Hurricanes 2017
-
Good to see Ben Lam playing again. He's been a slow developer but his NPC form was great before the injury and he was looking very good for the Blues Dev team when the injury happened.
The Hurricanes have recruited well and have a ridiculous amount of talent out wide. I would much rather a local talent like that in the Blues squad than Declan O'Donnell
-
Just came back from the Canes v Crusaders Development teams game. The Canes won 36 to 24.
Ben Lam didn't play and was replaced in the starting XV by Malo Tuitama.Similar to the U20s against the Blues, the Canes had a very slow start. Within 13 minutes, the Crusaders Knights had scored 3 tries. The first one was scored by Inga Finau and converted by Brett Cameron. The second (unconverted) try was scored by Heiden Bedwell-Curtis. Caleb Makene scored the third and again, Cameron converted: 0-19.
Then the Canes woke up and most of the game was played on the Crusaders half, without resulting in many points. In the 20th minute, Toa Halafihi went over for the Canes' first. Tiaan Falcon converted the try. This passage of play saw several scrums and line-outs, and there were a couple 'near tries' for the Canes, ultimately leading to nothing either through knock-ons or giving away penalties to the Saders. A penalty goal scored by Falcon was the only thing the Canes got out of that part of the game and it was 10-19 to the Saders at half time.
After the break, the Canes continued attacking well and the Saders were again pushed back into their own half. In the 47th minute, Asafo Aumua scored his first try of the afternoon. Again, Falcon's boot was accurate: 17-19, still in favour of the Saders. Five minutes later, it was Halafihi who scored his second try and the replacement first-five Ben Wyness was on target: 24-19 Canes. In the 60th minute, Jonah Lowe scored in the corner and Wyness added the extras: 31-19. Not sure what happened to Wyness, but I noticed that Falcon was back on the field a couple of minutes later.
Although the Canes were clearly stronger, the Saders were no push-overs and were finally rewarded when they scored at the other end 8 minutes later (don't know who scored the try): 31-24 Canes.
The Canes kept going until the final whistle and Aumua went over for his second. Full time: 36-24.
Only a few comments about the game (the Blues' game has already started):
- Aumua was impressive in the second half and, just like in the Mitre 10 Cup games he played last year, he knows how to find the try line. That lad can run! I'm not sure for how long Leni Apisai is going to be the third Canes hooker. After having been overtaken by Riccitelli at the end of last season, he definitely now needs to look over his shoulder to who's behind him in the queue.
- the line-outs and scrums went reasonably well for both teams, although there were a couple of throws that were overthrown.
- Falcon has an incredible boot, and both his kicking game and his goal kicking were very good (not sure whether the Canes see Peter Umaga-Jensen as a back-up first-five or fullback, but he's another one to look over his shoulder, because Falcon (only 19 years old) has shown several times now that he's a good prospect. Is PU-J injured? He seems to be most of the time).
- I'm more and more convinced that Sean Wainui shouldn't play higher than Mitre 10 Cup level; both Pita Ahki and Jonah Lowe got him good a few times.
- Sam Lousi is a big lump of a man
- Ambrose Curtis didn't impress
- both nos. 14, Tuitama and Makane, were easily the best of the outside backs. Include Jonah Lowe after he moved to the left wing. I'm still not sure whether I prefer him at 13 or wing.
-
@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2017:
Peter Umaga-Jensen
He was at FB for Wellington last year. Does he cover 1st 5. I thought it was midfield and FB. But he is only 19 still so a long time for him to step up
-
@mimic said in Hurricanes 2017:
Yeh, PUJ is injured a lot.. Where is Vaa these days?
He played one game for Wellington last year and went to do a sidestep and that was it. He wasn't even tackled
I doubt after seeing this if it is wise for him to even play NPC rugby this year. He needs to get his body right as he's always injured
-
The Hurricanes Development team just beat the Blues A team 45 to 35. Hooker Asafo Aumua scored three tries. I have no clue who were in the Canes 23 because they didn't publish the team list this week, but it's fair to say the future looks bright, with both the Canes Development team and the Canes U20s winning all their games this season. I think this was their last game, so the players who don't run on for the senior squad will play club rugby from now on (and not all of them in Wellington).
-
Nice overview of the links between Shield Snorters and the Hurricanes:
Napier match set to add to Shield Snorters's Hurricanes legacy
-
@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2017:
Napier match set to add to Shield Snorters's Hurricanes legacy
That just made me laugh, they were plunging the depths of connections.
-
The Hurricanes Development team will play Wanganui on Queens Birthday, 5 June. For Wanganui, this game is to prepare for their Ranfurly Shield Challenge against Canterbury on 21 June.
Looking at the line-up, there are quite a few players in the squad that normally wouldn't be picked (and a few fully contracted players, who need game time). I assume that's due to several players being unavailable because of NZU20s or NZ Prov Barbarians' duties. Good to see Matt Proctor is on his way back ...