QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay
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I expect there to be plenty of feeling in this one after the Ranfurly Shield battle a couple weeks ago.
I’m obviously picking our boys to get up but I don’t think there will be too much in it.
I’ll try and get along for this one and cheer the fellas on.
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Should be a good contest with plenty of feeling. Both of these sides can be streaky and can get on a scoring spree. Lions by 8-10 points.
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I normally wouldn't be confident about any Lions game but our D in big games has been very good this year, so if we keep that up we should win this.
Looking forward to it.
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@foobaNZ I feel like we are really playing as a team, whereas in many years gone by we've relied on individuals.
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Hahaha, this was posted on the HBRU Facebook page, this morning. At least they have a sense of humour!
How about it Wellington Rugby?
#youwontdoit #BunningsNPC
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Does anyone know if Ardie Savea and Dane Coles are available for this week? Both players are short of a gallop so it would be good to have their experience off the bench atleast.
@Higgins somehow still believes that Hawkes Bay are stronger than Wellington this year and apparently they should have comfortably disposed of us in the Ranfurly Shield game a few weeks back. How nice would it be to role out a little more artillery just to prove a point.
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@Canes4life no they are not available
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@george33 said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
@Canes4life no they are not available
The lines are so blurred with All Black availability. Why is it that Ioane gets to play for Auckland?
They should just make it so All Blacks can’t be released during NPC playoffs to save the confusion.
Looks like Aumua will play big mins on Sat.
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@george33 said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
@Canes4life no they are not available
Strange esp Coles could do with game time. And we need a good Hooker after O'Reilly's injury
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Briefly there was an article about Coles on the Herald. The article is no longer visible for some reason
Wellington assistant coach Greg Halford says they were denied a request. “We asked the question and he is unavailable. We don’t put pressure on Colesy. We’ll bring another player in this week and we’ll go from there,” he said. “We can stay within our camp and everyone knows our process, our systems, so not saying we wouldn’t love to see Colesy running around with us, don’t get me wrong he’s a champion man and we’ve love to have him, but that’s the decision the All Blacks make and it’s out of our reach.”It'll be case by case. Some players will have niggles etc.
A player like Ardie has had a high workload until recently
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Coles would be good but it would be a bit odd if first choice ABs were turning out at this stage after not playing all season.
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@foobaNZ said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
Coles would be good but it would be a bit odd if first choice ABs were turning out at this stage after not playing all season.
Used to be quite common. There were calls years ago that there should be rules like some unions have at club level that you can't rock up at finals without x number of appearances in the season.
I don't mind too much, as long as NPC teams don't turn into Super sides overnight for the franchise base sides which is likely for one team in particular that wears red and black. -
@foobaNZ said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
Coles would be good but it would be a bit odd if first choice ABs were turning out at this stage after not playing all season.
Agree with this. It would ruin the finals. Coles yes but not Ardie. There should be a rule on this really. Either ABs must have played x games for their npc team. Or less than x minutes for the ABs. As its kind of unclear why Coles is not available but 2 Aucklanders are
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Looks like former NZ Schools openside flanker Josh Southall could be in line to come into the Lions squad as the reserve hooker for this Saturday.
Plagued by injuries ever since he starred for St Pats Silverstream a few years back, he decided to make the position shift earlier this year. Hope he goes well.
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@Canes4life I have been wondering what happened to him I remember seeing his name and being like nah can’t be him he’s not a Hooker. Be interesting to see how he goes like having a 4th loose forward.
