2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games

[Bovidae]

@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.

[Bovidae]

I'll add that Tuake’iaho was the 3rd ranked hooker for Waikato last year behind Faiva and Misa. I hope the latter hasn't left as he looked good off the bench.

[Chris B.]

@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.

[Stargazer]

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.

[Stargazer]

Liam Squire scores in the first minute of the game. Sops misses the conversion. 5 - 0 Highlanders

[Stargazer]

Naholo, Fekitoa, Aaron Smith, try time! Easy conversion for Sopoaga. 12 - 0 Landers

[Stargazer]

Waratahs dominate the line-outs.

[Stargazer]

Surprisingly, Reece Robinson kicks the penalty for the Tahs (15th min): 3 - 12 Landers

Highlanders clearly the better team, but a bit sloppy. Lots of handling errors.

[Unite]

@Stargazer How is Aaron Smith going?

[Stargazer]

@Unite Looking good. Best man, so far, Liam Squire. Very busy.

[NTA]

Try to the Tahs as the Clan 13 comes in off the wing

[Crucial]

@Stargazer said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:

@Unite Looking good. Best man, so far, the best, Liam Squire. Very very busy. The best man

Fixed it for you. Gotta get those Trumpisms right.

[Stargazer]

Good try scored by Harry Jones for the Tahs. Robinson kicks the conversion attempt against the posts: 8-12 Landers

During the first quarter, the Landers were mostly on attack with the Tahs defending. Now, it's the opposite and the Highlanders immediately leak a try. It's going to be interesting, because the Tahs are getting into the game.

[NTA]

Everyone in Oz got the live stream? Think its region blocked so if you're outside the Great Brown Land I think you're out of luck

http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/MatchDay/LiveStream.aspx

[Stargazer]

@NTA Mate, I already posted that link.

[NTA]

Cross kick for Naholo try - just stabs it into the corner.

[NTA]

@Stargazer said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:

@NTA Mate, I already posted that link.

Yeah but I can't be arsed reading everyone's comments

[Stargazer]

Try Naholo in the corner after a good cross-kick from Sops, who converts the try from the sideline: 8-19 Highlanders

[Stargazer]

Penalty goal Reece Robinson: 11 - 19 Landers

[Stargazer]

Awesome try from Ben Smith after another cross kick from Sops! 11-24 Highlanders