NPC 2024

[Bovidae]

@Frank I've seen Lord play live plenty of times, starting from a skinny beanpole in 1st XV rugby and age-group rugby. As @KiwiMurph says, he has all the attributes for an international lock.

[george33]

12 All Blacks playing Preseason NPC this week.

[taniwharugby]

@george33

[Chris B.]

Mako running out a pretty decent set of backs. Interestingly, no sign of Finlay Christie.

Pretty disappointing that this game (against Southland) is being played in Christchurch. I reckon they could have filled Trafalgar Park.

[SouthernMann]

@Chris-B said in NPC 2024:

Mako running out a pretty decent set of backs. Interestingly, no sign of Finlay Christie.

Pretty disappointing that this game (against Southland) is being played in Christchurch. I reckon they could have filled Trafalgar Park.

Logistically the best option for Southland though. Getting back to Invercargill from Nelson is a bit of a pain. While in Chch both teams have to travel and the costs are shared.

[Chris B.]

@SouthernMann Yeah - maybe both teams have flown down this morning and are flying home tonight - zero accommodation costs.

It's kicking off at 12.30 (in 15 minutes) on a Friday in neutral territory, so they're obviously not planning on big gate takings.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah The NZH was wrong about the venue for the Waikato-HB game. It's in Taupō. This is often the venue due to its central location.

HB has had a couple of RS defences while this must be Waikato's one and only pre-season match.

[antipodean]

@Bovidae said in NPC 2024:

@Yeetyaah The NZH was wrong about the venue for the Waikato-HB game. It's in Taupō. This is often the venue due to its central location.

You'd think their AI would know that.

[Daffy Jaffy]

[Chris]

[Chris]

[Bovidae]

A nice boutique ground in Urenui. Taranaki beat BOP 31-26.

[Daffy Jaffy]

final score - Auckland 34 - 12 Counties.

[Canes4life]

Wellington beat Manawatu 31-24.

Not sure who played for Wellington but the Manawatu team were the below.

[Canes4life]

This was the Wellington team that played Manawatu. What is Riley doing on the right wing. Savea isn’t a better 12 than him ffs. ‍️

Wellington Lions:

Kazuki Kato – Western Suburbs
Penieli Poasa – Ories
Siale Lauaki – Tawa
Hugo Plummer – Tawa
Akira Ieremia – Tawa
Dominic Ropeti – Ories
Peter Lakai – Petone
Benjamin Tuiomanufili – HOBM
Kyle Preston – OBU
Jackson Garden-Bachop – Norths
Pepesana Patafilo – Tawa
Julian Savea – Ories
Peter Umaga-Jenson – Wainui
Riley Higgins – Petone
Stanley Solomon – Petone
Leon Tuiloma – UH Rams
Yota Kamimori – Stokes Valley
Ruben Ape – Norths
Teofilo Paulo – HOBM
Conner Tuifao – Petone
Isaac Bracewell – Ories
Callum Harkin – OBU
Matt Proctor – Ories
Billy Proctor – Marist St Pats
Tjay Clarke – Petone
Chicago Doyle – Ories

[nzzp]

@Bovidae said in NPC 2024:

Urenui

nice ground!

[Winger]

@Canes4life said in NPC 2024:

This was the Wellington team that played Manawatu. What is Riley doing on the right wing. Savea isn’t a better 12 than him ffs. ‍️

Wellington Lions:

Kazuki Kato – Western Suburbs
Penieli Poasa – Ories
Siale Lauaki – Tawa
Hugo Plummer – Tawa
Akira Ieremia – Tawa
Dominic Ropeti – Ories
Peter Lakai – Petone
Benjamin Tuiomanufili – HOBM

Kyle Preston – OBU
Jackson Garden-Bachop – Norths
Pepesana Patafilo – Tawa
Julian Savea – Ories
Peter Umaga-Jenson – Wainui
Riley Higgins – Petone
Stanley Solomon – Petone

I agree re Savea. But he will start and he's now far too slow for a wing. TBH I would prefer Savea at 2nd than can't or won't pass PUJ. I would have PUJ on the wing though with Higgins at centre. Then this would be a good (enough) NPC backline. With Preston far and away better than the rubbish we had last year. And JGB good enough at NPC level unlike Morgan.

Re the forwards. Hopefully this isn't the starting team when it all kicks off

[Canes4life]

@Winger id have Higgins at 12, Umaga-Jensen at 13 and Proctor, Patafilo and Clarke in the back three. Savea can come off the bench, he’s not good enough to start.

[MN5]

Savea and PUJ is a nice huge midfield at least.

[Canes4life]

@MN5 two guys that struggle to pass. No thanks.