NZ Provincial Barbarians v B&I Lions (Whangarei, 3 June 2017)

[Bovidae]

Also if Renata gets his arse handed to him in this match you couldn't risk him in the Maori scrum. Kainga is a better option.

[Stargazer]

I'd be disappointed if this selection means that Jonah Lowe can't make the Māori ABs or Hurricanes squad. It's very unlikely that any AB will be released to play for the Canes, so that would have given him a chance to be named in the Canes' 23.

[Bovidae]

There is no reason the Chiefs and Canes players can't be involved in both games. I would expect Brown, Taumateine and Fa’auli to be in the Chiefs squad to play the Lions.

[taniwharugby]

Stoked for Matich, reckon he is upto super rugby level so a great chance for him.

[Bovidae]

The 4 players to be named are a tighthead prop, a loose forward, a centre and a wing.

"We've got people in mind to fill those spots, but some are under an injury cloud or still involved with franchises," says coach Clayton McMillan.

[Kiwidom]

@Wurzel Think I read somewhere he's now playing for Manawatu

[Wurzel]

@Kiwidom He had gone to Palmerston North in his first year out of high school but then return to Wanganui last year. Maybe he's gone back to Palmy.

I hope he gets his chance somewhere. It scares me that there are still kids as talented as him that can simply full through the cracks of the talent pathway.

[Milk]

I enjoyed this interview with Clayton McMillan this morning. What an opportunity for all involved.

https://soundcloud.com/trackside-radio/rugby-clayton-mcmillan-barbarians-coach

[Stargazer]

Provincial Baabaas gets major setback as three players withdrawn for Super Rugby

Lock Quinten Strange ( Ta$man/Crusaders), loose forward Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (Manawatu/Crusaders) and second five Jonathan Fa’auli (Taranaki/Chiefs) have been withdrawn from the Provincial Barbarians squad. I haven't seen any news on who will replace them.

[taniwharugby]

@Stargazer Kara Pryor could slot in at loosie, has had a light workload this season, someone I thought they may have gone with anyway.

Plenty of locks running about who could slot in.

Not sure on a 12

[Bovidae]

Super Rugby players Andrew Makalio, Oliver Jager, James Tucker, Mitch Dunshea and Lachlan Boshier have been added to the squad.

Forwards: Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty), Tolu Fahamokioa (Wellington), Sam Anderson-Heather (Otago), Andrew Makalio ( Ta$man), Marcel Renata (Auckland), Oliver Jager (Canterbury), Keepa Mewett (Bay of Plenty), Joshua Goodhue (Northland), James Tucker (Waikato), Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury), Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), Matthew Matich (Northland), Peter Rowe (Wanganui)

Backs: Jack Stratton (Canterbury), Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty), Bryn Gatland (North Harbour), Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato), Kaveinga Finau (Inga) (Canterbury), Jonah Lowe (Hawke's Bay), Sevu Reece (Waikato), Sam Vaka (Counties Manukau), Luteru Laulala (Counties Manukau), Junior Ngaluafe (Southland)

Players unavailable due to Super Rugby commitments: Hame Haiva (Blues), Quentin Strange (Crusaders), Mitch Brown (Chiefs), Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (Crusaders), Jonathan Taumateine (Chiefs), Johnny Fa'auli (Chiefs).

[Bovidae]

We'll find out next week who starts for the Provincial Baabaas but the Lions should win this game comfortably (20+ pts).

[taniwharugby]

@Bovidae yep, certainly not as strong as it could or should be.

[mariner4life]

seriously, if they can't hammer these guys by 35+ it will be a surprise. A scratch team of Super Rugby fringe players v a scratch team of test players should be a no-contest

[Bovidae]

@mariner4life I was trying to be optimistic but it should be one-way traffic.

Honestly, there are a handful of players in that squad I have never heard of.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae
Just read the official media release and there are a lot more changes to the original squad:

In:
Andrew Makalio ( Ta$man)
Oliver Jager (Canterbury)
Keepa Mewett (Bay of Plenty)
James Tucker (Waikato)
Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury)
Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki)
Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty)
Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato)
Kaveinga Finau (Inga) (Canterbury)
Sam Vaka (Counties Manukau)

Out (due to SR commitments):
Epalahame Faiva (Waikato)
Quinten Strange ( Ta$man)
Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (Manawatu)
Mitchell Brown (Taranaki)
Jonathan Taumateine (Counties Manukau)
Jonathan Fa’auli (Taranaki)

http://www.allblacks.com/News/30833/provincial-barbarians-squad-confirmed

[taniwharugby]

@mariner4life yep, only thing in the Baabaa favour is they wont arrive in NZ until Tues/Wed so jetlag might be a factor, although by the time it is they'll be well in front.

Didn't Marcel Renata play for the Maori last year too?

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae said in NZ Provincial Barbarians v B&I Lions (Whangarei, 3 June 2017):

@mariner4life I was trying to be optimistic but it should be one-way traffic.

Honestly, there are a handful of players in that squad I have never heard of.

Same.
I hope that these players can still play a reasonably decent game of rugby, even if they get smashed. Plenty of talent, very little experience at a higher level.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer And you watch much more rugby than I do.

I would say the coaches have been limited by late withdrawals due to Super rugby commitments so have selected a few BOP and Waikato players they are familiar with. Sweeney's selection is interesting, and he would be the most experienced player by some distance. He has played for the Maori against touring teams.

[mariner4life]

Certainly won't be the stern opening that the Bay was 12 years ago, when our best ever back row got in to them in a big way