Waikato 2023
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From memory these were the teams that started each game:
(vs Counties Manukau)
Mason Tupaea
Sean Ralph
Sosaia Folau - a new name for me
Andrew Smith
Zinzan Hansen
Samipeni Finau
Senita Lauaki
Luke JacobsonTe Aonui Wharawhara-Muriwai
Dominic Clapcott
Waisake Salibiau
Austin Anderson
Tana Tuhakaraina
Cody Nordstrom
Jole Naufahu(vs Taranaki)
Ayden Johnstone
Pita Anae-Ah Sue
Solomone Tukuafu
Hamilton Burr
Tai Cribb
Xavier Saifoloi
Simon Parker
Te Rama ReubenCortez Ratima
Josh Ioane
Daniel Sinkinson
Gideon Wrampling
Quinn Tupaea
Cody Nordstrom
Tepaea Cook-SavageThe lineout had some issues in both games, a combination of overthrows from the hookers and getting picked off at the front. Not having any of the main locks didn't help.
Roe is still not available for a few weeks.
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@OleOleOle said in Waikato 2023:
Sosaia Folau - a new name for me, are you sure this wasn't Sosaia Fale from HOB?
I was relying on the name listed in the programme I was given. I would describe him as a prop carrying some extra weight. If that's him, what is his background/age?
I see McWhannell is not available until week 3 or 4 as well
We need Tucker to be fit from Rd 1 then. As I said I would look at bringing in a more experienced lock like Josh Coffin. Maybe Sam Pou, based on my limited knowledge of the locks in club rugby. The other three locks used were 19/20 yrs old.
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@Bovidae It sounds like him, early to mid 20's, fair to say he is carrying a little extra weight. A big man and a hell of a scrummager.
I think Tucker will be fit for round 1, probably just pulling the veteran card by not playing pre-season haha.
Maybe they bring in coffin as cover, I see they used Cribb & Smith, but they're on the smaller side for a lock. Hansen has potential.
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Smith started the first game but went off injured and was replaced by Cribb. Both are really 6s although Cribb played at no.8 for TA Sports.
Yeah, I first saw Hansen a couple of years back playing for the Waikato Juniors. He's got height, which is always an advantage for a lock. I also thought he played OK for the NZ Barbarians U21s in the U20 tournament after missing selection for the Chiefs U20s.
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@Yeetyaah said in Waikato 2023:
Just confirmed Josh Ioane has a broken arm, that'll pretty much be his season. Pretty gutting.
Bugger.
A lot more pressure on Kemara now. With Leuila now also unavailable, Cook-Savage or Coombes-Fabling might be used as the backup 1st 5.
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Gallagher 2023 Waikato Rugby Awards Evening
Waikato Rugby celebrated their Gallagher 2023 rugby awards last night (Tuesday 19 th September) at K aute Pasifika...
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As the 2023 NPC is now over for Waikato I was curious to know how many players were used by Ross Filipo this season. Originally a 33-man squad was named. The replacement players used are in italics.
Hookers
Samisoni Taukei’aho - RWC
Rhys Marshall - played 2 games
Pita Anae-Ah SueSean Ralph - NPC debut
Props
Ayden Johnstone
Ollie Norris
Mason Tupaea - NPC debut
George Dyer
Solomone Tukuafu
Gabe Robinson - never playedTolu Fahamokioa
Locks
James Tucker
Laghlan McWhannell
Hamilton BurrTai Cribb - NPC debut
Zinzan Hansen - NPC debutLoose forwards
Mitch Jacobson - played < 3 games
Patrick McCurran - played < 3 games
Samipeni Finau
Luke Jacobson - RWC
Simon Parker
Te Rama ReubenMalachi Wrampling - NPC debut
Jack Lam
Xavier Saifoloi - NPC debut
Joe JohnstonHalfbacks
Xavier Roe
Cortez RatimaNui Muriwai - NPC debut
Quintony Ngatai - NPC debut1st 5s
Damian McKenzie - RWC
Josh Ioane - played < 40 mins
Taha KemaraAaron Cruden
Midfield
D’Angelo Leuila - RWC
Anton Lienert-Brown - RWC
Bailyn Sullivan
Quinn Tupaea
Gideon WramplingTana Tuhakaraina
Austin Anderson - NPC debutOutside backs
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Liam Coombes-Fabling
Mosese Dawai - never played
Cody Nordstrom - NPC debut
Daniel SinkinsonAki Tuivailala - NPC debut
Therefore an additional 14 players had to be used during the season, and many ended up playing in a lot of the games.
Waikato’s final record was P11 W5 L6. On the strength of the end to the season and making the QFs, and taking into account the number of players missing at different times, I’d give a B grade. A lot of the debutants are 20 years old or younger so they’ve now had a taste of the NPC and can hopefully kick on in future seasons.
My MVP would be James Tucker with Simon Parker a close second (Ollie Norris was chosen in the WR awards).
My rookie of the year is Malachi Wrampling (Austin Anderson was chosen in the WR awards). -
Rep Team Review | Waikato U18 Girls
Our first Rep Team Review of the 2023 season is that of our undefeated Waikato U18 Girls side. Coahed by Raquel...
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@Stargazer could be his Super season.
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@Canes4life I hope not. I guess it depends on what the problem was and the nature of the surgery.
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@Stargazer hopefully it's minor clean up surgery.
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I noticed on Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong's instagram that he will be in Portugal for the next few months, so I started digging for some info. This is what I found. Thought it was interesting.
Waikato coach off to lead Portugal's first professional rugby club
Travis Church gets opportunity to take reins at Portugal's first professional rugby club.
Te Awamutu Sports head coach and 2023 Hurricanes Poua assistant coach Travis Church has signed with S.L. Benfica Rugby - Portugal’s first professional rugby club.
The new S.L. Benfica head coach will bring Te Awamutu Sports reps Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong and Manase Mohuanga to add to the Lisbon-based club’s roster.
Church says that professionalism is a major step in a positive direction for Portugal rugby.
“I’ve never been to Portugal. This is the second season of this team being professional. they had their inaugural pro season last year, 2022/2023, so it’s quite neat coming in the year after.
Former Chiefs player and ex-Portugal head coach Errol Brain had reached out to several New Zealand coaches asking if they were interested in the role and Church’s name got thrown into the ring.
