Hurricanes Hunters v Regional XV
We just returned from that Hunters v Regional XV game.
I'll start with the bad news.
At the end of the first half, I witnessed a big collission between a Hunters player and some of the big opposition forwards. It didn't end well for the Hunter, who I think was knocked out. It wasn't foul play (in fact, the Regional XV got the penalty), just accidental. After what seemed like a long time, I finally saw the player move his legs which is a good sign, but by then he was already wearing a neck brace. He was stretchered off the field after 15 minutes and left in an ambulance. At first I couldn't see who it was, except that the player had red hair. That narrowed it down to Ruben Love and James O'Reilly. I think I heard someone say "Rubes" and that was confirmed at the beginning of the second half, when I saw O'Reilly standing on the sideline.
So it looks like Ruben Love may be out for a while, with either concussion or a neck injury.
Now, briefly about the game. It was closer than the full time score suggests, particularly in the first half. In fact, for most of the first half, Regional XV was ahead on the scoreboard. At the end of the first half, fatigue started setting in, and the Hunters scored a few quick tries, giving them a 22 - 17 lead at half time.
The Hunters had the upperhand in the second half (having changed the entire frontrow at the break), but not significantly, until Regional XV changed its frontrow around the 60 minutes mark. From then on, the Hunters' scrum was much better and that of the Regional side crumbled. The fact that it didn't become a blow-out score was due to some good defence from Regional XV, who still managed to score a try in that second spell.
I'll only mention a few players; I couldn't look at all of them.
In the first half hour, Patafilo stood out in the Hunters' backline. Visinia was also good. Orbyn Leger didnt play, so Morgan started at 10 and he struggled a bit. He missed all three conversions and then Toala took over the kicking, with more success. I'm not blaming Morgan for the average first half, but he has definitely still a lot to learn. I didn't notice Also much until the end of the first half, when he scored a try. Toala was outstanding, easily the best back from approx. the 30-minute mark. He limped a bit at the end of the second half, but continued playing. Of the pack, Mitchell and Laubscher looked handy.
In the second half, the Hunters dominated more, but it's hard to say who can take the credit for that. Part of it was just Regional XV going down a level once their reserve forwards came on. Thompson looked strong.
About Regional XV, Kereru-Symes easily matched O'Reilly and had a great work-rate; line-outs went well. He was part of the reason why Regional XV played so well that firs half. The biggest surprise to me was LH prop Paula Latu, who scored the first try of the game. He was pretty fast. He held more than his own against Tavita Mafileo. Bas Visinia marking Danny Toala was interesting, but Toala doesn't have to fear for his spot in the Magpies squad. I didn't see exactly when McClutchie came on, but he did well in a Regional XV side that started struggling by then. He missed a conversion, but made some good clearing kicks and touch finders. Was also quite vocal on a couple of occasions, bossing his team mates haha.
I tried to see who the try scorers in the game were, but I may have one or two wrong (esp with some named players not playing and not knowing their replacements):
Hunters: Patafilo (2), Aso (2), Visinia, Laubscher and no. 19 (definitely not someone named Tuatuvalu) tries; Toala (2) con.
Reg XV: Wild (2), Latu, Tofa tries; Cruden con
@yeetyaah I doubt that given the team has has been selected for, as a bench player no less, looks to be about the 4th XV. Stargazer will be having heart palpitations about that level of ranking.
@higgins Uhm, see what I wrote in the post with the line-ups ... (especially the eyerolling emoji for extra effect).
@yeetyaah said in Hurricanes 2021:
@stargazer holy fucking shit, McClutchie involved with the Hurricanes? Maybe they can recognize talent within their regions?
McClutchie was in the Hurricanes Under 18 (2018) and Hurricanes Under 20 (2019). They've obviously made their mind up subsequently they don't want him.
@number-10 I heard he was offered a Hurricanes development contract for last year, but he went to Japan on a full contract instead (don't know whether they offered the development contract before or after he signed the Japanese contract). I think that is a more likely reason.
@stargazer sucks to hear about Ruben Love. He’s a future star of our game so I hope it isn’t serious.
@canes4life It didn't look good. I'm reasonably sure it was him, also because Visinia moved to fullback in the 2nd half.
@stargazer said in Hurricanes 2021:
We just returned from that Hunters v Regional XV game.
I'll start with the bad news.
