NPC - news, injuries etc

Chris B.

Mako$ team is apparently announced - sans Zac Guildford.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/82977063/tasman-Mako$-part-ways-with-winger-zac-guildford'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/82977063/tasman-Mako$-part-ways-with-winger-zac-guildford</a>

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="604229" data-time="1470703011">
<div>
Mako$ team is apparently announced - sans Zac Guildford.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/82977063/tasman-Mako$-part-ways-with-winger-zac-guildford'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/82977063/tasman-Mako$-part-ways-with-winger-zac-guildford</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Team naming video: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href=''></a>

Nepia

Hopefully the Magpies can throw him a bone - we need an experienced back.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="604232" data-time="1470703626">
<div>
Team naming video: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href=''></a>
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Yeah - I just watched it.
 
As expected, Quentin MacDonald and Joe Wheeler are gone. Good props and loosies, hooker and lock may be problematic.
 
Backs look pretty good.

Chris B.

The Ta$man Mako$ 2016 squad: Alex Ainley, Marty Banks, Finlay Christie, Shane Christie, Kieron Fonotia, Vernon Fredericks, Shannon Frizell, Ross Geldenhuys, Billy Guyton, Siosiua Halanukonuka, Kane Hames, David Havili, Tom Hill, Mitchell Hunt, Trael Joass, Richard Kingi, Tevita Koloamatangi, Viliami Lolohea, Jeff Lepa, James Lowe, Jesse MacDonald, Andrew Makalio, Alex Nankivell, Tim O'Malley, Tim Perry, Blair Prinsep, Peter Samu, Liam Squire, Quinten Strange, Josh Tafili, Tima Faingaanuku, Jesse Pitman.

Stargazer

2016 CANTERBURY MITRE 10 CUP SQUAD:
 
Atalifo, Lee Roy - Prop
Barrett, Jordie - Second five-eighth 
Barrett, Scott - Lock
Bird, Dominic - Lock
Bridge, George - Outside back
Brown, Jed - Loose forward
Crockett, Wyatt - Prop
Crotty, Ryan - Midfield back
Dalzell, Hamish - Lock
Drummond, Mitchell - Halfback
Dunshea, Mitchell - Lock
Earle, Nathan - Wing
Enari, Ere - Halfback
Finau, Inga - Second five-eighth 
Franks, Owen - Prop
Funnell, Ben - Hooker
Goodhue, Jack - Centre
Harmon, Billy - Loose forward
Hodgman, Alex - Prop
Jager , Oliver - Prop
Keresoma, Milford - Wing
Lienert- Brown, Daniel - Prop
McDuling, David - Lock
McNicholl, Johnny - Outside back
Mo'unga, Richie - First five-eighth
Moody, Joe - Prop
Prinsep, Reed - Loose forward
Read, Kieran - Number 8
Romano, Luke - Lock
Sanders, Tom - Loose forward
Stratton, Jack - Halfback
Suckling, Marshall - Outside back
Taylor, Codie - Hooker
Thompson, Rob - Second five-eighth 
Todd, Matt - Loose forward
Tokolahi, Siate - Prop
Vella, Nathan - Hooker
Volavola, Ben - First five-eighth
Waqanibau, Poasa - Outside back
Whitelock, Luke - Loose forward
Whitelock, Sam - Lock
 Injured â€“ out for season
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://canterburyrugby.co.nz/news/304-2016-canterbury-mitre-10-cup-squad-announced'>http://canterburyrugby.co.nz/news/304-2016-canterbury-mitre-10-cup-squad-announced</a>

Stargazer

Interesting comments about the tackle and breakdown laws that will be trialled this season in this article about the preseason game between Otago and Canterbury: 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
... 
 One thing, though, that came clear from this game was that the new trial laws around the breakdown are turning the game closer to the 13-man game. 
 The great thing about rugby is it is a contest for possession in the whole game. 
 But under the new trial laws, which negate much of the effectiveness of the tackler in the breakdown, teams can hang on to the ball with relative ease, roll down the field and then just wait for the break to come. 
 There were periods in this game where teams just went phase after phase slowly creeping up the field. 
 Teams on defence were regularly committing no-one to the ruck, while the attacking team also only had one or two men guarding the ball as it went to the next phase. 
 ... 
 Brown said the trial laws around the breakdown were going to be interesting. 
 "They are going to lean towards the advantage of the attack a wee bit but youâ€™ve still got to be good enough to get across the attack line, accurate with your ball carries, accurate with your work around the ruck. And on defence youâ€™ve got to show some real patience and back your systems."
</blockquote>
 <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/otago/effect-trial-laws-clear-match'>https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/otago/effect-trial-laws-clear-match</a>

Chris B.

