S5, P1: New Zealand vs. Baabaas - Completed

New Zealand

Joshua Ritchie
Alan Izett
Chris Smith
Jason Denton
Heath Davis
JD Hurricane
Simon Humble
Samuel Yates
Sam Bakkum
Matthew Scoble
Matt Dorn
Gareth Weaver
John Heads
Lucas Schaw
Regan Hutchinson

16 Kovana Solosolo
17 James Torres
18 Mike Martyn
19 Dexter Astele
20 Geoff Smith
21 Dan Larkinson
22 Sticky Phlegm

Barbarians

Os du Toit
Jonty Rhodes
Samuel Vimes
James McDougal
Double Dong
Callum Laing
Michael Chung
Leumas Himann
Cobra Classified
Chad Dyer
Andrew James
Chuck Faldo
Paddy Orr
Chris Raftery
Ginger Furball

Substitutes

Ishang Narang
Hal Teja
Siege Morgan
Jono Chewie
Zohaib Ikram
Truman Lee
Sachet Tuladhar

 

Draw written all over it

 

Odds seem about right

 

Preview: The first outing of the Barbarians in the Regional Rugby Championship will set the tone for their campaign ahead. They've put out a team featuring some seasoned campaigners as well as some up-and-comers, but will be hard pressed to come away with many points in the season ahead.

In the match ups, the Baabaas only clear area of superiority is in the front rows. Jonty Rhodes has proved himself to be a reliable campaigner in the Hurricanes jersey this season - and outperformed Alan Izett, the experienced NZ hooker in their meeting in the SRC this season. The other front rowers should be tidy enough options, but Joshua Ritchie is having a 'Wheelson Season' and Os du Toit isn't doing much better. Chris Smith will focus on forcing du Toit up and out, whilst rookie Samuel Vimes will look to give Ritchie a working over.

In the 2nd row, the advantage goes to NZ as the tried and tested 'Heefton' partnership of Heath Davis and Jason Denton take on a new pairing in seasoned veteran James McDougal and up-and-comer Double Dong. Much will rely on the two hookers' throwing at the line out, and both have proven to be at the reliable end of the scale this year. Davis and McDougal are likely to enjoy another heated battle - one of many over the years.

The respective backrow line-ups look to join battle in what looks to be a mouthwatering prospect. Callum Laing and Michael Chung combine in a familiar Spartans pairing against the decent back row combo of JD Hurricane and Simon Humble. The Barbarians should have the upper hand here, but that tilt could be outweighed by Samuel Yates' supposed superiority over Leumas Himann. One further string to the Barbarians bow is that they have another quality #8 option on the bench in Jono Chewie and well as the solid form of Siege Morgan. If the match is close heading into the final 20, the battle between Chewie and Dexter Astele and Morgan versus Mike Martyn could prove to be pivotal.

The back lines also look to have some interesting head-to-heads on the cards. Both Andrew James and opposite number Matt Dorn have shown good form in club contests so far, but James has arguably the greater pedigree. Not much defensive work will be done on their wing, and not much - if any more - on the other where Lucas Schaw surely could rip Chris Raftery a new one.

In the centres and it's advantage New Zealand once more as Gareth Weaver will look to dominate the solid but less flashy Paddy Orr and John Heads will face down club-mate Chuck Faldo.

At the full back position, we shouldn't expect to see many testing high balls as solid options are available for both teams in the form of Regan Hutchinson and Ginger Furball. The Barbarians will be hoping for no full back injuries as back up full back Sachet Tuladhar (Form = 3, 0, 4, 1, 0) will surely prove to be out of his depth here. In Tuladhar, the selectors have opted for a very defensive full back ahead of more flashy options like Girve Swervington or Cunning Stunt.

The pivots should be another advantage to New Zealand - however, Cobra Classified has proven to be surprisingly solid in the season thus far and gets in ahead of bench option Zohaib Ikram or another option in reasonable form in Fourie van der Westhuizen. The experience of Matthew Scoble at first five should suit New Zealand's game plan, but look for Chad Dyer to try and limit Scoble's options as much as possible.

Prediction: A bridge too far for the Barbarians at this stage. A victory to New Zealand by between 7 and 13 points.

 

Come on ye Baabaas!

 

dat front row ja

 

with the gang?

 

I have at last simmed this. I'm hoping it'll be tonight, but a few commentary errors have been cropping up since I upgraded the commentary, so I apologise in advance for anything that makes no sense, and please highlight any issues.

Not sure what time it'll be up, but probably late-ish NZT if at all (9pm, perhaps?)

 

So keen!

 

Doing a bit of loading for preparation, eh? Pasta all the way?