Starting this thread early as it's arguably the game of the year. Two top sides fighting for the Shield.

Let's hope the ABs are released for this, how good would it be to see these two sides go at on Sunday.

Ta$man: 1. Coxon 2. MacDonald 3. Lomax 4. Strange 5. Shalfoon 6. Blackadder 7. Sail 8. Stewart 9. Christie 10. Havili 11. Springer 12. Havili 13. Aumua 14. Tavatavanawai 15. Jordan

Wellington: 1. Numia 2. Aumua 3. Lauaki 4. Delany 5. Plummer 6. Shields 7. Savea 8. Lakai 9. Perenara 10. Harkin 11. Patafilo 12. Higgins 13. Proctor 14. Clarke 15. Love

It would be funny if Ta$man waits this long to get the Shield and then only has it for a week

@Canes4life said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

Starting this thread early as it's arguably the game of the year. Two top sides fighting for the Shield.

Let's hope the ABs are released for this, how good would it be to see these two sides go at on Sunday.

Ta$man: 1. Coxon 2. MacDonald 3. Lomax 4. Strange 5. Shalfoon 6. Hicks 7. Havili Talitui 8. Blackadder 9. Christie 10. Havili 11. Springer 12. Havili 13. Aumua 14. Tavatavanawai 15. Jordan

Some changes to our loose forwards.

@Duluth The last item on my rugby bucket-list has already been ticked off!

A nice-to-have if we beat Wellington, but I won't be surprised or distraught if we don't.

Having won the Shield recently it would be nice to get it back but I wouldn't be distraught if we didn't get it. I'd prefer we won another championship over the Shield this year if I had to choose.

@Canes4life Frankly, me too!

The NPC is much harder to win than the Shield (assuming you actually get given a few challenges) - Chris B. consults his list of teams that have never won the NPC for the purposes of severe mockery!

Winning this game will be a useful step towards winning the NPC though.

@Chris-B yeah I feel like finishing top this year is more important than ever with how close some of the top teams are.

I would say I a neutral, but Ta$man need to win this, Naki get a challenge then!!!
Mind you I was cheering for Hawkes Bay for same reason , and that didn't go well did it?

@Dan54 said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

I would say I a neutral, but Ta$man need to win this, Naki get a challenge then!!!
Mind you I was cheering for Hawkes Bay for same reason , and that didn't go well did it?

Both Bays will be backing Wellington, with Bay of Plenty getting the first challenge if Welly can win it, followed by Hawke's Bay (again).

Tell you what if it as good as last weeks game will be good.

@Dan54 if it's dry i'd say it will be a rip snorting Shield challenge. Excuse the pun.

No way Lomax will be released for this game. He needs a rest after his unusual long period of time on the field against SA.

@cgrant said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

No way Lomax will be released for this game. He needs a rest after his unusual long period of time on the field against SA.

Yeah, it's highly unlikely all the ABs will be released, would be cool if they were though.

It will be interesting to see if any of the ABs are released. Maybe Havili for Ta$man and Proctor/Love for Wellington.

Hotham too.

Hotham,Havilli,Love and Procter to be released to play along with some others Bell,Tosi maybe Lord to other teams for this weekend is what I am hearing.

@Chris said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

Hotham,Havilli,Love and Procter to be released to play along with some others Bell,Tosi maybe Lord to other teams for this weekend is what I am hearing.

That's probably why Wellington have been slightly delayed naming their team for Otago tomorrow.

Based on the Otago selections I think the Lions team will be something like this. Not sure what way we'll go with some of the selections.

1. NUMIA
2. APISAI
3. LAUAKI
4. DELANY
5. PLUMMER
6. SHIELDS
7. LAKAI/HALALILO
8. LAKAI/ROPETI
9. PRESTON
10. GARDEN-BACHOP
11. PATAFILO/CLARKE
12. HIGGINS/UMAGA-JENSEN
13. B PROCTOR
14. CLARKE/SAVEA
15. LOVE
16. PRESS
17. KAMIMORI
18. SHECK
19. PAULO/IEREMIA
20. HALALILO/ROPETI
21. MURIWAI
22. HARKIN
23. HIGGINS/UMAGA-JENSEN/SAVEA

According to Stuff

Wellington have been bolstered by the availability of centre Billy Proctor and fullback Ruben Love for their Ranfurly Shield challenge against holders  Ta$man.

 Ta$man will be able to call on the services of midfielder David Havili for their first defence after stunning Hawke’s Bay with a last-second penalty kick last weekend to claim the Shield for the first time.

However, halfback Noah Hotham, has not been released despite his minimal involvement for the All Blacks.

