Magpies 2021

[Number 10]

Magpies WTG defeated Waikato XV 36-22.

Tries:
Kienan Higgins (2), Dominic Devine (2), Hemaua Samasoni, Paula Latu,

Conversions:
Connor McLeod, Harry Godfrey, Tianua Poto

Magpies WTG made 10 changes at halftime.

[Stargazer]

Magpies in Super Rugby, thus far:

Blues:
no game time, but Fomai was in the WTG for some time.

Chiefs:
in squad and getting plenty of game time: Weber & Lowe;
added to squad later and getting game time off the bench: 'Apikotoa.

Crusaders: in WTG, and now getting his first game off the bench: O'Connor.

Highlanders:
in squad and getting (plenty of) game time: Dixon, B Evans, Fakatava (until his injury), Mikaele-Tu'u (until his injury);
added to the squad later and did get game time: Makene
now added to squad as injury replacements: Fomai and Solomone Funaki.

Rebels:
in squad and getting plenty of game time: Ili

Hurricanes:
in squad and getting plenty of game time: Flanders and Walker-Leawere;
in squad and getting limited game time off the bench: Rakete-Stones;
injured, but close to returning to fitness: G Evans;
in squad, but not getting any game time: Toala and Visinia.

[Stargazer]

Currently in managed isolation. Well in time for an appearance in our Ranfurly Shield defence of 30 June. He should be keen. Has he ever played in a RS game?????? I can't remember.

[Number 10]

Would be great to see him in action for Magpies on June 30.

However the AB's have an unfilled (so far) date of July 3 for a test - you would assume that if filled, Brodie would be assembled with the AB's instead of available for the Magpies.

[Higgins]

@number-10 I wouldn't be so sure about that. Surely James Blackwell must be a lock in for the ABs given his indispensable leadership attributes! I hope to be up home for that June 30 game (taking my boots as well just in case!).

[Stargazer]

@number-10 Yeah, don't know. Or he may be in ABs camp, but not yet play? He may get told to get a match in NZ under his belt, before being selected for the next test? Clutching at straws, I know, but I just really want him to play on the 30th haha.

[Higgins]

@stargazer Imagine the crowd down at Central Park if he turns out for CHB. They would have a pretty decent locking combination with BBBR and Tom Parsons.

[Stargazer]

Magpies 2021 draw:

Date	Kick-off	Home team		Opponent	Where
Sat 7 Aug	2.05pm	Taranaki	v	Magpies	Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Sat 14 Aug	4.35pm	Magpies	v	Otago	McLean Park, Napier
Sat 21 Aug	2.05pm	Canterbury	v	Magpies	Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Sat 28 Aug	2.05pm	Magpies	v	Waikato	McLean Park, Napier
Sun 5 Sep	2.05pm	Manawatū	v	Magpies	CET Arena, Palmerston North
Fri 10 Sep	7.05pm	Magpies	v	North Harbour	McLean Park, Napier
Sun 19 Sep	2.05pm	Magpies	v	Bay of Plenty	McLean Park, Napier
Sun 26 Sep	2.05pm	Wellington	v	Magpies	Sky Stadium, Wellington
Sun 3 Oct	2.05pm	Auckland	v	Magpies	Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 9 Oct	4.35pm	Magpies	v	Ta$man	McLean Park, Napier
Fri 15 – Sat 16 Oct		NPC Semi-Finals
Sat 23 Oct	7.05pm	Premiership Final

First Ranfurly Shield defence against Otago.
That same game on Saturday 14 August is also a double-header with the Tui v Ta$man game starting at 2.35pm.

[Stargazer]

I don't like the red and green on the sleeve.

https://twitter.com/oneillssportsAU/status/1398768633321594889

[Higgins]

@stargazer It might be connected to one of our sponsors but nevertheless anything green (or anything remotely connected to green and the 'Poo implications that might signify) on the HB jersey must be outlawed. The registered colours of the HBRFU are black and white hooped jerseys, black shorts and black and white hooped socks. They have served us well for 137 years and there is no reason to fanny around with them whatsoever. I could possibly live with slightly different designed jerseys for charitable purposes as long as the only two colours used were black and white.

Incidentally the jersey suppliers cannot even spell the name of our beloved home ground correctly. Just shows how much they care, especially when it is them giving themselves a self congratulately pat on the back by calling the jersey an "awesome design".

[Nepia]

@stargazer WTF is that? Have we brought the Central Vikings jersey designer out of retirement?

At least it's only a one off charity jumper.

[Stockcar86]

Maybe the red and green is to honor a past player - did Luke Rooney play for the Rabbitohs?

[Higgins]

@stockcar86 Good to see your sense of humor is as sharp as ever! Oh and congratulations (said after sucking on a lemon) your mobs victory on Saturday. I did pay up the jug but had to drink it myself in your absence (albeit in the presence of a NOBM supporter who happened to be at Hataitai Park watching his son play)!!!!!!

