Hurricanes vs Blues

[KiwiMurph]

@Machpants said in Hurricanes vs Blues:

Anyway you want to be called Scott Ah Wong, he got zero for his red

Nigel Ah Wong. The reason being there was no head contact - I don't know why he was red carded in the first place.

[Duluth]

@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes vs Blues:

@Machpants said in Hurricanes vs Blues:

Anyway you want to be called Scott Ah Wong, he got zero for his red

Nigel Ah Wong. The reason being there was no head contact - I don't know why he was red carded in the first place.

Yup and that's why his red card was downgraded

"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Foul Play Review Committee found the foul play did not breach the Red Card threshold."
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a Warning as it was close to, but did not breach the Red Card threshold."
"In light of the above, the red card will be removed from the Player’s record and it will be replaced with a Warning sanction for the offence which will remain on the Player’s record."
"The player is therefore free to resume playing.”

[Machpants]

@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes vs Blues:

@Machpants said in Hurricanes vs Blues:

Anyway you want to be called Scott Ah Wong, he got zero for his red

Nigel Ah Wong. The reason being there was no head contact - I don't know why he was red carded in the first place.

Twas a joke, see

Maybe he's got a good family name?

[Duluth]

https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/team-naming-hurricanes-round3

1 Joshua Fusitu’a
2 Kurt Eklund
3 Marcel Renata
4 Laghlan McWhannell
5 Cameron Suafoa
6 Anton Segner
7 Dalton Papali’i
8 Akira Ioane
9 Finlay Christie
10 Stephen Perofeta
11 AJ Lam
12 Harry Plummer
13 Rieko Ioane
14 Mark Tele’a
15 Zarn Sullivan

16 Ricky Riccitelli
17 Jordan Lay
18 Angus Ta’avao
19 Josh Beehre
20 Hoskins Sotutu
21 Adrian Choat
22 Taufa Funaki
23 Cole Forbes

Players not considered: Patrick Tuipulotu (jaw), Sam Darry (knee), Caleb Clarke (family wedding)

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Duluth 6/2 bench, no Ofa or Caleb.

[Daffy Jaffy]

HURRICANES (1-15): Tevita Mafileo, Asafo Aumua (co-c), Tyrel Lomax, James Tucker, Isaia Walker-Leawere, TK Howden, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, Cam Roigard, Brett Cameron, Kini Naholo, Riley Higgins, Billy Proctor (co-c), Josh Moorby, Ruben Love

RESERVES: James O'Reilly, Xavier Numia, Pasilio Tosi, Caleb Delany, Devan Flanders, TJ Perenara, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Salesi Rayasi

Referee: Jordan Way

Assistant Referees: Nick Hogan, Natarsha Ganley

[Daffy Jaffy]

The scrum will be tested without Ofa there to mark Lomax.

[Canes4life]

I thought the Blues would probably win this one but after looking at both teams and the surprise return of Flanders off the bench, I’m liking the Canes, especially at home.

Awesome to see Higgins get a chance, hope he takes it with both hands. Tevita Mafileo also gets a shot.

[Duluth]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Hurricanes vs Blues:

6/2 bench

6/2 is a good fit for the direct game plan

Also, Funaki might be getting ahead of Nock in the pecking order

[Winger]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Hurricanes vs Blues:

HURRICANES (1-15): Tevita Mafileo, Asafo Aumua (co-c), Tyrel Lomax, James Tucker, Isaia Walker-Leawere, TK Howden, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, Cam Roigard, Brett Cameron, Kini Naholo, Riley Higgins, Billy Proctor (co-c), Josh Moorby, Ruben Love

RESERVES: James O'Reilly, Xavier Numia, Pasilio Tosi, Caleb Delany, Devan Flanders, TJ Perenara, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Salesi Rayasi

Referee: Jordan Way

Assistant Referees: Nick Hogan, Natarsha Ganley

Once again, no complaints with this team (subject to James Tucker performing).

Riley Higgins. Really rate him and he seems to be a level above last year. But early days yet but I don't rate PUJ at 2nd so hope he performs
Morgan not in the 23
Mafilio gets a start. I'm sure Numia, who has been in great form, will get lots of game time
Flanders back

Howden needs to step up after last week

Good to see Perenara back. But I will miss the excellent Smith like passing from the last 2 weeks

[Canes4life]

@Winger plenty to like about the squad. Should be a cracking game, meant to be perfect conditions aswell.

[BerhamporeNinja]

should be a cracker! cant wait! Come on Canes!

[BerhamporeNinja]

@Daffy-Jaffy Canes scrum will be tested when Lomax comes off, and Tosi up against Ofa

[Canes4life]

@BerhamporeNinja Ofa isn’t on the bench. For Tosi who’s gone from being a Number 8 three years ago to the way he’s scrummaged to start the year, he could have a really high ceiling. He’s a big unit aswell and could be a real secret weapon for the Canes going forward, hope he sticks around.

We also can’t forget Tevita Mafileo who hasn’t even laced up yet. He was called into the ABs last year and is definitely no mug. This is probably the strongest load of props the Canes have had since 2015/2016 and they seem to be really pushing each other to get better.

My only worry is if we lose Aumua, we have a fairly weak/inexperienced bunch of hookers sitting behind him and if he goes down, that will definitely impact us against the stronger sides. I suppose you can say that about a number of players across all the teams though.

[Machpants]

Ofa isn't even in the 23

[KiwiMurph]

Fusitua is a good young prop himself who has made really good strides - a match up with Lomax will be a terrific barometer for how far along his scrummaging is.

[Canes4life]

The Canes need to square the ledger this week.

Head to head: Hurricanes vs Blues
Played: 40
Blues won: 20
Hurricanes won: 19
Drawn: 1
Blues points for: 1,068
Hurricanes points for: 998

[DaGrubster]

@Duluth

Caleb Clarke - family wedding!?!? It better be his!

[foobaNZ]

I gotta say the most enjoyable thing about this season is the selections. Long may it continue.

Looking at those 23s the Canes should edge this, particularly at home. Should be a cracker.

[BerniesCorner]

Jeez the Canes are the real sh*t now. So good.