Julian Savea is captain
Ben Lam, Julian Savea (c), Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Regan Verney, Malo Tuitama, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Mateaki Kafatolu, James Blackwell, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Sam Lousi, Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, Asafo Aumua, Tolu Fahamokioa
Reserves: Leni Apisai, Sitiveni Paongo, Alex Fidow, Will Mangos, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Sheridan Rangihuna, Dan Kirkpatrick, Levi Harmon
Canterbury
1 Alex Hodgman
2 Ben Funnell
3 Siate Tokolahi
4 Hamish Dalzell
5 Dominic Bird (C)
6 Tom Sanders
7 Jed Brown
8 Reed Prinsep
9 Ere Enari
10 Brett Cameron
11 Josh McKay
12 Rob Thompson
13 Inga Finau
14 Poasa Waqanibau
15 George Bridge
Reserves:
16 Nathan Vella
17 Chris Gawler
18 Jack Straker
19 Mitchell Dunshea
20 Billy Harmon
21 Mitchell Drummond
22 Richie Mo'unga
23 Marshall Suckling
Looking forward to seeing how Aumua goes in this one. Be a chance for him to show he can knuckle down and do the core duties against good opposition.
@Duluth said in Wellington vs Canterbury:
Julian Savea is captain
Ben Lam, Julian Savea (c), Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Regan Verney, Malo Tuitama, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Mateaki Kafatolu, James Blackwell, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Sam Lousi, Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, Asafo Aumua, Tolu Fahamokioa
Reserves: Leni Apisai, Sitiveni Paongo, Alex Fidow, Will Mangos, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Sheridan Rangihuna, Dan Kirkpatrick, Levi Harmon
I like the look of the tight 5. Its what i was hoping was selected so will be interesting to see how they get on against the form side.
Blackwell is too short for lock (1.90) so hope he can step up at 6. Hes a good player but just not a lock. Another player that looks promising is Ben-Nicholas. He will need a big game to lessen the impact of losing Shields
Goosen though is a big loss. He looked until he went off last week that he was finally getting the hang of center and was in outstanding form. i hope he comes back soon as he's a very good distributor but needs to incorporate this aspect into his center game more. When he does he will be top class. I believe (much) better than Proctor
and the evidence so far is that he can throw to the lineout accurately, even in a Wellington wind
@Stockcar86 you gotta wonder if he will be going North in 4 or 5 weeks for an apprenticeship...talent just to undeniable to leave out surely?
I know this is Canterbury's 3rd game in 10 days, and that last Wednesday's game was a Ranfurly Shield game, and that Luke Whitelock is injured, but why aren't they starting their strongest team? Why are Drummond and Mo'unga on the bench and Bateman & Ennor not even in the line-up when they play what's possibly one of their strongest opponents in the competition? They're noticeably weaker than usual.
I just saw the replay of Aumua standing up a winger and running to the line.
That was Colesesque. Shame his throwing has been dodgy since I've been watching - weather a mitigating factor in that though I guess.
@Stargazer said in Wellington vs Canterbury:
The weather is absolutely atrocious. I've no reception any more.
Ill give you an update - Canterbury are getting absolutely belted.
@KiwiMurph Awesome (although my Lions supporting friends will become even more annoying now). Pity it's not a Shield game.
