ITM Cup 1st XVs Minus All Blacks

[Canes4life]

Heres the top 4 IMO.


Wellington 1st XV

1. John Schwagler
2. Dane Coles
3. Neemia Tialata
4. Daniel Ramsey
5. Jeremy Thrush
6. Faifili Levavae
7. Serge Lilo
8. Rodney So’oialo (c)
9. Alby Matthewson
10. Fa’atonu Fili
11. Hosea Gear
12. Michael Hobbs
13. Alapati Leiua
14. Julian Savea
15. Charlie Ngatai

Canterbury 1st XV

1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Steve Faulau
3. Peter Borlase
4. Isaac Ross
5. Luke Romano
6. Matt Todd
7. George Whitelock (c)
8. Nasi Manu
9. Andy Ellis
10. Colin Slade
11. Sean Maitland
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Tu Umaga Marshall
15. Stephen Brett

Auckland 1st XV

1. Pauliasi Manu
2. Tom McCartney
3. Charlie Faumuina
4. Kurtis Haiu
5. Andrew van der Heijden
6. Onosa’i Auava’a
7. Daniel Braid
8. Peter Saili
9. Toby Morland
10. Matt Berquist
11. Jamie Helliur
12. Benson Stanley
13. Ben Atiga
14. Atiele Pakalani
15. Brent Ward

Taranaki 1st XV

1. Michael Bent
2. Laurence Corlett
3. Shane Cleaver
4. James Broadhurst
5. Craig Clarke
6. Ben Souness
7. Scott Waldrom
8. Jarrod Hoeata
9. Tyson Keats
10. Willie Ripia
11. Andre Taylor
12. Jayden Hayward
13. George Pisi
14. David Smith
15. Kurt Baker

[HB]

Benson Stanley is currently in Australia with the All Black squad.

[mimic]

jamie helleur on the wing? he'll probably play 12

i reckon auckland will be lucky to make the top 4.. they got mid-table written all over them..

[Duluth]

Re that Auckland side - I would have Mailau at LH, Lowrey at blindside, Thomas on the wing and maybe Wintson in the midfield. Ash Dixon may displace McCartney too.

Mimic - it's a far better squad than the side that finished 5th last year. I doubt they have the talent to win the comp but the front 10 are decent at this level. It all depends on the kids out wide I guess

[mimic]

True.. I guess I was disappointed last season after losing to Tasman and North Harbour, a hiding from Hawkes Bay, and a moment of brilliance in the death away from losing to the Turbos.

[Higgins]

Re that Auckland side - I would have Mailau at LH, Lowrey at blindside, Thomas on the wing and maybe Wintson in the midfield. Ash Dixon may displace McCartney too.

Mimic - it's a far better squad than the side that finished 5th last year. I doubt they have the talent to win the comp but the front 10 are decent at this level. It all depends on the kids out wide I guess

I quite like the look of that skinny little young guy Pakalani they have playing on the wing. It will be his second season so I am hoping he will continue showing improvement and could be quite a threat with the more experience he will have gained. Hopefully he might have got a wee bit bigger as well but having said that there are always trade offs when more weight and bulk is put on.

[sportboy]

Bay of Plenty:

15 Toby Arnold
14 Lelia Masaga
13 Grant McQuoid
12 Phil Burleigh
11 Jason Hona
10 Dan Waenga
9 Taniela Moa
8 Colin Bourke
7 Tanerau Latimer
6 Luke Braid
5 Luke Andrews
4 Culum Retallick
3 James McGougan
2 John Pareanga
1 Joe Savage

[Red Beard]

Bay of Plenty:

15 Toby Arnold
14 Lelia Masaga
13 Grant McQuoid
12 Phil Burleigh
11 Jason Hona
10 Dan Waenga
9 Taniela Moa
8 Colin Bourke
7 Tanerau Latimer
6 Luke Braid
5 Luke Andrews
4 Culum Retallick
3 James McGougan
2 John Pareanga
1 Joe Savage

I think Tristan Moran and Dan Perrin may well force their way into that starting front row by seasons end.

