@george33 said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life Higgins not in 23 , Lakai 7
Harkin 10
Thanks for the scoop, didn't think Higgins would be available after the head knock he took in the dev game on Saturday.
Looks like Roigard and Proctor to come into the starting side, Moorby to 15, Harkin to 10, Sullivan to the wing. Cashmore onto the bench.
Haereiti Hetet, Zuriel Togiatama, Mesake Doge, Mesake Vocevoce, Isoa Nasilasila, Etonia Waqa, Motikiai Murray, Elia Canakaivata, Frank Lomani (c), Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Epeli Momo, Isikeli Rabitu, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Joji Nasova, Ilaisa Droasese
Replacements: Kavaia Tagivetaua, Emosi Tuqiri, Peni Ravai, Vilive Miramira, Kitione Salawa, Isoa Tuwai, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Inia Tabuavou
Pouri Rakete-Stones, Asafo Aumua, Tevita Mafileo, Hugo Plummer, Warner Dearns, Devan Flanders, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, Cam Roigard, Callum Harkin, Fehi Fineanganofo, Jordie Barrett (c), Billy Proctor, Bailyn Sullivan, Josh Moorby
Replacements: Jacob Devery, Xavier Numia, Siale Lauaki, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields, Ereatara Enari, Lucas Cashmore, Ngane Punivai
Can anyone shed some light on whether that Drua side is strong or not?
Interesting that all of Lomax, Higgins and Tosi are all available but not selected.
Delany and Kirifi likely back next week as well so still plenty of firepower to return.
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
Can anyone shed some light on whether that Drua side is strong or not?
Interesting that all of Lomax, Higgins and Tosi are all available but not selected.
Delany and Kirifi likely back next week as well so still plenty of firepower to return.
That seems like a lot of firepower to not even have on the bench. We don't want to needlessly ship points
@canefan said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
Can anyone shed some light on whether that Drua side is strong or not?
Interesting that all of Lomax, Higgins and Tosi are all available but not selected.
Delany and Kirifi likely back next week as well so still plenty of firepower to return.
That seems like a lot of firepower to not even have on the bench. We don't want to needlessly ship points
I think our squad is strong enough to get the job done in Fiji. We still need fresh players for Sydney next week so it’s smart holding a few of our ABs back.
Just confirming that the advance party of kiwis going to the game arrived in Nadi yesterday. The welcoming grog session was relatively short and finished sometime between midnight and 1.00am (lots of the locals present had work today) but can report that I have not lost any of my touch. I have another one tonight to present my sevusevu but again with work tomorrow it might last only a couple of hours. The Fijians tend to mix a strong brew compared to most of the other Islands but somehow I seem to be able to cope reasonably well without the after effects being all that obvious!!!!
As an aside I ran into a one time nanny of Lucas Cashmore at a barbershop in downtown Nadi this afternoon (her son was getting his hair cut). She is getting excited about the 'Canes arrival on Thursday when she will again meet up with her former charge at Nadi Airport. I left her my phone number just in case she scores any free tickets from the players on the off chance she might have one left over!!!!!
Not as hot as normal today and thankfully the humidity was slightly more bearable for palagi intruders. Haven't looked ahead as far as Saturday but I expect no matter what the weather throws at us it will be a challenge for the visitors to get through.
@Bones said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
Even worse, Higgins has travelled ahead of the squad and still isn't playing.
I brought my mouthguard, boots and jockstrap with me just in case of any late injuries.
The sevuevu presentation went pretty acceptably given my lack of reasonably recent practice. Have managed to get myself invited to the Natubua High School Inter House Athletics up in Lautoka tomorrow but a bit worried about the 1000hrs start which means getting myself picked up about 0900hrs to make it in time for the 100m races in which one of my sort of grandkids is taking part in. Might have a bit of trouble recognising him as he will have grown a bit in the last 14 years since I last saw him but at least he will have ditched the shitty nappies in the intervening years (or at least I hope so!).
