Tasman v BOP

[Chris]

Also Taine Robinson and Macca Springer a couple of names around the Crusaders environment ,
Both rated highly.and have trained with the Crusaders squad.

[Stargazer]

@chris-b That team line-up looks like the ones they use for preseason. Great for rookies, oldtimers and players returning from injury.

[Tim]

Good to see Harbour man Max Hicks get a start.

[Chris B.]

@bovidae said in Ta$man v BOP:

Quite the rise for Noah Hotham. First year out of school and he will make his 1st class debut.

A name I didn't recognize - I presume a halfback.

[Chris B.]

@chris Macca Springer has had a couple of runs already. Scored a nice try vs Southland.

[Chris B.]

@chris Do you know anything about Matt Graham-Williams? He was named in the Mako Development Squad this year - but, his name also has a link to the Crusaders website - which doesn't go anywhere (the link that is).

https://crusaders.co.nz/matt-graham-williams/

[Stargazer]

@chris-b That's an old link. You can find him - and others - here: https://crusaders.co.nz/academy/our-2021-nz-academy-group/

[Bovidae]

@chris-b said in Ta$man v BOP:

@bovidae said in Ta$man v BOP:

Quite the rise for Noah Hotham. First year out of school and he will make his 1st class debut.

A name I didn't recognize - I presume a halfback.

Yes. He went down to Otago after leaving Hamilton BHS last year but has ended up at Ta$man. Hotham was the NZ Schools halfback last year and in the Highlanders U20s this year.

If you watched the Ta$man-Southland game Hotham was the young kid sitting next to Clarke Dermody in the stands.

[Chris B.]

@stargazer 123kg and 21 years old.

A big lad.

He's not actually that far short of being twice the size I was when I was 21. And around that time I flatted with a guy who went on to prop for Canterbury and he would only have been midway between me and Matt!

[Chris]

@chris-b said in Ta$man v BOP:

@stargazer 123kg and 21 years old.

A big lad.

He's not actually that far short of being twice the size I was when I was 21. And around that time I flatted with a guy who went on to prop for Canterbury and he would only have been midway between me and Matt!

Yeah he is a big unit as @stargazer said he is in the Crusaders Academy intake for 2021.

[Nepia]

Go Of Plenty, wait nope, Go the Invitational XV, wait nope, go a good game of rugby!

Looking forward to seeing how Parata goes. @Chris-B why isn't Renton getting a start amongst these B teamers?

[Chris B.]

@nepia He's had plenty of minutes?

The guy who is MIA is Taina Fox-Matamua. I presume he is another on the injured list given they've called up Koloamatangi.

[Chris B.]

A few Ta$man players likely to be in Moana Pacifika/Drua sights.

Sam Moli a good bet if no-one else has signed him.

Sam Matenga would be a decent pick-up - solid scrummager. Not sure his ethnicity, but if he's related to Margaret Matenga, I think she was a Cook Islander.

Levi Aumua. Taina Fox-Matamua.

Cirikadaveta already announced for the Drua.

Steven Harris already speculating Tavatavanawai is going to MP.

[Snollygoster]

[Tim]

Te Ariki Te Puni is the Auckland University club hooker, and has been on the fringes of the Auckland squad.

[Bovidae]

Veveni Lasaqa was really good for TBC and the Chiefs U20s but is a 7. There are plenty of other U20 players in that team.

[Stargazer]

@bovidae Yeah, Josh Bartlett is one of them.

Also, finally Jeriah Mua (NZU20, 2017 Hastings Boys' champions team).

[Bovidae]

Also Hati, Broughton, Vaipulu and O'Connor.

[Higgins]

@snollygoster For one giddy moment I thought The Steamers had snaffled the Barracuda as yet another invitation player after looking at the player featured on the team sheet. I gave it a closer look and thankfully found it is not so, The Barracuda would never prostitute himself that low!

[KiwiMurph]

Sorry if this has been covered but do we know when this game is?

The Ta$man graphic says Sunday

The Steamers graphic says Saturday

This game doesn't show up on the Bunnings NPC website.