Steamers 2020

trooa

Franklin & Matenga aren't signing. Really lacking a specialist 8 & ball carrying ability in the loose trio.

Bovidae

@trooa So unlikely to be involved in SR 2021?

Snollygoster

@trooa

Thats not good news.

We will have a better idea of the squad next week when the team for the preseason game against Counties is announced.

Incidentally I'm hearing that that game will be played with no spectators but will be livestreamed.

Hooroo

@trooa said in Steamers 2020:

Franklin & Matenga aren't signing. Really lacking a specialist 8 & ball carrying ability in the loose trio.

Why isn't Matenga signing back up?

trooa

I'm not sure on Super Rugby but you'd presume back to Japan, he has been running the waters for his local club Opotiki lately. Matenga wasn't interested in a pay cut & had a tiff with Clayton.

Stargazer

bop78

@Hooroo Matenga will be a big loss one of the standouts last season. BRING BACK BURKE! . Sam Cane would go 0k at 8 if available . Does anyone know if the young 1st five Tiaan falcon from Hawkes bay has signed with THE Bay?

Stargazer

@bop78 Falcon has signed with Toyata Verblitz in Japan.

Donsteppa

For those of you who saw more Bay of Plenty rugby pre-1995-ish than me and @mariner4life, your expertise is required in this thread please! https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/topic/4109/ultimate-npc-bop?page=1

mariner4life

@Donsteppa sorry I've been occupied. I'll get in to it a bit more.

Donsteppa

@mariner4life said in Steamers 2020:

@Donsteppa sorry I've been occupied. I'll get in to it a bit more.

All good, I know there are people on here who know and can assess match-ups like Greg Rowlands vs Damon Kaui... I'm just not one of them when we go back as far as our 1976 champions

trooa

Anyone watched the latest gym post from union, is that Joe Tupe in grey with the towel around his neck or am I seeing things? Not sure who the frizzy haired one 2 shots before him is either. Confirmed from that Lalomilo, Skipwith-Garland, Curry, Campbell, Dickson and Harris are in sqaud. Lets hope they name a team for Friday otherwise we'll wait for the squad Monday.

Snollygoster

@trooa

That video was a real tease wasn't it ? Clearly there are a few new faces from last year.

Its good also that they will be livestreaming tomorrows game of three halves against Counties.

Snollygoster

BOP 33...Counties 40

trooa

@Snollygoster Not the greatest warm up, looked like a lot of the Super Rugby players struggled to get up for this one. My thoughts- Surprised Curry is first choice back up 12 instead of Webber to 13 & Garland to 12. Ware came on at 13 instead of wing & looked good. Collier not involved in the team at all, I'd probably have him ahead of Curry but can see why you pick Curry for the leadership, work ethic etc. Narawa looked to be a bit slow, clearly been asked to put on weight but may have got the balance a bit wrong at the moment. Cole Forbes was outstanding when he came on at 15, made a real difference. Blake struggled with the new laws, can't be so much of a pest like he usually is. I think the laws reward big strong players who have good jackal technique & that is not him. Forwards were outmuscled & gave away a few easy tries close to the ruck which is concerning. Kumeroa 19s captain from last year played, not sure whether he will be in the squad.

Snollygoster

Yes, a pretty average display. If they play like that during the competition then its going to be a long season.

But it was a good wake up and probably a good game to have early on.

Joe Webbers haircut was the highlight for me.

Snollygoster

Given who played on Friday and who was seen in the facebook video this is my probable team for what its worth :-

Hookers :- Ekland, Vella, Souchen, Harris.

                  The question is "What is the injury situation with Harris?" He hasn't played for a while and never 
                   featured in the preseason game.

Props :- Ross, Thwaites, Mafilio, Geldenhys, Kumeroa, Lay.

            A reasonable assumption.

Locks:- Leau Pepe, Carrol, Mewett, Van Den Hoven.

           They all featured yesterday so I assume will be named

Loosies :- Cane, Karpik, Tupe, Kapelli, Johnson, Blake, Dickson.

                Last year they carried eight loosies but I'm guessing Carrol can fill in. I'm assuming Dickson will be a 
                loose forward. He never played yesterday.

Halfback :- TTT, Campbell, Carter.

                   Toma played yesterday but I'm not sure if they will take four halfbacks unless they think TT will be 
                   called into the ABs or someone is carrying an injury. ( Carter never played yesterday ).

First five :- Black, Trask, Holinshead.

                  A reasonable assumption.

Backs:- Forbes, TiaTia, Narawa, Garland, Ware, Curry, Fuatai, Webber, Lalomilo.

            LaloMilo is the only one who never played yesterday so I'm unsure of his selection.

So, what does everyone think ? Who have I missed or have added incorrectly ?

Stargazer

@Snollygoster What about Baden Wardlaw and the Mua brothers?

Snollygoster

@Stargazer

Wardlaw has retired with a neck problem I understand. Ajay Mua hasn't been spotted this year and his brother is playing in the Waikato.

Stargazer

@Snollygoster Cheers, had forgotten about Wardlaw retiring. Really sad situation.

The Silver Fern

Steamers 2020