[Red Beard]

Re that Auckland side - I would have Mailau at LH, Lowrey at blindside, Thomas on the wing and maybe Wintson in the midfield. Ash Dixon may displace McCartney too.

Mimic - it's a far better squad than the side that finished 5th last year. I doubt they have the talent to win the comp but the front 10 are decent at this level. It all depends on the kids out wide I guess

What happened to that massive young unit 135 kegs plus (the former NZ U20s prop) who played for Auckland about two seasons ago?

[cgrant]

What happened to that massive young unit 135 kegs plus (the former NZ U20s prop) who played for Auckland about two seasons ago?

It's Fa'anunu ! He has been loaned to Northland as I learned it last week. Concerning the Wellington Lions 1st XV, I would go for Ngatai at 2nd 5/8 and Apoua Stewart at full back.

[shark]

Canterbury 1st XV

1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Steve Faulau
3. Peter Borlase
4. Isaac Ross
5. Luke Romano
6. Matt Todd
7. George Whitelock (c)
8. Nasi Manu
9. Andy Ellis
10. Colin Slade
11. Sean Maitland
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Tu Umaga Marshall
15. Stephen Brett

Forward pack looks about right, but there might be some tinkering in the backs where there is a lot more depth. The halves are a given but Umaga-Marshall has competition on his hands in the form of Adam Whitelock (captained Canterbury in his brothers' absence a couple of weeks back) and the NZ U19 player (as does Freuan from Whitelock for that matter) and while Brett has been training a little at fullback, so has Maitland, and Penney has been evasive about playing SBW at second-five. So I think - for a start at least - we'll see Maitland at fullback, SBW on a wing and Brett at 12.

[matata_massive]

Forward pack looks about right, but there might be some tinkering in the backs where there is a lot more depth. The halves are a given but Umaga-Marshall has competition on his hands in the form of Adam Whitelock (captained Canterbury in his brothers' absence a couple of weeks back) and the NZ U19 player (as does Freuan from Whitelock for that matter) and while Brett has been training a little at fullback, so has Maitland, and Penney has been evasive about playing SBW at second-five. So I think - for a start at least - we'll see Maitland at fullback, SBW on a wing and Brett at 12.

yep forsure Penny will probably take SBW with a softly softly approach for the opening rounds

[dogmeat]

I'll have a stab at Harbour but I shouldn't really as haven't been following it at all closely. But inj the absence of anyone else here goes

Ben Afeaki - if not still broken
Michael Mayhew
Michael Reid
Filo Paulo
James King - think both these locks are broke tho
Malakai Ravulo
Tom Chamberlain
Mathew Luamanu - although as a Cotes man I'd have Richard Mayhew
Chris Smylie
Michael Harris
nafi Tuitavake
Lucky
Jack Tarrant
Ken (the last) Pisi
Jack McPhee - coz he's the only FB in the squad dfear god

There ya go a team to strike fear (of dying laughing) in their opponents

Bench
the other Afoa
James Parsons
Michael Farmer - he might be broke as well in which case our locks might be Gary Whetton and Doc Mayhew - go the Cotes
Scot Uren
Grayson Hart - coz why else import him
Ben Botica
Alipate Fatefehi - coz can't see who else covers OB's

[Red Beard]

yep forsure Penny will probably take SBW with a softly softly approach for the opening rounds

I reckon Penny and SBW himself will be chomping at the bit for action. Time is seriously running out if he wants an AB EOYT spot. I reckon they will start him in his preferred possis ASAP. Its not as if he hasnt played rugby at a reasonable level before and the rehab/preperation an ahtlete like SBW is used to will mean he will be good to go in no time.

[Higgins]

Alipate Fatefehi - coz can't see who else covers OB's

Is this the big guy that played on the wing for Otago a few years back then turned up somewhere in Sth Africa for a Super 14 Team?

