Hawke's Bay Tui
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@Stargazer Surprised to see Niamh Jefferson on the bench. She has started every game since mid-2018. Good at the tackle - never far from it - and wins lineout ball. Carrying a niggle?
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@Number-10 I was wondering about that as well. I remember that in last week's game against Canterbury, she was replaced during the second half, but had to come back on because the player she replaced got injured. With Kathleen Brown, she's one of my favourite players in the Tui squad. Surprised she never received a BF call-up, although there's a lot of competition in the loose forwards.
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Livestream Ta$man v Tui
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Full time: Ta$man Mako 5 - 62 Tui
Second half tries to Harmony Kautai, Cortez Te Pou, Niamh Jefferson, Amber McKenzie, Michaela Baker, Shaylee Tipiwai and Krysten Cottrell.
Stand-outs for me were prop Mareikura in the first half, Krysten Cottrell, both midfielders Jaimee Robin and Amelia Pasikala, and great impact from the bench from Niamh Jefferson.
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@Stargazer said in Hawke's Bay Tui:
@Number-10 I was wondering about that as well. I remember that in last week's game against Canterbury, she was replaced during the second half, but had to come back on because the player she replaced got injured. With Kathleen Brown, she's one of my favourite players in the Tui squad. Surprised she never received a BF call-up, although there's a lot of competition in the loose forwards.
@Stargazer With that scoreline I think that probably answers why Niamh Jefferson, Emma Jensen and Cortez Te Pou all started from the bench.
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@Number-10 Te Pou started from the bench because she had a minor ankle niggle, which got worse after she was tackled not long after scoring her try. She had to leave the field and I saw a post on her instagram in which she was sitting in a wheelchair at the airport, with her ankle in bandages. Jensen and Jefferson have played a lot minutes; both had great impact from the bench today.
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@Stargazer Ah, so they could play at Petane Domain No 2 and still have plenty of room for spectators, paying or not, and car parking and still have plenty of room to spare.
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I thought Emma Jensen had hung up the boots, but she's in the squad. That's awesome, because even thoug her age (she's 43 years old) may slow her down a bit, her experience is invaluable. Another former BF, Gemma Woods, is back, too. Also great to see that Kath Brown is still there.Quite a few new names, too, including several under 18 players. Not sure how old she is, but apparently Leilani Hakiwai is a promising talent. Newbie Imij Hawkins is a cousin of Bailyn and Zarn Sullivan.
The Tui have lost several players, including former BF hooker, Forne Burkin. Also missing is last year's reserve hooker Amber McKenzie, so that's quite a loss in the front row. Not sure who the new hookers are. Also gone are winger Kaitlyn Bates and very talented outside back Cortez Te Pou, who's now playing club rugby in Hamilton. I'll have to check where the others have gone. Hannah Brough, who was pregnant during last year's FPC hasn't returned from Counties where she was working as team physio, last year.
I wonder whether some of these players have left the Tui because last season was so abysmal - due to that terrible North-South format. It's hard to get selected for the Black Ferns if your team loses big all the time, even though it's a team sport and you can still play well individually. But I guess it can also be very difficult to get selected if you're playing for a Championship team and never get to compete against the better teams, so it may just be due to other reasons (employment, relationship, studies).
Biggest problem was tackling, last season. I really hope we get to see a lot of improvement in that area.
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From the HBRU Facebook page:
A new look Big Barrel Tui team had their first pre-season game of the season, as they kicked off their campaign leading towards the 2021 FPC Championship against Bay of Plenty in Taupo today. With several experienced players unavailable for this years FPC, it provided an opportunity for a number of players to push for selection and while the team ultimately lost the game 27:17 against the Premiership contenders, the young Hawke’s Bay team showed real potential in the greasy conditions. The Big Barrel Tui side were able to dominate for periods in the first half, playing at the right end of the field and building continuity through some strong ball carries and good option taking. The 10-10 halftime score line was a fair reflection of an entertaining half. BOP were able to increase the tempo of the game early after the break and were able to retain possession for long periods in the second half. The Big Barrel Tui were forced to defend for long periods and conceded two second half tries, before responding with a great team try with five minutes to go, giving the Tui a chance to steal a late win. Unfortunately a late intercept sealed the win for BOP, but the commitment and attitude shown in the first game of the season showed the team has plenty of promise as they move towards the second pre-season match against Manawatu, 1pm next Saturday at Central Park Waipukarau. A big shout out to our officials for the game Estelle Whaiapu, Moana Davis and 13 year old, Michē Puttar.That confirms my previous post about the many new, young players and other (experienced) players missing.
I hope they're still better than Ta$man and Taranaki. -
2021 Hawke's Bay Tui squad
Almost 27 years difference in age between the oldest player (Emma Jensen, 43) and the youngest (Amaia Te Hau, 16).
Two players born in 2005, three in 2004
One player born in the 1970s, four in the 1980s.Our biggest loss, last year, was Liana Mikaele-Tu'u to Auckland.
This year we've lost Cortez Te Pou to Counties and Amber McKenzie to Otago.
No idea why Forne Burkin isn't in the squad (injured, pregnant, moved away???). Also missing from last year are, among others, Kaitlyn Bates, Laurae Blake, Niamh Jefferson (huge loss!), Shaylee Tipiwai, Teagan Meyer, Tori Iosefo and the Mareikura sisters.Former Black Ferns in the squad (that I'm aware of): Krysten Cottrell, Emma Jensen, Gemma Woods. Samoa international: Jennifer Simati.
Players with rugby playing relatives: I'm only aware of two: Imij Hawkins is the cousin of Bailyn and Zarn Sullivan and Amelia Pasikala's brother is Kaihau Pasikala, a very talented loosie in the current Hastings Boys 1st XV squad.
This is a very young, inexperienced squad and I think we'll be lucky if the Tui can still beat Ta$man, Taranaki and North Harbour. Northland will probably crush the Tui and so will Manawtu.
The Tui's first game is on Saturday, 24 July 2021, 1.00pm (McLean Park), against Northland. This is a double header with the Magpies' Ranfurly Shield defence against NP East Coast.
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The list above is missing a few names. Also in the squad are Iaesha Puata and Melanie Te Whaiti. Don't know what positions they play in.
There's also a name on the list above, that isn't in the list published on the Magpies' FB page: Amaia Te Hau.
Tasman v Hawkes Bay FPC | Tasman Mako was live. | By Tasman Mako |...