Has anyone seen him play Hooker this year? -
@mikey07 Some people say revenge for the Ranfurly Shield loss. No. That's bullshit. Even if the Bay won the game there not getting the Shield back. That argument is complete crap. This game is about who goes onto the semi-final. The loser packs there togs and chilly bin and heads to the beach. Wellington are in superb form no question. In Lakai, they have found a real talent. I've said it before, but the Bay as yet haven't put it together for 80 minutes yet. The performance against Tasman was very good, but still not 80 minutes. I also think the weather could play a part. If it's a shitty day, then clearly the game could be decided in the first half. If it's a good still day then this could go anyway. Both these teams are evenly matched. Because it's finals footy the intensity and pressure will be on, and will intensify in the last 20 minutes. Whoever handles that best will progress. Either way it can and will be a great game.bolded text
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@Billsy111 said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
@mikey07 Some people say revenge for the Ranfurly Shield loss. No. That's bullshit. Even if the Bay won the game there not getting the Shield back. That argument is complete crap. This game is about who goes onto the semi-final. The loser packs there togs and chilly bin and heads to the beach. Wellington are in superb form no question. In Lakai, they have found a real talent. I've said it before, but the Bay as yet haven't put it together for 80 minutes yet. The performance against Tasman was very good, but still not 80 minutes. I also think the weather could play a part. If it's a shitty day, then clearly the game could be decided in the first half. If it's a good still day then this could go anyway. Both these teams are evenly matched. Because it's finals footy the intensity and pressure will be on, and will intensify in the last 20 minutes. Whoever handles that best will progress. Either way it can and will be a great game.bolded text
Early signs for Saturday is that it's going to be beautiful day so no excuses for either side.
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@Winger was wondering that myself...
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@foobaNZ it's not just Wellington either. And Wellington are usually ok
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@Winger yeah they've been announcing their squad two days out from the match for most of the season. I hope they aren't having injury issues that are preventing them from delaying their squad for Saturday.
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@Canes4life said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
@Winger yeah they've been announcing their squad two days out from the match for most of the season. I hope they aren't having injury issues that are preventing them from delaying their squad for Saturday.
That's my concern. Injury issues.
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No changes from last week's line-up. That means Fakatava hasn't been released and that Lowe is still injured. Funaki also still missing. Again, that weird selection of Smith at 7 ahead of Kaifa.Why, oh why, no Folau? He's in serious need of a run!
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@Stargazer Maybe he is carrying an injury. The AB coaches would want these players playing.
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That's a very good HB team. Wellington will need to be at their best.
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@Stargazer no!!
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Would HB pick Fakatava ahead of Weber even if he was available? Weber has a combo going from a whole season.
And Weber is AB quality anyway, it's not like Fakatava coming in for a NPC level half back.
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@foobaNZ Fakatava would be in the 23.. either Sadly injured or not released this wk which would be strange considering he was last wk
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@foobaNZ I think Folau would close the game out from the bench, like he did in his previous outing. Folau is seriously better on defence compared to Enari, so it's frustrating he's not there. I'll be filthy if Wellington get even one of their ABs back, and we don't.
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I think Wellington are benefiting from not having many ABs this year. Having TJ and Aumua in the 15 most weeks helps a lot.
If our ABs were available only Ardie would make the 15 anyway. And he won't be available.
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Wellington Lions to take on Hawke’s Bay:
- Xavier Numia, Oriental-Rongotai
- Asafo Aumua, Avalon
- PJ Sheck, Tawa
- James Blackwell, Petone
- Dom Bird, Upper Hutt RAMS
- Caleb Delany, Old Boys University
- Du’Plessis Kirifi, Northern United (C)
- Peter Lakai, Petone
- TJ Perenara, Northern United
- Jackson Garden-Bachop, Northern United
- Pepesana Patafilo, Tawa
- Peter Umaga-Jensen, Wainuiomata
- Billy Proctor, Marist St Pats
- Julian Savea, Oriental-Rongotai
- Ruben Love, Wainuiomata
IMPACT
- Josh Southall, Petone
- Solomona Sakalia, Northern United
- Tietie Tuimauga, Marist St Pats
- Taine Plumtree, Old Boys University
- Keelan Whitman, Marist St Pats
- Richard Judd, Paremata-Plimmerton
- Aidan Morgan, Marist St Pats
- Connor Garden-Bachop, Northern United
Unavailable for Selection: Vince Sakaria, Connor Collins, Iona Apineru, Josh Toómaga, Siale Lauaki, Pekahou Cowan, Riley Higgins
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I can't believe JGB is starting.
Win shield with Morgan.
Defend shield with Morgan.And we start JGB? Who has countless examples of stupidity in big moments.
Sigh.
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@foobaNZ It looks like they're counting on JGB's better boot. The Magpies sometimes give away a lot of penalties; JGB is more likely to slot penalty kicks at goal than Morgan.
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Lol what the fark are we doing. JGB controlled things nicely against CM but it doesn't mean he will do that against the better teams.
