Magpies - 2019 Mitre 10 Cup
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From the article that I posted in the club rugby thread:
Magpies head coach Mark Ozich was pleased to hear Latu was back in the Bay. "There is still space in our squad for a midfielder as well as utility space on the wing. "There is a lot of good young talent chasing those spots but the fact Penikolo has been there and done that puts him in good space." -
About McClutchie not making the NZ U20s:
Kereru-Symes, Flanders and Toala were all members of the national title-winning Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV in 2017. A fourth member of that team, Magpies first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie, missed selection for the Oceania Championship where the Baby Blacks will chase a fifth consecutive title. "A lack of versatility may have cost Lincoln a spot. Craig has gone with one specialist first five-eighth in Waikato's Rivez Reihana and there are a couple of versatile players who can play that role," Ozich said. "I have already spoken to Lincoln and he has taken his feedback on board. He needs to lengthen his exiting kicks, hang his re-start kick offs more and increase his physicality on defence. Other than that he drives a good game."https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12220323
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Some bits and pieces from today's HBT article about the weekend's club rugby:
Most significant:
Magpies first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie, who has been called into the Highlanders squad as injury cover.Trial with Warriors ...
Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports second five-eighth Neria Fomai scored a hat-trick in the first 25 minutes of this Elwood Park encounter. The former Southland Stags midfield back is displaying the benefits of his summer trials with the Warriors NRL club in Auckland and will be a serious contender for a Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad berth this season.Has he played at first-five eight before? His versatility may prove to be valuable in the future:
... Hurricanes squad member Danny Toala, who had stints at first five-eighth and fullback, also impressed in the winning backline ... -
If - as discussed in the general Mitre 10 Cup thread - Vince Aso signs with the Magpies, maybe we'll finally see Lowe at centre? I wouldn't be against that change, although Jonah has been good for us on the wing. With Sam McNicoll also set to return, we could have an awesome backline:
9 Weber/Fakatava, 10 McClutchie, 11 Emerson, 12 Toala, 13 Lowe, 14 Aso, 15 McNicoll
If Walker-Leawere comes to the Bay, I wonder whether that means one of the other locks (Allardice, Cridge, Parsons) is moving on, or whether they're going to use Cridge at 6 again. But with both Mikaele-Tu'u and Flanders in the squad (and both should start), that doesn't really make sense to me. If Allardice stays, Parsons may be the victim of this signing.
Possible starting forwards:
1 Farrell/Long, 2 Dixon/Kereru-Symes, 3 May/Rakete-Stones/Tavita-Metcalfe, 4 & 5: Allardice/Cridge/Walker-Leawere, 6 Flanders, 7 Evans, 8 Mikaele-Tu'u.
(I think Mikaele-Tu'u is much better at 8 than at 6)
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If - as discussed in the general Mitre 10 Cup thread - Vince Aso signs with the Magpies, maybe we'll finally see Lowe at centre? I wouldn't be against that change, although Jonah has been good for us on the wing. With Sam McNicoll also set to return, we could have an awesome backline:
9 Weber/Fakatava, 10 McClutchie, 11 Emerson, 12 Toala, 13 Lowe, 14 Aso, 15 McNicoll
If Walker-Leawere comes to the Bay, I wonder whether that means one of the other locks (Allardice, Cridge, Parsons) is moving on, or whether they're going to use Cridge at 6 again. But with both Mikaele-Tu'u and Flanders in the squad (and both should start), that doesn't really make sense to me. If Allardice stays, Parsons may be the victim of this signing.
Possible starting forwards:
1 Farrell/Long, 2 Dixon/Kereru-Symes, 3 May/Rakete-Stones/Tavita-Metcalfe, 4 & 5: Allardice/Cridge/Walker-Leawere, 6 Flanders, 7 Evans, 8 Mikaele-Tu'u.
(I think Mikaele-Tu'u is much better at 8 than at 6)
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@Stargazer I think I'd prefer Buckley to Emerson. Also, I wonder if Aso wants to play centre?
Why do we have so many 8s and no 7s?
@Nepia Yeah, Emerson maybe faster than Buckley, but Buckley is bigger and stronger.
Aso may want to play centre, yes. I just think he's better on the wing.
@Higgins Evans has played plenty of times in the 7 jersey, but he prefers 8 himself (I think that's his best spot, too).
I think Josh Kaifa is still playing in the Bay? So I assume he'll be back.
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From HBRU Facebook page: Magpies 2019 Wider Training Squad
HB Magpies coaches Mark Ozich and Josh Syms have named the Magpies Wider Training Squad for 2019. This group is an initial squad and the players named have an opportunity to learn and develop, with a view to taking these skills back to their clubs and in turn, into the Hawke’s Bay representative season later in the year. Magpies Head Coach Mark Ozich has emphasized that whist they have named a squad, the door is certainly not closed to other players in club rugby. “We have a number of players involved with super rugby, injured or away with the NZ under 20’s, so competition for spots is healthy. We will however continue to be out watching club games and monitoring the performance of not only the players named in this WTG, but all club players each weekend.” A feature of this year squad is the naming of a number of Development Players. The Magpies and Academy coaching staff are really excited about the youth of this group coming through and what the future looks like for the Magpies. The 2019 WTG has games against Ta$man on 15 May and then Wairarapa Bush on 3 June.
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Yes, that squad is in this morning's Hawke's Bay Today.
Hokianga, Mataira, Gimblett, Faleiva, Sanft, Teddy, and Fabish are all designated as Development Players.
