Wellington v Bay of Plenty - Mitre 10 Cup Championship Final

[Stargazer]

Wellington Lions

15 Trent Renata (Oriental-Rongotai)
14 Julian Savea (Oriental-Rongotai)
13 Wes Goosen (Old Boys University)
12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Wainuiomata)
11 Ben Lam (Tawa)
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop (Northern United)
9 Sheridan Rangihuna (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
8 Brad Shields (Petone) (c)
7 Mateaki Kafatolu (Petone)
6 James Blackwell (Petone)
5 Will Mangos (Old Boys University)
4 Sam Lousi (Marist St Pats)
3 Alex Fidow (Oriental-Rongotai)
2 Leni Apisai (Northern United)
1 Tolu Fahamokioa (Tawa)

Reserves:
16 Sitiveni Paongo (Tawa), 17 Vince Sakaria (Marist St Pats), 18 Joe Apikotoa (Hutt Old Boys Marist), 19 Galu Taufale (Poneke), 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi (Loan), 21 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Tawa), 22 Regan Verney (Old Boys University), 23 Malo Tuitama (Oriental-Rongotai).

http://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/news/apisai-makes-timely-return-for-final/

[Stargazer]

Bay of Plenty Steamers

1 Aidan Ross (22)
2 Liam Polwart (12)
3 Jeff Thwaites (19)
4 Keepa Mewett (33) – Captain
5 Tom Franklin (10)
6 Mitchell Karpik (4)
7 Hugh Blake (18)
8 Tyler Ardron (5)
9 Luke Campbell (15)
10 Mike Delany (70) – Vice Captain
11 Joe Webber (10)
12 Terrence Hepetema (17)
13 Lalakai Foketi (27)
14 Monty Ioane (21)
15 Chase Tiatia (24)

Reserves:
16 James O’Reilly (16)
17 Jordan Lay (7)
18 James Lay (8)
19 Troy Callander (21)
20 Jesse Parete (18)
21 Te Aihe Toma (34)
22 Matthew Garland (2)
23 Elijah Nicholas (16)

() Denotes number of games

Unavailable for selection due to injury:
Richard Judd, Culum Retallick, Solomona Sakalia, Liam Steel and Isaac Te Aute

http://www.boprugby.co.nz/news--information/bay-of-plenty-steamers-named-to-face-wellington/

[Rugger Quizzes]

Can't wait for this one. It was an embarrassment we were in the 2nd tier and hopefully this is the year we go back up.

No Upper Hutt players is a downer however!

[ACT Crusader]

@rugger-quizzes said in Wellington v Bay of Plenty - Mitre 10 Cup Championship Final:

Can't wait for this one. It was an embarrassment we were in the 2nd tier and hopefully this is the year we go back up.

No Upper Hutt players is a downer however!

LETS GO BOOOOOPPPPPPPP

[Donsteppa]

Kind of feels like when the Black Caps made the CWC final. It's a rare occasion, the result looks potentially ominous, but it's bloody good fun in the meantime

[KiwiPie]

I'm looking forward to this game with the excitement of a man who already committed to attending a murder mystery function on the same night. Pinning my hopes on solving the case quickly so I can get to watch the game.

2 things that give me hope - Wellington weakened by AB call-ups and their Div 2 choking reputation ...

[ARHS]

@kiwipie

Damn shame that Judd is injured and Parete on the bench. Those two, alongside Delany have been an awesome axis for BOP, and it has been great watching pinpoint passes for players to run on to with a low centre of gravity on both sides of the field. I also liked the combo of Parete, Blake and Franklin as loosies, with plenty of physicality with and over the ball. BOP will need Delany to give them position, and hope that the attacking skills of the back 3 can be used regularly. They will be up against it!

[Hooroo]

@kiwipie said in Wellington v Bay of Plenty - Mitre 10 Cup Championship Final:

I'm looking forward to this game with the excitement of a man who already committed to attending a murder mystery function on the same night. Pinning my hopes on solving the case quickly so I can get to watch the game.

2 things that give me hope - Wellington weakened by AB call-ups and their Div 2 choking reputation ...

Geeza!! The butler did it! Now move on.

[taniwharugby]

Watching BOP I can only wonder what might have been if we had a 10 like Delaney running things for us!

HIs running game, accurate boot and the way he has steered BOP around the park has been top notch.

I think you guys have the game to win, but you will need to be on it for 80.

[KiwiPie]

@hooroo It is a Hawaiian themed mystery called Lei'd to Rest - not sure there will be a butler.

@ARHS Agree on Parete although he didn't seem himself on Saturday. Campbell is sparky at 9, let's see how he goes for the whole game though. Blake/Karpik gives us good speed.

@taniwharugby Delany, Delany, Delany - he's in his mid-30s, has been around for years, let's get his name right. Just like we always do with Reid ....

[Hooroo]

@kiwipie said in Wellington v Bay of Plenty - Mitre 10 Cup Championship Final:

@hooroo It is a Hawaiian themed mystery called Lei'd to Rest - not sure there will be a butler.

So long as it isn't a Japanese Pilot as the murderer, you should be in for a sweet night!

[taniwharugby]

@kiwipie Ah thought it was a different bloke to the one that got you BOP folk all wound up back in the day for poor spelling...given that Delany chap must be mid-30s, whereas this new Delaney bloke plays like his mid-20s!

[KiwiPie]

This independent Twitter poll appears to be accurate.

[hydro11]

We have had a terrible start. No clue how we didn't get a penalty after that kick though. BoP lying on the wrong side.

[canefan]

Operation bottle in full swing I see... I expect by the time I get home we will be losers again

[canefan]

@hydro11 said in Wellington v Bay of Plenty - Mitre 10 Cup Championship Final:

We have had a terrible start. No clue how we didn't get a penalty after that kick though. BoP lying on the wrong side.

Who's the ref? Not hometown?

[hydro11]

@canefan said in Wellington v Bay of Plenty - Mitre 10 Cup Championship Final:

@hydro11 said in Wellington v Bay of Plenty - Mitre 10 Cup Championship Final:

We have had a terrible start. No clue how we didn't get a penalty after that kick though. BoP lying on the wrong side.

Who's the ref? Not hometown?

Paul Williams

[canefan]

I see we've closed the gap. Tease

[Donsteppa]

Looks similar to last week so far. We’re throwing the kitchen sink at it early like Northland did, but now you’re starting to make half breaks at will.

[Donsteppa]

Joe Webber!!