2017 preseason games (HB Saracens/Magpies)
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Hawke's Bay Saracens line-up v Wairarapa Bush (Monday 5 June, Tremain Field, k/o 2.30pm)
1 Mark Braidwood
2 Nick Hyde
3 Paulo Nuu
4 Josh Eden-Whaitiri (capt)
5 Ben Parsons
6 Matt Gardner
7 Ben Hamelink
8 Joseph Penitito
9 Zach Donaldson
10 Ash Robinson
11 Naua Uaisele
12 Cole Eru
13 Hayden Hann
14 Shannon Chase
15 Tamati SamualsReserves
16 Jacob Devery
17 Jorian Tangaere
18 Mason Kean
19 Tyler Symon-Burke
20 Faalemiga Selesele
21 Tom Iosefo
22 Ioane Lauano
23 Tianua Poto
24 Kaleb Sweet
26 Jordarn Harmer
27 Lucas Goodin
28 Dan McIntyre / Nick BissApart from Selesele (and maybe Mason Kean), only club rugby players (as far as we know). Emerson was playing at an invitational sevens tournament in France last weekend, so that's probably the reason why he's not there. Tony Lamborn is with the USA Eagles.
Anyone going on Monday? I can't make it.
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Unavailable through injuries or other commitments for the Saracens team which has been selected from the Magpies wider training group, were the Hastings Rugby and Sports pair of prop Jason Long and winger Mason Emerson, the Napier Old Boys Marist quartet of prop Jarvy Aoake, lock-loosie Hannon Brighouse, halfback Ellery Wilson and winger Mitch Drew, the Havelock North pair of flanker Tony Lamborn and first five-eighth Dan Snee and the Taradale pair of halfback Chris Eaton and second five-eighth Billy Ropiha.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11868551
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Was not a very inspiring match.
The pitch was not in very good condition and both sides were hampered by it. It had been played on on Saturday and it showed. It was damp, cut up, and muddy.
Inevitably, after having played club rugby on Saturday, the Saracens side named on Thursday contained a few changes.
Josh Eden-Whaitiri did not play and the captaincy went to Ben Hamelink. Fa'alemiga Selesele did not play either.
I thought both forward packs cancelled each other out in the set pieces - Wairarapa Bush had a good lineout and were competitiive at scrum time.
The Saracens were far more penetrative in the backs but the poor state of the pitch was restricting.
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Thanks for that @Number-10! These early preseason games may be good as trial games for the Magpies, but that's about it. Unless there are club rugby players that really stand out. I was wondering how Penitito went. He was so promising in 2015, before he got that season-ending injury, but am not sure what happened in 2016 (can't remember whether he played in these preseason games). Obviously, Chase is one to watch, as are Tangaere and Kean.
We'll only get some real indication of the strengths and weaknesses of the Magpies squad, once more contracted players are available, so usually from the end of July. The next preseason game is on 5 July against the Manawatu Evergreens (in Waipukurau). Following that game, is a preseason game on 5 August against Waikato. I expect that to be the first game to show us where the Magpies are at.
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I was very unimpressed with Selesele last year. Hopefully Mikaele-Tu'u or Penitito secure the #8 spot this season
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@Stockcar86 said in 2017 preseason games (HB Saracens/Magpies):
I was very unimpressed with Selesele last year. Hopefully Mikaele-Tu'u or Penitito secure the #8 spot this season
Selesele didn't even look like an 8 in the way he played. That was a bemusing selection.
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@Stockcar86 said in 2017 preseason games (HB Saracens/Magpies):
I was very unimpressed with Selesele last year. Hopefully Mikaele-Tu'u or Penitito secure the #8 spot this season
Yeah, Selesele wasn't too bad on attack, but his defence was terrible. Having said that, almost the whole team had huge problems on defence. I think Selesele has another year on his contract, so - if correct - he'll be in the squad.
It will be interesting to see where they'll use Evans. They might put him at 6 with TBW gone. Not a fan of Hamelink.
Hopefully, Evans can stay fit and healthy this year to keep him out of the squad. -
Going by this morning's HB Today there are five spots available to fill in the 30-man squad.
Penitito did okay yesterday. Last year he was played for the HB Development team squad.
But with Selesele, Mikaele Tu'u, Lamborn, Renton and Evans contracted for 2017, the coaches probably have their preferred loose forwards in there. Three of them can play at eight, which probably counts against Penitito.
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@Number-10 said in 2017 preseason games (HB Saracens/Magpies):
Going by this morning's HB Today there are five spots available to fill in the 30-man squad.
Penitito did okay yesterday. Last year he was played for the HB Development team squad.
