2017 NZ Schools

Stargazer

@bovidae I haven't seen the media release, yet. Does it say anything about injured players? I miss Folau Fakatava on both lists. He's probably been Hastings Boys' best player, but got injured in the Top 4 semi-final.

Hastings' goal kicker is Danny Toala (fullback or 2nd five) and he's on the NZSS list.

Nepia

@stargazer said in 2017 NZ Schools:

@bovidae I haven't seen the media release, yet. Does it say anything about injured players? I miss Folau Fakatava on both lists. He's probably been Hastings Boys' best player, but got injured in the Top 4 semi-final.

Hastings' goal kicker is Danny Toala (fullback or 2nd five) and he's on the NZSS list.

Yeah, I can't believe there are 4 halfbacks in the country better than Fakatava.

Bovidae

@stargazer

Finlay Brewis (Westlake Boys High School), Dennon Robinson (Hastings Boys High School) and Kianu Kereru- Symes (Hastings Boys High School) were not considered for the teams due to injuries.

I thought Toala was the goalkicker so he might be used at fullback. I expect Tupaea to be the starting 2nd 5 and he might be the captain too. It's no good picking props etc that will be subbed. Tupou Vaa'i is another option as he was the Chiefs U18 captain. The question will be whether he has been selected as a lock or no.8.

Nepia

@bovidae @Stargazer Maybe Fakatava is the one player from Hastings that is too old?

Bovidae

He was one of the 4 picked in the training squad for the trials though.

The halfbacks in the NZSS are:
Taufa Funaki and Humphrey Sheild

Louie Chapman is in the Baabaas so Fakatava might have been selected in error.

Nepia

@bovidae said in 2017 NZ Schools:

He was one of the 4 picked in the training squad for the trials though.

The halfbacks in the NZSS are:
Taufa Funaki and Humphrey Sheild

Louie Chapman is in the Baabaas so Fakatava might have been selected in error.

Can't say I've watched either of those two play - so they could both be awesome?

Bovidae

Who was the Hurricanes U18 halfback? These squads are often picked from performances in those games as well as the 1st XV games and trials.

My only viewing of Funaki was in the 1A final but I wasn't watching the game close enough to make an assessment.

Stargazer

@bovidae
Folau Fakatava was the Hurricanes U18 halfback and I'm convinced he's by far the best NZ halfback in this age group. However, he got injured in the Top 4 semi and maybe they selected him in the development group in the hope he would recover in time and maybe he didn't. Some comments on FB indeed suggest he's still injured.

Humphrey Sheild was Fakatava's sub in the Canes U18 squad and was good, too. Worthy of selection in NZSS.

Chris B.

There's more kids from Hastings BHS in the NZSS team than the entire South Island. Plus a couple in the Maori team, plus a guy not considered due to injury and then this star halfback.

That must be some team!

Crucial

@chris-b said in 2017 NZ Schools:

There's more kids from Hastings BHS in the NZSS team than the entire South Island.

Don't fret. The so called Canterbury production line will continue when they all somehow decide to go to Lincoln Uni.

Number 10

None of this year's Hastings BHS squad are enrolled in Lincoln University ... yet.

But, at the moment, three of them are going elsewhere - Kini Naholo to Taranaki and Jeriah Mua and Dennon Robinson both to Bay of Plenty.

98blueandgold

@chris-b to be fair living in Canterbury that representation is fair. HBHS had some talent and the UC Championship was strong but lacked the 'top end' of player this year bar a cple.
in saying that there has been in recent times a large number who have not made schools that emerge in the nz20s from this comp. Drummond, Mounga, Sanders, Retallick!! Plus others

Bovidae

The teams have been named for their first games today.