At the end of the first half, I witnessed a big collission between a Hunters player and some of the big opposition forwards. It didn't end well for the Hunter, who I think was knocked out. It wasn't foul play (in fact, the Regional XV got the penalty), just accidental. After what seemed like a long time, I finally saw the player move his legs which is a good sign, but by then he was already wearing a neck brace. He was stretchered off the field after 15 minutes and left in an ambulance. At first I couldn't see who it was, except that the player had red hair. That narrowed it down to Ruben Love and James O'Reilly. I think I heard someone say "Rubes" and that was confirmed at the beginning of the second half, when I saw O'Reilly standing on the sideline.
So it looks like Ruben Love may be out for a while, with either concussion or a neck injury.
Now, briefly about the game. It was closer than the full time score suggests, particularly in the first half. In fact, for most of the first half, Regional XV was ahead on the scoreboard. At the end of the first half, fatigue started setting in, and the Hunters scored a few quick tries, giving them a 22 - 17 lead at half time.
The Hunters had the upperhand in the second half (having changed the entire frontrow at the break), but not significantly, until Regional XV changed its frontrow around the 60 minutes mark. From then on, the Hunters' scrum was much better and that of the Regional side crumbled. The fact that it didn't become a blow-out score was due to some good defence from Regional XV, who still managed to score a try in that second spell.
I'll only mention a few players; I couldn't look at all of them.
In the first half hour, Patafilo stood out in the Hunters' backline. Visinia was also good.Orbyn Leger didnt play, so Morgan started at 10 and he struggled a bit. He missed all three conversions and then Toala took over the kicking, with more success. I'm not blaming Morgan for the average first half, but he has definitely still a lot to learn. I didn't notice Aso much until the end of the first half, when he scored a try. Toala was outstanding, easily the best back from approx. the 30-minute mark. He limped a bit at the end of the second half, but continued playing. Of the pack, Mitchell and Laubscher looked handy.
In the second half, the Hunters dominated more, but it's hard to say who can take the credit for that. Part of it was just Regional XV going down a level once their reserve forwards came on. Thompson looked strong.
About Regional XV, Kereru-Symes easily matched O'Reilly and had a great work-rate; line-outs went well. He was part of the reason why Regional XV played so well that firs half. The biggest surprise to me was LH prop Paula Latu, who scored the first try of the game. He was pretty fast. He held more than his own against Tavita Mafileo. Bas Visinia marking Danny Toala was interesting, but Toala doesn't have to fear for his spot in the Magpies squad. I didn't see exactly when McClutchie came on, but he did well in a Regional XV side that started struggling by then. He missed a conversion, but made some good clearing kicks and touch finders. Was also quite vocal on a couple of occasions, bossing his team mates haha.
I tried to see who the try scorers in the game were, but I may have one or two wrong (esp with some named players not playing and not knowing their replacements):
Hunters: Patafilo (2), Aso (2), Visinia, Laubscher and no. 19 (definitely not someone named Tuatuvalu) tries; Toala (2) con.
Reg XV: Wild (2), Latu, Tofa tries; Cruden con
Paula Latu played for MAC and the Hawke's Bay WTG and Dev teams last year. Still in Hawke's Bay for 2021?
@tim So there might be a Blackwell-Mitchell or Blackwell-Fifita locking duo on Saturday, if IWL isn't ready to return. I haven't seen Le'aupepe in any photos, so not sure he's even training. And a loosie (Flanders, Prinsep) might need to cover. Good luck to them against the All Black locks in the Crusaders squad.
@stargazer said in Hurricanes 2021:
@tim So there might be a Blackwell-Mitchell or Blackwell-Fifita locking duo on Saturday, if IWL isn't ready to return. I haven't seen Le'aupepe in any photos, so not sure he's even training. And a loosie (Flanders, Prinsep) might need to cover. Good luck to them against the All Black locks in the Crusaders squad.
Blackwell was poor but he will start again. I would start Mitchell and Fifita at lock if the other locks are out. But if Blackwell starts they really need Fifita at 6 to provide another decent line-out option to make up for Blackwells lack of height
Edit Flanders wasn't great at the WE. But I would start him again at 8 to see how he goes. And really it should have been him taken off for Kirifi unless the team has another lock option in the reserves
@winger Flanders was good at the weekend. It was a miscommunication between Blackwell and Fifita that caused the try (you can even hear the commentators say it (and than a second time after the game); it wasn't Flanders' fault as you keep on saying. Defensively, he was excelent; he went through heaps of work and was the top tackler of all 46 players taking the field with 10 tackles and 0 missed tackles. (Fifita only made 1 and missed 1, so they were right to take him off.)