Top team for the Mako$ will probably look something like:
 
Kane Hames
Andrew Makalio
Sia Halanukonuka
Alex Ainley
Jeff Lepa
Pete Samu
Shane Christie
Vern Fredericks/Liam Squire
 
Billy Guyton
Marty Banks
James Lowe
David Havili
Kieron Fonotia
Viliame Lolohea
Mitchell Hunt
 
Reserves: Tim Perry, Jesse MacDonald, Ross Geldenhuys, Shannon Frizzell, Tevita Koloamatangi, Richard Kingi, Trael Joass, Josh Tafili
 
Others: Tom Hill, Blair Princep, Quentin Strange, Finlay Christie, Tim O'Malley, Alex Nankivell, Tima Faingaanuku, Jesse Pitman
 
We've probably got the best prop rotation in the comp. at least in terms of who we'll be able to use - hopefully we'll have Hames and the others will be fit.
 
Makalio is apparently a good Auckland club player coming via Wairarapa Bush. He'll need to be good at hooker, because I've never seen much from Quentin's little bro Jesse to suggest he's going to be the business. 
 
Ainley probably paired with Lepa, who was in the squad last year. Frizzell is a lock/blindside and Strange a lock from the maligned U20s tight five - looks a bit short to me.
 
Hope we get a bit of use out of Squire, otherwise Fredericks has been around the squad for several years and Koloamatangi - well, it's only the Mako$, so he's allowed to play 6, 7 or 8.
 
Halfbacks: Guyton, Kingi is a former Wallaby who also plays wing/fullback, and Christie a signing from ChCh club rugby.
 
Banks and Hunt cover first five - O'Malley is a journeyman from North Otago via BoP. I think Pitman can play there as well - and fullback. He looks a bit of a Robbie Malneek - though I've only briefly seen him playing for the Ta$man sevens team.
 
Crusaders' midfield - Joass and Nankivell both played a few games last year and looked promising without setting the world on fire. Hopefully better for the experience.
 
Lowe and Lolohea should be good on the wings, with Tafili looking a good "robust" player (ex-leaguie) and Faingaanuku an ex-schoolboy star from Nelson College (he and his brother look like Nelson's answer to the Umaga-Jensens - but, probably better). :)
 
Here's Tafili's highlights reel - not sure about his taste in music, but the fends at 3.54 are pretty amusing - "Call that a midfield"? He doesn't seem to like those stripey guys fullstop.

Tim

The ARFU report on the Auckland/Harbour preseason match claimed that Auckland really struggled with the new ruck laws.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="604273" data-time="1470716391">
<div>
2016 CANTERBURY MITRE 10 CUP SQUAD:
 
Atalifo, Lee Roy - Prop
Barrett, Jordie - Second five-eighth 
Barrett, Scott - Lock
Bird, Dominic - Lock
Bridge, George - Outside back
Brown, Jed - Loose forward
<strike>Crockett, Wyatt - Prop</strike>
<strike>Crotty, Ryan - Midfield back</strike>
Dalzell, Hamish - Lock
Drummond, Mitchell - Halfback
<strike>Dunshea, Mitchell - Lock</strike>
Earle, Nathan - Wing
Enari, Ere - Halfback
Finau, Inga - Second five-eighth 
<strike>Franks, Owen - Prop</strike>
Funnell, Ben - Hooker
Goodhue, Jack - Centre
Harmon, Billy - Loose forward
Hodgman, Alex - Prop
Jager , Oliver - Prop
Keresoma, Milford - Wing
Lienert- Brown, Daniel - Prop
McDuling, David - Lock
McNicholl, Johnny - Outside back
Mo'unga, Richie - First five-eighth
<strike>Moody, Joe - Prop</strike>
Prinsep, Reed - Loose forward
<strike>Read, Kieran - Number 8</strike>
<strike>Romano, Luke - Lock</strike>
Sanders, Tom - Loose forward
Stratton, Jack - Halfback
Suckling, Marshall - Outside back
<strike>Taylor, Codie - Hooker</strike>
Thompson, Rob - Second five-eighth 
Todd, Matt - Loose forward
Tokolahi, Siate - Prop
Vella, Nathan - Hooker
Volavola, Ben - First five-eighth
Waqanibau, Poasa - Outside back
Whitelock, Luke - Loose forward
<strike>Whitelock, Sam - Lock</strike>
 Injured â€“ out for season
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://canterburyrugby.co.nz/news/304-2016-canterbury-mitre-10-cup-squad-announced'>http://canterburyrugby.co.nz/news/304-2016-canterbury-mitre-10-cup-squad-announced</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Good squad, but 9 out for AB duties or injury. No full-back with any real experience is a concern, Probably play Volavola there. It will be interesting to see what they do with Jordie. He's a massive talent, but still only 19 and we have Thompson who is a class 2nd 5 at NPC level.
 
