NPC - news, injuries etc

[Higgins]

@snollygoster Looks like the regulation Fijian winger that nearly all teams need! The left winger on the other hand might not have the toe to score a 95metre runaway try.

[Higgins]

@stargazer Counties must be pretty confident about the outcome as they have only named nine (plus one A. N. Other) bench players to take on the 15 named starters by BoP. Might be a spot of bother if any of those 15 need replacing unless of course the bus driver and video analysist are pressed into service.

[Mackerzzzz]

Does anybody know where to watch pre-season highlights?

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Mackerzzzz]

@daffy-jaffy said in NPC - news, injuries etc:

What's with the team names? It's very obviously Counties players

[Cpt Kumera]

@snollygoster he was in fiji squad for the two tests against all blacks but didnt get used. Was also in fiji 7s squad

[Bovidae]

Is that the Nili Latu? Wiki says he is 39 now.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@bovidae Its possible. I saw that he played some Auckland club rugby this season. I think for Marist. A legend of the game.

[Stargazer]

@mackerzzzz Cavaliers is the name of Counties' development team or wtg, I think. It's a bit like Wellington XV, Manawatu Evergreens, Hawke's Bay Saracens etc. I think they use that name until the NPC squad is named.

[Number 10]

@bovidae said in NPC - news, injuries etc:

@higgins said in NPC - news, injuries etc:

This is an interesting read about the assembling of a Bunnings NPC Squad

This info was news to me.

Next year NZ Rugby is to rigidly enforce a nationwide salary cap of $950,000 without any jiggery-pokery, such as third-party deals. About time too.

The article says that Manawatu's salary total is about $900K, so I expect many of the larger provinces will have to make a significant reduction in player payments.

Contrary to what is stated in that article, the $950,000 salary cap is still to be negotiated. It requires agreement with the NZRPA, which, as yet, has not been achieved.

[Tim]

https://www.tab.co.nz/sports/competition/15658/rugby-union/new-zealand/new-zealand-npc/outrights?outrightseventid=1015660

Grand Final Winner-New Zealand NPC Championship 2021

North Harbour
2.88

Otago
3.40

Taranaki
5.00

Northland
7.00

Counties Manukau
9.00

Manawatu
21.00

Southland
21.00

[Tim]

https://www.tab.co.nz/sports/competition/15658/rugby-union%2Fnew-zealand%2Fnew-zealand-npc/outrights

Grand Final Winner-New Zealand NPC Premiership 2021

Ta$man
4.00

Auckland
4.50

Canterbury
4.50

Wellington
6.00

Bay of Plenty
8.00

Waikato
8.00

Hawke's Bay
10.00

[Tim]

[Steven Harris]

Final score from Kaitaia
North Harbour 43 Northland 17 halftime 31-5
Harbour fielded a full strength team in the first half only missing Bryn Hall and Northland started with very much under strength team and it showed in the first half ..Northland did not play any of their super players ..from home side point of the set piece scrum and lineout were very solid ..
Harbour were superb in the outside backs and exposed Northland out wide with their pace ..NZ 7s player Moses Leo superb
Have had to rely from people who were at the game
Bryn Gatland controlled things nicely from first five

[Tim]

@steven-harris Heard anything about Lemeki Namoa? Injured?

[Steven Harris]

@tim have had to rely on people at the game ,no team sheets ,really frustrating..

[taniwharugby]

@steven-harris

@J77 was there, said our forwards were solid but backs poor, no pace outwide (Tamati Tua be one of our quickest backs, but also didn't play) think we had Grant, Hawkins, Hohaia as our 9, 10 and 12...

Interesting decision not to play our super players, Gregory must not have played since early June.

Next week's lineup will ge Interesting

[Steven Harris]

@taniwharugby apparently Rivers Reihana came on for the last 10 minutes and was the best of 10s

[taniwharugby]

@steven-harris well my feelings on Hawkins are well known, so it was never gonna be hard to be better...

While it'd be nice to win pre season games, ultimately they end up meaning jack shit.

[J77]

Went along to this today. 43-17 to Harbour. Harbour came out of the blocks firing after conceding the first try to Blake Hohaia. They were up by nearly 30 at the break.

There were no team lists avaible which was poor, so excuse me if I get names etc wrong. This was coupled with the fact Northland played in what looked like training shirts, half of which weren’t numbered.

Northland dominated the second half but never really looked like overhauling Harbours lead at any point.

One thing to note is that all Northland’s super players were rested and Harbour had the likes of Gatland and that Blues back up hooker (forget his name) on deck amongst some other familiar faces.

What really stood out from Northlands perspective was how they got burnt out on the edges time and time again. The back three of Leilua, Hyland and Macilai got turned around by some clever Harbour kicking and were made to look like they had concrete in their boots.

Leilua was caught out of position on several occasions and the wingers were forced infield a lot which created overlaps.

Up front the forwards competed well enough and held their own in the set piece. Was impressed with Hallam-Eames, he’s a monster and got through 80 mins.

A few of our replacements came on and made a difference, particularly Jordan Olsen, he was into everything.

A couple of our big loosies (apologies I don’t know their names, maybe Funaki and Manu) made good yards with the ball in hand too.

Will Grant at 9 is a gutsy little bugger and took some big contact. Was quite impressed with Kerikeris Corey Taylor when he came on, his service was very good. Could be a toss up to see who backs Nock up this year.

All up, hard to judge things on today, we’ve got heaps of firepower to come back so things could change.

One thing we need to work on is the back play. It’s crucial we get things right out in the back three especially as I can see that’s where we will be targeted.

I’m hoping to see a better showing with a stronger lineup against Auckland next week.