

Will be interested to see if they add some midfield cover

Any ideas? Te Whare would be the obvious choice as he was playing centre in club rugby.

[Tim]

I see that Lemalu has turned up in the Manawatu squad. Good value.

[Tim]

https://www.tab.co.nz/sports/competition/15699/rugby-union/new-zealand-npc/new-zealand-npc/matches

[Tim]

[Stargazer]

@tim You/they forgot one

[ARHS]

@bovidae surely pick Te Whare to cover midfield

[KiwiMurph]

@tim Mark "Talea"

[Yeetyaah]

Taukei'aho paying $15 might not be a bad shout. I think he was top scorer for Waikato last year. Providing he isn't in the All Blacks.

[Machpants]

@kiwimurph said in NPC - news, injuries etc:

@tim Mark "Talea"

https://www.mako.nz/tasman-Mako$/mark-talea Ta$man cheque book doesn’t include how to spell correctly!

[Crucial]

@yeetyaah said in NPC - news, injuries etc:

Taukei'aho paying $15 might not be a bad shout. I think he was top scorer for Waikato last year. Providing he isn't in the All Blacks.

I thought the same.

[Tim]

Free entry at Manawatu's game on Friday, so hopefully they get decent weather and a good turnout.

[Stargazer]

I noticed the last couple of weeks that North Harbour calls its NPC team "Heat". Is that a new name? I thought their men's and women's team were called Hibiscus, but apprently that's only their FPC team.

It's confusing, because also the Counties Manukau FPC team is called "Heat".

[Stargazer]

All Blacks released to play NPC this weekend:

Loose forward Hoskins Sotutu will be available for the Counties Manukau Steelers for their opening match against the Manawatu Turbos in Palmerston North on Friday night, lock Tupou Vaa’i is available for Taranaki for their match against Hawke’s Bay in New Plymouth on Saturday; and hooker Asafo Aumua and halfback TJ Perenara are available for the Wellington Lions vs Northland Taniwha clash in Wellington.

Meanwhile, midfielder Braydon Ennor will also return to his Canterbury team this week to prepare for his return to rugby.

The players left the All Blacks camp tonight to assemble with their provincial teams.

Some additional All Blacks squad players may also be released for Bunnings Warehouse NPC matches on Sunday, with a decision to be made following this weekend’s opening Bledisloe Cup Test presented by Steinlager Test.

https://www.allblacks.com/news/several-all-blacks-available-for-opening-round-of-bunnings-warehouse-npc/

[Bovidae]

So the starting loose forward trio is sorted.

Tupaea could do with a game on Sunday.

[Toddy]

Good news for the Lions with Aumua and TJ coming in.