Pasifika SR team
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Auckland based 'Moana Pasifika' Super Rugby team bid unveiled - but are Fiji on board?
A new south Auckland based group - Moana Pasifika - have launched a bid to become Super Rugby's much-vaunted new Pacific rugby team.
The group that wants to represent all of the Pacific nations, and are proposing to work closely with Counties-Manukau rugby union, who are based in south Auckland. -
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@stargazer said in Pasifika SR team:
@machpants Do you ever read posts on the Fern? This has already been posted.
I blame the iPad it often starts me past my last read post.
My apologies!
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@mariner4life said in Pasifika SR team:
@crucial said in Pasifika SR team:
@mariner4life said in Pasifika SR team:
conceptually i love this idea. the problem is the reality.
Island teams based out of the islands, playing in the islands, exposing the best local players (including those that have schooled in NZ/Aus) and providing a realistic pathway. Awesome. Who doesn't love it? Imagine popping up to Fiji for the weekend to watch the Chiefs then stay at on at Denarau? Great for the economy. Throw in a couple of teams with a different style to what we usually see, and there is little to quibble at.
Then the reality sets in. Local players using local facilities are going to be a fucking miiiiiiile behind the required standard. And horrendous beatings will be on the cards. So they'll need a few seasoned pros to help them out. Where do they get them from? The obvious hope is Europe. but what are the chances of Charlie Piatau leaving England to go live in Tonga/Samoa for a Super rugby salary? Then what are the chances of a guy from Auckland/Wellington doing the same? Neither are high. So you have to base in Auckland to be attractive. That's half the above advantages gone already. Broadcasters will whinge about the cost of showing games from the Islands, so again, base in Auckland please. You base in Auckland, and suddenly guys already here, and already in a semi-pro environment look so much better. So instead of providing a pathway for the Islands, you are eroding the paper-thin depth of NZ. Or staffing your team with players not good enough for NZ teams, so we are back to the beatings.
It might be better for everyone if the Tonga/Samoa team is based in Aus if it has to be anywhere.
and this is from a guy whose speciality is posting stupid Star Wars memes.
you may have me confused with someone else
You all look alike you people with names starting with M.
I wish I could put today's posting down to being drunk but sadly it was a result of being pissed off and really busy at work so just firing in here to make stupid comments. I know that sounds normal but I think there was maybe an extra 1% stupidity added.
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Seems to be a lot of negativity and doom and gloom about this announcement.
Does anyone remember the conference system we had only a year or two ago? To me this new competition seems like a massive upgrade on the shit show we had previously.
Let’s wait and see what happens re eligibility, home bases, financials, competitiveness etc etc before we throw the baby out with the bath water.
I’m looking forward to it!
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@gunner in general im looking forward to it
i just wish, if NZR was going to force another team based in NZ then do it based on an area, central north for example so it could take super rugby to areas that dont get it as often...rather than jamming it in between the two closets super teams, assuming it goes to south auckland
OR,
if its about growing the game in the pacific then both teams are based in the islands
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So who's going to be available for the Pasifika team? I'm thinking that it will mainly be NPC players without Super Rugby contracts, wider training group/injury cover SR players, and fringe SR squad members.
Some (Blues region and Counties Manukau centered) possibilities:
Jarred Adams
Marco Fepulea'i
James Lay
Jordan Lay
Ezekiel Lindenmuth
Joe Apikotoa
Fatongia PaeaLeni Apisai
Ray Niuia
Mike Sosene-Feagai
Donald MakaKane Le'aupepe
Niko Jones
Alamanda Motuga
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
Sione Tuipulotu
Murphy Taramai
Samipeni Finau
Jesse Parete
Josh KaifaTaufa Funaki
Danny Tusitala
Jonathan Taumateine
Lisati Milo-HarrisOrbyn Leger
Latiume FositaDanny Toala
Vince Aso
Inga Finau
Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u
Ray Nu'u
Stacey Ili
James Little
Michael Little
James Tofa
Neria Fomai
Josiah MarakuLolagi Visinia
Salesi Rayasi
Freedom Vahaakolo
Tevita NaburaChase Tiatia
There's probably a few from BOP, Ta$man, Wellington etc that I'm missing. They could also get some non-pacific players too, especially at lock.
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@tim said in Pasifika SR team:
Freedom Vahaakolo
hands off
i'd put money on Nasi Manu being one of the first names signed up
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Comment from Tom Coventry today:
"I've got no doubt it's going to really affect our depth," Coventry said.
"We're always looking to the provinces to make sure we've got guys in here that can step up in time. If we're losing those sorts of players to opposition teams in Super Rugby, it's going to dilute the competition for sure.
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@Machpants I tried to like that and it said "Forbidden".
Which works on a number of levels
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@tim said in Pasifika SR team:
So who's going to be available for the Pasifika team? I'm thinking that it will mainly be NPC players without Super Rugby contracts, wider training group/injury cover SR players, and fringe SR squad members.
