The Silver Fern

@SidBarret As an avid Bok supporter, I agree with everything you said, EXCEPT Arendse being better than Kolbe. Although very similar, (a fit) Cheslin Kolbe is in the top 3 best players in the world, slightly behind Ardie Savea and Antoine Dupont

I am a bit disappointed that in a game where squad rotation is so prevalent, Evan Roos isn't starting. I'm a big Duane fan, but as you said he is (has been for a while) in the twilight of his career. Roos needs as much test match game time before the WC to move him up behind Jasper Wiese as the Bok No 8. If he can cut out a bit of his shithousery, he'll be world class.

As a South African I was reminded this week of 2019 when the Springboks lost to the All Blacks in the opening game and then beat Namibia 57-3 in their 2nd game. Their next game was against Italy and the whole week there was this hype around the much improved Italian team and how the game against Namibia meant nothing and how Boks weren't clicking, etc., and we all had this nervous tension about losing against Italy (AGAIN!)... final score was 49-3 for the Boks.

Here's hoping we see the same tonight from the All Blacks!

@NTA Newsome is at 13 and Donaldson at 15

Waratahs Media  /  May 18, 2022

Hooper and Hanigan return for Highlanders hitout

WARATAHS TEAM V HIGHLANDERS

1 Te Tera Faulkner (Southern Districts/ Moorabin Rams/ Marist College Canberra)
2 Dave Porecki (Manly/ Manly Roos/ Redlands)
3 Archer Holz (Eastern Suburbs/ Kings School)
4 Geoff Cridge (West Harbour/ Darfield Rugby Club/ Christchurch Boys High)
5 Hugh Sinclair (Northern Suburbs/ Lindfield/ S.H.O.R.E)
6 Langi Gleeson (Manly/ Harbord Harlequins/ St Augustines)
7 Michael Hooper (Manly/ Manly Roos/ St Pius X College)
8 Will Harris (Eastern Suburbs/ Hunters Hill/ Scots College)

9 Jake Gordon (Sydney Uni/ Canterbury/ Blackwattle Bay)
10 Tane Edmed (Eastwood/ Trinity Grammar)
11 Dylan Pietsch (Randwick/ Leeton Phantoms/ Kings School)
12 Lalakai Foketi (Manly/ Manly Roos/ Kings)
13 Alex Newsome (Eastern Suburbs/ Glen Innes Elks/ St Joseph’s College)
14 Mark Nawaqanitawase (Eastwood/ St Patrick’s College)
15 Ben Donaldson (Randwick/ Clovelly Eagles/ Waverly College)

Replacements:

16 Mahe Vailanu (Gordon/ Auckland Grammar School)
17 Angus Bell (Sydney Uni/ Hunters Hill/ Newington College)
18 Paddy Ryan (Sydney University/ Tamworth Tricolours/ St Joseph’s College)
19 Jeremy Williams (Eastern Suburbs/ Wahroonga Tigers/ Scots College)
20 Ned Hanigan (Randwick/ Coonamble Rams/ St Joseph’s College)
21 Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco (Southern Districts/ Endeavour Sports High)
22 Jack Grant (Eastern Suburbs/ Orange City Lions/ St Ignatius College)
23 Jamie Roberts (Warringah/ Rumney RFC/ Ysgol Glantaf)

Match Details NSW Waratahs v Highlanders Sunday 22 May – Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Kick-off 1:35pm (AEST) Live on Stan Sport

@Dice Thanks for having me! Best source for inside info on the tourney - playing an online private fantasy league for this tourney, so this forum is gold (the platform will be made public in the near future and will have other tournaments going too)

@Dice Best provincial rugby in the world in my opinion! Next one you must play with - the platform is called Oracles of Rugby, will post on this forum once they do public registrations. It's very comprehensive with an actual draft (no manager has the same player) and you have customizable squad sizes, rules, transfer / trade restrictions etc...