Hurricanes 2018

[Stargazer]

NMS expected back in April; Jordie about week 3.

[Kiwidom]

@higgins And about TJ Vaa

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Spoiler Text

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, his selection is ridiculous

[Stargazer]

I love the number of ginger halves they have in the squad: West, Christie and Booth.

[Tim]

Canes fans, you know the drill. Name your XXIII.

[Stargazer]

@tim Assuming Goodes is fit (I don't like the LH alternatives):

1 Goodes
2 Coles
3 JTA
4 Fatialofa
5 Lousi
6 Fifita
7 A Savea
8 Shields
9 TJP
10 BB
11 J Savea
12 Laumape
13 Lowe
14 Proctor
15 Jordie

16 Aumua
17 May
18 Fidow
19 Blackwell
20 Evans
21 Christie
22 West
23 Aso

Obviously, I have taken the opportunity to ensure sufficient Bay representation.

[Higgins]

Just the three midfield backs named, looks like they are going to be rather busy. Having said that Vince Aso and Matt Proctor have been listed as wingers so in reality there are five midfielders and just two wingers, including Ben Lam who must be one of the luckiest in the country to get a contract.

[Stargazer]

Interestingly, the squad guide has midfielders and outside backs named in different positions than the Hurricanes graphic in their media release:

[Tim]

"It may be Vaea is better served in the locks where Izzy [Isaia Walker-Leawere] has had a shoulder reconstruction and won't partake in the first part of the season. Michael Fatialofa's still coming back from a knee injury, so we're a little bit lighter in the locks."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/98440204/rising-star-asafo-aumua-headlines-2018-hurricanes-squad

[cgrant]

T. Smith
Coles
JTA
Fatialofa
Lousi
Fifita
Savea
Shields
TJP
BB
Savea
Laumape
Proctor
NMS
JB

Aumua
Eves
Fidow
Thompson
Evans
Christie
Garden-Bachop
Goosen / Aso

[Crucial]

@cgrant said in Hurricanes 2018:

T. Smith
Coles
JTA
Fatialofa
Lousi
Fifita
Savea
Shields
TJP
BB
Savea
Laumape
Proctor
NMS
JB

Aumua
Eves
Fidow
Thompson
Evans
Christie
Garden-Bachop
Goosen / Aso

It would be interesting to look back at the end of next season and see if that 23 ever made the teamsheet.

[Bones]

@stargazer and here I was thinking that team looked bloody sharp and you did the Lowe thing. Procter to centre, Aso on the wing and Goosen on the bench looks very tidy indeed.

[Stargazer]

@bones said in Hurricanes 2018:

@stargazer and here I was thinking that team looked bloody sharp and you did the Lowe thing. Procter to centre, Aso on the wing and Goosen on the bench looks very tidy indeed.

Haha, you read my last sentence, didn't you? It was tongue in cheek. I hope and expect Lowe will manage to get into the 23 a few times this season, but probably later in the season when injuries strike, and from the bench. There's no reason why he wouldn't get/deserve that opportunity.

[Bones]

@stargazer hah yep, my post probably seemed a bit serious! I have to admit I'd find it quite amusing if he somehow got leap-frogged by someone outside the squad...

[Tim]

Why do you retards rate Toby Smith above Eves?

[Bones]

@tim hasn't passed through the Harbour system.

[Winger]

Very happy with this squad. Much stronger than last year. Hopefully we have fewer injuries than last year year though

[Stargazer]

The Hurricanes Development team will play the Crusaders Knights in Christchurch on Sunday.

Canes U20 team:

JORDIE BARRETT NAMED IN HURRICANES DEVELOPMENT
23.02.2018

Two-test All Black Jordie Barrett will make his return to rugby on Sunday after being included on the bench in the Hurricanes Development squad who will meet the Crusaders Knights in Christchurch.

Barrett has been sidelined since the middle of last year after he underwent shoulder surgery following the British and Irish Lions series but has been training with the Hurricanes through the pre-season.

"He has come through protocols during the week and is on schedule for his return to play and so he will take his opportunity," Hurricanes Recruitment and Development Manager Darren Larsen said.

"It's exciting for him to come back and get a go. He will be on managed minutes but it's great to see him back on the footy field, he's really excited."

Sunday's match is the first of the season for the Hurricanes Development side with Larsen happy with the way the squad had come together.

A number of the Hurricanes squad who did not travel to South Africa have been included in the side with James Blackwell and Reed Prinsep starting.

[mikedogz]

Richard Judd gets around. He has trained or played development/Tens for Chiefs, Blues, Crusaders, Hurricanes.

[Stargazer]

It seems they couldn't find a single Hawke's Bay player for this team. Part of the reason is that several players from last year's Dev and U20s teams are now with the senior team (Lowe is in South Africa), have moved to another franchise (Falcon/Chiefs, Mikaele-Tu'u/Highlanders) or are injured (Geoff Cridge, Tim Farrell). I did, however, expect Pouri Rakete-Stones in this squad. I guess Jacob Devery still qualfies for the Canes U20s.

Hugh Renton has moved to Christchurch recently, so it will be interesting to see whether he'll appear in future Crusader Knights games.

[MN5]

@stargazer said in Hurricanes 2018:

It seems they couldn't find a single Hawke's Bay player for this team. Part of the reason is that several players from last year's Dev and U20s teams are now with the senior team (Lowe is in South Africa), have moved to another franchise (Falcon/Chiefs, Mikaele-Tu'u/Highlanders) or are injured (Geoff Cridge, Tim Farrell). I did, however, expect Pouri Rakete-Stones in this squad. I guess Jacob Devery still qualfies for the Canes U20s.

Hugh Renton has moved to Christchurch recently, so it will be interesting to see whether he'll appear in future Crusader Knights games.

@Nepia will have kittens when he sees that first sentence.