Hurricanes vs Rebels
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Had a yarn to Shields down at the Eastbourne shops and he's expecting to be back this week. Just needs to pass a few fitness tests but is looking forward to contributing to what has been an impressive loose forward mix so far this year.
Laidlaw has already mentioned in an interview that Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai will likely take a seat this week so expect to see Shields at 6, Kirifi at 7 and Flanders at 8.
Not too sure what the player status is for other areas of the side but I'm sure there will be plenty of movement this week as we look to rest and rotate against the Rebels on Friday, with an eye to our next NZ derby a week later against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
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After four weeks playing pretty much the same 23 I'd say there will be a raft of changes for the Rebels on Friday.
At prop I think Laidlaw will be keen to give Numia and Lomax a rest, they've had big workloads to kick off the season, same with Aumua at hooker.
Walker-Leawere will likely get a spell at lock with Lakai and Iose probably getting a rest in the loose. Delany likely to come back in after having a week off due to a failed HIA.
In the backs I'm almost certain Roigard and Cameron will take a week off. I'm not sure whether all Love, Proctor, Moorby and Naholo will be rested at the same time but I feel like we have the quality to do so if we so choose. Love and Naholo looked to pick up niggles against the Saders so a rest will do them good.
Obviously we don't want to take the Rebels too lightly but they look like a bit of a rabble atm so it's a good chance to rotate our key players out to keep them fresh.
I'm going with the below 23 to take on the Rebels, plenty of experience littered throughout and enough firepower to get the job done in Palmy.
- T Mafileo
- J O'Reilly
- P Tosi
- C Delany
- J Sangster
- B Shields (c) I've heard he's available for selection against the Rebels, he's our captain so he will start.
- D Kirifi
- D Flanders
- T Perenara
- A Morgan - I want Godfrey to start here but for the sake of keeping guys fresh Morgan gets the jumper.
- S Rayasi
- J Barrett - apparently he's likely to be back next week after going to tackling school to get a week off his initial three week punishment.
- R Higgins - Higgins jumps out one to partner Barrett
- B Sullivan / D Sinkinson - not sure what the Sullivan status is but keen to see him get an opportunity
- H Godfrey
- R Tuputupu
- P Rakete-Stones
- S Lauaki
- J Tucker
- T Howden
- J Vijoen
- P Umaga-Jensen
- D Sinkinson / R Paul
Rested: Numia, Lomax, Aumua, Walker-Leawere, Lakai, Iose, Roigard, Cameron, Naholo, Proctor, Moorby, Love.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Rebels:
Had a yarn to Shields down at the Eastbourne shops and he's expecting to be back this week
yeah, but did you have breakfast with him like @jegga ?
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@Dan54 I think Godfrey will most likely get a run at 15. That right wing spot is a bit of a question mark, I wonder if Sullivan is ready to go, haven't heard anything about him. If he's not available I would probably start Moorby again and then give him a rest the following week when we bring Naholo and Love back. Keeping guys fresh at this point in the season is key.
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I expect to see a number of rests this week for this game
One key area the coaches need to sort out is 1st 5. As Cameron has shown over the last 4 weeks that he isn't good enough. Culminating in a poor game last WE. So, I was hoping he would improve as the year went on but then a poor game. I've basically given up on him now.
So what to do? 1stly not waste any more time on Morgan. He's worse by some distance. Pointless to waste any more time on someone who is not even up to a good NPC level. There are 3 options worth looking at. Love Barret and Godfrey. The obvious choice is to give Barrett a run this WE. With say Higgins at 2nd, maybe PUJ at centre (he's too greedy and limited at 2nd 5 but seems more suited to centre) and Sillivan if available on one wing. I would also give Godfrey a run at FB
But unless we sort 1st 5 out the team will do ok but not win the big one. It's time to accept Cameron is too limited in this key position and try and find a serious replacement.
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which Barrett? Jordie?
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@mariner4life said in Hurricanes vs Rebels:
which Barrett? Jordie?