[BOPRED]

Where is the Hawkes Bay line up. What srt of team are you fielding Higgins

[Duluth]

I'll have a stab at Harbour but I shouldn't really as haven't been following it at all closely. But inj the absence of anyone else here goes

Ben Afeaki - if not still broken
Michael Mayhew
Michael Reid
Filo Paulo
James King - think both these locks are broke tho
Malakai Ravulo
Tom Chamberlain
Mathew Luamanu - although as a Cotes man I'd have Richard Mayhew
Chris Smylie
Michael Harris
nafi Tuitavake
Lucky
Jack Tarrant
Ken (the last) Pisi
Jack McPhee - coz he's the only FB in the squad dfear god

There ya go a team to strike fear (of dying laughing) in their opponents

Bench
the other Afoa
James Parsons
Michael Farmer - he might be broke as well in which case our locks might be Gary Whetton and Doc Mayhew - go the Cotes
Scot Uren
Grayson Hart - coz why else import him
Ben Botica
Alipate Fatefehi - coz can't see who else covers OB's

Does Dowd have a policy of picking players related to famous rugby identities?

Afoa, Afeaki (related to Inoke?), Mayhew, Hart, Botica, Tuigamla, Tuitavaki, Whetton.

[dogmeat]

Duluth, You could add Lucky to that list as well, even tho he's outshone Charlie. Hardly surprising - Shore is very des res after all.

Higgins. Think its the same Fatefehi. He certainly meets the definition of big. Come to think of it - he could be outr lock cover. Sorry Doc.

Nth Otago, Otago, Stormers, Harbour - a star transcendant

[Duluth]

What are the injuries to the NH locks? Are they expected to be out for long?

Strangely for NH the tight five actually looks quite good when fully fit. Reid is solid at this level, Dowd is bullish about Afeaki's All Black prospects, Paulo did a good job when he was called into the Blues and King was one of the stars of the last NPC

What happened to the old captain - Chris Smith? Has he gone overseas or was he dropped?

[taniwharugby]

It's Fa'anunu ! He has been loaned to Northland as I learned it last week.

who injured himself in the pre-season v Auckland and is struggling for fitness for Thursday...named on the bench though

Northland side named for opening match for 2010 with Taranaki in the Bull Ring

Matt Wallis, Mikaele Tu'u, Bronson Murray
Pat O'Connor, Mark Burman*
Dean Budd*, Cameron Eyre, Sam Barker*
Luke Hamilton, David Holwell
Aaron Bancroft*, Rene Ranger
Lachie Munro, Jared Payne (c) Simon Munro

Reserves; Tim Dow, Paea Fa'anunu*, Roy Griffin, Cam Goodhue*, Rhyan Caine, Iwi Hauraki*, Bryce Heem*

*indicates will earn 1st Northland cap if they take the field

[Chris B.]

Tasman

Hamish Cochrane (presently injured)
Francis Smith
Fai Mika
Chris Jack
Joe Wheeler
Glen Gregory
Jon Poff
Poatasi Luafutu
Steve Alfield
James Marshall
Tom Marshall
Kade Poki
Afeleki Pelenise
Blair Cook
Robbie Malneek

[WingerHB]

Hawke's Bay

Anthony Perenise
Hika Elliot
Clint Newland
Bryn Evans
Ross Kennedy
Michael Johnson
Karl Lowe
Mike Coman
Kahn Fotouali’i
Daniel Kirkpatrick
Zac Guildford
Andrew Horrell
Jason Shoemark (captain)
Gillies Kaka
Luke Rooney

[Sambo]

jezz that's a good looking HB side!

[BOPRED]

Crap, That is a good side

How many of them played against BoP i mean the BAY

[Hooroo]

Tasman

Hamish Cochrane (presently injured)
Francis Smith
Fai Mika
Chris Jack
Joe Wheeler
Glen Gregory
Jon Poff
Poatasi Luafutu
Steve Alfield
James Marshall
Tom Marshall
Kade Poki
Afeleki Pelenise
Blair Cook
Robbie Malneek

Hey Chris B,

I have a sort of soft spot for Tasman as I played all my rugby in the Marlborough Prems so don't take this as an wind up but gee that team looks rubbish.

I will be surprised if they win a game this season. In saying that, nothing like underdog status to push you forward.