Hurricanes Hunters review vs Blues A
I have been to the Hurricanes Hunters v Blues A game. I've posted some general comments and comments on Blues A in the Blues 2020 thread; here I'll post a few general comments and say a few things about the Hunters.
It was a game of two halves, but not two equal halves. The Hunters had about 95% of territory in the first half and had most of the possession; I think the Blues only entered the Hunters' half about 3-4 times, only to lose possession immediately and enabling the Hunters' to enter the Blues' half again. It's a credit to the Blues' defence that they didn't concede more than one try, because the Hunters' threw everything at them. Especially Toala and P Umaga-Jensen were very busy, but didn't get much support from their wings, although Josiah Maraku scored the only Hunters' try in the 12th minute, which Tiatia couldn't convert.
That first half was mostly a half from the pack that dominated the Blues in the scrum and at the breakdown. They won quite a few turnovers. The line-outs - there were quite a few - went well (and made at least one steal), but they didn't try the drive very often. Also, the closer they came to the Blues try line, the harder it was to dominate. The pick n go didn't work. They couldn't find a hole in the Blues defence. It seemed they started to run out of ideas. The Hunters came close to scoring a few times, but then someone dropped the ball, knocked it on or threw it straight at a Blues player, leaving the Hunters with a miserable 5 point lead at the break. Based on how that first half went, the Hunters should have led at least by 15-20 points, but ball handling let them down (the Blues can take some credit for that) and they were probably too impatient.
In the second half in all turned to custard. The more players were subbed, the more downhill it went. The defence, which wasn't tested as much in the first half, started to turn into Swiss cheese in the second and the Blues scored 5 unanswered tries. I had a strong impression that the bench was a big step down from the starting XV.
All in all, the Blues definitely deserved their win!
About some individual players: Riccitelli and Tolai had an interesting battle. While Riccitelli and his fellow frontrowers had the upperhand in the scrum, I saw Riccitelli getting tackled hard twice by Tolai and both didn't escape unharmed from the second; Riccitelli appeared with a nice shiner after the break. The starting forward pack went well in that first half, esp Mitchell. When the subs came on, the skill level dropped noticeably though.
As to the backs, no one really impressed, although both Toala and P Umaga-Jensen tried hard; PU-J butchered one good try-scoring opportunity (knocking the ball on over the try line). Tiatia had a quiet game, and only came close to a break once or twice. Both wings aren't SR level (yet).
Marshall had a good kicking game, but just isn't a 10; he's a fullback and shouldn't be used as a 10. His game management is not of SR level. Taumateine had a good game, but got injured just after half time and had to leave the field (leg injury, don't know how serious it was).
Finally, to answer @Canes4life question: Frank Lochore played at lock for Napier Boys, but is more a lock/loosie type of player. Not tall enough for a SR level lock IMO. When he came on in approx. the 65th minute, he replaced one of the loosies. If I try to rank today's locks or lock-loosies from tallest to shortest, than you'd probably have something like Liebezeit - Mitchell - Plummer - Lochore.
Full time: Hurricanes Hunters 5 - 31 Blues A (HT: 5 - 0)
Hawke's Bay Today's report of the Hurricanes U20 v Blues U20 game.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12312812
Hurricanes Hunters squad to play Blues A tomorrow:
15 Chase Tiatia
14 Josiah Maraku
13 Peter Umaga-Jensen
12 Danny Toala
11 Te Rangatira Waitokia
10 James Marshall
9 Jonathan Taumateine
8 Brayden Iose
7 Josh Kaifa
6 Solomone Funaki
5 Sam Liebezeit
4 Liam Mitchell
3 Ben May
2 Ricky Riccitelli
1 Sitiveni Paongo
Reserves
16 James O’Reilly
17 Morgan Poi
18 Luke Chisolm
19 Hugo Plummer
20 Shamus Langton Hurley
21 Kemara Hauiti Parapara
22 Aidan Morgan
23 Trent Renata
24 Frank Lochore
Interesting to see last year's Napier 1stXV lock Frank Lochore on the bench. I hope he's still in the Magpies Academy.
https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-hunter-squad-to-take-on-blues-a-named/
@Canes4life Tasman lad, who played for West Coast, last year. Was also in the New Zealand Heartland XV squad of 2019.
