They should sign Tamaiti Williams, at least in their Development team. He's a huge prospect and once his scrummaging technique is improved, he'll be a great player.

There's a big gap between club rugby and international rugby. I meant that he has missed the latter part of the SR.

@Steven-Harris said in Crusaders 2019:

@cgrant Goodhue played for Northland in the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup at 2nd five ,Rene Ranger thought that would he his long term position..!

This is what I have written to argue my suggestion.

Remark : So now, you are many who see Goodhue as a second five eight. You all laughed at me when I suggested it a few months ago.

For next year, Mataele will be in the mix too. He was brilliant before his injury.
Allan is not a THP so surely Jager, Isi T or a new recruit on the bench if Perry covers the LH position.

@sparky said in 2019 Rugby Championship:

Sparky's All Blacks 23 for Test Vs Argentina in Buenos Aries on 20th July

1 Karl T, 2 Coles, 3 Ofa T, 4 Retallick, 5 Patrick T, 6 Frizzell, 7 Cane, 8 Ardie Savea, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Josh Ioane, 11 Reiko Ioane, 12 Laumape, 13 ALB, 14 Jordie B, 15 Ben Smith (c),
16 Moli, 17 Coltman, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Hemopo, 20 Papali'i 21 TJP 22 B. Barrett 23 Ennor

It would be surprising if Karl T starts this game for he hasn't played for many weeks. Moli will wear the Nr.1 jersey IMO, with Moody on the bench.
With Ofa T, Laulala and Ta'avao in the squad, I don't see why they would force Franks to make the long trip to Argentina.

@Chris said in Blues 2020:

@KiwiMurph I still don't think you can turn shit to gold strange recruitment Christie.
Hooker,Lock,,First five and FB are the areas that need bolstering.The Blues look strong in the Propping, Loose Forward and Wing positions..

Not so much if Ofa T leaves for the Crusaders. Depth in the TH position is a worry IMO.

Willi Heinz in the England wider training squad for the RWC !

@Stargazer said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Preseason: Hawke's Bay XV v Manawatu Evergreens (Wed 3 July 2019, 6.00pm at McLean Park, Napier)

Hawke's Bay XV squad: see the Magpies forum: https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/post/340855

Manawatu Evergreens squad:

First half:
Andre Taylor (COB), Te Rangitira Waitokia (Varsity), Josiah Maraku (Feilding), Ueta Tufuga (Varsity), Junior Laloifi (FOB), Ben Wyness (Feilding), Atu Henare (Kia Toa); Sione Tu'ipulotu, Rhys Pedersen (OBM), Nick Crosswell (Feilding), Fraser Stone (Kia Toa), Tom Hughes (Varsity), Sam Tufuga (Varsity), Sam Stewart (Te Kawau), Faálelei Sione (Freyberg).

Second half:
Drew Wild (Feilding), Andre Taylor, Josiah Maraku or Ueta Tufuga, James Tofa, Adam Boult (Te Kawau), Stewart Cruden (COB), Griffin Culver (Feilding), Matene Ruawai (OBM), Johnny Galloway (COB), Doug Juszczyk (Varsity), Mickey Woolliams (Varsity), Nardus Erasmus (FOBO), Sunao Takizawa (COB), Harry Jones (Feilding), Sean Rankin (Feilding).

Andre Taylor ! He was one of the most exciting ball runner in SR a few seasons ago. I hope he can find that form again.

When Kieran Read retires, the All Blacks must be looking for a big bruising Nr.8 to face teams like England or Ireland. Ardie Savea was outstanding for the Canes with the Nr.8 jersey this season but Super Rugby is not test rugby. How many big Nr.8s are playing in the NZ franchises (except Read) ? Ioane is the only NZ player who has the physique to counter men like Vunipola, Stander or Picamoles. I don't see anyone else (Ben Nicholas and Mikaele Tuu, who are big men, are both very green).

There are a lot of tough choices this year as many positions were filled by journeymen when the ABs were injured or rested.

LHP : ????? with Moody, Tu'inukuafe, Moli, Perry and Ross out for long periods, it is hard to tell who was the best. Johnstone was the best rookie.
Hooker : same problem as Coles and Taylor were absent for long periods too. I will go for Makalio with Coltman bubbling under.
THP : Less injuries there (Laulala and Franks). I think Angus Ta'avao was the most consistent with Tyrell Lomax and Ofa T not far behind.
Locks : Retallick did not play too much so my choice go to Sam Whitelock and Jackson Hemopo. IWL was very solid during the second half of the competition and is a real prospect.
Blindside flanker : Luke Jacobson with Tom Robinson not very far behind (incredible workrate during the first two thirds of the rounds)
Openside flanker : Ardie Savea (NZ forward of the year). He was immense.
Nr.8 : ????? Akira Ioane went missing during the second half of the competition while Kieran Read was a shadow of his former self. Ardie Savea was the best when he played in this position, usually during the second halfs.
Half back : TJP by a mile. Incredibly clever and strong. His passing also improved a lot as the competition progressed.
1st 5/8 : Richie Mounga.
Left wing : Rieko Ioane.
2nd 5/8 : ALB (Laumape was sometimes brilliant but was not as consistent as ALB - Crotty was very good too)
Centre : Goodhue (who else ? Thompson came back strongly though, Ennor was brilliant in attack but not so in defence, Nankivell had his moments too)
Right wing : Sevu Reece
Full back : Ben Smith / David Havili : I put them even as Ben Smith spent a rather long time on the sideline while David Havili seemed to beat defenders at will. Great season for him.