Absolutely dumb decision by the Lions coaches. Morgan deserves to lead this team through the playoffs on the back of some impressive form. What does that do to a players confidence? FFS.
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@Canes4life yea presumably they've been fooled by a good performance against CM. No disrespect to CM but any 10 would have had a field day in that game.
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@foobaNZ said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
@Canes4life yea presumably they've been fooled by a good performance against CM. No disrespect to CM but any 10 would have had a field day in that game.
I'm really disappointed in that coaching staff. The only losses we've had this year were when we had JGB at 10. Morgan is unbeaten as a starter this year. It's just a pathetic decision unless Morgan is carrying a slight niggle.
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@Stargazer said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
@foobaNZ It looks like they're counting on JGB's better boot. The Magpies sometimes give away a lot of penalties; JGB is more likely to slot penalty kicks at goal than Morgan.
Morgan goal kicking has been good this NPC esp in recent weeks (apart from a miss right in front)
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@foobaNZ said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
I can't believe JGB is starting.
Win shield with Morgan.
Defend shield with Morgan.And we start JGB? Who has countless examples of stupidity in big moments.
Sigh.
JGB played well last week. But just about every other game this year he's been poor. Resulting in him being dropped by the Canes. It's a big risk they are taking. I hope he plays well again and if he has another poor game the coaches get him off fairly quickly. Like at HT at the latest.
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@foobaNZ said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
Unavailable for Selection: Vince Sakaria, Connor Collins, Iona Apineru, Josh Toómaga, Siale Lauaki, Pekahou Cowan, Riley Higgins
Wonder what's happened to Riley. Cown was missed off this list last week so was hoping he would be available this week. I hope Sheck last for the finals but the replacement did ok last week.
O'Reilly is another who wouldn't be available.
Edit Covered in the Lions website. As well as reasons for selecting JGB
Jackson Garden-Bachop will start at first five-eighth with Aidan Morgan looking to provide impact off the bench.
“Jackson showed last week that he can really set our attack game alight and play the game in the right areas of the field, so he gets the start this week and we will look to him to control the game for us. Both him and Aidan have played well over the last month and are a big reason why we are having a home Quarter-Final,” said Crowley.
Garden-Bachop has kicked the most conversions of any kicker in the past three decades [since 1990] of top-flight NPC rugby. His fourth conversion against Counties Manukau last Sunday was his 182nd for Wellington, surpassing the 181 that former Poneke first-five David Holwell kicked in his combined career for Wellington and Northland.
With Riley Higgins unavailable for selection due to a knee injury, a fit Peter Umaga-Jensen returns to the midfield after injury had him ruled out for the past few weeks.
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@Winger said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
@foobaNZ said in QF - Wellington vs Hawkes Bay:
Unavailable for Selection: Vince Sakaria, Connor Collins, Iona Apineru, Josh Toómaga, Siale Lauaki, Pekahou Cowan, Riley Higgins
Wonder what's happened to Riley. Cown was missed off this list last week so was hoping he would be available this week. I hope Sheck last for the finals but the replacement did ok last week.
O'Reilly is another who wouldn't be available.
Edit Covered in the Canes website. As well as reasons for selecting JGB
Jackson Garden-Bachop will start at first five-eighth with Aidan Morgan looking to provide impact off the bench.
“Jackson showed last week that he can really set our attack game alight and play the game in the right areas of the field, so he gets the start this week and we will look to him to control the game for us. Both him and Aidan have played well over the last month and are a big reason why we are having a home Quarter-Final,” said Crowley.
Garden-Bachop has kicked the most conversions of any kicker in the past three decades [since 1990] of top-flight NPC rugby. His fourth conversion against Counties Manukau last Sunday was his 182nd for Wellington, surpassing the 181 that former Poneke first-five David Holwell kicked in his combined career for Wellington and Northland.
With Riley Higgins unavailable for selection due to a knee injury, a fit Peter Umaga-Jensen returns to the midfield after injury had him ruled out for the past few weeks.
Crowley is a muppet. So he thinks JGB playing well against CM is the same as Aiden Morgan performing against stronger teams like Waikato / Hawkes Bay when a Shield game is on the line. Talk about not rewarding Aiden for turning our season around.