But with Selesele, Mikaele Tu'u, Lamborn, Renton and Evans contracted for 2017, the coaches probably have their preferred loose forwards in there. Three of them can play at eight, which probably counts against Penitito.
A couple of them are always not far away from the casualty department of the hospital so there is likely to be opportunity for others to get a run sometime during the season.
Incidentally what has become of the tall young Fijian guy we had playing at lock two seasons ago?
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@Higgins said in 2017 preseason games (HB Saracens/Magpies):
@Number-10 said in 2017 preseason games (HB Saracens/Magpies):
Going by this morning's HB Today there are five spots available to fill in the 30-man squad.
Penitito did okay yesterday. Last year he was played for the HB Development team squad.
But with Selesele, Mikaele Tu'u, Lamborn, Renton and Evans contracted for 2017, the coaches probably have their preferred loose forwards in there. Three of them can play at eight, which probably counts against Penitito.
A couple of them are always not far away from the casualty department of the hospital so there is likely to be opportunity for others to get a run sometime during the season.
Incidentally what has become of the tall young Fijian guy we had playing at lock two seasons ago?
Waqa was injured in 2016 all season and signed with NEC Green Rockets early this year.
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There's a preseason game v the Manawatu Evergreens in Waipukurau (Central Park) tomorrow evening (k/o 6.30pm). Due to time and location, it will again be impossible for me to go.
This is the Hawke's Bay Saracens squad:
1 Jason Long (c)
2 Jorian Tangaere
3 Mason Kean
4 Ben Parsons
5 Josh Eden Whaitiri
6 Matt Gardiner
7 Ben Hamelink
8 Joseph Penitito
9 Chris Eaton (vc)
10 Dan Snee
11 Mason Emerson
12 Jordarn Harmer
13 Hayden Hann
14 Dan McIntyre
15 Mitch DrewReserves:
16 Jacob Devery
17 Nick Hyde
18 Paulo Nuu
19 Mark Braidwood
20 Tyler Symon-Burke
21 Ricky Hayes
22 Karl Lowe
23 Lucas Goodin
24 Zac Donaldson
25 Ellery Wilson (vc)
26 Shannon Chase
27 Nick Biss -
13 of those 27 have previously played first-class rugby for Hawke's Bay:
Long, Tangaere, Kean, Eden-Whaitiri, Hamelink, Penitito, Eaton, Emerson, McIntyre, Braidwood, Lowe, Wilson, Chase.In addition, Dan Snee played two games for Otago in 2008.
Two halfbacks in the reserves bench - Donaldson, Wilson - is a bit unusual.
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Manawatu Evergreens:
1 Tuki Raimona, 2 Hunter Prescott, 3 Sione Asi, 4 Tom Parsons, 5 Liam Hallam-Eames, 6 Harrison Brewer, 7 Brayden Iose, 8 Kirk Tufuga,
9 Sam Malcolm, 10 Ben Wyness, 11 Willy Ambaka, 12 Nathan Tudreu, 13 Hamish Northcott, 14 Patrick Tafili-Reid, 15 Te Rangatira Waitokia.
Reserves: Tim Cadwallader, Sean Paranihi, Fraser Armstrong, Liam Mitchell, George McPherson, Tom Hughes, Jade Te Rure, Nathan Tudreu, Luther Hirini, Tom Stewart.
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Highlights of the PS game against Manawatu were posted on YT. Not great quality, so hard to see who's playing, scoring etc. Looks like there's terrible lighting on that field in Waipuk.
Edited to add that you can actually hear Philpott talking in this clip.
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HB Sacarens Squad vs Waikato
Saturday, 5 August 2017 - kick-off 1.30pm
Owen Delany Park, Taupo1 Jason Long (Capt)
2 Jacob Devery
3 Pouri Rakete Stones
4 Nick Palmer
5 Ben Parsons
6 Tony Lamborn
7 Faalemiga Selesele
8 Marino Mikaele Tu'u
9 Zac Donaldson
10 Tiaan Falcon
11 Mason Emerson
12 Cardiff Vaega
13 Cole Eru
14 Ash Robinson
15 Hayden Hann
16 Teremoana Joel
17 Mark Braidwood
18 Mason Kean
19 Geoff Cridge
20 Ben Hamelink
21 Tyler Symon Burke
22 Chris Eaton
23 Dan Snee
24 Jordarn Harmer -
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@Higgins said in 2017 preseason games (HB Saracens/Magpies):
Don't recall reading or knowing anything about numbers two and twenty one. Can you help with a few details thanks?
Jacob Devery plays for Hastings R&S and was in last year's Hastings Boys squad.
Tyler Symon-Burke (lock/No 8 ) plays for Havelock North and was part of last year's Gisborne Boys team.
