Wellington Lions 2020
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@mikey07 better yet, Julian Savea.
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@Canes4life Can we get them at 1 and 3 respectively?
@mikey07 what's Piri doing? He could be fairly handy unfront.
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First XV
Armstrong / Numia
Coles / Aumua
Fidow
Ah Kuoi
Blackwell
Fifta / TBN
Kirifi
A Savea
Perenara
JGB
J Savea
Aso
PUJ
Patafilo
GoosenNot sure on the back 3 make up, there is no standout fullback in that squad to me at this stage.
Keen to see the youngsters - Morgan, Plumtree, & Love & a lot of names I don't recognise.
It's a pretty strong top 15 at NPC level.
Still not sold on B Proctor, and surprised Renata makes the squad.
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@Tim With Numia and Armstrong out for the season here are my picks on squads with and without ABs:
With All Blacks: 1. Poi 2. Coles 3. Fidow 4. Blackwell (most likely) 5. Ah Koui 6. Fifita 7. Kirifi 8. Savea 9. Perenara 10. Garden-Bachop 11. Aso 12. Umaga-Jensen 13. Proctor 14. Goosen 15. Garden-Bachop 16. Aumua 17. Tevita Metcalfe 18. Uluilakepa 19. Plumtree 20. Ben-Nicholas 21. Collins 22. Love/Morgan 23. Savea
Without All Blacks: 1. Poi 2. Thompson 3. Fidow 4. Blackwell 5. Ah Koui 6. Fifita 7. Kirifi 8. Ben-Nicholas 9. Collins 10. Garden-Bachop 11. Aso 12. Umaga-Jensen (might be a bolter for ABs) 13. Proctor 14. Goosen 15. Garden-Bachop 16. O'Reilly 17. Tevita Metcalfe 18. Uluilakepa 19. Plumtree 20. Delaney 21. Hauiti Parapara 22. Love/Morgan 23. Savea
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No Patafilo canes4life? He's been pretty dangerous last few years at NPC level.
How do you rate the younger GB? Haven't seen much of him myself.
@foobaNZ He has been dangerous but I think he will miss out to the higher profile players like Goosen and Aso.
Connor GB is the better brother out of the Garden Bachop bros IMO, he reminds me of a bigger Josh McKay and should lock down that fullback position if he gets plenty of game time.
Yeah the loss of Numia and Armstrong is huge for Wellington's title aspirations. I can't see us doing much in this comp if we don't hold our own at set-piece.
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@foobaNZ He has been dangerous but I think he will miss out to the higher profile players like Goosen and Aso.
Connor GB is the better brother out of the Garden Bachop bros IMO, he reminds me of a bigger Josh McKay and should lock down that fullback position if he gets plenty of game time.
Yeah the loss of Numia and Armstrong is huge for Wellington's title aspirations. I can't see us doing much in this comp if we don't hold our own at set-piece.
@Canes4life said in Wellington Lions 2020:
@foobaNZ He has been dangerous but I think he will miss out to the higher profile players like Goosen and Aso.
Connor GB is the better brother out of the Garden Bachop bros IMO, he reminds me of a bigger Josh McKay and should lock down that fullback position if he gets plenty of game time.
Yeah the loss of Numia and Armstrong is huge for Wellington's title aspirations. I can't see us doing much in this comp if we don't hold our own at set-piece.
Shame about Numia. I rate him higher than Armstrong and was looking forward to see how he progressed this year. But Armstrong is also a big loss for wellington
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Has Connor GB recovered from the back injury & surgery that kept him from playing for the Highlanders this year?
@Stargazer said in Wellington Lions 2020:
Has Connor GB recovered from the back injury & surgery that kept him from playing for the Highlanders this year?
Good question
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@Stargazer said in Wellington Lions 2020:
Has Connor GB recovered from the back injury & surgery that kept him from playing for the Highlanders this year?
Good question
@Winger sure has, he made his come back last week for his club side Norths.
He's starting in the 11 jersey this week - http://www.clubrugby.co.nz/wellington/games-results.php?competition=1&season=16&round=11
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@foobaNZ He has been dangerous but I think he will miss out to the higher profile players like Goosen and Aso.
Connor GB is the better brother out of the Garden Bachop bros IMO, he reminds me of a bigger Josh McKay and should lock down that fullback position if he gets plenty of game time.
Yeah the loss of Numia and Armstrong is huge for Wellington's title aspirations. I can't see us doing much in this comp if we don't hold our own at set-piece.
@Canes4life "apparently" Not out for season, Heard a rumour Numias out for another 3 weeks due to knee reconstruction over a month ago. and will be avail for selection sooner then we think
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I just realised Losi Filipo isn’t in that list I think he’s been ok for Wellington in the past.
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Watched Kaliopasi Uluilakepa and Mateaki Kafatolu both play for Petone on Saturday. Uluilakepa looked to be about 15 to 20 kg overweight and did nothing scrumming wise to inspire any confidence in him in that aspect (until the Axemen bench props came on and made it not so difficult for him) but did come into his own a little bit in the second half with a couple of mid field bashes when his team had most of the ball and were on top of the smaller Axemen pack. Kafetolu had his first run for the season (at No. Eight) but did not really notice him until I spotted him in a lineout about ten minutes into the second half. Cannot really give an opinion on his play because I did not watch him very closely at all. Seemed to be OK fitness wise though. Fahamokioa actually turns out for Norths these days and has been on the bench for all others games this season and likewise for Tawa during the latter part of last season so not sure whether he is recovering from injury or the desire to play at the top is still there. We can certainly count out another Tawa front row player from any involvement with the Lions from now on.
From what I heard pre covid Fifita was exploring overseas options (and who can blame him after being permanently overlooked for Reed Princep at the Hurricanes!) although things might have changed since then with the drastic salary reductions, back to reality, happening up there.@Higgins i find Kafatolu does nothing at club level but seems to do really well at Mitre10, and Kaliopasi is a good ball carrier but a poor scrummager. with the extra pounds he has, im surpised hes been picked im sure there are other props in wellington region that can do the job. Setivieni Paogo would of been good but chooses the thug life
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@Canes4life "apparently" Not out for season, Heard a rumour Numias out for another 3 weeks due to knee reconstruction over a month ago. and will be avail for selection sooner then we think
@BerhamporeNinja this is great news. I heard Armstrong might not be out for the whole season either. He should be back late October all going well.
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@mikey07 what a shame, i highly rate Filipo. he played well last time he played in the lions. maybe the bus forced him out?
@BerhamporeNinja I feel he is still paying for his misdemeanor a couple of years ago which is a shame. Everyone deserves a second chance.
