NZ Domestic Rugby 2021

[Dan54]

Loss Bleus v CruSadists cancelled, Clan v 'canes doubtful:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...ugby-clash-because-of-covid19-community-cases

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...p-in-the-air-as-super-rugby-fears-emerge?rm=a

Here we go again...

Yep and I actually giving Blues credit for not waiting to weekend until they did it. I call it being a bit responsible in these conditions we living in at moment.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Loss Bleus v CruSadists may go ahead at NLP:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...in-christchurch-now-on-table-for-this-weekend

With LB unable to train & having to fifo on match day I can't see it going ahead unless Auckland comes out of semi-lockdown tomorrow.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Looking ahead to Week 1 of the comp, I wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea to give Loss Bleus the bye & send Tribe down to Wellywood instead. Otherwise LB are going in having lost anywhere between three & seven days prep & possibly a warmup game. Level playing field & all that.

 

[KiwiM]

Blues have signed Bryce Heem as their last roster spot after the deal with Chocobares fell through.

Blues have also lost Macilai for the season (fractured forearm).

 

[Dan54]

Looking ahead to Week 1 of the comp, I wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea to give Loss Bleus the bye & send Tribe down to Wellywood instead. Otherwise LB are going in having lost anywhere between three & seven days prep & possibly a warmup game. Level playing field & all that.

Seems that is the plan they are thinking on WOB.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Simon Hickey gone for the season with a ruptured ACL:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...it-simon-hickeys-season-over-with-knee-injury

9 & 10 looking like a real weakness for 'canes this year esp if/ when they get more injuries.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Auckland back to L2 at midnight, rest of NZ to L1 so LB v CruSadists at NLP is at least possible: LB would still have to fifo on the day, I think, but there can be spectators. Levels to be reviewed again on Monday at which time Auckland will hopefully also go back to L1.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Tribe, CruSadists & Loss Bleus game of three halves confirmed for midday Saturday at Hautapu Sports Club, Cambridge(ish).

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...arty-host-blues-crusaders-in-preseason-finale

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Clan v 'canes at six this evening in Alexandra where it's likely to be ~30C:

Highlanders: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ngatungane Punivai, Fetuli Paea, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (c), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Billy Harmon, Shannon Frizell, Jack Regan, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown.

Reserves: Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck, Jeff Thwaites, Josh Dickson, Bryn Evans, Folau Fakatava, Josh Ioane, Connor Garden-Bachop, Michael Collins, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, James Lentjes, Hugh Renton, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Solomon Alaimalo.

Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Julian Savea, Billy Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Wes Goosen, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Jonathan Taumateine, Ardie Savea (captain), Du’Plessis Kirifi, Devan Flanders, Scott Scrafton, James Blackwell, Alex Fidow, Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia.

Reserves: James O’Reilly, Tyrone Thompson, Tevita Mafileo, Tyrel Lomax, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Caleb Delany, Liam Mitchell, Vaea Fifita, Brayden Iose, Zane Kapeli, Tyler Laubscher, Luke Campbell, Cam Roigard, Orbyn Leger, Danny Toala, Vince Aso, Salesi Rayasi, Pepesana Patafilo, Lolagi Visinia, Ruben Love.

 

[KiwiM]

NMS and The Bus are there on reputation - certainly not 2020 Mitre 10 Cup form.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Chiefs vs Crusaders: Rivez Reihana, Shaun Stevenson, Sean Wainui, Alex Nankivell, Jonah Lowe, Bryn Gatland, Xavier Roe, Kaylum Boshier, Sam Cane, Simon Parker, Stan van den Hoven, Tupou Vaa’i, Sione Mafileo, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Aidan Ross. Reserves: Nathan Harris, Sekope Lopeti Moli, Ollie Norris, Joe Apikotoa, Viliami Taulani, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Quinn Tupaea, Gideon Wrampling, Lisati Milo-Harris.

Chiefs vs Blues: Chase Tiatia, Bailyn Sullivan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rameka Poihipi, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber, Luke Jacobson, Mitchell Karpik, Samipeni Finau, Josh Lord, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Joshua Iosefa-Scott, Bradley Slater, Reuben O’Neill. Reserves: Sekope Lopeti-Moli, Nathan Harris, Ollie Norris, Joe Apikotoa, Viliami Taulani, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Quinn Tupaea, Gideon Wrampling, Lisati Milo-Harris.

