2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games
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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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@Stargazer How is Aaron Smith going?
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@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.
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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.
