Canterbury 2019
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2019 Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup squad (Name & Club):
Michael Alaalatoa* (Linwood)
Harry Allan (Sydenham)
Tim Bateman (Christchurch)
Fergus Burke* (Canterbury University)
Brett Cameron (Lincoln University)
Tom Christie (Christchurch)
Whetukamokamo Douglas (Canterbury University)
Mitchell Drummond (HSOB)
Mitchell Dunshea (Springston)
Ereatara Enari (Lincoln University)
Inga Finau (Linwood)
Sam Gilbert* (Lincoln University)
Cullen Grace* (Lincoln University)
Billy Harmon (New Brighton)
Oliver Jager (New Brighton)
Daniel Lienert-Brown (HSOB)
Brodie McAlister (Sydenham)
Dallas McLeod* (Christchurch)
Josh McKay (Lincoln University)
Rameka Poihipi* (Lincoln University)
Reed Prinsep (HSOB)
Ngane Punivai (Lincoln University)
Junior Ratuva* (Burnside)
Luke Romano (Hurunui)
Seb Siataga (New Brighton)
Tom Sanders (Banks Peninsula)
William Tucker (Christchurch)
Siate Tokolahi (Sydenham)
Luke Whitelock (Canterbury University)
*denotes new Canterbury squad member (uncapped) in 2019
Canterbury All Blacks:
George Bridge (HSOB)
Ryan Crotty (New Brighton)
Braydon Ennor (Canterbury University)
Owen Franks (Linwood)
Joe Moody (Lincoln)
Richie Mo'unga (Linwood)
Codie Taylor (Sydenham)
Matt Todd (Christchurch)
Samuel Whitelock (Lincoln University)
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Interesting squad. Fantastic depth at prop and in the loose forwards, but elsewhere relatively thin and especially in the midfield and outside backs unless Bridge and/or Ennor find themselves out of the ABs squad.
I'm excited to see McAlister, Tucker, Grace and Christie develop of the forwards in this squad, and will be fascinated to see how the backline gels. It's actually bloody difficult to come up with a clear first string backline from 12 out both in terms of experience/promise and positionally. I'd try this for a start:
15 McKay
14 Punivai
11 Gilbert
13 Bateman
12 McLeod
10 Cameron
9 DrummondWith Enari, Finau and Ratuva on the bench and McKay covering 10 mainly just because I want to see how he goes there.
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@Tim said in Canterbury 2019:
Ben Funnell gone overseas?
@Chris said in Canterbury 2019:
@Tim The quote from Joe Maddock was ““Hooker Ben Funnell has yet to decide his future,and hasn't been included in the squad.”
Strange remark but I guess you can take whatever you like out of it.It's weird, because he signed with Ricoh Black Rams in June. Maybe that was only for the Top Leaug Cup? The round robin of the Top Leauge Cup has finished and the Black Rams didn't qualify for the play-offs.
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@Chris said in Canterbury 2019:
@shark interesting also they have picked 3 2nd Fives. McLeod,Finau and Poihipi who has played there when given pre season games for Canterbury and The Crusaders.
All competing for The vacant Crotty contract ?Don't know about Finau. He's been in and around Canterbury squads now for several years and has never made an impact. McLeod has the most upside, based on national age group team selections. Bateman for mine is much more a 12 than a 13, but for Canterbury he's possibly needed more at 13 (unless Ennor comes back into the reckoning).
It's going to be really interesting to see what the Crusaders do come October with their midfield selections, given the amount of outside backs who can play there. I think, yes, they'll be looking for a specialist 12 to replace Crotty, and this could come down to NPC form from Bateman and McLeod as to who gets the nod. Elsewhere, they have Goodhue ensconsed at 13 with Ennor and Punivai able to play there also, while Havili'i can play 12 and while he's then incumbent at 15, 2020 might be Will Jordans' time to shine.
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@shark Bateman was among the players leaving the Crusaders (either going elsewhere or retiring from SR), so I don't expect him to come back in 2020. I don't think McLeod is ready for a starting role at 12 at SR level; I expect him to be eased in via the bench if he makes the squad. He's still very young/inexperienced and that was very noticeable during the JWC. It will be interesting to see how he goes in his first M10 Cup season. I'll be looking with interest to Poihipi, too.
Edit: removed some of my post as it wasn't relevant to Canterbury.
Added question: what happened to the younger Punivai, Isaiah? Still young enough for Canterbury U19?
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@Stargazer yes isiah is in the Canterbury under 19s. Heard a wee rumour his big brother and Connor garden bachop are both off to the highlanders too
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@chchfanatic Ah, all those rumours. There are way too many of them. Like that one about Jordie. Or Will Jordan signing with the Highlanders. I want hard facts!
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@chchfanatic ohhh ffs you're kidding. Connor looks like a gun. Would rather have him than both Tiatia and Lowe.
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@chchfanatic I thought Punivai had a year to run on his Crusaders contract
Oh yeah but wait contracts don’t mean shit anymore -
@Stargazer said in Canterbury 2019:
@shark Bateman was among the players leaving the Crusaders (either going elsewhere or retiring from SR), so I don't expect him to come back in 2020. I don't think McLeod is ready for a starting role at 12 at SR level; I expect him to be eased in via the bench if he makes the squad. He's still very young/inexperienced and that was very noticeable during the JWC. It will be interesting to see how he goes in his first M10 Cup season. I'll be looking with interest to Poihipi, too.
Edit: removed some of my post as it wasn't relevant to Canterbury.
Added question: what happened to the younger Punivai, Isaiah? Still young enough for Canterbury U19?
Okey dokey so no Bateman next year then. We really do have a hole there. Maybe Havili'i gets the inside running at 12 with McLeod / Goodhue the back-ups. Still leaves Jordan and Bridge as fullback options plus Reece, Ennor, Mataele, Leicester F and Punivai as wing options (plus Bridge).
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@Chris yeah that’s what I thought too. I know garden bachop is definitely going as his cousin is the coach. It would surprise me if ngane went too. Just what I heard that’s all. Catching up with the big guy tomorrow so I’ll ask him
