I spent pretty all my career as a hooker. I was really good actually apart from lacking any size, was really really slow, had no ball skills, was blind without my glasses and was a coward in contact. As you could imagine I hung up my boots very early !

I feel sorry for you guys as I know how you feel. Bay of Plenty have been in that exact same position many, many times. One thing that is showing in Bay of Plenty Rugby this year is the quality of players we now have. Put simply, that is the basic ingredient for any team. We seems to have a nice mix of experience and emerging talent which is the result of many things :- (1) Our academy seems to finally be producing the talent which it never did for years. Narawa is a prime example. (2) We have made some good player purchases (3) The core of the team have been around for a few years and have grown into their roles. Obviously coaching, injuries and team culture are also important but at the end of the day player quality is the basic ingredient for success.

Some thoughts.

Two tries each with Auckland getting two penalties. One Auckland try resulted from Tiatia waiting for a ball from kick off, which was bouncing, to go out of play but it was scooped up by an Aucklander who scored.

A good game for BOP to get before the season proper.

This Auckland side is a pretty decent side boasting Akira Ioane (who is unstoppable with ball in hand), Blake Gibson and Dalton Popalii in the loose forwards as examples.

There were a lot of replacements (Auckland had 12 and BOP had 8).

Many in the BOP team played in different positions at different times during the game.

Le'aupepe, Wardlaw, Latimer, Delany, Robertson and Foketi never played.

I'm not worried at all by the result as BOP should take a lot of learning from the game. Theres plenty to work on...lineouts, tackling and kicking come to mind.

Bring on the real games. I can't wait.

Okay, we are halfway through the competition and I'm curious to know where we could possibly finish. Here's some rough guesses as to what the future results will be :-

Bay of Plenty.
Lose to Taranaki. Beat Northland, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu and Southland. Total extra points 16.

Taranaki.
Lose to Waikato and Auckland. Beat Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Southland. Total extra points 12.

Hawkes Bay.
Lose to Waikato, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury and Tasman.
Total extra point 0.

Otago.
Lose to Wellington, North Harbour, Waikato and Canterbury. Beat Northland.
Total extra points 4.

This obviously does not include bonus points which could totally change things.

Anyway if we add these extra points to those already won the final points would read :-

Bay of Plenty 32
Taranaki 26
Hawkes Bay 23
Otago 19

I'm totally aware that this is just "pie in the sky" stuff and I'm often wrong (almost always). What it does show however is that it is still anyone's competition to win and one upset could decide the final winners or one result could change the final standings. (Hawkes Bay could beat us which would leapfrog them to second but we would remain on top.) It will be fascinating.

I know my predictions will be scoffed at by many (particularly those from Hawkes Bay). I know The TAB predict Taranaki to end above us on the table and they are more often than not right.. What I would like to know is "How far out am I ? "

My thoughts:-

1. Shame on you Rotorua for not coming out in numbers to the semi and the final. Those games were high profile and the weather came to the party so there really wasn't to many excuses for the poor attendance. I'm sure if those games were played in Tauranga there would have been almost double the crowd. I see the topic of a Tauranga stadium is appearing in the media again.

2. While it wasn't a flash game, it was enthralling, probably because it was a final and close. The Manawatu semi, while being a spectacle, just wasn't as captivating for me... mainly because it was so one sided. I'm a hard man to please I guess even if I aged 10 years during last nights game.

3. I haven't seen the game on TV but, at the ground , the game plan seemed odd. Too much kicking (especially in the first half) and not enough use of the strike power out wide.

4. Good on them for holding out at the end ! Past teams perhaps wouldn't have.

5. I guess we will have to start wondering who will be back next year (and who won't) and who will move to the province. If the rumours are true (and I'm not saying they are) we will be getting Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi for next year which is interesting.

6. Given that we beat three Premier teams and almost beat a couple of others , I think this years team would foot it comfortably in the top division. However we don't know the make up of next years team so things are somewhat uncertain. I think I heard Clayton McMillan say somewhere that it is easier to stay in The Premier Division than it is to get promoted up from the Championship which stands to reason.

7. The Union seems to be in a good position right now with success of age group teams, Development and The Steamers which bodes well for the future.

8. I will miss the NPC .

@Stargazer Excellent reply ! I'm glad you picked up on that deliberate Counties/ Canterbury mistake..

Okay, work is quiet and I must be bored !

Its probably only a couple of weeks till the naming of the Steamers team and maybe a month till preseason games begin so its time to guess who has/hasn’t made the cut. I’m pretty sure the team will be pretty much known in rugby circles but nothing official via the press or BOPRU so I haven’t a clue. With today’s professional era and High Performance groups and Academies operating I’m sure things have been arranged which is unlike the old days when the team naming was a big deal.

