NPC - news, injuries etc

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/105587734/yarrows-taranaki-bulls-name-squad-to-play-poverty-bay-whanganui

I see that Toa Halafihi is back.

Taranaki v Poverty Bay and Whanganui Squad:

Forwards: Jarred Proffit, Chris Gawler, Donald Maka, Bradley Slater, Scott Mellow, Reuben O'Neill, Asaeli Sorovaki, Kyle Stewart, Paulo Leleisiuao, Jarrad Hoeata, Kane Thompson, Leighton Price, Tupou Vaa'i, Jack Jordan, Mitchell Crosswell, Kaylum Boshier, Tom Florence, Adrian Wyrill, Toa Halafihi;
Backs: Logan Crowley, Warwick Lahmert, Shaan Waite, Beaudein Waaka, Ciarahn Matoe, Daniel Waite, Josh Setu, Matthew McKenzie, Latu Vaeno, Brayton Northcott-Hill, Kiniviliame Naholo, Avon Lewis, Liam Blyde, Jayson Potroz.

[Tim]

Is the Stuff embed showing up?

[Stargazer]

@tim In your previous post? Yes, it is.

[Stargazer]

@tim said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

I see that Toa Halafihi is back.

Taranaki v Poverty Bay and Whanganui Squad:

Forwards: Jarred Proffit, Chris Gawler, Donald Maka, Bradley Slater, Scott Mellow, Reuben O'Neill, Asaeli Sorovaki, Kyle Stewart, Paulo Leleisiuao, Jarrad Hoeata, Kane Thompson, Leighton Price, Tupou Vaa'i, Jack Jordan, Mitchell Crosswell, Kaylum Boshier, Tom Florence, Adrian Wyrill, Toa Halafihi;
Backs: Logan Crowley, Warwick Lahmert, Shaan Waite, Beaudein Waaka, Ciarahn Matoe, Daniel Waite, Josh Setu, Matthew McKenzie, Latu Vaeno, Brayton Northcott-Hill, Kiniviliame Naholo, Avon Lewis, Liam Blyde, Jayson Potroz.

Jarrad Hoeata returning to Taranaki from N Harbour. His French stint is over, apparently.
One of the better U20's players, Tom Florence.
Warwick Lahmert, didn't he play for Wanganui last year?
Kini "should be playing for Hawke's Bay" Naholo. His brother Meli is not in the squad.
Liam Blyde, was very good for the Taranaki 7s team at the nationals.

[Tim]

@stargazer Chris Gawler has returned from Canterbury too.

[Tim]

https://twitter.com/thechasesport/status/1019648730956431366?s=21

https://twitter.com/thechasesport/status/1019651138541490176?s=21

[Steven Harris]

@tim Wow 20-25 metre pass that is impressive..be interesting to see if he can throw the left to right pass which is the unnatural side,but that is amazing all the same,shows he has vision as well.

[Bovidae]

I saw him play live at Wesley. Big, mobile and also played at no.8.

[shark]

Bradley Slater?

[Bovidae]

@shark said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Bradley Slater?

A hooker, son of Andy.

[shark]

@bovidae said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

@shark said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Bradley Slater?

A hooker, son of Andy.

Thanks

[Stargazer]

The 2018 Southland Stags team has been named:

Forwards:

Bill Fukofuka – Blues Invercargill
Brayden Mitchell – Star Rugby Club
Brenton Howden – Waikaka Rugby Club
Chris Apoua – Northland
Flynn Thomas – Marist Invercargill
Jack Capil – Star Rugby Club
Joe Walsh – Woodlands
Manaaki Selby – Rickit – Star Rugby Club
Morgan Mitchell – Star Rugby Club
Phil Halder – Marist Invercargill
Ray Tatafu – Blues Invercargill
Reuben Northover – Marist Invercargill
Shaun Stodart – Marist Invercargill
Tony Lamborn – Hawkes Bay
Wade McCrae – Pirates Old Boys

Backs:

Aleki Morris – Woodlands Rugby Club
Greg Dyer – Pirates Old Boys
Jackson Ormond – Woodlands Rugby Club
James Wilson – Former Southland Stag – Bath, England
Jay Renton – Blues Invercargill
Lewis Ormond – Woodlands Rugby Club
Matt Johnson – Marist Invercargill, Blues Super Rugby
Nico Costa – Woodlands Rugby Club
Ray Nu'u – Sydenham Rugby Club
Tauasosi Tuimavave – Woodlands Rugby Club
Tayler Adams – Former Southland Stag – Melbourne Rebels

.

So Tony Lamborn isn't wanted by the new Magpies' coaches ...
Flyn Thomas and Jay Renton were in the NZU20s this year and this will be their 2nd season for the Stags.
We knew about Nico Costa moving South, but his brothers, who moved with him, didn't make the squad.
Also knew that the Ormond brothers were reunited, with Jackson coming down from Taranaki.
Chris Apoua is a former Taniwha. Not wanted by Northland?

Any other surpises or notable names?

http://www.rugbysouthland.co.nz/newsarticle/65455

[Tim]

Matt Johnson has recovered from heart surgery?

[Rapido]

Ngaluafe not there. Or am I way out of date?

[KiwiMurph]

Tayler Adams used to be a 9 but has switched to first five and in 2017 won the Sydney club rugby player of the year award. He got very little time for the Rebels this year but could be useful as a 10 option.

[taniwharugby]

@stargazer Apoua really struggled for us at scrumtime last year, IIRC came on in one game as a sub, was getting demolished so was subbed off about 15mins later, barely saw him again after that game.

Seems handy with ball in hand though, but given scrumming is usually a strength of Southland...hopefully with some changes to technique he'll be sweet, just not against us!

[Bovidae]

@taniwharugby Dave Hewett should have a good idea about the strengths of the props.

[taniwharugby]

@bovidae based on his limited minutes last year, he would need to improve considerably given our scrum was one of the better ones we have had for years last year and he struggled at M10 cup level.

[Tim]

@tim said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Matt Johnson has recovered from heart surgery?

From his Instagram:

Been a tough 18 weeks since surgery, but thanks to this one I’ve managed to come back fully cleared.

[Stargazer]

@rapido said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Ngaluafe not there. Or am I way out of date?

Did a quick google search and apparently he left NZ late in 2017 to play in Italy. I think as injury cover, because the article below says it was only until May 2018. It doesn't say for which team and in which competition. According to the article it was uncertain whether he'd be back to push for antoher Stags contract.

https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-southland-times/20171109/281917363355646