2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games

[Stargazer]

I know about the following preseason games; have more been announced yet?

Sat 4 Feb 2017, ?pm: Crusaders v Highlanders (Darfield)
Sat 4 Feb 2017, 2.30pm: Blues v Hurricanes (Blues High Performance Centre, Alexandra Park)
Wed 8 Feb 2017, ?pm: Chiefs v Bulls (Ballymore, Brisbane)
Thu 16 Feb 2017, ?pm: Waratahs v Highlanders (Brookvale, NSW)
Fri 17 Feb 2017, 5pm: Hurricanes v Crusaders (Waverley, S Taranaki)

[Stargazer]

Confirmed dates and times according to NZR:

Saturday 4 February, 2.30pm: Blues v Hurricanes at Alexandra Park, Epsom
Saturday 4 February, 5pm: Crusaders v Highlanders at Darfield RFC, Darfield
Wednesday 8 February, 8.30pm: Chiefs v Bulls at Ballymore Park, Brisbane
11-12 February: Brisbane Tens (all five teams involved)
Friday 17 February, 5pm: Hurricanes v Crusaders, Border RFC, Waverley
Friday 17 February, 5.30pm: Blues v Chiefs, Suburbs RFC, Auckland

They don't mention the Waratahs v Highlanders game, which is still on the Tahs' website. Thursday 16 February, kick-off 8.30pm NZT.

I assume that only a few (or none) of these games will be livestreamed or televised; I remember only seeing one PS game that was played in NZ, last year. The Aussies are usually better at livestreaming than the Kiwis. So hopefully some ferners will go to some of the PS games and give us their impressions?

[Stargazer]

Highlanders squad for the preseason game v Crusaders, Sat 4 Feb - 5pm, Darfield

1 Craig Millar, 2 Adrian Smith, 3 Guy Millar, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Gareth Evans, 7 James Lentjes, 8 Luke Whitelock (c)
9 Kayne Hammington, 10 Fletcher Smith, 11 Tevita Li, 12 Rob Thompson, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 14 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 15 Jason Emery

Reserves
Forwards: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Aki Seiuli, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Siate Tokolahi, Alex Ainley, Josh Dickson, Adam Knight, Dillon Hunt
Backs: Josh Renton, Marty Banks, Teihorangi Walden, Matt Faddes, Jonah Nareki

Injured: Ash Dixon
Unavailable: All Blacks

[Tim]

So they snapped up Adrian Smith. He played well for Harbour last year.

[Chris B.]

@Stargazer said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:

Highlanders squad for the preseason game v Crusaders, Sat 4 Feb - 5pm, Darfield

1 Craig Millar, 2 Adrian Smith, 3 Guy Millar, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Gareth Evans, 7 James Lentjes, 8 Luke Whitelock (c)
9 Kayne Hammington, 10 Fletcher Smith, 11 Tevita Li, 12 Rob Thompson, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 14 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 15 Jason Emery

Reserves
Forwards: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Aki Seiuli, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Siate Tokolahi, Alex Ainley, Josh Dickson, Adam Knight, Dillon Hunt
Backs: Josh Renton, Marty Banks, Teihorangi Walden, Matt Faddes, Jonah Nareki

Injured: Ash Dixon
Unavailable: All Blacks

Crusaders: Starting XV are the guys with the numbers beside them. Replacements are the others. Y'all work it out!

1. Tim Perry REPLACEMENTS
2. Ben Funnell Nathan Vella
3. Michael Alaalatoa Andrew Makalio
4. Mitchell Dunshea Oliver Jager
5. Luke Romano Chris Gawler
6. Pete Samu Samu Tawake
7. Jed Brown Quinten Strange
8. Jordan Taufua (c) Pari Pari Parkinson
9. Bryn Hall Tom Christie
10. Richie Mo’unga Whetu Douglas
11. George Bridge Leon Fukofuka
12. David Havili Ereatara Enari
13. Jack Goodhue Mitchell Hunt
14. Manasa Mataele Sione Fifita
15. Marty McKenzie Tim Bateman
    Seta Tamanivalu
    Sean Wainui
    Inga Finau

[Stargazer]

Okay, this is a bit easier to read:

Crusaders squad:

