New Zealand Rugby Team Watch

[Dan54]

. Did any two of the Goings play in the same NZM side as the Dunns? Or the Dunns & Woodmans?

WOB, I don't think the going brothers played with the Dunn Brothers, mainly because if I remember rightly Dunns were 9 (Richard)-10(Eddie) so would not have played at same time as Sid and Brian going who were in same position. I think Dunns came in just after the Goings, as with Woodmass boys ,I suspect they came in a little late to play with the Dunns, but not absolutely sure.

 

[zer0]

NZ Maori being our de facto 2nd team (Junior All Blacks our official 2nd team but haven't played since ~2009) there's some interesting names in there in terms of RWC backup & future AB selection.

Which is utterly stupid because A) we're pointlessly under-utilising our playing resources and B) the Maori seem to be rolled out as a marketing and PR gimmick.

 

[Highlander35]

Don't know if there's a more relevant thread but Lions tour 2017 dates announced.

They play the 3 tests, 5 Super Sides, the Maori and a Provincial XV. No tests in the South Island, slightly disapointing, but otherwise reasonable tour.

 

[qwerty51]

Wow Eden Park gets 2 Tests? Has to be done when most of your stadiums are only 20-30k I guess.

 

[Bullrush]

Is this the first time they have played all Super Rugby franchises? Last tour it was NPC sides.

 

[Highlander35]

Believe so. Good decision for both preparation for the Lions and competitive games overall.

Might see some salty provincialists, and with 2 tests in Auckland they might have a point, but overall it's the right call, as it will generally let the best players in NZ have a crack, whereas some would have missed out because they don't play for the right province.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Most of NZ is within 5 or 6 hours drive of Auckland.

Plenty of folk here do that to watch their sons play Colts or School footy in Sydney. Some country folk would do close to that just to play a regular club game.

AAGPS 3rd XV travel to Armidale for a regular fixture. ISA schools travel to Bathurst and Orange for regular competition matches.

Eden Park is the best venue to assemble a large crowd (read big gate $ for NZ Rugby).

There is a reason why AFL have abandoned the suburban ovals like Princes Park, Windy Hill, and VFL Park in Melbourne for the MCG and Docklands.

 

[teach]

Most of NZ is within 5 or 6 hours drive of Auckland.

Plenty of folk here do that to watch their sons play Colts or School footy in Sydney. Some country folk would do close to that just to play a regular club game.

Yeah but because of the size of the country, 5-6 hours in NZ is regarded as an extremely long trip. A lot of people will regard the 375 odd km Christchurch to Dunedin trip as being a big one. And certainly be reluctant to attempt there and back in one day.

But fair enough, the Lions tour is a big money making venture for the NZRU so Can't really blame them for wanting to maximise profits. I am just happy I will get to see Wales play the ABs in Dunedin next year. Plus the Lions vs the Highlanders will be a good game.

 

[Dan54]

Yep Teach unfortunately the money has to be made while the opportunity is there. We talking about a group of us going over, we may just try for games outside tests as hopefully be able to get tickets a bit easier. Already getting ready to come over for a Welsh test next year, not sure which venue as yet.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

. Did any two of the Goings play in the same NZM side as the Dunns? Or the Dunns & Woodmans?

WOB, I don't think the going brothers played with the Dunn Brothers, mainly because if I remember rightly Dunns were 9 (Richard)-10(Eddie) so would not have played at same time as Sid and Brian going who were in same position. I think Dunns came in just after the Goings, as with Woodmass boys ,I suspect they came in a little late to play with the Dunns, but not absolutely sure.

I had thought that maybe the Dunns were starting as the Goings (Ken & Brian rather than Sid) were finishing, or finishing as the Woodmans were starting. A quick look at the wiki profiles suggests there was probably a gap of a year or two in both cases.

 

[BaysideBird]

Don't know if there's a more relevant thread but Lions tour 2017 dates announced.

They play the 3 tests, 5 Super Sides, the Maori and a Provincial XV. No tests in the South Island, slightly disapointing, but otherwise reasonable tour.

View attachment 6602

Even though it's upsetting that tradition is being uprooted (not playing provinces), I am okay that the Super rugby teams are playing. Every team should give the Lions a run for there money if properly prepared. The thing that pisses me off is that the games against the Super Rugby teams are still being played in the big cities. The fact that Auckland has three matches is abominable. It would have been better if the Hurricanes had played in Napier or Palmerston, the Blues played in Whangerei and the Heartland Xv or Provincial XV or whatever the hell that team is played in Nelson. Not taking a Lions tour to the Heartlands so that more games can be played in Eden Park is just wrong.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^ allowing for the unfortunate current state of AMI Stadium aka Lancaster Park, I reckon that's as good an itinerary/ schedule as is currently viable in NZ, revenue-wise. Would love to see B&IL at venues such as Palmy North & Wanganui like back in the good old days but just aint gonna happen.

 

[Dan54]

Yep WOB, oh for those tours huh? Starting to look like it going to be a very long time until Chch get a decent stadium, the insurers are playing silly buggers apparently (what a surprise) and obviously the council etc have higher priorities at this stage.

