NPC - news, injuries etc
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The Auckland Rugby website isn't exactly prompt with updates
They have just posted an article about the game from Saturday and talks about the upcoming 'game of 3 halves' that was in fact played yesterday
The only info about yesterdays game seems to be that Auckland won the half against the Coca Cola Red Sparks 19-7
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The Mitre 10 Cup website is being filled with season previews at the moment. Haven't read them yet, so don't know whether they are any good. Here are the team previews that are already available. I'll post the remaining ones (Counties, Ta$man & Hawke's Bay) later when they are available:
Premiership test for North Harbour
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Manawatu Turbos squad for the preseason game against the Magpies tomorrow:
1 Fraser Armstrong
2 Hunter Prescott
3 Sione Asi
4 Jackson Hemopo
5 Tom Parsons
6 Nick Crosswell
7 Antonio Kirikiri
8 Harrison Brewer
9 Jamie Booth
10 Jade Te Rure
11 Willy Ambaka
12 Hamish Northcott
13 Lewis Marshall
14 Ambrose Curtis
15 Te Rangatira Waitokia16 Tim Cadwallader
17 Tuki Raimona
18 Sam Tufuga
19 Liam Hallam-Eames
20 Brice Henderson
21 Brayden Iose
22 Kayne Hammington
23 Ben Wyness
24 Curtis Reid
25 Newton Tudreu
26 Patrick Tafili-Reid -
Okay, one is funny, but I'm pretty certain this is the new Mitre 10 Cup advertising campaign, so I expect them to post more videos like these (like they did with those billboards last season). Hopefully, they won't all be similar to this one:
30K views · 857 reactions | 😂 😂 😂 Good on ya Mooloo fans! Check out...
😂 😂 😂 Good on ya Mooloo fans! Check out what they’ve done in Taranaki!
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Yeah I don't get all this chatter about Bowden. He never settled at 10 or 12 at super rugby level and was only marginally above serviceable at npc level. Why people would now think the same player at 31 and riddled by injury, might make a good signing is bloody beyond me.
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WELLINGTON
Joe Apikotoa (Tighthead), Alex Fidow (Tighthead), Reggie Goodes (Tighthead), Tolu Fahamokioa (Loosehed/Thighthead), Vince Sakaria (Loosehead), Jeffery To’omaga-Allen (Loosehead), Dane Coles (Hooker), Leni Apisai (Hooker), Asafo Aumua (Hooker), James Blackwell (Lock), Sam Lousi (Lock), Isaia Walker–Leawere (Lock), Lui Okeamoa-Luamanu (Lock/Blindside), Brad Shields (Blindside/No 8), Galu Taufale (Blindside), Vaea Fifita (Blindside/Lock), Greg Foe (Openside), Ardie Savea (Loose Forward), Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Halfback), TJ Perenara (Halfback), Carlos Price (Halfback), Sheridan Rangihuna (Halfback), Dan Kirkpatrick (1st 5), Trent Renata (1st 5), Jackson Garden-Bachop (1st 5), TJ Va’a (1st 5), Wes Goosen (Midfield/Outside Back), Matt Proctor (Midfield/Outside Back), Peter Umaga-Jensen (Midfield), Ben Lam (Winger), Malo Tuitama (Winger),Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Wing/Fullback)..Julian Savea makes it!
EDIT: I have sorted out the positions the players generally play and it does look a bit top heavy in a couple of areas and wafer thin in others. Presumably they are hoping that some of the utility type players might be able to cover spots like fullback. Four first fives and three halfbacks (TJ Perenana obviously won't play) does seem to be a bit of a luxury.
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Thanks, the one I got was from the official Mitre10 Cup Website, my how things can quickly change.
They have named a guy that has not played anywhere other than loosehead prop for as long as I can recall as one of the four hookers and no one as a specialist fullback - misplaced confidence!
I am so exceedingly pleased to see one player that owes me two jugs from two seasons ago named in the squad. Hopefully he will now have enough cash to front up and settle the debt! -
@mikedogz said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Counties Manukau PIC Steelers 2017 Squad Announced
Coaches Darryl Suasua, Grant Henson and Semo Sititi have named their team with a blend of popular long-serving Steelers, new local talent, brothers, Super Rugby players and internationals.
The Counties Manukau squad features 23 players who have previously been part of the Steelers environment and seven new additions. Thirteen players have Super Rugby experience and 10 have earned international honours.
Young rookies to the PIC Steelers family include McNamara Cup winning halfback Liam Daniela from Bombay, Waiuku speedster winger Tevita Nabura and Pukekohe midfielder Salimoni Tukinia. At 20 years of age, Junior World Cup champion Orbyn ‘Go the Fro’ Leger, whose father Gus also played for the Steelers, is the youngest player in the team.
Also joining the side this year is Maori All Black Joe Royal who has spent part of the Super Rugby season training with the Blues, and Brumbies midfielder Nigel Ah Wong who scored the Brumbies only try against the Chiefs in their last New Zealand outing.