@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2020:
Hurricanes Hunters squad to play Blues A tomorrow:
15 Chase Tiatia
14 Josiah Maraku
13 Peter Umaga-Jensen
12 Danny Toala
11 Te Rangatira Waitokia
10 James Marshall
9 Jonathan Taumateine
8 Brayden Iose
7 Josh Kaifa
6 Solomone Funaki
5 Sam Liebezeit
4 Liam Mitchell
3 Ben May
2 Ricky Riccitelli
1 Sitiveni PaongoReserves
16 James O’Reilly
17 Morgan Poi
18 Luke Chisolm
19 Hugo Plummer
20 Shamus Langton Hurley
21 Kemara Hauiti Parapara
22 Aidan Morgan
23 Trent Renata
24 Frank LochoreInteresting to see last year's Napier 1stXV lock Frank Lochore on the bench. I hope he's still in the Magpies Academy.
https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-hunter-squad-to-take-on-blues-a-named/
Frank Lochore played for the Magpies WTG team against Auckland last Saturday.
Good stuff that Stargazer - it is somewhat familiar.
In my wife's SE Asian village the boys are as accomplished in dance as the girls and they sing just as sweetly when they are seven and when they are twenty seven. It is a delight to watch them getting about in their great big common dusty playground (we call it a "road" in the western world and the difference is they have no cars :face_savouring_delicious_food: ) and they have such a sense of unrestrained joy doing it.
We have so much, in a material sense, and look for something to grump about; they get about happy all the time and they own next to nothing.
@Stargazer I've quite enjoyed the Huddy Hui during lockdown, they raise really good questions with the players they have on. They've also done extensive interviews with James Blackwell, Taine Plumtree and Michael Collins.
@Nogusta said in Hurricanes 2020:
Apparently Canes training cancelled yesterday and today due to a player showing 'symptoms'.
Gee the top brass will be on tenterhooks waiting on the results!!
Considering there are currently no cases in Wellington it will be quite a feat to catch covid19
@Nogusta said in Hurricanes 2020:
Apparently Canes training cancelled yesterday and today due to a player showing 'symptoms'.
Gee the top brass will be on tenterhooks waiting on the results!!
FFS. The world's gone mad.
@canefan said in Hurricanes 2020:
@Nogusta said in Hurricanes 2020:
Apparently Canes training cancelled yesterday and today due to a player showing 'symptoms'.
Gee the top brass will be on tenterhooks waiting on the results!!Considering there are currently no cases in Wellington it will be quite a feat to catch covid19
Catching a ball has been an issue for them at times (looking at you Brad), so yes, very unlikely.
@Snowy said in Hurricanes 2020:
@canefan said in Hurricanes 2020:
@Nogusta said in Hurricanes 2020:
Apparently Canes training cancelled yesterday and today due to a player showing 'symptoms'.
Gee the top brass will be on tenterhooks waiting on the results!!Considering there are currently no cases in Wellington it will be quite a feat to catch covid19
Catching a ball has been an issue for them at times (looking at you Brad), so yes, very unlikely.
"toasterhands" is arguably an even better nickname than "Suitcase".....jeez for every JC or JK theres any number of maligned blindsides in NZ.
@Nogusta said in Hurricanes 2020:
Apparently Canes training cancelled yesterday and today due to a player showing 'symptoms'.
Gee the top brass will be on tenterhooks waiting on the results!!
I'm assuming a cough or a sneeze ? fucken hell, there isn't a live case from here to Masterton......how ridiculous.
@MN5 said in Hurricanes 2020:
"toasterhands" is arguably an even better nickname than "Suitcase".....jeez for every JC or JK theres any number of maligned blindsides in NZ.
Maligned for a reason though.
Didn't he play more at 8 for the 'canes? I can't remember.
@Snowy can't argue with that. The funny thing was that he was part of the Black Sox U19 Softball team so you would think he would have had some sort of catching ability.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2020:
@Snowy can't argue with that. The funny thing was that he was part of the Black Sox U19 Softball team so you would think he would have had some sort of catching ability.
Not really. Just a fucken big mitt.
@Stargazer What really? Not that I’m disappointed quite the opposite...is that the injury he carried over from Japan?
@mikey07 He didn't say anything about his injury. Only what I posted in the quote.
@Duluth OK, I hadn't read that.
Cruden has got an extension so it seems to be on a case-by-case basis depending on the overseas club.
@Bovidae said in Hurricanes 2020:
@Duluth OK, I hadn't read that.
Cruden has got an extension so it seems to be on a case-by-case basis depending on the overseas club.
Case by case basis depending on the cost of insurance, I reckon.
@Canes4life Because the Canes don't need him. He isn't exactly a star player who adds a lot to the squad. I'd prefer a young NZ player who can be developed over a foreigner, who turns 29 before the 2021 season starts.