Anyway, as mentioned earlier, a large proportion of last years team are still “about” but I’m in the dark as to who is contracted or available. For want of a better way of doing it lets go through them with each position.

HOOKERS:- Last year there was Harris, O’Reilly, Polwart, Royal and Siataga. Five hookers seemed an overkill at the time but given injuries and Harris being away with the AB’s that number was possibly justified. Royal is apparently playing in Auckland and I’m not sure where O’Reily is so a space is maybe there for someone else.

PROPS:- Last year there was Fisihoi, Lay, Ross, Sakalia, Tala’apilaga and Thwaites. Tala’apilaga is the only one gone apparently and his place seems to have been taken by James Lay (Brother of Jordan)

LOCKS:-Last year there was Callendar, Mewett and Rettalick. Rettalick is the only one who I am uncertain of as the other two are still playing locally. Sooner or latter he will have to hang up his boots but he seems to still be performing creditably so I wouldn’t discount him returning. I’m guessing Le'aupepe might be signed as his heir apparent. As we know Franklin has been signed but his huge workload in Super rugby must be taking a toll..Only having three specialist locks is a surprise but the No.6 usually provides cover.

LOOSE FORWARDS:-Last year we had Parette, Axtens, Cane, Blake, Karpik, Stowers, Smith-Wano and Tupe. Well Tupe is gone and I have no idea what Blake is up to so spaces available here. Ardon (the Canadian) has been signed but I am unsure what season he begins playing for us. Mua or possibly even Mabbet-Stowerby could be long shot for selection.

HALF BACKS:- Last year we had Campbell, Toma and Tipuna. I understood Toma was playing in Europe but I see he is turning out for Te Puna in club rugby recently so who knows! Richard Judd has been signed from Counties so expect changes.

FIRST FIVES:- Last year we had Hollinshead and Haimona. Haimona is the only one left. Hollinshead’s replacement is the most eagerly awaited selection as the first five seems to be taking the blame for our misfiring backs. The young Trask (Son of ex BOP Bruce Trask) seems to be talked about as the next in line and I haven’t watched enough local rugby to know who else is putting their hand up.

SECOND FIVE/CENTRE:- Last year we had Hepetema, Foketi, Nicolas and Stanaway. They are all still about but Liam Steel has been signed so someone will be dropped I assume. Garland from Hawkes Bay is also on the scene.

WINGS:- Last year we had Webber, Ioane and Ware who, as far as I am aware, are still on the scene. It will be interesting if they give Masarewa a chance.

FULL BACKS:- Last year we had Fraser, Te Aute and Tiatia. Fraser has gone and my pick is for Robertson-Wepu to replace him who could also cover for first five.

As you’ve probably guessed, I am just as much in the dark as you guys. I have no doubt there will be new signings and changes to personal yet to be announced.

So now its your turn......What changes need to be made? Who should be cut from last year? Anyone know who else has been performing at club level? Have I missed any players?

@trooa Great job Trooa. I thought I would give a few other possibilities :-

Lock . I'm pretty sure Tom Franklin will be included somewhere as he has been doing some promotional stuff on the social media.

Flankers. Kapeli was involved a while back but haven't heard much from him lately apart from being involved with the Highlanders.

Half back. Another possibility is this guy who is playing club rugby locally..
https://www.ultimaterugby.com/carlos-price

Centres. This guy is playing local club rugby.
https://www.mako.nz/tasman-makos/rupena-parkinson

There are so many unknowns this year with many of the overseas competitions being cancelled and the sevens players involvement. Overall , if most of the names mentioned are available, it will be a pretty capable team. It should be exciting.

1. Jordan Lay (1)
2. Nathan Harris (26)
3. James Lay (1)
4. Tom Franklin (2)
5. Keepa Mewett (26) – Captain
6. Hugh Blake (10)
7. Mitchell Karpik (2)
8. Jesse Parete (11)
9. Richard Judd (2)
10. Mike Delany (63) – Vice Captain
11. Joe Webber (2)
12. Terrence Hepetema (9)
13. Lalakai Foketi (20)
14. Monty Ioane (13)
15. Chase Tiatia (16)

Reserves:
16. Liam Polwart (6)
17. Solomona Sakalia (29)
18. Siegfried Fisi’ihoi (30)
19. Culum Retallick (104)
20. Troy Callander (13)
21. Henry Stowers (11)
22. Luke Campbell (6)
23. Liam Steel (1)

This could arguably be our toughest game of the playoffs and I see the TAB doesn't give us a chance...They have been wrong on the two earlier games !

The inclusion of Harris and the dropping of Ardron are the main talking points I guess but I'm somewhat surprised as I thought they would be rotating some players more but I suppose that will occur later on.