It depends entirely on whether they've set eligibility criteria for this team and what those criteria are. Nothing has been published about that. For example, will they exclude players who are not eligible to play for Tonga/Samoa/(Fiji)/other PI nations? If players are contracted to a SR franchise, it doesn't matter whether they're fringe squad members. If they're still under contract, they'll be unavailable, unless their current franchise is willing to release them (with NZR's permission).
Some of these players below may be re-signed by their current SR franchise.
Some (Blues region and Counties Manukau centered) possibilities:
Jarred Adams
Marco Fepulea'i
James Lay
Jordan Lay
Ezekiel Lindenmuth
Joe Apikotoa
Fatongia PaeaLeni Apisai
Ray Niuia
Mike Sosene-Feagai - USA capped
Donald MakaKane Le'aupeperetiredNiko Jones
Alamanda Motuga
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa
Sione Tuipulotu
Murphy Taramai
Samipeni Finau
Jesse Parete - has he returned from Japan?
Josh KaifaTaufa Funaki
Danny Tusitala
Jonathan Taumateine
Lisati Milo-HarrisOrbyn Leger
Latiume FositaDanny Toala
Vince Aso
Inga Finau
Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u
Ray Nu'u
Stacey Ili
James Little
Michael Little - currently playing in Japan
James Tofa
Neria Fomai
Josiah MarakuLolagi Visinia - NZ capped (via sevens)
Salesi Rayasi - NZ capped (via sevens)
Freedom Vahaakolo
Tevita NaburaChase Tiatia
There's probably a few from BOP, Ta$man, Wellington etc that I'm missing. They could also get some non-pacific players too, especially at lock.
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I dont care at all if it dilutes NZs depth at SR level.
I care that it is structurally certain that this team will be the weakest nz team each year. Because they're fishing in the same pool as 5 other teams but they've lost their bait.
They are the nz version of that team from Port Elizabeth who's name I've forgotten already . Where SARU stashed all their players of colour who weren't good enough for the other teams.
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4 options here for NZRU IMO. To play for ABs
- Must play for one of the 5 NZ sides
- Must play super rugby, any of the 12 sides is fine
- NZ sides or Moana Pasifika
- NZ sides or MP or the Fijian side
I'd favour the first 2 options myself
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It's also worth looking at last year's Moana Pasifika squad:
Moana Pasifika squad 2020 (Mitre 10 Cup team in brackets)
FORWARDS
Alamanda Motuga * (Counties Manukau)
Daniel Leinert-Brown (Canterbury)
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti (North Harbour)
Jordan Lay * (Bay of Plenty)
Leni Apisai (Auckland)
Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (Hawke’s Bay)
Michael Alaalatoa* (Manawatu)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Wellingto)
Nasi Manu * (Otago)
Pita Gus Sowakula (Taranaki)
Samipeni Finau (Waikato)
Samisoni Taukie'aho (Waikato)
Sione Mafielo (North Harbour)
Zane Kapeli * (Bay of Plenty)BACKS
Asaeli Tikoroituma * (North Harbour)
Dwyane Polataivao * ( Ta$man)
Etene Nanai-Seturo ** (Counties Manukau)
Fetuli Paea * ( Ta$man)
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Jone Macilai (Northland)
Josh Ioane * (Otago)
Leicester Fainga'anuku ( Ta$man)
Salesi Rayasi ** (Auckland)
Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki)
Tomasi Alosio **(Wellington)
Vince Aso (Wellington)*Test Capped Player
** 7s Capped Player
Etene Nanai-Seturo - NZ
Salesi Rayasi - NZ
Tomasi Alosio - Samoa -
@tim said in Pasifika SR team:
It's also worth looking at last year's Moana Pasifika squad:
The team has to be a compelling proposition too - not just for the feelz, but you need good admin, facilities and coaching to entice good players. It's what underpins Crusaders success, and we've seen it with the Blues and Chiefs -- good coaching attracts good players.
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Be interesting to try and make a team from the players posted above. I would expect them to only pick up a hand few of the super rugby players from last year's Moana Pasifika squad. They have mentioned Steven Luatua a lot though.
If I'm being optimistic:
1 Daniel Leinert-Brown
2 Samisoni Taukie'aho
3 Sione Mafielo
4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi
5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
6 Steven Luatua
7 Niko Jones
8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u9 Jonathan Taumateine
10 Josh Ioane
11 Salesi Rayasi
12 Chase Tiatia
13 Vince Aso
14 Tevita Nabura
15 Stephen Perofeta16 Leni Apisai
17 James Lay
18 Marco Fepulea'i/ Joe Apikotoa/Jarred Adams/ Jordan Lay
19 ? Locks are a problem, maybe Filo Paulo
20 Samipeni Finau
21 Lisati Milo-Harris
22 Orbyn Leger
23 Lolagi Visinia
