Magpies - 2018 Mitre 10 Cup

[Stargazer]

Stacey Ili and JJ Taulagi have been named in the Manu Samoa squad for their Northern Tour.

http://www.manusamoa.com/news-sru/87-uncatergorised/156-manu-samoa-squad-for-the-northern-hemisphere-tour-2018

[Higgins]

Gosh, that looks to be a side that would not have too many of the Six Nations teams losing much sleep over. I see they have got a fixture list of USA, Georgia and Spain so maybe they picked their team accordingly.

[Stargazer]

WTF?

[Higgins]

Is that for one of the club teams or is it the All Star Team because if it is the latter The Barracuda isn't in that squad, perhaps an indication he will be back for the Bay in 2019.

[Stargazer]

@higgins It's Panasonic Wild Knights (see the logo in the bottom left corner). Buckman plays for Kobe Kobelco Steelers.

This is the Steelers' line-up for today's game:

[Nepia]

@stargazer Yep, WTF! How is he captaining the Maori if he's already in Japan?

[Stargazer]

@nepia I have no idea. It's really weird. What's even weirder is the total lack of info from the HBRU.

[Nepia]

@stargazer said in Magpies - 2018 Mitre 10 Cup:

@nepia I have no idea. It's really weird. What's even weirder is the total lack of info from the HBRU.

Is it?

@Number-10 do you have any inside info?

[Stargazer]

@nepia Uhm, yeah, you're right. They're shit at communication to their supporters.

[Magpie_in_aus]

Just saw that post on the magpies team naming from a fan. That's crazy "injured" they didn't congratulate him on Maori All Blacks unless I missed it. Something most have happened.

[Magpie_in_aus]

Ok so the magpies did congrats him. Also on his FB page he's been tagged by someone in that post....his wife seems to be joking saying "where are you?" He replied with laughing emojis. Potentially not there at all maybe?

Inspector gadget out...

[Number 10]

No, I don't know the answer to that one. It's a surprise to me that he's seems to be named as playing this Saturday for Panasonic instead of for the Magpies ...

You would expect the order of play to be for HB then NZ Maori then Panasonic ....

[Stargazer]

We already knew that JJ Taulagi and Stacey Ili have been called into the Samoa squad for their Northern Tour.
Sam Ulufonua has now also been called to international duties by Tonga. Also former Magpie Tolu Fahamokioa.

https://www.facebook.com/TongaRugbyOfficial/posts/2434943050066152

[Number 10]

Ash Dixon played the first 50 minutes before being subbed off for Panasonic Wild Knights in their 25-6 win over Kobe Steelers.

[Nepia]

@number-10 said in Magpies - 2018 Mitre 10 Cup:

Ash Dixon played the first 50 minutes before being subbed off for Panasonic Wild Knights in their 25-6 win over Kobe Steelers.

I hope he played well and remained injury free.

[Stargazer]

@nepia Yup, and stays injury free until the Māori ABs tour is done and dusted.

[Number 10]

Magpies' Player of the Year awards last night:

Rookie of the Year:
Kianu Kereru-Symes

Best Back:
JJ Taulagi

Best Forward:
Tom Parsons

Player of the Year:
Tom Parsons

Players' Player of the Year
Kianu Kereru-Symes
(3-2-1 basis for each game by the players)

[Stargazer]

Super Rugby signings:

Blues
x

Chiefs
Michael Allardice, Tiaan Falcon, Brodie Retallick, Brad Weber

Hurricanes
Geoff Cridge, Gareth Evans, Jonah Lowe, Ben May
dev contract: Devan Flanders (full contract 2020 - 2021)

Crusaders
Israel Dagg

Highlanders
Richard Buckman, Ash Dixon, Folau Fakatava, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u

Not a bad result, although you could argue that Tom Parsons deserved a spot somewhere, because he had a massive season (I think he was better than Allardice). Happy the Canes offered Cridge a new contract. I assume it will be the last SR season for Dagg and May, probably Dixon and Buckman, too.

I wish development squads were published, because Kianu Kereru-Symes, Lincoln McClutchie and Danny Toala, deserve a development contract. Based on what he's shown last year, Tim Farrell, too. Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe probably has to earn a spot next season; he just didn't have a chance to show anything due to injury.

It will be interesting to see whether a player like Taulagi maybe gets a spot in an Aussie team, or the Sunwolves again.

I'm afraid that Lowe will be wasting his time at the Canes again. Maybe they re-signed him for two seasons last year. I can't imagine that he's happy in Wellington, not getting the game time he deserves. I'm having bad thoughts (wishes) about some Canes backs getting injured ...

[Stargazer]

Some interesting info in this article:

Ozich was equally as thrilled for 19-year-old halfback Folau Fakatava, who has been selected for the Highlanders after just one season of Mitre 10 Cup rugby, and as a deputy to former All Blacks No 9 Brad Weber, after playing for the national title-winning Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV.

"I'm so rapt for Folau. He has decided to chase his dream of playing for the All Blacks despite being pursued by Tonga."

Glad about that! He has the potential; of course, wait and see whether he can fulfil that promise. Still think he should play U20s though, if doesn't get regular game time for the Landers.

Eleven members of this season's Magpies squad will play Super Rugby next year.

Ozich added former All Blacks outside back Israel Dagg and long-serving Magpies utility back Richard Buckman to the Bay's list of Super players for next year as they will play for the Magpies again if their international commitments allow.

Yessss!

Ozich confirmed Maori All Blacks hooker Ash Dixon and prop Ben May will be back with the Magpies next year after again being named in their respective Highlanders and Hurricanes teams.

In addition to the fully contracted players Baby Blacks loosie Devan Flanders has scored an apprenticeship contract with the Hurricanes similar to the one Cridge had in 2014.

nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12152117

[Number 10]

Magpies' crossover matches for 2019:

Home v Ta$man

Home v Wellington

Away v Counties Manukau

Away v Waikato

Means we don't play Auckland, Canterbury, North Harbour.