The Silver Fern

Bit off topic from the original post but can't find a Moana Pasifika 2022 so posting here. Team will be pretty understrength next year as license came through too late to sign most overseas players. They're going after Ardie as he still hasn't signed anywhere for next year. Nonu, Lealifano & Kepu main signings otherwise most will come from those who played Samoa/Tonga test matches this year. They won't be playing end of year tour as no MIQ spots, will train together instead. Aaron Mauger Head Coach, Filo Tiatia Forwards, Pauliasi Manu Scrum, Paul Downes S&C, cant remember backs sorry.

Asked the old man whos 70 what his team would be

1. Steve McDowell
2. Hika Reid
3. Dinny Mohi
4. Gary Braid
5. Jim Maniapoto
6. Sam Cane
7. Allan McNaughton
8. Frank Shelford
9. Max Heimann
10. Glen Jackson
11. Graeme Moore
12. Bill Gray
13. Eddie Stokes
14. Caleb Ralph
15. Greg Rowlands
16. Nathan Harris
17. Warwick Morehu
18. Ben Castle
19. Culum Retallick
20. Tanerau Latimer
21. Mark Basham
22. Ron Preston
23. Rua Tipoki

Moana Pasifika are a part of the even competition I think that is forgotten. You now have another 40 professional players spread across NZ. They're all going back to their provinces as stronger, fitter athletes and better leaders after 6months in a Super Rugby environment. Also, more players are getting fringe opportunities at the other 5teams. At the very least, they're understanding the differences between levels & know where they need to get to in order to get a contract next year.

@stargazer Bang on with this one, Gibson is new coach. Thought Bourke/Rogers might have got a shot especially with the work of the academy really starting to flourish.

Eves, McHugh, Vella, Polwart, Ainley, Wardlaw, White, Papali'i, Ravouvou all likely or definitely out. Matenga, Mua, Robertson, Lalomilo players don't know about but haven't seen in club rugby. Gonna presume/hope all our Super players are returning but I haven't been checking other unions signings.
Props- Geldenhuys, Ross, Mafileo, Thwaites. Jordan Lay is back, Benot Kumeroa Toni Toia others in club I can think of.
Hookers-Eklund Harris, Vella? Nic Souchon signed from Canterbury.
Locks- Carroll, van den Hoven. Club- Mewett, Leaupepe, Morrice all back playing & Maloney-Fiaola probably the other one close.
Flankers- Blake, Johnston, Karpik. Club- Dickson is playing for Rangiuru, Herbert from 20s, Te Whetu Rangi impressive for TGA but they will likely wait another year, Budd finally given an opportunity? Don't know much here.
Halfback- Carter, TTT in. Mcgarvey-Black vs Campbell for a contract maybe?
10- Hollinshead, Trask. Hopefully Black. Biddle played 10 last few weeks?
Centres- Skipwith Garland, Tiatia. Thompson rumours? Don't know much here aswell & may not sign anymore like last year. Club-Bardoul, Tuhakaraina, Filemone.
Wings- Fuatai, Webber, Collier. Club- Ware most likely but Curry and Warbrick also playing from 7s for Mount, Barnett.
Fullback- Forbes, Narawa. Can't see any other signings here, good depth with Tiatia/Trask options.

@Snollygoster Not the greatest warm up, looked like a lot of the Super Rugby players struggled to get up for this one. My thoughts- Surprised Curry is first choice back up 12 instead of Webber to 13 & Garland to 12. Ware came on at 13 instead of wing & looked good. Collier not involved in the team at all, I'd probably have him ahead of Curry but can see why you pick Curry for the leadership, work ethic etc. Narawa looked to be a bit slow, clearly been asked to put on weight but may have got the balance a bit wrong at the moment. Cole Forbes was outstanding when he came on at 15, made a real difference. Blake struggled with the new laws, can't be so much of a pest like he usually is. I think the laws reward big strong players who have good jackal technique & that is not him. Forwards were outmuscled & gave away a few easy tries close to the ruck which is concerning. Kumeroa 19s captain from last year played, not sure whether he will be in the squad.

Ravouvou signed from 7s/Auckland, will provide some x factor to our backline. Joe Johnston & Abe Papalii in the flankers.

Thought Groundwater ran good straight lines but Dargaville passing skill was well below par and kept stuffing up their flow of attack with passes behind the man. Too many times the attack was moving sideways and nobody was straightening making it easy for Northland to just drift. Northland's physicality and line speed on defence was pretty impressive, couldn't fault either teams effort just a shitload of inaccuracy. Fair play to Witcombe making the call after 30mins his TH wasn't cutting it and bringing Rinakama on, no scrum pressure after that.

Simmonson could barely start for the BOP 19's last year let alone been ready for M10 Cup. Trained 7's all year, only played about 3 club games so coaches probably still view him as not at the required level yet. Can't see him getting ahead of that back 3 unless they get injured. Garland has been in exceptional form, no injuries this year and will be one to watch. Fuatai has come up from Otago, brought in to replace Monty, similar builds and players. Te Aute at halfback now, in and out of squad when needed as they as they only have 2 in squad. Same with Nicholas in back 3 I'm presuming, not sure whether that's because both chose to go back to their whanau club for 125th year and play Division 1 this year.

Squad named Tuesday hence they played under Wasps banner today. Team looked good today, B Team against Wellington was competitive, thought Collier played particularly well. Half against Counties & likely top team next week was Ross Harris Thwaites Wardlaw Carroll Blake Karpik Papalii Judd Hollinshead Fuatai Garland Webber Narawa Tiatia. 34-0 win, defence brilliant. Three tries through defensive pressure forcing silly passes on their own goal line for intercepts. Tiatia was exceptional, talk huge could always hear him barking & menacing on attack. Papalii definitely what we needed with his big abrasive style. Everybody played well in second half except Webber, dropped a few balls & looked rusty.

Bay Times report https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=12104984

Should be hearing his intentions for next year soon now that their school season has been completed.

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

It's time for Southland to drop to Heartland Rugby

Anyone from Whanganui on here know whether the union is actively challenging NZRU for a promotion relegation game?

On the lock position- Keep an eye out for Kane Leaupepe in the Steamers. Had an impressive first start last week, tall body but has a bit of beef as well which Plumtree is clearly after. Was in Wellington squad in 2016 before moving up to BOP.

@Tim Sheesh yupp, forgot the captain.

@bovidae Richard Watt is the lead asisstant so I'm presuming Marty & Mike applied but were shafted for Gibson otherwise they'd certainly be assistants. Really disappointing decision, Marty & Mike coached prem club, bop dev, academy & the 19s then asisstants for Steamers. Their first year coincided with Steamers playing a more open style & winning the title to. What's the point of a pathway if you're still gonna hire a more high-profile coach? Rogers harps on about coach development in the press release yet they have no relationships in the Bay unlike those two. Pretty disillusioned, it's not as if we're in a bad situation & needed a complete overhaul.

Better than I expected, happy about lots of signings in the outside backs. Good balance of experience & youth throughout the squad.

Heveldt reporting that Wilde has appealed with possibility of 2 gold medals if successful.

Hoeata has been terrible all season, all for bringing back experienced players to M10 teams but the amount of stupid penalties he has given away this year hasnt helped Taranaki at all.

7 all, dominant maul HB from 5m line. Auckland collapse over the line, penalty try.
Auckland regain kick off, Tele'a bumps few off easily offloads Rayasi draw & pass to Lam for easy try. 12-7 Auckland.