38 replies to this topic

[Canes4life]

Wellington Likely Team -All Blacks

1. John Schwagler 2. Ged Robinson 3. Neemia Tiatala 4. Jeremy Thrush 5. Daniel Ramsey 6. Faifili Levavae 7. Serge Lilo
8. Rodney So'oialo 9. Alby Matthewson 10. Michael Hobbs 11. Hosea Gear 12. Charlie Ngatai 13. Alapati Leuia 14. Julian Savea 15. Jason Woodward. Reserves: 16. Dane Coles 17. Jacob Ellison 18. Mark Reddish 19. Scott Fugistaller 20. Frae Wilson 21. Fa'atonu Fili 22. Shanon Paku

[Winger]

That would be a very strong side

[Paj]

Would Robinson get the 2 jersey ahead of Coles?

[Canes4life]

I think he will, depends what kind of game they want to play. There is another hooker in Welli atm who i think will go a long way in pushing both of them off their perch, in the name of Motu Matu'u. Plays for Ories (Same team as Ma'a)

[Razbra]

Paj said:

Would Robinson get the 2 jersey ahead of Coles?

I think he won't but it wouldn't be bad if he did. Coles inclusion in the maori is a bit of an enigma. Was he picked because he's rated or because of a lack of options? I think for some unknown reason he's rated.

[Canes4life]

I feel when it comes to the crunch games, i.e Finals against Canterbury, Coles plays too loose and plays in the backline, whereas Robinson plays alot tighter and gets stuck into is job like a normal hooker.

[Unco-ordinated]

I've no clue what the Waikato starting 22's going to look like, with all the players injured, coming or going. I'll just take a swing at it then:

1. Toby Smith
2. Aled de Malmanche
3. Nathan White
4. Toby Lynn
5. Romana Graham
6. Steven Setephano
7. Jack Lam
8. Alex Bradley

9. Brendon Leonard
10. Christian Leafliifano
11. Dwayne Sweeney
12. Jackson Willison
13. Save Tokula
14. Soseni Anesi
15. Trent Renata

16. Vern Kamo 17. Hikairo Forbes 18. Kent Fife 19. Jordan Smiler 20. Tawera Kerr-Barlow 21. Sam Christie 22. Tim Mikkelson

We've had worse. Not sure who I'd give captaincy to, maybe Aled, Setephano or Leonard. There's a chance Leonard, Tokula and/or Mikkelson will be off with the Commonwealth Games sevens team sometime in August.

Oh yeah and Donald should be back around October or something, assuming his confidence recovers as quickly as his chest.

[Stockcar86]

Canes4life said:

Wellington Likely Team -All Blacks

1. John Schwagler 2. Ged Robinson 3. Neemia Tiatala 4. Jeremy Thrush 5. Daniel Ramsey 6. Faifili Levavae 7. Serge Lilo
8. Rodney So'oialo 9. Alby Matthewson 10. Michael Hobbs 11. Hosea Gear 12. Charlie Ngatai 13. Alapati Leuia 14. Julian Savea 15. Jason Woodward. Reserves: 16. Dane Coles 17. Jacob Ellison 18. Mark Reddish 19. Scott Fugistaller 20. Frae Wilson 21. Fa'atonu Fili 22. Shanon Paku

No room for Shaun Treeby? Maybe loan him to HB then

[Winger]

Stockcar86 said:

No room for Shaun Treeby? Maybe loan him to HB then

He looked a quality player last year but a bit small

He should have bulked up a bit and could be the goods this year. He could be a better option at 2nd with Ngatai at FB

Hobbs I would like to see have a run at first, to see how he goes.

[junior]

Razbra said:

I think he won't but it wouldn't be bad if he did. Coles inclusion in the maori is a bit of an enigma. Was he picked because he's rated or because of a lack of options? I think for some unknown reason he's rated.

Well he must be rated ahead of Ged because Ged is a Maori

[Bones]

Oops, said it on another thread but...

Not a bad Welly side. Would prefer to see Ngatai to fullback with Hobbs to 12 and Fili starting.

Treeby ain't that big but is deceptively strong. IMO looked better at age group than the Canty 12 that was there at the time.

[Hooroo]

Unco-ordinated said:

I've no clue what the Waikato starting 22's going to look like, with all the players injured, coming or going. I'll just take a swing at it then:

1. Toby Smith
2. Aled de Malmanche
3. Nathan White
4. Toby Lynn
5. Romana Graham
6. Steven Setephano
7. Jack Lam
8. Alex Bradley

9. Brendon Leonard
10. Christian Leafliifano
11. Dwayne Sweeney
12. Jackson Willison
13. Save Tokula
14. Soseni Anesi
15. Trent Renata

16. Vern Kamo 17. Hikairo Forbes 18. Kent Fife 19. Jordan Smiler 20. Tawera Kerr-Barlow 21. Sam Christie 22. Tim Mikkelson

We've had worse. Not sure who I'd give captaincy to, maybe Aled, Setephano or Leonard. There's a chance Leonard, Tokula and/or Mikkelson will be off with the Commonwealth Games sevens team sometime in August.

Oh yeah and Donald should be back around October or something, assuming his confidence recovers as quickly as his chest.

Surely they will have Setephano at 8 and I would love Kerr-Barlow to get the 9 jersey.

Has Lauaki signed elsewhere yet (I mean has it been confirmed??)

