2013 National Provincial Championship (ITM Cup) Thread

Discussion in 'Rugby Union Discussion' started by HeathDavisSpeed, Jun 21, 2013.

Page 3 of 17

  1. Jabba HJ Bots

    No doubt GP will start ahead of Smylie but the latter is so much better then the former. Shits me when things like this may possibly happen
     
    Jabba, Aug 13, 2013
    #41

  2. Rego RS Hutchinson

    So Wellington have a really decent squad. Our loose forwards are insane with Vito missing ABs selection. Victor Vito, Brad Shields, Faifili Levave, Ardie Savea, Genesis Mamea are all solid loosies. So much depth there. Looking good in the prop department with ol' John Schwalger back and Toomaga-Allen andGoodes are both solid as well, Sione to a lesser extent. Lots of depth in the second row as well with T.hrush missing ABs selection, Reddish, Filipo and Naikatini.

    In the backs we have lots of flair this year as well. Notable absence this year will obviously be Perenara (ABs) and Woodward who performed really well last year. Perenara missing means our halfbacks are pretty meh, don't like Wilson too much, on the other hand Palu has international experience. Wellington's continuing problem is the lack of depth at first five. We have Sopoaga but he's pretty meh and Bateman can slip into the 10 where he's not too bad (as he did last year at the start of the season whilst Sopoaga was injured). Other than 9/10 we'll be good elsewhere in the backs with Proctor, Leiua, Ngatai, Treeby all solid NPC players. That being said a few injuries could screw things up a bit.

    Wellington Lions Squad

    Tim Bateman Five-Eighth Old Boys University
    Dane Coles Hooker Poneke
    Ambrose Curtis Wing Oriental-Rongotai
    Ross Filipo Lock Petone
    Afa Fa'atau Wing Oriental-Rongotai
    Kaipati Gaualofa Loose Forward Tawa
    Reggie Goodes Prop Poneke
    J. Garden-Bachop First Five-Eighth Northern United
    Adam Hill Loose Forward Old Boys University
    Joe Hill Outside Back Old Boys University
    Cory Jane Outside Back Upper Hutt
    Alapati Leiua Utility Back Northern United
    Faifili Levave Loose Forward Northern United
    Genesis Mamea Loose Forward Wainuiomata
    Motu Matu'u Hooker Oriental-Rongotai
    Api Naikatini Lock Northern United
    Charlie Ngatai Midfield Back Poneke
    Tomasi Palu Halfback Northern United
    Matt Proctor Wing Oriental-Rongotai
    TJ Perenara Halfback Northern United
    Mark Reddish Lock Oriental-Rongotai
    Ardie Savea Flanker Oriental-Rongotai
    Julian Savea Wing Oriental-Rongotai
    John Schwalger Prop Northern United
    Brad Shields Flanker Petone
    Eric Sione Prop Northern United
    Conrad Smith Centre Old Boys University
    Eugene Smith Hooker Petone
    Lima Sopoaga First Five-Eighth Old Boys University
    Jeremy Thrush Lock Hutt Old Boys Marist
    J. Toomaga-Allen Prop Marist St Pats
    Shaun Treeby Utility Back Tawa
    Victor Vito Loose Forward Marist St Pats
    Frae Wilson Halfback Wainuiomata

    My ideal starting XV (excluding ABs):

    1. Reg Goodes/ John Schwalger
    2. Motu Matu'u
    3. Jeff Toomaga-Allen
    4. Jeremy Th.rush
    5. Mark Reddish
    6. Brad Shields
    7. Ardie Savea
    8. Victor Vito
    9. Tomasi Palu (Wilson is crud)
    10. Lima Sopoaga
    11. Matt Proctor
    12. Tim Bateman
    13. Shaun Treeby
    14. Alapati Leiua
    15. Charlie Ngatai


    Pretty decent squad even if I say so myself. Really balanced this year as well.
     
    Rego, Aug 13, 2013
    #42

  3. Jabba HJ Bots

    I thought Treeby was ment to be a decent fullback?

    I think I'd rather have Ngatai's explosiveness in the midfield
     
    Jabba, Aug 13, 2013
    #43

  4. Rego RS Hutchinson

    Treeby can play fullback yes but on the basis he hasn't played there in awhile I put him at centre. Ngatai has a better kicking game anyway which we'll need at the back. Treeby is a stronger ball runner. Whilst Ngatai is a bit more balanced. Either way though.