The old man would likely be as good as Morgan. But maybe past his best days now. And he was a lock wasn't he?
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@Winger you don’t move Jordie there that would be stupid. Either you play Morgan or Godfrey in this game. My hunch is they’ll play Morgan but my preference would be to give Godfrey mins. He’s older or the same age as the 10s at the Reds and they are doing fine. May aswell develop him in a game like this. Whether they will or not is another question altogether.
Last year Godfrey played a number of mins off the bench covering 10/15 but now Love is back they haven’t needed him. Hopefully he gets a chance in this game to show what he’s got. Plus it only takes an injury or two and he’s in there, just like how Roigard got an opportunity when Perenara and Booth were injured.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Rebels:
@Winger you don’t move Jordie there that would be stupid
Why?
For Barrett. or for the team. For the team it could be the best move. For Barrett maybe not. But he seems to be able to move from position to position fairly well so maybe it would make little difference
I would leave Love to focus on FB and try Barrett and Godfrey at 1st. But introduce Godfrey at FB. If he does well give him a run at 1st
"My hunch is they’ll play Morgan "
I hope not. He's just not good enough. I just hope the current coaches are good enough to see this
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@Winger Love is in a moon boot atm so he’ll probs be out until at least after the bye.
I wouldn’t move Jordie at all, I’d say they will back Morgan at 10 and Godfrey at 15 against the Rebels. The only time I’d move Jordie is if we start getting injuries at fullback. I don’t think Jordie will play 10 unless all of Cameron, Morgan, Godfrey and Love are injured at the same time, which is not impossible but highly unlikely.
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Filipo Daugunu won't be available for the Rebels this week after he continues a pay dispute with the club.
Pay dispute sees Wallaby Filipo Daugunu miss second straight game
Filipo Daugunu won't be available for Melbourne's next clash despite returning to training after sitting out last round over a pay dispute.
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@Canes4life his agent:
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As predicted from the following gallery, Caleb Delany looks to be training with head gear, Brad Shields looks to be active again (no surprises), Perenara looks to be at 9, Morgan at 10, Jordie at 12 and Godfrey at 15. Apart from that it's a guessing game but we will find out at 4pm. If the rule is that anyone wearing bibs is on the bench then Aumua, Vijoen and Reon Paul will be involved.
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1. Pouri Rakete-Stones
2. James O’Reilly
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. Justin Sangster
5. Caleb Delany
6. Brad Shields (Captain)
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi
8. Devan Flanders
9. TJ Perenara
10. Aidan Morgan
11. Salesi Rayasi
12. Jordie Barrett
13. Ngane Punivai (Debut)
14. Daniel Sinkinson
15. Harry Godfrey16. Asafo Aumua
17. Tevita Mafileo
18. Pasilio Tosi
19. James Tucker
20. Brayden Iose
21. Richard Judd
22. Riley Higgins
23. Josh Moorby -
Isaac Kailea, Jordan Uelese, Sam Talakai, Angelo Smith, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Rob Leota (c), Ryan Louwrens, Carter Gordon, Glen Vaihu, David Feliuai, Lukas Ripley, Lachie Anderson, Andrew Kellaway
Reserves: Alex Mafi, Cabous Eloff, Taniela Tupou, Josh Canham, Daniel Maiava, Jack Maunder, Mason Gordon, Nick Jooste
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Looking at both sides the Canes should win this by plenty even with key players out. Still plenty of experience littered throughout and I’m glad we’ve given a number of guys a rest. Surprised that Lomax is starting, thought we would have given him a rest but plenty to like about that 23.
I totally forgot Punivai was in the squad so interesting to see his name on the team sheet. Still no Sullivan, a bit like last year he just can’t shake the injuries, same with Umaga-Jensen.
That bench looks absolutely stacked. Should be a long night for the Rebels. Judd also makes a return which is actually a shame considering the form of Vijoen to start the year.
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@Canes4life It would be a massive boil over if the Canes aren't 5-0 after this.
Brad Shields returns for Rebels clash in Palmerston North
