The Silver Fern

@Chris

I've done some reasonably in-depth analysis with data from RugbyPass and Super.Rugby (which is probably the closest thing to a central database - though seems a little NZ-centric) and it looks to line up very well (as they're both provided by Opta - even the match ids from each game line up).

If there was a site that deviated from these, I'd be a little more skeptical of that site - but Opta seems fairly reliable, for the most part. Some aspects of the recording may be a bit subjective, which would be my guess why other providers might offer different figures. However, the information from past games does seem to be reasonably predictive of future results (though some of my modeling is still in the very early stages). For me, I believe its very useful- though a lot of the information one might want for individual player selection isn't available on any public website I can find.

https://www.sarugby.co.za/match-centre/match-centre-detail/?id=df179e9d-82ce-4d85-b5d1-23f3e25f7974&returnUrl=/tournaments/u20-rugby-championship/

There are some bare bones stats here

@Bones

Fines-Leleiwasa. One of them double-barreled names

It's this guy:

https://all.rugby/player/semisi-tupou-ta-eiloa

Not to be confused with this guy:

https://all.rugby/player/semisi-tupou

Sorry, I should've included what I was replying to. I believe I saw Thor Manase listed for a Heartland team

@Bovidae

I could be wrong, but I think I saw him listed for one of the Heartland teams

Props
Benet Kumeroa* (Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi/Bay of Plenty/Hurricanes)
Joe Moody (Ngāi Tahu/Canterbury/Crusaders)
Marcel Renata (Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāi Takoto/Auckland/Blues)
Ollie Norris (Ngāpuhi/Waikato/Chiefs)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (Ngāpuhi/Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes)

Hookers
Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu/Bay of Plenty/Blues)
Tyrone Thompson (Ngāti Kahungunu/Chiefs)

Locks
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Ngāti Porou/Hawke’s Bay/Hurricanes)
Laghlan McWhannell* (Ngāti Kahungunu/Waikato/Blues)
Max Hicks (Ngāti Ranginui/ Ta$man/Highlanders)
Tahlor Cahill* (Ngāpuhi/Canterbury/Crusaders)

Loose forwards
Billy Harmon (Ngāi Tahu/Canterbury/Highlanders)
Cameron Suafoa (Ngāpuhi/North Harbour/Blues)
Cullen Grace (Ngāti Whakaue/Canterbury/Crusaders)
Nikora Broughton* (Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Ruanui/Bay of Plenty/Highlanders)
Te Kamaka Howden (Tūhoe/Manawatū/Hurricanes)

Half Backs
Sam Nock (Ngāpuhi/Northland/Blues)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Pikiao, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Awa/Bay of Plenty/Chiefs)

First five-eighths
Rivez Reihana* (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa/Northland/Crusaders)
Taha Kemara* (Te Whānau a Apanui, Te Whakatōhea/Waikato/Crusaders)

Midfield
Bailyn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu/Waikato/Hurricanes)
Corey Evans* (Te Aupouri, Ngāti Kahu/Northland/Blues)
Daniel Rona* (Te Ātiawa/Taranaki/Chiefs)
Rameka Poihipi (Ngāti Whakaue/Canterbury/Chiefs)
Quinn Tupaea (Ngaati Tiipa, Ngaati Amaru, Waikato/Waikato/Chiefs)

Outside Backs
Cole Forbes* (Ngāti Awa/Bay of Plenty/Blues)
Josh Moorby (Ngāi Maniapoto/Waikato/Hurricanes)
Tana Tuhakaraina* (Ngāti Hauā/Waikato/Chiefs)

Unavailable for selection due to injury:
Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Ngāti Raukawa)
Shaun Stevenson (Ngāpuhi)
Jared Profitt (Ngāti Porou)

https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2024/06/25/revealed-28-strong-maori-all-blacks-squad-named-for-japan-tour/

@Frank

He made ground/broke tackles on basically every carry. Decent number of tackles, won the ball on the ground at least once.

I thought Takataka would've made the squad - it looked like he was pretty dominant against the other scrums he came up against.

@Gunner

He always has the dropsies. He plays like he's bathed in baby oil before every game. Slipping through 10 tackles, and then dropping the ball 3 or 4 times.

@akan004

He was one of the star players for the Chiefs U20 team. I agree he hasn't shown anything at this level, but it would've been very odd if he hadn't made the NZ U20s

@Duluth

I'm guessing these aren't publicly available?

I've rewatched the game in full, now.

It was actually Fihaki (rather than Rova) that set up Springer for his second try.

Crusaders best players were Bell and Springer. Reihana looked good - he was taking the ball to the line and passing quite late, and was able to put players into gaps multiple times. A few loose passes, though.

Moananu made an impact off the bench with some powerful runs, though he needs some tackling practice.

Hannah had a nice involvement for a try at the end, but made too many errors (missed tackles, dropping the ball, penalties). Gardiner and Rova also had a few too many errors.

Scrum was solid - maybe slightly better than Bristol's overall. The lineout throwing was perfect.

Yea, it was Aumua. They switched the jerseys, and the commentators got mixed up.

I lied - one last update.

Marmion scores after a shoddy tackle from Rova.

14-12 to Crusaders. 57 mins in. Apparently a Bristol player got yellow carded at some point.

Reihana set up Bell for a nice run, but he was tackled 5m out.

Rova then kicks out to Springer who steps inside to score. 14 - 7 to Crusaders.

No further updates from me - I've got to head out.

Macca Springer scores after some sustained pressure. Reihana converts - it wasn't an easy kick/

7-7 at HT

George Bell is held up over the line. He looks good on attack.

Fred Davies scores the first try for Bristol from a rolling maul.

7-0. 30mins in now.

Yes, I'd say it is a bad thing if they think Bogado offers more as a starter - I don't think we've seen anything that would suggest they're right (which is not to say Bogado is bad, but more that Tavatavanawai is very good).

I need to update my code before I can do some 2023 stat comparisons, but Tavatavanawai performs very well on every attacking measure. He made 72 tackle breaks last season. This is a ridiculous number, though not for him. He made 73 tackle breaks from 83 carries in 2022 - that means nearly each time he touches the ball he breaks a tackle (on average).

I'd say, based on this, he's pretty consistently exposing defenses that aren't yet tired, as well as those that are tired.