Also, what about Ben May? Is he injured or signed overseas?

[BartMan]

May must be due back soon - and Lauaki is signed sealed and delivered to Frogland.

[SouthernMan]

I will take a punt at the Otago squad - even though I have seen bugger all club rugby down there.

Kees Meeuws
Jason MacDonald
Ben Nolan
Josh Townsend
Seko Kalou
Adam Thompson
Alando Soakai
Paul Grant

Sean Romans
Glen Dickson
Fetu'u Vainikolo
Josh Tatupu/Ben Smith
Ben Smith/Ryan Shortland
Ryan Shortland/Joe Hill
Joe Hill/Ben Smith

From my now outsiders point of view, this looks like a rather average side, with a very poor forward pack and only above average penetration in the backline.

[HB]

Isn't Hayden Triggs an Otago player?

[Crucial]

Canes4life said:

Wellington Likely Team -All Blacks

1. John Schwagler 2. Ged Robinson 3. Neemia Tiatala 4. Jeremy Thrush 5. Daniel Ramsey 6. Faifili Levavae 7. Serge Lilo
8. Rodney So'oialo 9. Alby Matthewson 10. Michael Hobbs 11. Hosea Gear 12. Charlie Ngatai 13. Alapati Leuia 14. Julian Savea 15. Jason Woodward. Reserves: 16. Dane Coles 17. Jacob Ellison 18. Mark Reddish 19. Scott Fugistaller 20. Frae Wilson 21. Fa'atonu Fili 22. Shanon Paku

Paku isn't signed up to anyone yet. Welly will struggle to fit him in unless he plays for free. Wouldn't they be looking at Popoali'i (sp?) over the very green Woodward?

[papamoan]

I take it that the sevens squad will cut across a few of the names mentioned here. Gear, Leonard, Thomson among possible others. Will those guys play any ITM cup?

[Hooroo]

When are the Commonwealth games Papamoan as I assume they will stay within the 7's squad until it's completion

[papamoan]

well Titch will need them for conditioning in the lead up to the games which are October 3 -14. Doesn't seem like too much ITM for sevens guys to me

Edited by papamoan, 01 July 2010 - 01:17 PM.

[Hooroo]

If any at all! Aren't they already in 7's camp? With the NPC kicking off on the last weekend of July I can't see them being involved at all.

[ACT Crusader]

On the Lions team, this might be left field somewhat but what about giving Hosea a run at centre this season to see if he's got the goods/versatility like his brother. The guy is a damaging runner no doubt, maybe getting his hands on the ball closer in, plus giving him opportunities to develop defensively would be good for him and the team.

[matata_massive]

ACT Crusader said:

On the Lions team, this might be left field somewhat but what about giving Hosea a run at centre this season to see if he's got the goods/versatility like his brother. The guy is a damaging runner no doubt, maybe getting his hands on the ball closer in, plus giving him opportunities to develop defensively would be good for him and the team.

yeah i was going to suggest that too, you gotta think he's already thinking about getting his versatility up there if he cant get in the AB's just as a wing

[KiwiPie]

Hooroo said:

If any at all! Aren't they already in 7's camp? With the NPC kicking off on the last weekend of July I can't see them being involved at all.

Well Titch hasn't named his 12 yet and according to last night's BOP Times :-

Quote

Tietjens will liaise closely with ITM Cup coaches so his chosen 12 are doing sevens-specific training as well.
....
Once selected, the squad will have another camp on August 23-24, assembling in Dubai at the start of October for a pre-Games camp before flying into India four days before the competition starts on October 11-12 at Delhi University.

so it looks like they will be available for the first half of the season at least.

[Unco-ordinated]

Hooroo said:

Surely they will have Setephano at 8 and I would love Kerr-Barlow to get the 9 jersey.

Has Lauaki signed elsewhere yet (I mean has it been confirmed??)

Also, what about Ben May? Is he injured or signed overseas?

Lauaki, O'Neill and Bruce have all buggered off already. Not sure why O'Neill has though, since he's just going over to Aus.

I don't think I've seen Bradley at 6, which is why I put him at 8 and Setephano at 6 (who I've seen in both positions). Either way, those two guys will probably take the 6/8 positions while Messam is in the AB's. Kerr-Barlow should get plenty of shots at 9, with Leonard probably heading off for the sevens.

[Nepia]

Quote

Paku isn't signed up to anyone yet. Welly will struggle to fit him in unless he plays for free.

Apparently Hawkes Bay has some money free, Paku would be a good acquisition for the Magpies with Dagg in the ABs. He's probably got heaps of relations as there are Paku whanau in Wairoa and near Hastings.

[WingerHB]

Paku played for Te Aute College and Maraenui, so he has strong links with HB.

[Toddy]

Paku was born in Masterton I think? Wonder how backwards he has gone since palying up north.

[Nepia]

WingerHB said:

Paku played for Te Aute College and Maraenui, so he has strong links with HB.

Really? I didn't know he went to TA - and played for Maraenui!

[WingerHB]

Actually I think he played for Hato Paroa in the Manawatu, but my mate reckons he played against him playing for Maraenui.

[Higgins]

Nepia said:

Apparently Hawkes Bay has some money free, Paku would be a good acquisition for the Magpies with Dagg in the ABs. He's probably got heaps of relations as there are Paku whanau in Wairoa and near Hastings.

Wasn't he managed/mentored by Norm Hewitt in his younger days as well?