@Stargazer said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:

Hurricanes

1 Chris Eves
2 Ricky Riccitelli
3 Jeff To'omaga-Allen
4 James Blackwell
5 Liam Mitchell
6 Reed Prinsep
7 Ardie Savea
8 Gareth Evans
9 TJ Perenara (c)
10 Fletcher Smith
11 Ben Lam
12 Ngani Laumape
13 Matt Proctor
14 Vince Aso
15 Jordie Barrett

I don't have high hope for the Canes this year. Plumtree is a great assistant coach but not really up to it as a head coach. But maybe he will prove me wrong but not based on this team. He likes the plodder forwards too much. Like Blackwell. Only 1.90 and poor in the scrum. He's a limited NPC lock. Even at 6 he's ordinary. But he seems to have Plumtrees support. And Ricky as opposed to Aumua. Although I can sort of understand this if and only if he rotates the three hookers

Another factor is defense. Its important yet they select Lam. Even attack he's a bit limited. Great against poor defenses but otherwise doesn't do a thing. And his defending is poor. Add in Laumape who needs to work on defense as well.

I would start Isaia Walker-Leawere and Goosen.

I was hoping Spencer might make a difference but not so far. And the number of injuries again suggest they needed a new conditioning coach. Its been an issue since 2017. Especially the tight 5. The coaches talk about how fit the team is but fit and fragile is hopeless

ver

@sparky said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:

Great backline yet again. Shame about the Props and Locks. Hope that Fidow and Aumua kick on next season.

Its essential. The team needs these 2 to kick on but also Walker - Leawere. But maybe even Cridge if he has got it

Injuries have been a killer for the last 2 years now. Its an area the Canes need to look at. players seem to be injured even off the field so maybe they need to look at the way they are conditioning players. Especially the tight 5 where we just lack depth. But if the tight 5 don't suffer too many losses then they may be able to compete. But lose our two hookers and other powerful dynamic players like Fidow and WL we won't have a hope. Just having workhorse type players is not enough.

The key when they won was not too many players out. And the Tongan bear fully fit and in outstanding form. The next and his final year he was stuffed with injuries. But just one player in dynamic form made a difference

@cgrant said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:

Ben-Nicholas' absence from any franchise is beyond me. He was the standout player for Wellington during the M10 Cup and the Canes have no massive ball carrier in their loose forwards.

Agree. He was impressive

@kirwan said in Auckland vs Wellington - Semi Final:

@duluth said in Auckland vs Wellington - Semi Final:

@kirwan said in Auckland vs Wellington - Semi Final:

Going to be very interesting to see what these coaches can do with this team next year, and get a bit more depth.

I hope we retain all the coaches for a start.

Tiatia in particular. I'm sure other teams would like him as a head coach.

I’m greedy.

I thought Tiatia was hard done by with the Sunwolves. Maybe he lacks something as a head coach but he transformed a team that was a shambles when he took them on

This might be the best team Wellington has put out this year. So no excuses with missing player. (Except maybe at prop but hopefully JTA can last for almost the whole match and Paongo performs).

Thankfully Blackwell has moved to 6 with Lousi back. Although Lousi looks at bit out of condition but Blackwell is just too small for lock

Lam is a worry though as his defense is rubbish at times. Its a weakness to the extend I would prefer Filipo starting with Lam to bring on against tiring defenses. But maybe he has been given the hard word on this.

@steven-harris said in Taranaki v Wellington:

Bens Lams atttemped tackle on Lamert looked like an imitation of someone walking through a turnstile..

He does this a lot. Yet some think he's AB potential. Lam is fast and has good ball skills but his poor defense and lack of aggression is his downfall.

@steven-harris said in Wellington vs Auckland:

Wellington replacement tighthead no18 looks like he turned up to the wrong game..must one of smallest tightheads I have seen a long time..!

Its all Wellington have got. He does ok though but he must be one of the smallest props around

Wellington didn't deserve to win. But likewise Auckland

Thomas Waldrom is finished now. Having him on the field is like playing with 14 players. Or 13 for 10 minutes due to idiotic play by the 7.

Coaches who can't see this shouldn't really be coaching at this level.

@canes4life said in Wellington vs Auckland:

Awesome to see Lousi back, hopefully have him starting at lock and Blackwell to 6 for the playoffs.

Agree. Without both Lousi and Fifita our lineout wasn't great. Its a shame that Fidow is out for the full year. But at least Lousi returning should rectify one weakness. Blackwell at 1.90 is just too short