Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS)
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1 Xavier Numia, Oriental-Rongotai 
 2 Asafo Aumua, Avalon
 3 Pekahou Cowan, Petone
 4 James Blackwell, Petone
 5 Dominic Bird, Upper Hutt RAMS
 6 Caleb Delany, Old Boys University
 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, Northern United
 8 Peter Lakai, Petone
 9 TJ Perenara, Northern United
 10 Aidan Morgan, Marist St Pats
 11 Pepesana Patafilo, Tawa
 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, Wainuiomata
 13 Billy Proctor, Marist St Pats
 14 Julian Savea, Oriental-Rongotai
 15 Ruben Love, Wainuiomata16 James O’Reilly, Hutt Old Boys Marist 
 17 PJ Sheck, Tawa
 18 Solomona Sakalia, Northern United
 19 Taine Plumtree Old Boys University
 20 Keelan Whitman, Marist St Pats
 21 Richard Judd, Paremata-Plimmerton
 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, Northern United
 23 Connor Garden-Bachop, Northern United
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@Duluth that’s definitely our strongest starting 15 so far this year, should be a good game. Would rather they shift Pepesani to the right wing so we can start CGB on the left. I’m a bit worried about the prop reserves though, they’ve really struggled to close out games for us this year and I’d expect Hawkes Bay to try and exploit that. Hopefully we can make it four on the trot. 
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@Canes4life Don't get your hopes up too high. A first minute injury to A. Morgan will derail any hope the Challengers had. Even though there is no specialist lock on your bench that should not matter much as there is no way any HB player would do anything that might cause your starting locks to be replaced. 
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@Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS): I’m a bit worried about the prop reserves though, they’ve really struggled to close out games for us this year and I’d expect Hawkes Bay to try and exploit that. Especially our LH. The coaches have been keeping Numia on almost for the full game. Agree its our best starting side. Plumtree hasn't been as good as I thought would be 
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@Higgins We have looked impressive with Morgan at the helm (unbeaten with him there I think) and I wouldn’t worry about our boys getting injured, you just focus on your own players. Hawkes Bay will need to use their pack to nullify Wellington’s threats. If Wellington have one of their good days then the Shield could easily leave the Bay. In saying that though Wellington’s pack will need to gain some sort of parity against what has been an impressive Hawkes Bay pack. We don’t need a specialist lock on the bench, we’ve got Delany at 6 who’s our lock cover and has also been our best forward this year. What’s Hawkes Bays shield run at? 
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@Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS): we’ve got Delany at 6 who’s our lock cover and has also been our best forward this year. Hes been good. But others who would compete for the best spot would be Lukai, Numia and Aumua Looks a good side but HB must start as favourites. 
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@Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS): @Higgins We have looked impressive with Morgan at the helm (unbeaten with him there I think) and I wouldn’t worry about our boys getting injured, you just focus on your own players. Hawkes Bay will need to use their pack to nullify Wellington’s threats. If Wellington have one of their good days then the Shield could easily leave the Bay. In saying that though Wellington’s pack will need to gain some sort of parity against what has been an impressive Hawkes Bay pack. We don’t need a specialist lock on the bench, we’ve got Delany at 6 who’s our lock cover and has also been our best forward this year. What’s Hawkes Bays shield run at? Fifteen games since my guys last lost a Shield match. A total of 78 Shield game wins overall, the third highest overall 
 Otago 09 - 28 HB
 HB 33 - 17 Northland
 HB 47 - 12 Manawatu
 HB 34 - 18 Wellington
 HB 85 - 00 North Otago
 HB 93 - 05 East Coast
 HB 34 - 10 Otago
 HB 36 - 33 BoP
 HB 34 - 22 Ta$man
 HB 41 - 14 Waikato
 HB 38 - 20 Sth Canterbury
 HB 95 - 22 Poverty Bay
 HB 33 - 32 Counties
 HB 25 - 23 North Harbour
 HB 69 - 24 Southland
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@Higgins said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS): @Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS): @Higgins We have looked impressive with Morgan at the helm (unbeaten with him there I think) and I wouldn’t worry about our boys getting injured, you just focus on your own players. Hawkes Bay will need to use their pack to nullify Wellington’s threats. If Wellington have one of their good days then the Shield could easily leave the Bay. In saying that though Wellington’s pack will need to gain some sort of parity against what has been an impressive Hawkes Bay pack. We don’t need a specialist lock on the bench, we’ve got Delany at 6 who’s our lock cover and has also been our best forward this year. What’s Hawkes Bays shield run at? Fifteen games since my guys last lost a Shield match 
 Otago 09 - 28 HB
 HB 33 - 17 Northland
 HB 47 - 12 Manawatu
 HB 34 - 18 Wellington
 HB 85 - 00 North Otago
 HB 93 - 05 East Coast
 HB 34 - 10 Otago
 HB 36 - 33 BoP
 HB 34 - 22 Ta$man
 HB 41 - 14 Waikato
 HB 38 - 20 Sth Canterbury
 HB 95 - 22 Poverty Bay
 HB 33 - 32 Counties
 HB 25 - 23 North Harbour
 HB 69 - 24 SouthlandNot bad, it’s definitely time to end that run.  
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@Winger said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS): @Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS): we’ve got Delany at 6 who’s our lock cover and has also been our best forward this year. Hes been good. But others who would compete for the best spot would be Lukai, Numia and Aumua Looks a good side but HB must start as favourites. Rightfully so as they are at home but Wellington definitely have the goods to do the job. Whether we can put it out there on the day remains to be seen. 
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@Stargazer 14, 15 and 22 still make me very nervy, particularly 14s defending. The bench looks just wrong with Jonah Lowe's injury susceptibility making more sense to have Nerai Fomai in 22 as he is more versatility than Grigg, not to mention being a better player overall anyway. The clash at second five looks enticing, another chance for Mr. Toala to prove Plumtree/Holland wrong. Although having said that PUJ also has plenty of the same to do! 
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@Higgins So now the big boys come to town. For years and years we've heard and read the exploits of this team through the Dominion. Now don't get me wrong, this team were facing is very good. I do wonder though about there tight 5. Of course the exception is the hooker, whom I rate highly. I do however think Hawkes Bay have the fire power to match this. Wellington to me have a very good backline, who given the chance, with quick ball, will punish any defensive lapses. I still believe Hawkes Bay have the team that can get the job done, the thing for me is that it has to be for 80 minutes. The Bays lineout drive is getting there, and the Scrum is impressive. The way to stifle the Wellington backline is to beat there forward pack up. Should Hawkes Bay do that then the likes of Perenara, Morgan, Savea, and Umaga-Jensen can't operate. If they fail then Wellington are right in it. Hopefully the weather will be good, and the ground hard. Should be a good game, and I hope a Bay victory. 

 
                








 Ranfurly Shield challenge for Wellington on Saturday in 100th match
                    
                    Ranfurly Shield challenge for Wellington on Saturday in 100th match
                 
                