South Auckland born Samoan international Albert Nikoro formerly from the Western Force, has joined the Steelers for the first time, having been sidelines since receiving an eye injury against the All Blacks earlier in the year. All Blacks captain Kieran Read will be welcomed back home to ECOLight Stadium on Friday August 11 when Read’s two teams play each other in the Game of Three Halves.
Brothers Nepo and Luteru Laulala are expected to take the field together for the first time for the Steelers to add to the collection of brothers who have represented Counties Manukau.
The PIC Steelers will be again led by two born-and-bred Counties players. Augustine Pulu is the highest capped Steelers player in the squad and freshly back from a strong season for the Blues, joining with his Super Rugby teammate Jimmy Tupou, who welcomed a new son in late July. Tupou is on target to join a special group Steelers to have played 50 matches in the red, black and white jersey when the Steelers host Auckland in their opening Mitre 10 Cup game at ECOLight Stadium on Saturday night 19 August.
Steelers Head Coach Darryl Suasua said “It is great to have retained a core group of passionate Steelers while being able to blood-in new players. The Mitre 10 Cup is the springboard for many careers, so we are excited at the prospect of introducing our new players to this level of rugby while being surrounded by experienced players.”
It is expected that Toni Pulu and Sione Fifita, who both experienced long term injuries whilst on contract with the Chiefs and Crusaders respectively, will spend the Mitre 10 Cup season recovering. Due to Super Rugby commitments, some temporary extra players have been bought in as cover and will also be used as injury cover should the need arise.
2017 PIC Steelers Squad
Nigel Ah Wong Brumbies Midfield 0 caps*
Sean Bagshaw Onewhero Prop 32 caps
Liam Daniela Bombay Halfback 0 caps*
Sione Fifita Pukekohe wing 18 caps **
Glen Fisi’iahi Bombay Wing 0 caps
Sam Henwood Pukekohe Loose forward 12 caps
Jonathan Kawau Bombay Loose forward 6 caps
Baden Kerr Karaka First Five-Eighth 29 caps
Luteru Laulala Ardmore Marist First Five-eighth 11 caps
Nepo Laulala Ardmore Marist Prop 0 caps
Orbyn Leger Karaka Midfield 0 caps
Fotu Lokotui Patumahoe Loose forward 1 caps
Pauliasi Manu Karaka Prop 25 caps
Matiaha Martin Bombay Lock 11 caps
Tevita Nabura Waiuku Wing 0 caps*
Tim Nanai-Williams Manurewa Fullback 56 caps
Albert Nikoro Western Force Ultility Back 0 caps*
Augustine Pulu Karaka Halfback 66 caps
Toni Pulu Bombay Wing 44 caps **
Ronald Raaymakers Waiuku Loose forward 51 caps
Viliame Rarasea Ardmore Marist Lock 24 caps
Kieran Read Crusaders Loose forward 0 caps*
Joe Royal Patumahoe Hooker 0 caps*
Salimoni Tukinia Pukekohe Midfield 0 caps*
Viliami Taulani Manurewa Loose forward 4 caps
Suliasi Taufalele Ardmore Marist Hooker 35 caps
Kalolo Tuiloma Bombay Prop 11 caps
Jimmy Tupou Pautmahoe Loose forward 49 caps
Jonathan Taumateine Ardmore Marist Halfback 4 caps
Matt Vaai Manurewa Loose forward 8 caps
Sonny Bill Williams Puni Midfield 2 caps
Sam Furniss Patumahoe Midfield 0 capsSuper Rugby Cover
Riley Hohepa Patumahoe First five-eighth
Kalione Hala Karaka Fullback
George Maka Pukekohe Midfield
Gafatasi Su’a Pukekohe Hooker
Corey Te Whata-Colley Bombay Prop
Sesimani Tupou Ardmore Marist Prop
Daymon Leasuasu Ardmore Marist Lock
Romero Tagi
Onewhero
PropSo no Fa'aoso, last season's Nr.8. And no Skelton either.
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@cgrant said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
We won't see this but it would be cool if we got to the finals and all the players back and available. This team could be pretty strong
Pauliasi Manu
Joe Royal
Nepo Laulala
Viliame Rarasea
Jimmy Tupou
Ronald Raaymakers
Sam Henwood
Kieran Read
A Pulu
Kerr
SBW
Ah-Wong
Fifita
T Pulu
TNW -
@Tim said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
There has been no coverage of the Mitre 10 Cup squads from either the Herald or Stuff. Garbage papers.
Fairfax (Stuff) was in a Cold War with NZR over the conditions of the Rugby Championship accreditation, so boycotted all rugby coverage from Monday (the Crusaders' parade could be argued as falling under general news). NZR backed down on some of the restrictions yesterday, I'm led to believe.
More on it here: http://www.sportsfreak.co.nz/stuff-it/
