NPC - news, injuries etc

[Crucial]

Bloody hell. I don't expect CM to win the comp but also wouldn't expect them to come in last. Maybe the TAB thinks they will drag in a few ambitious bucks from Pukekohe with those odds.
Are there odds yet for semi-final placing? I would say Canterbury and Naki (probably Ta$man) are the only 'certs' there. Wellington are always an unpredictable quality.
Auckland and CM look to be at longer odds than they deserve and I wouldn't be surprised to see NH at the pointy end.

My ranking guess would be
Canterbury
Taranaki
Ta$man
=North Harbour
=Wellington
=Auckland
=Counties Manukau

[Chris]

@african-monkey While Ready's departure is a done deal, it's understood Sef Faagase's situation is a little more complicated.

Faagase, like Ready, has been forced to settle for time off the bench this season - JP Smith and Taniela Tupou lead pipe locks to start at loosehead and tighthead prop, respectively, each week.
He took to Instagram to bid farewell to Ballymore but it's understood the Reds are still in contract talks with the versatile 27-year-old.

We hear Faagase born in Auckland is eager to return to New Zealand to play in the Mitre 10 Cup, with Kiwi Super Rugby franchises potential suitors.

[Stargazer]

Preseason game today:

Waitkato v Hawke's Bay
Owen Delany Park, Taupo
Kick-off 1.30pm

I've posted the Magpies squad in the Magpies forum.
Has anyone seen a Waikato line-up?

[Tim]

New look Counties Manukau ready to make impact

[Stargazer]

Waikato 19 (3T) - 15 (3T) Magpies (HT: 19 - 5)

Still haven't found the Waikato line-up.

[cgrant]

For the Championship, my bid is on BOP. The squad is full of players with Super Rugby experience, particularly in the forwards. They should be difficult to beat IMO.

[Steven Harris]

@stargazer yeah disappointing,some unions do it it better than others,tried to find the Counties Manukau lineup that play Northland on Thursday on the CM FB site not a thing,but they were all over the naming of their Mitre 10 Cup squad..

[mikedogz]

Possible Counties starting line up

1 Sean Bagshaw
2 Joe Royal
3 Kalolo Tuiloma then Nepo Laulala
4 Matiaha Martin
5 Viliame Rarasea
6 Sikeli Nabou
7 Sam Henwood
8 Mathew Vaai
9 Jonathan Taumateine
10 Luteru Laulala
11 Tevita Nabura
12 Orbyn Leger ( SBW if needing game time)
13 Cardiff Vaega
14 Toni Pulu
15 Etene Nanai-Seturo

16 Gafatasi Su'a
17 Coree Te Whata-Colley,
18 Howard Sililoto
19 Dan Hyatt
20 Fotu Lokotui
21 Liam Daniela
22 Latiume Fosita
23 Sione Molia

Got wings for days with Sione Fifita, Sione Molia, Toni Pulu, Tevita Nabura and Glen Fisiiahi in the WTG

[chchfanatic]

Canterbury starting team without All Blacks

1 Daniel liernet-brown
2 Nathan Vella
3 Chris King
4 Luke Romano
5 Mitch dunshea
6 Tom sanders
7 billy Harmon
8 Whetu Douglas
9 Mitch Drummond
10 Brett Cameron
11 josh Mckay
12 Phil Burleigh
13 braydon ennor
14 Ngane Punivai
15 George Bridge
16 Greg Pleasants Tate
17 Alex Hodgman
18 Sef Faagase
19 Hamish Dalziel
20 Tom Christie
21 Ere Enari
22 Sam Beard
23 Caleb Makene
That will be pretty close baring injuries

[Tim]

No better option than Chris King?

[Tim]

@Chris-B Name your Ta$man team!

[chchfanatic]

@tim no he was named as the number 1 prop surprisingly. Samu Tawke (sumner) and Troy Hallet (LU) next off the rank

[Tim]

@chchfanatic Cheers. How do you rate the other two?

[Tim]

Looking forward to Aumua taking on Makalio in the Wellington/ Ta$man game this year.

[chchfanatic]

@tim samu big lump of a lad. Fijian boy. Sumner scrum dominated most scrums this year. Hallet a lot smaller but bloody solid. Does his core roles very well

[African Monkey]

@chchfanatic No Harrison Allan?

[chchfanatic]

@african-monkey he’s in the squad but behind lienert brown and hodgman

[chchfanatic]

@chchfanatic will be interesting to see the team vs the all blacks this week. I’d say they’d be no crusaders. They’d still be drunk I suspect.

[African Monkey]

@chchfanatic Still looks a strong team (not unbeatable but should still win it) with the spotlight on Brett Cameron and a new midfield altogether. Oli Jager still injured as well I take it?

[chchfanatic]

@african-monkey yeah I saw him in a sling 6-8 weeks ago. Shoulder recon I think