@canefan said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Higgins have a great time matey
Thanks, it is certainly bringing back memories from over the almost 25 years I have been coming to Fiji. Admittedly it is been 14 years since my last visit (personal things have not always worked out to give me the freedom to come up) but there has been plenty of talk about things that we got up to during those visits and a lot of emotion felt on both sides when talk centered around the passing of at least four people from my "family" during those intervening years. I will be visiting their resting places, probably on Friday, to spend time sitting and talking with them. I think it will be extremely therapeutic for me just spending private time with them, especially as I am now reaching the age where life becomes more of when full time is going to be called rather than something that might happen in thirty or forty years time.
Despite the length of time the "family" connection is probably stronger now than it was when I came more regularly with everyone just so happy to see me and to know that I have not forgotten about them. Have still yet to meet up with my namesake but that will definitely happen on Saturday when Grandpa takes his boy to watch rugby together for the first time ever up at Churchill Park (he does not even know I am in the country so it will be a massive surprise). More particularly poignant will be both of us sitting together listening to my very special Daniel Rae Costello song that I have used to comfort me since his birth knowing that having a standard grandpa grandson relationship in the normal sense is neigh on impossible.
The last time I was here I went to his fifth birthday party and this Saturday will be his 20th birthday so he is not my special little boy anymore but a full grown man. Where have all the intervening years gone, missing out on so much development he has gone through without me?
As you can guess I am very emotional at the moment writing this with lots of tears freely flowing and backed up by some power from above sending down quite an unexpected heavy rain shower indicating that something else is also sending me a message that I am not the only one feeling the same.
Strangely enough writing this has given me great personal comfort. despite inflicting it upon any or our members that might take the time to read it.
Vinaka from a mercifully cooler (or should that really read "not so stinking hot") Nadi.
That looks a fairly weak side for Drua. Several of their best players either not involved or on the bench. Canes will have to wait another week before their first hit out against a strong team.
Reconnaissance mission to Churchill Park completed yesterday and have already staked out the best viewing spots. In reality the word cheapest is more appropriate as I have discovered that at least half a dozen or so kids apparently had been promised by someone else that I would be taking them!!! I have grave fears that that number might raise to upward of thirteen as that's about the number of seats in the minivans that ply their trade between Nadi and Lautoka.
Having so many kids in tow sort of solves the quandary I noticed of not spotting any places you could drop into for a quiet beer or three close to the ground. There must be one or two tucked away somewhere but not really an option available now for a supposedly responsible adult entrusted with kids to look after.
Aumua back to his best with his throwing. Ffs. Get it straight. Can’t hookers throw in this competition?
@Grooter said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
love having Fineanganofo in my fantasy team
I swapped him out last minute because of the rain. Argggh
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
There’s some real class about Harkin.
He wouldnt be playing if Cameron was fit ffs
@KiwiMurph said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
There’s some real class about Harkin.
He wouldnt be playing if Cameron was fit ffs
Not at 10 but he would’ve been starting at 15
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
There’s some real class about Harkin.
He wouldnt be playing if Cameron was fit ffs
Not at 10 but he would’ve been starting at 15
At 10 I meant. He suits 10 better.
@KiwiMurph said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
There’s some real class about Harkin.
He wouldnt be playing if Cameron was fit ffs
Not at 10 but he would’ve been starting at 15
At 10 I meant. He suits 10 better.
Yeah funnily I actually think he could be our best 10.
Just needed a chance.
17-13 to the Canes at halftime.
The Canes just need to keep going up the guts and they’ll wear down the Drua. If the Drua can make this game a lolly scramble then they could easily finish over the top of us.
Pop passes are suicide in these conditions. Our ball security is poor. Fortunately the Drua aren't much better
Moorby is so overrated. A decent Super season 5 or so years ago. Absolute journeyman that Canes need to move on from
@taniwharugby said in Drua vs Hurricanes:
Just didn't need to pass it
Just like he didnt need to kick it out on the full when Jordie clearly passed it back to him from outside 22 earlier
drop the ball.