2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games
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@Stargazer said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:
Highlanders squad for the preseason game v the Waratahs (Thu 16/2, 8.30pm NZT - Brookvale Oval, Sydney)
Ben Smith (c), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Rob Thompson, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, James Lentjes, Liam Squire, Jackson Hemopo, Tom Franklin, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: Aki Seiuli, Craig Millar, Siosuia Halanukonuka, Guy Millar, Adrian Smith, Josh Dickson, Alex Ainley, Elliot Dixon, Gareth Evans, Dillon Hunt, Kayne Hammington, Josh Renton, Fletcher Smith, Sio Tomkinson, Teihorangi Walden, Matt Faddes, Pat Osborne, Jason Emery.
That's good enough for me to ride up to see. Wouldn't get back home until 2ish however...
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Hurricanes line-up for the preseason game v the Crusaders (Fri 17/2, 5.00pm - Waverley):
The Hurricanes first half/second half line ups to play the Crusaders in a preseason match in Waverley are:
15 Jordie Barrett/Nehe Milner-Skudder
14 Ben Lam/Cory Jane
13 Vince Aso/Matt Proctor
12 Pita Ahki/Ngani Laumape
11 Wes Goosen/Julian Savea
10 Beauden Barrett/Otere Black
9 Chris Symlie/TJ Perenara
8 Toa Halafihi/Blade Thomson
7 Ardie Savea/Callum Gibbins
6 Brad Shields/Reed Prinsep
5 Mark Abbott/Michael Fatialofa
4 Isaia Walker-Leawere/James Blackwell
3 Mike Kainga/Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
2 James O'Reilly/Ricky Riccitelli
1 Loni Uhila/Chris EvesReserves for both halves: Ben May, Hugh Renton, Jonah Lowe.
Not considered: Dane Coles, Leni Apisai, Reggie Goodes, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Kylem O'Donnell, Peter Umaga-Jensen.
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Crusaders team for the preseason game v the Hurricanes (Fri 17/2, 5.00pm - Waverley):
1 Tim Perry, 2. Ben Funnell, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Sam Whitelock (c), 6. Pete Samu, 7. Matt Todd (vc), 8. Whetu Douglas
9 Ere Enari, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Ryan Crotty (vc), 13. Jack Goodhue, 14. Seta Tamanivalu, 15. Israel DaggReserves: Joe Moody, Wyatt Crockett, Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor, Luke Romano, Quinten Strange, Mitchell Dunshea, Jed Brown, Jordan Taufua, Bryn Hall, Mitchell Drummond, Mitch Hunt, Sione Fifita, David Havili, Sean Wainui, Manasa Mataele, Marty McKenzie
The Crusaders have also named their two vice-captains for the season to assist Sam Whitelock: Matt Todd and Ryan Crotty.
http://crusaders.co.nz/news/1049-bnz-crusaders-team-to-play-hurricanes-in-pre-season-match
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Some interesting choices in that Crusaders' starting team. Enari starting at halfback, Goodhue at centre and Tamanivalu on the wing, and Whetu Douglas.
Also, some interesting omissions from the game day squad:
Beidwell-Curtis, Jager, Ioane, Makalio, Bateman, Fukofuka and Macilai
Which of these guys are injured and which seemingly not in favour?
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@Stargazer Loose forwards aside, that's a strong looking Crusaders team. A lot depends on how Goodhue and Enari step up, of course.
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The Gallagher Chiefs team to play the Blues is:
- Kane Hames, 2. Samisoni Tuake’iaho, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Dominic Bird, 5. Brodie Retallick, 6. Taleni Seu, 7. Mitchell Karpik, 8. Tom Sanders, 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. James Lowe, 12. Johnny Faauli, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Toni Pulu, 15. Shaun Stevenson.
RESERVES: Hika Elliot, Sosefo Kautai, Atu Moli, Jonathan Taumateine, Findlay Christie, Dwayne Sweeney, Siegfried Fisiihoi, Mitchell Brown, Lachlan Boshier, Matiaha Martin, Latu Vaeno, Solomon Alaimalo, Tim Nanai-Williams, Aidan Ross.
The game kicks off at 5pm tomorrow and is being played at the Suburbs Rugby Club in New Lynn, Auckland. Entry is free of charge so get down there and see for yourself how both teams are shaping up 7 days out from the 2017 Investec Super Rugby season opening.
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@Chris-B. said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:
Some interesting choices in that Crusaders' starting team. Enari starting at halfback, Goodhue at centre and Tamanivalu on the wing, and Whetu Douglas.
Also, some interesting omissions from the game day squad:
Beidwell-Curtis, Jager, Ioane, Makalio, Bateman, Fukofuka and Macilai
Which of these guys are injured and which seemingly not in favour?
Ioane (hip) and Bateman (back) didn't play the final of the Brisbane Tens because of minor injuries, so I assume they are being rested to make sure that they are fully fit for their opening game against the ponies next week.
Macilai injured his knee during Mitre 10 Cup and needed surgery; he is expected to miss most of the SR season.
Makalio and Fukofuka did play the Brisbane Tens; I don't know why they're not in tomorrow's squad. Fukofuka may be absent because Mitchell Drummond returns from injury and needs game time. Enari was not in the Brisbane Tens squad either (but played against the Highlanders).
Jager was named in the initial Brisbane Tens squad, but I can't remember whether he played or not.
Bedwell-Curtis wasn't named in the Brisbane Tens squad, nor in the squad for the game against the Highlanders, so I can only assume he's injured.
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By the way, I'm working on a list of injured players and will post what I have after this week's preseason games. I'll post it in the thread I started about making a new rugby website. I'd appreciate any feedback, because I know it will not be complete.
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@Bovidae I see that the three injury replacements for Graham, Hoeata and Weber are all in the reserves. Who is the starting hooker? I assume he's there to replace Harris and that Elliot will be the main starter?
Very pleased to see Laulala back in the squad, as well as Bird. Still no Allardice though. Will be interesting how Karpik goes.
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@Stargazer Tuake’iaho - he played in the 10s. I saw a bit of him play at schoolboy level for St Paul's. He also played no.8 due to his mobility and ball-carrying.
I'm sure Hika will start vs Highlanders. Liam Polwart must have an injury niggle. Brayden Mitchell is also training with the Chiefs as the temporary replacement for Harris.
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@Stargazer Cheers. I thought you'd have a fair idea!
Enari playing and Fukofuka not is pretty interesting, because Fukofuka is in the official squad and Enari isn't - though I'm inclined to think Enari is Robertson's man and Fukofuka isn't.
Very interesting to me that he's starting the final trial ahead of Hall and Drummond - especially when a lot of the rest of the starting team is first choice.
Yeah - you'd expect Taufua will play either 6 or 8 in Read's absence - is that a pointer that Samu has the inside running right now (Douglas is another that wasn't an original squad member)?
Todd/Samu/Taufua would be a very short loose trio.
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The Waratahs have posted a link to a livestream of tonight's preseason game against the Highlanders on their FB page. It's geo-blocked though ...
This is the link: http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/MatchDay/LiveStream.aspx
The game starts at 8.30pm NZT.
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