Possible XV
 
1. Leinart-Brown
2. Funnell
3. Tokalahi
4. Bird
5. Barrett
6. Sanders
7. Todd
8. Whitelock
9. Drummond
10. Mo'unga
11. McNicholl
12. Thompson
13. Goodhue
14. Keresoma
15. Volavola

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="604653" data-time="1470800244">
<div>
Good squad, but 9 out for AB duties or injury. No full-back with any real experience is a concern, Probably play Volavola there. It will be interesting to see what they do with Jordie. He's a massive talent, but still only 19 and we have Thompson who is a class 2nd 5 at NPC level.
 
Possible XV
 
1. Leinart-Brown
2. Funnell
3. Tokalahi
4. Bird
5. Barrett
6. Sanders
7. Todd
8. Whitelock
9. Drummond
10. Mo'unga
11. McNicholl
12. Thompson
13. Goodhue
14. Keresoma
15. Volavola
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Jordie Barrett played fullback in the club final last weekend, and was bloody good, despite brighton really targeting him with big hits and off the ball play..

Bovidae

Only a few provinces used the new ruck laws in their club competitions. That includes Northland, Bay of Plenty, North Harbour, Taranaki and Ta$man. Players coming back from Super rugby won't be familar with them either.
 
I found it strange watching the Waikato RS games live and the penalty count was high against both teams in those games.

JK

Harbour finished their pre season with a 17 14 win over Hawkes bay to make it 3 from 3 for the warmups. Were up 17 nil at half time before emptying the bench at the break

antipodean

That's all of Harbour's wins for the year then...

taniwharugby

haha, we won all our pre-season games about 5 or 6 years ago, think we won 2 games in the competition proper...ah the joys of being a Northland fan!

JK

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="605025" data-time="1470903886">
That's all of Harbour's wins for the year then...</blockquote> 
I'd pretty much take that haha

Cpt Kumera

bop just beat auckland in auckland 22 to 21, only preseason but good to see

Canes4life

Wellington will be stronger than last year but will be fairly inexperienced at 7 and 10. We all know you need a solid 7, 10 combo to win championships.
 
Id say our strongest XV - All Blacks would be:
1. Reggie Goodes
2. Leni Apisai
3. Chris Baumann (USA Eagles) in for Jeff Toomaga Allen (Broken Arm)
4. Isaia Walker-Leawere
5. Sione Louse (Signed from Waratahs)
6. Vaea Fifita
7. (Not sure here)
8. Brad Shields
9. Tomasi Palu
10. Jackson Garden Bachop
11. Malo Tuitama
12. Wesley Goosen
13. Matt Proctor
14. Jason Woodward
15. Peter Umaga Jensen
 
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua 17. Alex Fidow 18. Joe Apikitoa 19. Christian Lloyd 20. James Blackwell 21. TJ Va'a 22. Shaun Treeby 23. Losi Filipo

Higgins

Wellington Lions Mitre 10 Cup Squad: 
 Forwards: Asafo Aumua*, Leni Apasai, Valentine Meachen*, Alex Fidow, Chris Baumann*, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Joe Apikotoa, Reg Goodes, Vince Sakaria, Christian Lloyd, Hoani Matenga, Kane Leaupepe, Mark Reddish, Sam Lousi*, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Vaea Fifita, Brad Shields (c), Galu Taufale*, Greg Foe, Issac O'Connor*. Backs: Sheridan Rangihuna, Tomasi Palu, TJ Va'a*, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Matt Proctor, Mike Lealavaa, Shaun Treeby, Wesley Goosen, Jason Woodward, Joe Hill, Losi Filipo, Malo Tuitama, Peter Umaga-Jensen. All Blacks: Dane Coles, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Julian Savea. * Uncapped for the Lions.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/news/baumann-and-lousi-add-bulk-to-young-lions/'>http://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/news/baumann-and-lousi-add-bulk-to-young-lions/</a>
 
Seems to be a bit overloaded in the locking position with eight locks named (V Fifita classified as a lock given that was his starting position for the Hurricanes). Christian Lloyd is still hanging in there despite playing about four games of rugby in total over the last three or four seasons, must be close to using all his nine lives up by now. Looks to a bit of a risk in naming a squad without a tried and trusted first five eight (given that Garden-Bachop has been tried in the past and discarded and spent the first half of this club season at fullback until being tried at first five once the lower grade Hardham Cup started and Va'a is another that seems to be almost permanently injured). I do like the looks of Losi Filipo in the limited amount of time I have seen him play but he still has to show me he can do it at a higher level. Umaga-Jensen has the chance to prove all the wraps he has been getting are true (saw him go pretty good in a couple of club games I watched him in).
 
Just a shame my HB side look to be worringly weaker than normal and have to front up against this mob first up before formlines and expected performance levels have been established.

Bovidae

Taranaki beat Waikato 21-12 in a pre-season game in Inglewood today.
 
Waikato 12 (James Tucker, Sevu Reece tries; Jordan Trainor con) Taranaki 21 (Leon Power, Stephen Perofeta, Rhys Marshall tries; Perofeta 3 cons). HT: 7-7.

The Silver Fern

NPC - news, injuries etc