Faleiva played for the Under 19's last year.
Kaifa and Hintz are both named but don't seem to have played for their clubs yet.
Edit: One name missing is Joe Apikitoa who has apparently returned to Wellington.
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Then name of Joe Apikatoa was mentioned in discussions last Saturday night in the HOBM clubbrooms on the Hutt Rec but don't think I got round to asking what he is doing this season. He certainly has not featured in the combined Hutt Old Boys-Marist club's premier team anyway.
In addition can anyone fill us in on the logic behind the selection of Josh Gimblett who has only appeared twice (and only on the bench at that) for the combined College Old Boys-University premier team. There must be something behind that as it would be hard to justify selecting a player unable to command a starting spot in a premier club team as a possible Mitre10 Cup player. -
Then name of Joe Apikatoa was mentioned in discussions last Saturday night in the HOBM clubbrooms on the Hutt Rec but don't think I got round to asking what he is doing this season. He certainly has not featured in the combined Hutt Old Boys-Marist club's premier team anyway.
In addition can anyone fill us in on the logic behind the selection of Josh Gimblett who has only appeared twice (and only on the bench at that) for the combined College Old Boys-University premier team. There must be something behind that as it would be hard to justify selecting a player unable to command a starting spot in a premier club team as a possible Mitre10 Cup player.@Higgins Gimblett is a development player and part of the HB academy. So he probably travels up and down from Wellington to the Bay and back. Not sure whether he is "unable to command a starting spot in a premier club team". Has anyone checked whether he also has a team in the Bay (like Tremain)?
Having seen Apikotoa's posts on instagram, he hasn't been anywhere near the Bay.
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Well he has not started any games according to the published team lists which sort of vindicates my statement.
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There is mention a a HB (Saracens?) match against someone on Wednesday in the last paragraph of the article about p[ouri Rakete-Stones. Is this the one that is supposed to be against Ta$man somewhere down here in Wellington? If so hopefully there will be a bit of publicity about venue and kick off times as I have got my Magpies jersey out of the draw and ready to go in with tomorrows laundry in readiness.
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There is mention a a HB (Saracens?) match against someone on Wednesday in the last paragraph of the article about p[ouri Rakete-Stones. Is this the one that is supposed to be against Ta$man somewhere down here in Wellington? If so hopefully there will be a bit of publicity about venue and kick off times as I have got my Magpies jersey out of the draw and ready to go in with tomorrows laundry in readiness.
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There is mention a a HB (Saracens?) match against someone on Wednesday in the last paragraph of the article about p[ouri Rakete-Stones. Is this the one that is supposed to be against Ta$man somewhere down here in Wellington? If so hopefully there will be a bit of publicity about venue and kick off times as I have got my Magpies jersey out of the draw and ready to go in with tomorrows laundry in readiness.
@Higgins We would be most receptive to an on-the-spot, eye-witness report on the encounter. Eye-patch is necessary as well as your Magpies jersey, the word Ta$man not requiring any mention at all in your report, particularly if Ta$man win.
We need informative, accurate, and perceptive analysis on the Hawke's Bay hopefuls. Harsh, even derisory, comments on player failure are permitted in the report so we can put a line through those players' names when discussing future selection.
But like all opinion and analysis on these boards, it counts for nothing as the world does not change because of it. In which case, don't bother going.
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According to the HBT, this is the line-up for tomorrow's game against Ta$man in Wellington. If the HBRU posts another line-up, I'll post that one, too:
1 Jason Long (c)
2 Jacob Devery
3 Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe
4 Elijah Martin
5 Geoff Cridge
6 Josh Kaifa
7 Iakopu Mapu
8 Hannon Brighouse
9 Humphrey Sheild
10 Lincoln McClutchie
11 Mason Emerson
12 Neria Fomai
13 Timo Vaiusu
14 Ollie Sapsford
15 Saia PaeseReserves
Forwards: Matt Morrison, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tim Farrell, Donovan Mataira, Eru Wano, Solomone Funaki.
Backs: Trent Hape, Kodie Drury-Hawkins, Lester Maulolo, Penikolo Latu, Michael Buckley..
It's quite telling that Cridge has been released by the Canes to play this game. I doubt they would do that if he was still in the frame for the Canes' trip to South Africa.
What many of us have been waiting to hear!
With four contracted locks who have spent plenty of time in Super Rugby environments, the Hurricanes trio of Isaia Walker-Leawere, who has signed a three-year deal with the Magpies, Geoff Cridge and Tom Parsons and Michael Allardice of the Chiefs ranked ahead of him Martin may struggle to secure a Mitre 10 Cup contract this season but Ozich said he could prove useful in the future.
Tomorrow's game will be played over the regulation two 40 minutes halves with the Magpies intending to use 26 players. "Last year we took 30 guys and tried to use two teams but it was too hard. With 26 we can make changes at halftime and give everyone plenty of game time. The younger guys who are on the bench will get a start against Wairarapa Bush on Queen's Birthday Monday," Magpies head coach Mark Ozich said. Eight of his starting XV players have yet to play first class rugby for the Magpies. They are Paese, Taradale winger Ollie Sapsford, the Hastings Rugby and Sports midfield combination of second five-eighth Neria Fomai and Timo Vaiusu, Taradale halfback Humphrey Sheild, Brighouse, Taradale flanker Iakopo Mapu and Napier Technical lock Elijah Martin.https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12230679
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I like the idea of Paese at fullback - he has been playing centre for NOB
M, and was a little small for that really (same sort of build as Mason Emerson)