    EDIT: They've listed Ngatai as a midfielder and Treeby as a Utility so that probably suggests they're planning on having Ngatai at centre, Treeby at FB. Bateman's defence is iffy, Ngatai's is solid so that should compensate.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2013
    Rego, Aug 13, 2013
    #44

  5. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    I'll do my Provincial ins/outs summary tonight. Plenty of movement yet again this season. Plenty of outs to Japan.
     
    HeathDavisSpeed, Aug 13, 2013
    #45

  6. Magrat Garlick M Garlick

    mon Magpies
     
    Magrat Garlick, Aug 13, 2013
    #46

  7. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Northland: Ins: Robbie Abel (Australia), Rupeni Caucaunibuca (France), Jone Tori (Fiji), Mac Sykes (Mid Canterbury), Tom Murday (Australia), Ben Seymour (France)
    Outs: Orene Ai'i (Auckland), Rhyan Caine (year off), Dan Caprice (England), Samisoni Fisilau (BoP), David Hall (Southland), Ash Moeke (France), Hale T-Pole (Southland), Eddie Paea (Rugby League).

    North Harbour: Ins: Josh Olsen (Waikato), Greg Pleasants-Tate (BoP), Tua Saseve (Hawke's Bay)
    Outs: Luke Devcich (France), Michael Hobbs (Japan), Soloman King (Japan), Salesi Manu (Australia), Filo Paulo (Wales), Rudi Wulf (France)

    Auckland: Ins: Orene Ai'i (Northland), Luke Braid (BoP), Sam Prattley (Tasman), Junior Poluleuligaga (England)
    Outs: Gareth Anscombe (injured), Daniel Braid (England), Tony Fenner (Italy), Ben Lam (injured), Alby Mathewson (Hawke's Bay), Dave Thoman (injured), Ali Williams (France), Andrew van der Heijden (retired)

    Counties-Manukau: Ins: Sam Aiono (Auckland), Ki Anufe (Auckland), Jarrod Firth (Auckland)
    Outs: Daniel Adongo (NFL), David Bason (Thames Valley), James Chipman (USA), DJ Forbes (sevens), Peter Hale (Thames Valley)

    Waikato: Ins: Paul Alo-Emile (Australia), Dylan Collier (Rugby League), Kylem O'Donnell (Southland), Ben Tameifuna (Hawke's Bay)
    Outs: Alex Bradley (retired), Kyle Chan Boon (BoP), Piers Francis (England), Brendon Leonard (England), Ben May (Japan), Declan O'Donnell (injured), Ted Tauroa (King Country), Anthony Wise (King Country)

    Bay of Plenty: Ins: Sam Beard (Canty), Tim Bond (Japan), Kyle Chan Boon (Waikato), Tino Nemani (Hawke's Bay), Kimani Sitauti (Melbourne Rebels)
    Outs: Toby Arnold (France), Luke Braid (Auckland), Phil Burleigh (injured), Mafi Kefu (Australia), Lelie Masaga (Japan), Jamie Nutbrown (injured), Dan Perrin (retired), Greg Pleasants-Tate (North Harbour)

    Hawke's Bay: Ins: Mark Abbott (Canty), Ben Franks (Canty), Willie Ioane (Taranaki), Max Lahiff (London Irish), Regis Lespinas (France), Ged Robinson (Australia), Telusa Veainu (Canty)
    Outs: Peter Borlase (retired), Hika Elliot (unknown, maybe Counties???), Ross Kennedy (Canty), Tino Nemani (BoP), Ben Tameifuna (Waikato), Star Timu, Dan Waenga (France)

    Taranaki: Ins: Mitchell Crosswell (Manawatu), Doug Tietjens (Manawatu)
    Outs: Michael Bent (Ireland), Craig Clarke (Ireland), Jason Eaton (Japan), Jayden Hayward (Australia), Willie Ioane (Hawke's Bay), Kylem O'Donnell (Waikato), Willie Rickards (retired), Scott Waldrom (retired)

    Manawatu: Ins: Hubert Buydens (Canada), Nic Stirzaker (Australia)
    Outs: Craig Clare (Russia), Eric Fry (USA), Reece Robinson (retired), David Te Moana (Australia), Doug Tietjens (Taranaki), Mitchell Crosswell (Taranaki)

    Wellington: Ins: Api Naikatini (Japan), John Schwalger (France), Adam Hill (Otago)
    Outs: Scott Fugistaller (Australia), Serge Lilo (Retired), Jason Woodward (Australia), Lua Lokotui (England)