[Stargazer]

Second preseason game:

[Stargazer]

There will be a second Ranfurly Shield challenge for a Heartland province! We already knew that North Otago would get a challenge on 30 June, but the HBRU has this morning announced that Ngati Porou East Coast gets a challenge on 24 July!

From Facebook:

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better!

The Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union have today announced that Ngati Porou East Coast have had their challenge for the Ranfurly Shield accepted and everyone’s favorite second team will travel to Napier to play the Magpies on Saturday afternoon July 24th.

Ngati Porou East Coast Chief Executive Cushla Tangaere-Manuel said ‘’NPEC are excited to be heading to Ngati Kahungunu/Hawkes Bay for our ninth Ranfurly Shield challenge. This will be a pinnacle event in the celebration of our centenary, and a major challenge in Coach Hosea Gears first year on the ground with us’’ Ex All Black Gear has recently returned home to help the next generation of Ngati Porou and their will be plenty of interest in his homecoming.

Tangaere-Manuel added ‘‘The game will be of major significance to Ngati Porou around the country and we look forward to the challenge!’’

This will be the Magpies second defense for 2021 if they manage to get past the first challenger, 2019 Meads Cup winners North Otago, who the Magpies are scheduled to face on Wednesday June 30th.

“Its brilliant to be able to fit another challenge into our condensed preseason but to host one of our neighbors and in their centenary year is fantastic and we know that the crowd will be chocka fill of their supporters in ‘Sky Blue’ come July 25th’ HBRU CEO, Jay Campbell said today.

 Campbell added ‘I was living in London in 2001 when HB hosted the coast in that epic final, but plenty of my mates have told me the atmosphere was up there with a test match and knowing how passionate the ngati porou are, will no doubt be similar come kick off on the 25th July’’

Magpies Coach, Mark Ozich added ‘’It’s a great opportunity to connect with our provincial neighbors and despite being in the Heartland competition we know that East Coast will arrive in Napier with an abrasive attitude and a desire to play entertaining rugby.  If we’re lucky enough to hold on to the shield verses North Otago it will be a great way to build into our NPC campaign ‘

Tickets for both shield games go on sale from Thursday 10th June with Magpie season tickets available from Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union Office which include all 2021 Magpies NPC games, the two heartland shield challenges and the club finals weekend to be held at McLean Park.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/east-coast-earn-pre-season-shield-challenge-against-magpies-in-napier/ERX4ZIU6TYC6EEVWBQEXYE5YVU/

[Stargazer]

They also shared this clip of the 2001 Div 2 Final between the Magpies and East Coast (with IWL's dad!).

https://www.facebook.com/hbmagpies/posts/5827392350634791

Same, but different link: https://fb.watch/5SlZeRYwRo/

[Stargazer]

This is the full Hawke's Bay Saracens squad for the game against Wairarapa-Bush on Monday. No official team naming, yet.

Joe Apikotoa (Taradale)
Shamara Brooks (Tamatea)
Jacob Devery (Hastings R&S)
Dom Devine (Napier OBM)
Mason Emerson (Hastings R&S)
Harry Godfrey (Central)
Trent Hape (Clive)
Andrew Hayward (Hastings R&S)
Kienan Higgins (Taradale)
Joel Hintz (Central)
Josh Kaifa (Clive)
Paula Latu (MAC)
Frank Lochore (Central)
Tupou Ma'afu Afungia (MAC)
Iakopo Mapu (Taradale)
Elijah Martin (Napier Tech OB)
Lincoln McClutchie (Tamatea)
Xavier McCorkindale (Napier Tech OB)
Troy McIvor (Central)
Connor McLeod (Hastings R&S)
Tianua Poto (Clive)
Dennon Robinson-Bartllett (Tamatea)
Hamaua Samasoni (Taradale)
Jonty Stewart (Napier OBM)
Gene Syminton (Taradale)
Hugh Taylor (Napier Pirate)
Jordan Thompson-Dunn (Hastings R&S)
Will Tremain (Napier OBM)
Anzelo Tuitavuki (Clive)
Jay Tuivaiti (Clive)
Nathan Tweedy (Taradale)
Jayden Walker (Taradale)

From this article:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/rugby-annual-match-big-chance-for-hawkes-bay-magpies-hopefuls/FINVQXPOBU4NIU645KDHXLGPBA/

[Number 10]

The return of Tiaan Falcon

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/tiaan-falcon-swoops-to-rejoin-hawkes-bay-magpies/TU7IOKWIO6QPCU7HM7LNGO6SSE/

[Stargazer]

@number-10 That's great news! It will be interesting to see whether they're going to use him at 10 or at fullback, and what this means for McClutchie and Makene (when he returns from injury). Definitely more pressure on McClutchie now, who could/should take this as a learning opportunity if he can't get a firm grip on the 10 jersey this year. I hope this also means that Baker won't return in black & white, Olympics or no Olympics.

[Stargazer]

I'd like the sports media to find out whether Flanders is injured and how bad it is. We can't lose him, too, with Mikaele-Tu'u alredy in the injury ward. Unfortunately, the Hurricanes never give injury updates and the journos in Wellington never seem to ask, unless it concerns an All Black.