 

[teach]

Yep Teach unfortunately the money has to be made while the opportunity is there. We talking about a group of us going over, we may just try for games outside tests as hopefully be able to get tickets a bit easier. Already getting ready to come over for a Welsh test next year, not sure which venue as yet.

I am thinking the Lions Crusaders June 10 and LIons v Highlanders games June 13 might be worth going to. Easy for you guys. Fly in and out of CHCH. Hire a car for 5-6 days. Not a big distance to travel and you might get some skiing in as well, even though it will be early season. Or at least a fun time in Queenstown in between.Certainly doable for me as I now live in Timaru, half way between each. Same goes for next years AB v Wales.

Out for a meal with wifey on thursday night, planning what trips and things we want to do in the next 5 years now Junior 1 and 2 are away from home (and our grocery and hot water bill is down by 75%). Machu Pichu, Greece& Italy, All Blacks Bledisloe test in Australia. As fate would have it, they announced the schedules for the ABs the next day, so we added ABs V Wales n Dunedin.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Most of NZ is within 5 or 6 hours drive of Auckland.

That's true for the North Island, esp now you can bypass Taupo and/ or H-town, but you may have noticed we also have a South Island. The water between must on a per km basis be one of the more expensive (not to mention nastiest) on the planet.

Yep WOB, oh for those tours huh? Starting to look like it going to be a very long time until Chch get a decent stadium, the insurers are playing silly buggers apparently (what a surprise) and obviously the council etc have higher priorities at this stage.

Can't help but feel that if it were Auckland or Wellington that got smashed in 2011 the rebuild would be significantly more advanced. Watching those drone vids on stuff.co.nz of the still-ruined buildings & homes it's just appalling. A workmate went through there last year & couldn't believe it was three years since the 'quakes.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NZ Barbarians to play NZ Maori next weekend:

Forwards: Mitchell Graham (Taranaki), Reg Goodes (Wellington), Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland), Ben Tameifuna (Waikato), Liam Coltman (Otago), James Parsons (North Harbour), Alex Ainley (Tasman), Joseph Wheeler (Tasman), Dominic Bird (Canterbury), Brad Shields (Wellington), Blake Gibson (Auckland), Luke Whitelock (Canterbury), Jordan Taufua (Counties).
Backs: Mitchell Drummond (Canterbury), Te Toiroa Tahuiorangi (Taranaki), Andrew Horrell (Hawke's Bay), Ihaia West (Hawke's Bay), George Moala (Auckland), Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki), Patrick Osborne (Canterbury), Cory Jane (Wellington), Richard Buckman (Hawke's Bay), Tom Taylor (Canterbury).

A few pointers to the likely AB 23 to play Argentina in there.................

Teams for NZ Maori v Fiji:

NZ MAORI: Damian McKenzie, Rieko Ioane, Matt Proctor, Charlie Ngatai,c, Kurt Baker, Marty McKenzie, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Blade Thomson, Mitchell Crosswell, Akira Ioane, Hayden Triggs, Jacob Skeen, Ben May, Ash Dixon, Joe Moody. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Brendon Edmonds, Josh Hohneck, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Elliot Dixon, Jamison Gibson-Park, Otere Black, Jason Emery.

FIJI: Campese Ma'afu, Talemaitoga Tuapati, Manasa Saulo, Api Ratuniyarawa, Leone Nakarawa, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Malakai Ravulo, Akapusi Qera (C), Nemia Kenatale, Josh Matavesi, Nemani Nadolo, Gabby Lovobalavu, Vereniki Goneva, Benito Masilevu, Kini Murimurivalu. Reserves: Viliame Veikoso, Peni Ravai, Isei Colati, Nemia Soqeta, Sakiusa Matadigo, Niko Matawalu, Ben Volavola, Napolioni Nalaga.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Ben Tameifuna (Waikato),
Tom Taylor (Canterbury).

i dont get it. why waste a spot on a bloke who is crying off overseas? Wrenching the last ounces of contractual value out of the pricks?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^^ not sure about Taylor but I reckon they're looking at Big Ben as next cab off the rank if Woodcock proves to be past his use-by date.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

thought Big Ben wouldve burnt his bridges with his arsehat display in the playoffs this year, waddling around giving away pens. Just goes to show there will ALWAYS be a spot for some fat bugger who can lock down a scrum. A bit like being 7 feet tall and the NBA will find a spot for you. fun fact: did you know that of all the citizens in the USA that stand 7 feet tall or more, 19% of them are in the NBA.

sounds like maori have eked out a last minute win vs Fiji, thanks to some shrewd work from captain C.Ngatai. There really is something about him. Not the fastest but he so often pops up in the right spot and does the business. A bit like, say, Conrad Smith.............

 

[light]

The younger McKenzie at 15 is something special.

Fiji were dominant for the first half but faded badly towards the end as the Maori started to sort out their attacking patterns. The Fijian forward pack was physically far superior but the set pieces were pretty even.

Once the benches were emptied it was pretty obvious NZ Maori were going to come home stronger. I really enjoyed the big hit on Triggs towards the end, he's a tough bugger.