@KiwiMurph said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

According to Stuff

Wellington have been bolstered by the availability of centre Billy Proctor and fullback Ruben Love for their Ranfurly Shield challenge against holders  Ta$man.

 Ta$man will be able to call on the services of midfielder David Havili for their first defence after stunning Hawke’s Bay with a last-second penalty kick last weekend to claim the Shield for the first time.

However, halfback Noah Hotham, has not been released despite his minimal involvement for the All Blacks.

So Welly get two positives, Ta$man a downer

My guess:

NUMIA
APISAI
LAUAKI
DELANY
PLUMMER
SHIELDS
HALALILO
LAKAI
PRESTON
GARDEN-BACHOP (I really hope it's Harkin though).
PATAFILO
HIGGINS (can see them picking PUJ though, but it should be Higgins. PUJ has been good this year however).
B PROCTOR
SAVEA (Clarke unlucky).
LOVE

1 Ryan Coxon, 2 Quentin Macdonald, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Quinten Strange (C), 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 6 Tim Sail, 7 Sione Havili Talitui, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Campbell Parata, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 12 David Havili, 13 Levi Aumua, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15 Macca Springer

Reserves: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Monu Moli, 18 Isaac Salmon, 19 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 20 Johnny Lee, 21 Louie Chapman, 22 Will Butler, 23 Nic Sauira

Hmmm - even though Campbell Parata made that kick, Willie Havili is a huge loss. He's been having a great season and he's a significantly better player than Campbell.

Getting the other two Havilis back - Sione and Dave is a gain - but, Razor has gifted Wellington more - which I'm not that impressed about - even though we don't really need Hotham - we have two good halfbacks.

Really would have liked Max Hicks to be fit for this one.

Bit of a silly decision not to release Hotham really as he has had no game time for virtually a month. If he is suddenly thrown into the Bledisloe due to an injury then he's going to be under done.

Lol check out these teams for the Shield match between these two sides in 2008.

Quentin MacDonald still fronting for us!

1 Xavier Numia – Oriental-Rongotai
2 Leni Apisai – Paremata-Plimmerton
3 Siale Lauaki – Tawa
4 Akira Ieremia - Tawa
5 Filo Paulo – Hutt Old Boys Marist
6 Caleb Delany – Old Boys University
7 Peter Lakai - Petone
8 Brad Shields – VC- Petone
9 Kyle Preston – Old Boys University
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop – Northern United
11 Riley Higgins - Petone
12 Peter Umaga-Jensen – C - Wainuiomata
13 Billy Proctor – Marist St Pats
14 Julian Savea – Oriental-Rongotai
15 Ruben Love - Wainuiomata

16 Penieli Poasa – Oriental-Rongotai
17 Yota Kamimori – Stokes Valley
18 PJ Sheck - Tawa
19 Matolu Petaia - Tawa
20 Jeremiah Avei-Collins – Northern United
21 Nui Muriwai - Waikato
22 Pepesana Patafilo – 50th Match - Tawa
23 Tjay Clarke – Petone

Unavailable for selection:
Mitch Mcleod, Losi Filipo, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Kazuki Kato, Sione Halalilo, Dominic Ropeti

Harsh on Harkin who's been brilliant. But am I surprised? No. Unfortunately not.

@foobaNZ said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

Harsh on Harkin who's been brilliant. But am I surprised? No. Unfortunately not.

I guess Love is cover for 10 so they don’t need an extra 10 on the bench. It should be JGB that misses out though. Harkin should be starting.

@Canes4life yup. He should be at 10.

Been very impressed with Harkin, is he signed to the Canes? Shame he is missing out.
And Savea at 14, can't we just be done with him.

@Canes4life said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

Lol check out these teams for the Shield match between these two sides in 2008.

View image

Ta$man with equal amount of HOBM players. Quelle surprising

Caleb Delaney with the Nr.6 jersey, his best position IMO, the one which could (should ?) lead him to higher honours.

Keen to hear how Delaney goes at 6, hopefully gets some mongrel on. Not broadcast here so keep us updated @Canes4life

@Bones said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

Keen to hear how Delaney goes at 6, hopefully gets some mongrel on. Not broadcast here so keep us updated @Canes4life

I’ve got my daughter’s birthday party at the Pav with no coverage so will provide feedback albeit delayed.

@Canes4life said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

@Bones said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

Keen to hear how Delaney goes at 6, hopefully gets some mongrel on. Not broadcast here so keep us updated @Canes4life

I’ve got my daughter’s birthday party at the Pav with no coverage so will provide feedback albeit delayed.

I'll let it slide this once.

Strange injured in the first few minutes

Great Ta$man try

Came from a poor error from Love.

JGB just kicking all the ball away. Keep it in hand ffs

I have to watch the rest later damnit.

How slow is Savea haha