Wellington v Waikato (RS)

[Duluth]

https://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/news/news-single/lions-named-for-first-ranfurly-shield-defence-since-2009

1 Xavier Numia, Oriental Rongotai
2 Asafo Aumua, Avalon
3 Pekahou Cowan, Petone
4 James Blackwell, Petone
5 Dominic Bird, Upper Hutt Rams
6 Caleb Delaney, Old Boys University
7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, Northern United
8 Peter Lakai, Petone
9 TJ Perenara, Northern United
10 Aidan Morgan, Marist St Pats
11 Pepesana Patafilo, Tawa
12 Riley Higgins, Petone
13 Billy Proctor, Marist St Pats
14 Julian Savea, Oriental-Rongotai
15 Ruben Love, Wainuiomata

16 James O’Reilly, Hutt Old Boys Marist
17 Solomona Sakalia, Northern United
18 PJ Sheck, Tawa
19 Taine Plumtree, Old Boys University
20 Keelan Whitman, Marist St Pats
21 Richard Judd, Paremata-Plimmerton
22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, Northern United
23 Connor Garden-Bachop, Northern United

[Winger]

@Canes4life said in Wellington v Waikato (RS):

Great opportunity for Riley Higgins.

Agree. He's looked good so far though but this is his biggest game.

[Canes4life]

@Winger he will be eyeing a Hurricanes contract so will want to make a statement.

[Winger]

@Canes4life said in Wellington v Waikato (RS):

@Winger he will be eyeing a Hurricanes contract so will want to make a statement.

I will watch him closely. I see him as potentially better than PUJ. But haven't seen enough of him yet

[Machpants]

@Canes4life said in Wellington v Waikato (RS):

@Winger he will be eyeing a Hurricanes contract so will want to make a statement.

A red instead of a yellow?

[Canes4life]

Have Waikato named their side yet? Talk about delayed.

[Bovidae]

@Canes4life said in Wellington v Waikato (RS):

Have Waikato named their side yet? Talk about delayed.

The team will be named today, and has always been announced the day before the game.

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae maybe by Waikato standards. Most professional outfits name their team on Thursday if they are playing Saturday.

[Bovidae]

@Canes4life You've missed our discussions about team releases during the NPC season.

[Stargazer]

@Canes4life I think you're overly optimistic with "most". Hawke's Bay named their team this morning and we're still waiting for Waikato, Northland, Bay of Plenty. So half of the provinces didn't.

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae I’ve obviously missed something haha

[Bovidae]

https://www.mooloo.co.nz/newsarticle/120371?newsCarouselId=680598

[Crucial]

@Bovidae Tuhakaraina on the bench is a good call. I've liked what I've seen so far.

[Winger]

@Winger

1. Ayden Johnstone (Hautapu) – co-captain
2. Rhys Marshall
3. Sefo Kautai (Hamilton Marist)
4. James Tucker (Hamilton Marist)
5. Laghlan McWhannell (Hautapu)
6. Hamilton Burr (Hautapu)
7. Mitch Jacobson (Hautapu) – co-captain
8. Samipeni Finau (Hamilton Old Boys)
9. Xavier Roe (Hamilton Old Boys)
10. Damian McKenzie (University)
11. Daniel Sinkinson (Melville)
12. D’Angelo Leuila (Fraser Tech)
13. Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)
14. Liam Coombes-Fabling (Fraser Tech)
15. Tepaea Cook-Savage (Fraser Tech)
16. Pita Anae Ah-Sue (Southern United)
17. Ollie Norris (Hautapu)
18. George Dyer (Fraser Tech)
19. Patrick McCurran (Fraser Tech)
20. Jack Lam (Hamilton Marist)
21. Cortez Ratima (Otorohanga)
22. Tana Tuhakaraina (United Matamata Sports)
23. Mosese Dawai (Otorohanga)

[Bovidae]

@Crucial He is midfield cover, mostly centre.

Finau at no.8 is an interesting decision. He was playing there in the pre-season game I watched.

[Winger]

@Bovidae

Good to see McKenzie back at 1st. And will watch his match-up with Morgan closely. As I will Proctor v Sullivan.

Forecast Sat 24th

Rain, possibly heavy in the morning, easing to showers in the evening. Southerlies, strong in exposed places.

[Machpants]

Biggest vs smallest wing in NPC?

[Crucial]

@Winger said in Wellington v Waikato (RS):

@Bovidae

Good to see McKenzie back at 1st. And will watch his match-up with Morgan closely. As I will Proctor v Sullivan.

Forecast Sat 24th

Rain/wind -usual Wellington crap

FIFY

[taniwharugby]

@Stargazer Northland side has been named, they have just decided not to publish it on social media this season until the last minute.

I think they still have to submit the sides by a certain time to NZR, and often get updated on the NPC page

https://www.provincial.rugby/news/bunnings-npc-round-8-team-lists/

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby The rule in the Competitions Regulations Handbook is that teams must be announced publicly 24 hours before kick-off.