Boy, you have to wonder what's happened to the Bay this year . Its pretty much the same team as last year but isn't playing near as well. The team looks to be less slick, less confident and lacking in ideas. The 2019 team was playing impressively right from preseason and didn't really falter right through. At this stage, you'd have to say, it appears to be almost a fight to survive being relegated.

However I'm prepared to cut them some slack as its still early days and injuries aren't helping but tonight they must perform !

Interesting that Nathan Harris is included as well as ex Waikato prop Haereiti Hetet.

2020 Bay of Plenty Steamers squad:
Aaron Carroll - Lock (Mount Maunganui)
Aidan Ross - Prop (Te Puke Sports)
Chase Tiatia - Utility Back (Rangataua)
Cole Forbes - Fullback (Te Puke Sports)
Dan Hollinshead - First Five-Eighth (Te Puke Sports)
Emoni Narawa - Wing (Tauranga Sports)
Fa'asiu Fuatai - Wing (Rangataua)
Haereiti Hetet - Prop (Mount Maunganui)
Hugh Blake - Loose Forward (Mount Maunganui)
Jeff Thwaites - Prop (Te Puna)
Joe Johnston - Loose Forward (Te Puke Sports)
Joe Webber - Wing (Rangiuru)
Joe Tupe - Number 8 (Greerton Marist)
Jordan Lay - Prop (Whakarewarewa)
Kaleb Trask - First Five-Eighth (Tauranga Sports)
Kane Le'aupepe - Lock (Te Puke Sports)
Keepa Mewett - Lock (Tauranga Sports)
Kurt Eklund - Hooker (Mount Maunganui)
Lalomilo Lalomilo - Utility Back (Te Puke Sports)
Leroy Carter - Halfback (Tauranga Sports)
Luke Campbell - Halfback (Te Puke Sports)
Mathew Skipwith-Garland - Midfield Back (Whakarewarewa)
Mitchell Karpik - Loose Forward (Rangataua)
Nathan Vella - Hooker (Rangataua)
Nathan Harris - Hooker (Te Puke Sports)
Nic Souchon - Hooker (Tauranga Sports)
Otere Black - First Five-Eighth (Ruatoki)
Regan Ware - Wing (Rangiuru)
Ross Geldenhuys - Prop (Rangiuru)
Sam Cane - Loose Forward (Reporoa)
Sam Dickson - Number 8 (Rangiuru)
Scott Curry - Midfield Back (Mount Maunganui)
Stan van den Hoven - Lock (Greerton Marist)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi - Halfback (Rotoiti)
Tevita Mafileo - Prop (Tauranga Sports)
Zane Kapeli - Loose Forward (Te Puna)

I spent pretty all my career as a hooker. I was really good actually apart from lacking any size, was really really slow, had no ball skills, was blind without my glasses and was a coward in contact. As you could imagine I hung up my boots very early !

@Stargazer

Wardlaw has retired with a neck problem I understand. Ajay Mua hasn't been spotted this year and his brother is playing in the Waikato.

Given who played on Friday and who was seen in the facebook video this is my probable team for what its worth :-

Hookers :- Ekland, Vella, Souchen, Harris.

                  The question is "What is the injury situation with Harris?" He hasn't played for a while and never 
                   featured in the preseason game.

Props :- Ross, Thwaites, Mafilio, Geldenhys, Kumeroa, Lay.

            A reasonable assumption.

Locks:- Leau Pepe, Carrol, Mewett, Van Den Hoven.

           They all featured yesterday so I assume will be named

Loosies :- Cane, Karpik, Tupe, Kapelli, Johnson, Blake, Dickson.

                Last year they carried eight loosies but I'm guessing Carrol can fill in. I'm assuming Dickson will be a 
                loose forward. He never played yesterday.

Halfback :- TTT, Campbell, Carter.

                   Toma played yesterday but I'm not sure if they will take four halfbacks unless they think TT will be 
                   called into the ABs or someone is carrying an injury. ( Carter never played yesterday ).

First five :- Black, Trask, Holinshead.

                  A reasonable assumption.

Backs:- Forbes, TiaTia, Narawa, Garland, Ware, Curry, Fuatai, Webber, Lalomilo.

            LaloMilo is the only one who never played yesterday so I'm unsure of his selection. 

So, what does everyone think ? Who have I missed or have added incorrectly ?

Yes, a pretty average display. If they play like that during the competition then its going to be a long season.

But it was a good wake up and probably a good game to have early on.

Joe Webbers haircut was the highlight for me.

BOP 33...Counties 40

@trooa

That video was a real tease wasn't it ? Clearly there are a few new faces from last year.

Its good also that they will be livestreaming tomorrows game of three halves against Counties.

@trooa

Thats not good news.

We will have a better idea of the squad next week when the team for the preseason game against Counties is announced.

Incidentally I'm hearing that that game will be played with no spectators but will be livestreamed.