Wellington 2019
-
Wellington Lions 2019 Mitre 10 Cup squad
Outside backs:
Vince Aso (Paremata Plimmerton) Losi Filipo (Petone), Connor Garden-Bachop (Northern United), Wes Goosen (Old Boys Univesity), Ben Lam (Tawa)Midfield backs:
Pepesana Patafilo (Tawa), Billy Proctor (Marist St Pat’s), Matt Proctor (Oriental Rongotai), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Wainuiomata), Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wainuiomata)Five-eighths:
Jackson Garden-Bachop (Northern United), Callum Harkin (Old Boys University), Trent Renata (Oriental Rongotai)Halfbacks:
Kemara Hauti-Parapara (Tawa), Jono Hickey (Western Suburbs), TJ Perenara (Northern United), Connor Collins (Hutt Old Boys Marist)Loose forwards:
Teariki Ben-Nicholas (Old Boys University), Vaea Fifita (Wellington), Mateaki Kafatolu (Petone), Du’Plessis Kirifi (Northern United), Ardie Savea (Oriental Rongotai), Galu Taufale (Poneke)Locks:
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Marist St Pat’s), James Blackwell (Petone), Josh Furno (Western Suburbs)Props:
Alex Fidow (Oriental Rongotai), Xavier Numia (Oriental Rongotai), Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (Petone), Morgan Poi (Old Boys University), Sef Fa’agase (Johnsonville)Hookers:
Asafo Aumua (Avalon), Dane Coles (Poneke), James O’Reilly (Hutt Old Boys Marist), Sitiveni Paongo (Tawa). -
Vince Aso signs with Lions: some serious selection headaches in the centres/outside backs with Matt Proctor also staying on for one last campaign. Pretty weak in the forwards as we will probably be missing Coles and Aumua at hooker. If we can set some sort of foundation the Lions will be tough to beat, but I just can't see the pack doing much at all.
https://www.wrfu.co.nz/news/post/gibbes-excited-by-potential-of-wellington-lions-squad/
-
@Canes4life said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Vince Aso signs with Lions: some serious selection headaches in the centres/outside backs with Matt Proctor also staying on for one last campaign. Pretty weak in the forwards as we will probably be missing Coles and Aumua at hooker. If we can set some sort of foundation the Lions will be tough to beat, but I just can't see the pack doing much at all.
https://www.wrfu.co.nz/news/post/gibbes-excited-by-potential-of-wellington-lions-squad/
Back 3 seems pretty straight forward if all healthy. It'll likely be Goosen at fullback again, and Aso and Lam on the wings.
Matt Proctor will likely be captain again, so probably takes the 13 jersey by default. Billy Proctor and the Umaga-Jensen bros are all likely fighting for the 12 jersey. Not sure if P.Umaga-Jensen has played 12 though.
-
Does anyone have any inside info about the guy Connor Collins from the combined HOBM club who has been named as one of the four halfbacks in the Wellington squad? I have never heard of him (other than thinking he might be the guy that played a few games off the bench for Canterbury off the bench at the end of the last NPC) and note that he has played just two Premier games of club rugby in Wellington. As Jonno Hickey has been injured all season and with TJ Perenara probably having outher duties it seems this Collins fellow might be getting a fair bit of time in the matchday 23. Naming just the three locks (one of whom is almost permanently injured) is also a bit of a risk.
-
@Dice P Umaga Jensen has been playing mostly 12 all year for Canes development so I'd suggest he will get the first crack there. The nature of the comp will mean they will easily rotate the backs without much trouble so I'm sure everyone will get sufficient game time. Injuries always play a big part.
I am looking forward to seeing Connor Garden Bachop get a run. I think this kid cuts a similar mould to the likes of G Bridge so hope he can develop nicely.
-
It seems the Josh Furno, one of three locks named in the Wellington NPC Squad might not be quite as unknown here as first thought.
Otago signs Italian lock
The Otago rugby team will have an Italian flavour to it this year. It has signed lock Josh Furno for the upcoming season, alongside local product...
Thats about it in terms of my memory. There maybe a few other posters out there that can fill us in on details how this Australian born Italian guy might have gone in his nine games he played for Otago in 2017.
-
@Higgins Walker-Leawere leaving has left us in a huge hole and typical Wellington have once again failed to plug their weaknesses. Will they ever learn.
It's all well and good having 7 Super Rugby level midfield/outside backs, but if they don't get the ball, what's the point.
-
@Canes4life Seems they might have to resort to a fill in all rounder at fullback with no specialist player being named to be the obvious first choice there. Thinking back didn't Matt Proctor start out qas a funllback when he first came on the scene?
-
@Higgins Garden-Bachop has played a few games there for Norths and Billy Proctor has played the last two games for MSP at Fullback so who knows.
UPDATE: Just read that Matt Proctor will most likely play next to no rugby throughout this campaign due to surgery.
-
-
@Dice Yeah I would say the Umaga Jensen bro's / Billy Proctor would share the midfield duties.
-
@Canes4life I'd go Billy at 12 and Peter at 13. I think that's the right balance.
-
@Canes4life said in Wellington 2019:
@Higgins Walker-Leawere leaving has left us in a huge hole and typical Wellington have once again failed to plug their weaknesses. Will they ever learn.
You have the Canes’ number 1 lock so I don’t know what you’re complaining about. 😉
-
@Nepia we’ve got midget locks, giant no 7s - I can’t keep up.
Speaking of IWL, any word on where he has signed for Super Rugby next year?
-
@Canes4life where is W-L going? I've had a hunt around but couldn't spot the details. Hopefully still with the Canes though??
-
@Paekakboyz he is with Hawkes Bay instead of Wellington, however he hasn’t yet specified where his Super commitments lye.
-
@Canes4life ok, if we can keep him with the Canes I can handle that defection within the franchise partners!
-
@Canes4life If @Stargazer hadnt posted it yet then it hasn’t been confirmed where he’s going. It may be a Ben May deal in that he’s shifted to the Bay on behalf of the Canes or he’s gone to the Chiefs (hopefully) and so had to leave Welly!