    Tasman: Ins: Alex Ainley (Japan), George Stowers (Wales), Mark Swanepoel (Canty), Andrew Symons (England)
    Outs: Peter Beetham (Australia), Andrew Godman (Ireland), Sam Prattley (Auckland), Jeremy Su'a (England), Jordan Taufua (Canty)

    Canterbury: Ins: Jordan Taufua (Tasman), Belgium Tuatagaloa (Wellington) CUNTS
    Outs: Ben Franks (Hawke's Bay), Robbie Fruean (health issue), Seam Maitland (Scotland), Brendon O'Connor (Hawke's Bay), Mark Swanepoel (Tasman), Telusa Veainu (Hawke's Bay)

    Otago: Ins: Tom Donnelly (Japan), Ezra Taylor (Japan)
    Outs: Glenn Dickson (England), Jacob Ellison (Japan), Tamati Ellison (Japan), Adam Hill (Wellington), Adam Thomson (Japan), Rob Verbakel (England)

    Southland: David Hall (Northland), Hale T-Pole (Northland)
    Outs: Jimmy Cowan (England), Nathan Hohaia, Hoani MacDonald (retired), Kade Poki (Japan), Jason Rutledge (injured)
     
    HeathDavisSpeed, Aug 13, 2013
    #47

  8. Rego RS Hutchinson

    Good to see Wellington keep pretty much the same team. Surely Lilo can't be retired, he's only in his late 20's???
     
    Rego, Aug 13, 2013
    #48

  9. Droos JP Rhodes

    Good to see Rupeni Caucaunibuca back in the NZ mix.
     
    Droos, Aug 13, 2013
    #49

  10. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Can't get enough of Brad Shields. Any other country in the world and he would be an international.

    [​IMG]
     
    Hurricane, Aug 13, 2013
    #50

  11. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    North Harbour to be shit this year without Rudi Wulf.

    Waikato losing some key men. I have misplaced my Waikato shirt which I wore with pride when I met Heef. I will have to have a solid look around for it on the weekend. So few people follow rugger in Wellington. Hamilton is a hot bed. There were 300 people waiting at rugby park at 1am in the morning when the guys came back with the ranfurly shield from their road trip. That is quality fans.
     
    Hurricane, Aug 13, 2013
    #51

  12. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    They were shit with Rudi Wulf.
     
    HeathDavisSpeed, Aug 13, 2013
    #52

  13. Rego RS Hutchinson

    Re: Brad Shields, I agree. He'll get the ABs call up eventually. My avatar says all. My GF's parents are friendly with his or something along those lines. Apparently a top notch bloke. Fully jelly.

    Yeah it kinda sucks the ITM Cup is barely supported here and elsewhere. It's all about Super Rugby and the All Blacks. I get so many bizare looks when people find out I watch most ITM Cup games. Really can't understand why people view it as shit rugby. Look at Wellinton's starting squad for example, a top notch side where everyone has played at super rugby level (can be seen as a negative but that's another debate). Then look at Taranaki, there's so much excitement in that squad. Even the "smaller" teams produce fucking good rugby.

    Wellington's main problem is playing in a stadium with a capacity of 36000. On average 6000-7000 people turn up to a game. It looks empty and there's not atmosphere. Build a 10-15k capacity stadium and suddenly it looks and feels like they're one of the biggest supported teams.
     
    Rego, Aug 13, 2013
    #53

  14. Droos JP Rhodes

    I agree. I love Shields' work on the pitch. He would be an absolute shoe-in in Saffer rugby as to replace a guy like Schalk Burger. :p
     
    Droos, Aug 13, 2013
    #54

  15. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Maybe I should get a Brad Shields avatar too. I think I will settle for making a thread about him after he gets his first try.
     
    Hurricane, Aug 13, 2013
    #55

  16. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Hurricane, Aug 13, 2013
    #56

  17. Rego RS Hutchinson

    Rego, Aug 13, 2013
    #57

  18. Jabba HJ Bots

    Jabba, Aug 14, 2013
    #58

  19. Arheiner SIA Yates

    C'ed. But I'd still expect an improvement, I think/hope they've finally got to the point where they can't get any worse. Though no doubt they will. For about the 4th straight season. I've given up on bothering or expecting anything nowadays anyway at least, so not too fussed.
     
    Arheiner, Aug 14, 2013
    #59

  20. Rego RS Hutchinson

    Rego, Aug 14, 2013
    #60
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