New Zealand Schools vs. Fiji Schools, Knox Grammar School, kick off 2 pm

Tamaiti Williams (St Kentigern College)
Sam Cooper (St Paul's Collegiate, Hamilton)
Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe (Hastings Boys' High School)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Wellington College)
Tupou Vaa’I (Wesley College)
Charles Alaimalo (Hamilton Boys' High School)
Jeriah Mua (Hastings Boys' High School)
Devan Flanders (Hastings Boys' High School)
Taufa Funaki (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)
Rivez Reihana (St Kentigern College)
Leicester Faingaanuku (Nelson College)
Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Boys High School) – captain
Tauterangimarie Kapea (Hamilton Boys' High School)
Kini Naholo (Hastings Boys' High School)
Etene Nanai (St Kentigern College)
Abraham Pole (Otago Boys' High School)
Fatongia Paea (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)
George Dyer (St Paul's Collegiate, Hamilton)
Quade Tapsell (Gisborne Boys' High School)
Josh Southall (St Patrick's College – Silverstream)
Humphrey Sheild (Napier Boys' High School)
Lincoln McClutchie (Hastings Boys' High School)
Isaiah Punivai (Christs College)

New Zealand Schools Barbarians vs. Tonga Schools Sport & Rugby Institute, Palmerston North, kick off 2 pm

Oliver Norris (St Peter’s College, Cambridge)
Tane Te Aho (Hamilton Boys’ High School) - captain
Patrick Thacker (Christ’s College)
James Thompson (St Peter’s College, Cambridge)
Taine Plumtree (Wellington College)
Joshua Bokser (Napier Boys’ High School)
Taine Te Whata (Otago Boys’ High School) - vice captain
Tovo Faleafa (Auckland Grammar School)
Louie Chapman (Christchurch Boys’ High School) – vice captain
Fergus Burke (St Paul’s Collegiate)
James Stratton (Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
Kienan Higgins (St Patrick’s College – Silverstream)
Josiah Maraku (Feilding High School)
Siave Seti (St John’s College)
Rico Syme (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
David Meki (Rosmini College)
Ethan McQuinlan (Feilding High School)
Saula Mau (Auckland Grammar School)
Samipeni Finau (St Peter’s College, Cambridge)
Simon Parker (Otamatea College)
Luke Donaldson (St Paul’s Collegiate)
Lemeki Namoa (Sacred Heart College)
Kaleb Talamahina (Southland Boys’ High School)

Stargazer

The 2pm time for the NZ Schools game is AEST, not NZT. So the NZ Schools game kick-off time is 5pm NZT.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/31494/schools-teams-named-for-first-match

Chris B.

@98blueandgold Let's hope Leicester has a good game against Fiji or we might not have any South Islanders in the 1st XV!

Bovidae

Luke Donaldson (St Paul’s Collegiate) looks to be the other halfback in the squad. St Paul's have a good representation across the 2 squads considering they would only be ranked the 4th best team in the Waikato based on results this year.

Fergus Burke, the NZ Schools Baabaas 1st 5, was in the Crusaders U18s. I'm not sure how that came about.

98blueandgold

@chris-b he will be the wing, he is s beast!!

Bovidae

New Zealand Schools Barbarians 33 (Oliver Norris, Rico Syme, Louie Chapman, Fergus Burke, Kaleb Talamahina tries; Burke 4 con)
Tonga Schools 19 (Hiliau Latu, Siosefa Finau, Apitoni To'ia tries; Hateni Tafolo 2 con)

https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/sport/rugby-union/96582660/new-zealand-schools-barbarians-handle-tough-test-from-tongan-schools

Stargazer

Haven't seen any report of the game yet, but I've read on one of college rugby accounts on FB that New Zealand Schools have beaten Fiji Schools 59 to 9.

Stargazer

Playing in Sydney, Australia, New Zealand Schools’ had a dominant 54-7 win over Fiji Schools’.
...

SCORERS:
New Zealand Schools’ 54 (L Faingaanuku 3, N Ah Kuoi 2, Q Tupaea 2, S Cooper, A Pole tries, R Reihana 2 con, L Faingaanuku 1 pen, 1 con)
Fiji Schools’ 7 
Half time 23-7

The New Zealand Schools’ Barbarians also looked impressive in their 33-19 victory over Tonga Schools’ in Palmerston North.
...

SCORERS:
New Zealand Schools’ Barbarians 33 (O Norris, R Syme, L Chapman, K Talamahina, F Burke tries, F Burke 4 con)
Tonga Schools’ 19
Halftime 21-5

http://www.allblacks.com/News/31504/new-zealand-schools-teams-record-opening-match-victories

The Silver Fern

2017 NZ Schools