1 Tim Perry, 2. Ben Funnell, 3. Michael Alaalatoa, 4. Mitchell Dunshea**, 5. Luke Romano, 6. Pete Samu, 7. Jed Brown**, 8. Jordan Taufua (c)
9 Bryn Hall*, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. George Bridge**, 12. David Havili, 13. Jack Goodhue**, 14. Manasa Mataele**, 15. Marty McKenzie

REPLACEMENTS
Nathan Vella+, Andrew Makalio**, Oliver Jager**, Chris Gawler+, Samu Tawake+, Quinten Strange**, Pari Pari Parkinson+,
Tom Christie+, Whetu Douglas+, Leon Fukofuka, Ereatara Enari+, Mitchell Hunt, Sione Fifita**, Tim Bateman, Seta Tamanivalu*, Sean Wainui, Inga Finau+

️indicates no Crusaders caps
️️ indicates no Super Rugby caps
indicates development player

[Crucial]

Nice for Taufua to be given the captaincy. Hope he had a chance for a decent break over the summer though. Had a pretty big workload for the Saders last year then played right through the NPC with CM.

[Stargazer]

@Crucial said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:

Nice for Taufua to be given the captaincy. Hope he had a chance for a decent break over the summer though. Had a pretty big workload for the Saders last year then played right through the NPC with CM.

Yes, and followed by the Baabaas tour.

I saw photos of a Crusaders scrum training and noticed Taufua at no. 8, just like in this line-up. I wonder whether that means that he will be replacing Read at no. 8 during Read's absence. Wouldn't be the first time. Not sure why Bedwell-Curtis is not playing; injured?

[Stargazer]

Hurricanes team to play the Blues on Saturday 4 February, 2.30pm (Alexandra Park, Epsom)

15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Malo Tuitama, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Vince Aso, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Tiaan Falcon, 9 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 8 Hugh Renton, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 James Blackwell, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Michael Fatialofa, 3 Mike Kainga, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Reg Goodes.

Reserves: Loni Uhila, Joe Apikotoa, Chris Eves, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Ricky Riccitelli, Mark Abbott, Vaea Fifita, Brad Shields, Toa Halafihi, Antonio Kirikiri, Reed Prinsep, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Otere Black, Mason Emerson, Ngani Laumape, Matt Proctor, Jordie Barrett.

[Chris B.]

Pleasing to see Ere Enari and Pari Pari Parkinson involved in the Crusaders set-up.

Lots that can go wrong, but if Razor, Leon and Co. get the gameplan right and our inside backs come to the party, I reckon we've got players to do well this year. Can't see us winning the whole thing - the Lions tour will distract and drain too many of our players - forward pack especially - but, I'm hoping to see us near the front of the pack in June.

Razor has done quite well with his recruiting - doubtless contractually stuck with a few that I'd have been happy to see replaced, but with luck we might not need too much from them.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Boyd is seeking some precision and accuracy from this practice match, which kicks off at 2:30pm.

Hurricanes squad to play the Blues: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Malo Tuitama, Jonah Lowe, Vince Aso, Wes Goosen, Tiaan Falcon, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Hugh Renton, Callum Gibbins, James Blackwell, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Michael Fatialofa, Mike Kainga, Asafo Aumua, Reg Goodes

Reserves: Loni Uhila, Joe Apikotoa, Chris Eves, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Ricky Riccitelli, Mark Abbott, Vaea Fifita, Brad Shields, Toa Halafihi, Antonio Kirikiri, Reed Prinsep, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Otere Black, Mason Emerson, Ngani Laumape, Matt Proctor, Jordie Barrett

[Stargazer]

@Daffy-Jaffy Is this an echo? (See two posts back)

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Stargazer oops - night shift brain fade will do that to ya!

[Duluth]

Collins with the first Blues try off a West grubber

[Duluth]

Collins scores again after a another kick through. Canes making lots of errors 14-0 almost end of the quarter

[Tim]

You at the game, Duluth?

[Duluth]

@Tim

Yup

Lowe scores for the Canes

[Duluth]

Nanai, Vaega and Akira looking sharp

[Stargazer]

Good to read that Magpies are scoring points in this game. Lowe with his first try for the Canes and Tiaan Falcon with the conversion.

[Tim]

@Duluth

Cool. Loving the live comments.