Choosing a ITM team to follow

[Bullrush]

Good old Horowhenua!! Home of the awesome Carlos Spencer!

 

[kronic]

Who has the best supporters? Organized with songs etc. None of that bucket head crap.

More importantly, do they exist?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^ Also the Paekakariki Express Christian Cullen comes from Paraparaumu which is in the Horowhenua, although he was adopted very quickly by Wellington.

Can a Darknesser please explain why someone from Paraparaumu is called the Paekakariki Express? Google tells me that Paekakariki is several stops before paraparaumu. Is the nickname somehow a backhanded complement along the lines that CC stops short of the destination, but gets there fast, or simply because there is no express service to Paraparaumu but there is an express service to another really long place name starting with P?

..... and no I will not be telling Senior JJ about the injury to Peranara or the fact that Barrett is a 'naki man. He can either learn that himself from G&GR (he lurks here from time to time) or other means. Serves him right for aligning himself with a team on the basis of show pony backs, and team that is not endorsed by my good self.

 

[rugbyskier]

^^^ Also the Paekakariki Express Christian Cullen comes from Paraparaumu which is in the Horowhenua, although he was adopted very quickly by Wellington.

Can a Darknesser please explain why someone from Paraparaumu is called the Paekakariki Express? Google tells me that Paekakariki is several stops before paraparaumu. Is the nickname somehow a backhanded complement along the lines that CC stops short of the destination, but gets there fast, or simply because there is no express service to Paraparaumu but there is an express service to another really long place name starting with P?

I'm not a Kiwi but I think Christian Cullen was actually from Paekakariki and not Paraparaumu. I'd say that people may think he's from Paraparaumu because that's the main regional centre for the Kapiti Coast and CC probably went to school there - Paekakariki is only a small town.

Edited to add - Wikipedia (so take it with a grain of salt) says that Christian Cullen went to Kapiti College, the local state secondary school, in the Paraparaumu suburb of Raumati.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

My bad. Thanx for correction.

Wikipedia has his place of birth as Paraparaumu (probably because it is a regional centre and the other P place, being a small town, may not have a birthing centre).

I didn't read far enough into the text of his wiki entry where it says "grew up in Paekakariki".

Wiki also has him representing Horowhenua-Kapiti, Manawatu, Central Viking (combined Hawkes Bay and Manawatu), and Wellington.

 

[Dan54]

Yep Jarse, spot on, Paekak, and Pram are right next door to one another, Cullen played secondary school rugby for Pram College, don't think there even a college in Paekak, and first year of club rugby was also for Pram club, Paekak had only a Senior B team at that stage. Oh and reason for Paekakariki Express also ties in with fact there a steam train museum in Paekak. Yep Bullrush, Carlos grew up a couple of streets away from where I lived, he was always a good player right from being 'knee high'


P.S Joseph Tomane from Brumbies was born there, regardless was wikipedia etc say.

 

[Linebacker_41]

Northland for me. Beautiful region often missed coz people get to AKL and head south. Which is OK by me people, keep heading south and leave the north of the north nice and quiet.

Unfortunately I get berated by my wife to jump on the Taranaki bandwagon as she grew up there. I can actually handle this as Colin Cooper is a pretty good guy. It is impresses me that he continues to coach even though his time in the big show of Super Rugby is over.

Most other coaches will head overseas or just give up.

 

[2bluesfan]

I have a soft spot for the Tasman Makos. They live in a beautiful part of a beautiful country. I understand Peter Betham (Melbourne Rebels, Sydney University) is playing in the ITM cup for them.

And, of course, I'll be supporting Northland as well this year! Go Tui!

 

[crangs81]

Wikipedia has his place of birth as Paraparaumu (probably because it is a regional centre and the other P place, being a small town, may not have a birthing centre).

That's probably it in a nutshell. I was born the same town as Quade and Kahui but grew up in a village 20 minutes away so would never say i was from Tokoroa.

 

[ACR]

Yep Bullrush, Carlos grew up a couple of streets away from where I lived, he was always a good player right from being 'knee high'

I grew up round the corner from Josh Kronfeld's house, would walk past it every day to primary school. He had his All Black issued Ford with AB number plate parked out the front. Trick or treating on halloween garnished a signature and a few lollies. His neighbour gave raisins and a bible lesson. Would see him out surfing a lot at St Clair. Taine Randell had a house up the hill and Byron Kelleher was in the neighbourhood.

 

[PaarlBok]

so ive watched the ITM cup before but dont really know the teams, who plays for them and what style of play they use anyway decided to take a bigger interest this year and choose a team to follow. Anybody on here have any opinions on who they think is the best team to support?

Easy, The Mighty MooLoo men from Waikato, home of the S15.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Northland for me. Beautiful region often missed coz people get to AKL and head south. Which is OK by me people, keep heading south and leave the north of the north nice and quiet.

You got that right. The family and I spent a few days up there during the RWC last year between matches and had a great time. Stayed in Paihia and loved it.

 

[Penguin]

I've a soft spot for Otago, love the area & the locals & the music in the past. Highlanders have always been the Kiwi team I like to see win in Super Rugby.... must be an underdog thing. Plus it's great weather for a penguin!
2nd team would be Northland for the same reasons as Linebacker.

 

[whatty]

Haha have been living in NZ for over 10 years (Auckland) and still not able to cheer for a kiwi side.
Maybe Hawkes bay if I had to seen my wifey is from Napier.

 

[Bullrush]

I grew up round the corner from Josh Kronfeld's house, would walk past it every day to primary school. He had his All Black issued Ford with AB number plate parked out the front. Trick or treating on halloween garnished a signature and a few lollies. His neighbour gave raisins and a bible lesson. Would see him out surfing a lot at St Clair. Taine Randell had a house up the hill and Byron Kelleher was in the neighbourhood.

I used to think Josh Kronfield was THE MAN but a lot of stories that came out after he finished with the ABS made me think he seemed like a bit of a dickhead......

I also remember that us Kiwis were in dispair over who would take the 7 jersey after him....then this guy Richie came along from nowhere......

 

[Hugh Jarse]

...and before Kronfeld was Michael Jones. The great Darkness #7 factory production line.

ASIO need to get over there and steal the plans.

 

[qwerty51]

I would say we have a fine production line of 7s ourselves...

 

[ACR]

I used to think Josh Kronfield was THE MAN but a lot of stories that came out after he finished with the ABS made me think he seemed like a bit of a dickhead..
I also remember that us Kiwis were in dispair over who would take the 7 jersey after him..then this guy Richie came along from nowhere..

Well I only ever met him as a kid and I obviously idolized him, moved to Australia round about when he stopped playing so have never heard the stories.

Richie, of course another good Otago lad . Well, born in North Otago and schooled at Otago Boys at least.

I would say we have a fine production line of 7s ourselves.

Agreed. Otago has one promising young 19 y/o (almost 20) #7 in Hugh Blake. Hoping he can step up this year in the ITM Cup and push el capitan Joubert for 7.

EDIT: Joubert the unlucky bastard seems to have gone and broken his neck. Gutted for him and Otago. Meanwhile the shadow Otago side beat South Canterbury 87-0. A bit lopsided.

 

[Budgie]

Hawkes Bay
Good points
Relatives from Hawkes Bay. Good weather, good country, good bushwalking, great outdoors on the door step. Not Auckland. Not Wellington. Fresh food and produce grown and fished locally. Beautiful oval at Mclean Park.

Bad Points
Beaches are not sandy. No Skiable Mountains. No Surf.

 

[Tim&Bingo]

BoP
Mum is from Katikati.
Simples.