@stargazer said in Hurricanes 2021:
@winger Flanders was good at the weekend. It was a miscommunication between Blackwell and Fifita that caused the try (you can even hear the commentators say it (and than a second time after the game); it wasn't Flanders' fault as you keep on saying. Defensively, he was excelent; he went through heaps of work and was the top tackler of all 46 players taking the field with 10 tackles and 0 missed tackles. (Fifita only made 1 and missed 1, so they were right to take him off.)
Yep, I don’t know how anyone can blame Flanders for that fuck up by Fifita and Blackwell. Those two should have had their eyes open and Fifita should have caught the pass that went straight to him. Blackwell shouldn’t have thrown his arms up like an idiot and put Fifita off.
I still don’t know how Blackwell is a regular starting player in a super rugby team. He is clearly fit because he is always “there” just seems when he gets involved he is either fucking it up, getting in the way or just having zero impact.
@Stargazer Ruben Love looks okay in his training gear from today’s training session.
@canes4life That's a relief. It looked bad on Saturday, but maybe that stretcher was a precaution.
@stargazer for sure. Glad he’s okay and hopefully gets a run at some point this season. We can’t do any worse at this point.
@canes4life They may want to give Jordie a rest at some point. Although there's a bit of a queue of players who will be looking to get game time. Also don't forget he's a young, very green player. He may not even get a run in his first year (that's far from unusual).
@stargazer don’t forget he was in and around the squad last year so he’s not totally green, but he is still very young so beat to ease him into it I guess even though it will most likely be a dud Canes season.
@taniwharugby I’d be happier if we signed a couple decent tight forwards.
@canes4life Signing him is not enough; he needs to get sufficient game time, too. 
Knowing the Canes, he'll be stuck behind TJP (if he decides to return) for the next few years. So probably not better off than when he stays at the Landers. If TJP moves on, then things could be different ...
@stargazer yeah I can't see why he'd go to the canes to be behind TJ, there are better places. Hopefully I'm wrong tho
@stargazer He will also probably be stuck being Luke Campbell, who is essentially a Wellington product afterall, as well!
Incidentally who of Booth, TJP, Taumateine, Campbell, Roiguard or the almost inexhaustible supply of halfbacks brought in by the WRFU get given the DCM to fit Fakatava in?
@higgins Roigard is only an injury replacement for Booth, so he doesn't count. Campbell only has a one-year contract (brought in because TJP isn't there). So he'd have to replace either Booth or Taumateine, who are also off-contract. In fact, the Canes have not a single halfback contracted for 2022 and beyond, yet.
@higgins said in Hurricanes 2021:
@stargazer He will also probably be stuck being Luke Campbell, who is essentially a Wellington product afterall, as well!
Incidentally who of Booth, TJP, Taumateine, Campbell, Roiguard or the almost inexhaustible supply of halfbacks brought in by the WRFU get given the DCM to fit Fakatava in?
fine!, you twisted my arm....we'll keep him.....
@stargazer Oh that's interesting. Looks like we might be able to witness another couple of imported schoolboy superstar halfbacks running round in Petone, MSP and OBU colours this season then!
@higgins Yep, Wellington has already signed Hawke's Bay product Treyah Kingi-Taukamo for their academy, but he won't be ready for SR in 2022.
@kpkanz in response to your comments on Jordie. We are talking about fullback not wing. Jordie was the better fullback last year so judging him as a winger is stupid - he just doesn’t have the pace. His height, size and kicking game are suited to 15. Go and watch some of his highlights for the Canes last year, he was fucking brilliant and would have lead most of the stats if he didn’t miss those first two rounds.
He’s a totally different to players like Jordan and Ben Smith who are able to move to the right or left wing as they have the pace to do so.
If you think Jordan and Jordie are like for like then ask Jordan to kick a 60m shot at goal.
@tim said in Hurricanes 2021:
How very un Canes like to try sign a player with Flair though we should’ve thrown at least a development contract at him when he came out of school.