 

[KiwiM]

Blues team, vs Crusaders
15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Harry Plummer, 10 Otere Black, 9 Jonathan Ruru; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu ©, 4 Josh Goodhue, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Luteru Tolai, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe

Blues team, vs Chiefs
15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Neria Fomai, 12 Tanielu Tele’a, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Sam Nock; 8 Adrian Choat, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Tom Robinson ©, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Sam Darry, 3 Nepo Lualala, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman

Reserves: James Lay, Leni Apisai, Jacob Pierce

Players not considered with injury: Soane Vikena, Rau Niuia, TJ Faiane, Dillon Hunt, Emoni Narawa, Jone Macalai, Josiah Maraku.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Crusaders team to play Chiefs: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Ethan Blackadder, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett (captain), Michael Ala'alatoa, Brodie McAlister, Joe Moody.

Crusaders team to play Blues: Josh McKay, Chay Fihaki, Rene Ranger, Dallas McLeod, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Fergus Blake, Mitchell Drummond, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Sione Havili Talitui, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Whitelock, Mitchell Dunshea, Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor, George Bower.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NMS and The Bus are there on reputation - certainly not 2020 Mitre 10 Cup form.

Haven't sighted NM-S yet but JSav looks to have shed quite a few kilos in the last six months or so.......

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Highlights:

FTR (not that theses matches mean anything):

Highlanders 35: (Shannon Frizell, Ngantungane Punivai, Connor Garden-Bachop, James Lentjes (2) tries, Mitch Hunt con, Josh Ioane 4 cons) Hurricanes 12 (Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape tries, Jordie Barrett con). HT: 5-12

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...ose-fetuli-paea-in-big-win-against-hurricanes

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Slight teething problem with Captain's Challenge in G3H today, but like Codie says it's better the ref get it wrong today than next week:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...ctly-denied-captains-challenge-amid-confusion

Sight-unseen I'd suggest having two guys in the bin was probably as much an issue as any error on Sir's part

Anyhoo:

Crusaders 21 (Cullen Grace, Sevu Reece, Brodie McAlister tries; Richie Mo’unga 3 con) Chiefs 14 (Quinn Tupaea, Shaun Stevenson tries; Bryn Gatland 2 con)

Blues 26 (Jonathan Ruru 3, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens tries; Otere Black 3 con) Crusaders 19 (Leicester Fainga'anuku, Mitchell Dunshea, Chay Fihaki tries; Fergus Burke 2 con)

Blues 14 (Tom Robinson, Kurt Ekland tries; Zarn Sullivan 2 con) Chiefs 7 (Etene Nanai-Seturo try; Damian McKenzie con)

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

SRAo proper gets underway Friday at 7PM local, Clan v CruSadists in Dunners.

Highlanders: Solomon Alaimalo, Connor Garden-Bachop, Ngantungane Punivai, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (co captain), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Billy Harmon, Shannon Frizell, Jack Regan, Josh Dickson, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (co-captain), Daniel Lienert-Brown.

Reserves: Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck, Jeff Thwaites, Bryn Evans, Folau Fakatava, Josh Ioane, Hugh Renton

Alaimalo & CG-B look the wrong way around to me & after literally headlining him being on the bench they've left off Liam Squire.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...landers-name-liam-squire-for-crusaders-opener

 

[Dan54]

I a bit surprised by the Alaimalo and Garden_bachop places to WOB, still think maybe he had Alaimalo penned in at 15 a few weeks back so has found spot for Garden-Bachop. Geez I can feel the excitement growing!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, Dallas McLeod, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Ethan Blackadder, Samuel Whitelock, Scott Barrett (c), Michael Ala'alatoa, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Brodie McAlister, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Quinten Strange, Sione Havili Talitui, Mitchell Drummond, Fergus Burke, Chay Fihaki.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...las-mcleod-to-start-in-absence-of-injured-duo

 

[Dismal Pillock]

FFS the Cantabs will run up 60 with that lot