Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview
This year's Hawkes Bay team looks a very strong one. They kick their campaign off this Sunday in Invercargill against a Southland side led by ex Bay player Tony Lamborn.
Most people would suggest an easy victory for the Bay, but let's hope the Bay players don't think that. On paper yes you would think so, but Southland are a dogged team especially in Invercargill.
Where this could be won is whether Southland can continually turn back the pressure this Bay team will apply to them. Southland by all reports played well in there pre season game against Otago, but you can't judge a team on that. This is the real deal.
Hawkes Bay will field effectively a Super Rugby side, and while I would expect Southland to be all fire and brimstone early on, I would also expect the Bay to over power them, especially in the second half with the impact the Bay have off the bench.
I never predict scores, but a Bay win that shakes off the rust with so many different franchise players coming back together, and a performance that befits the quality of player they have would be sufficient for now.
@Billsy111 said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
@Crucial If you go to there Facebook page it's on there.
That’s not how it works on the fern. We are lazy and sit waiting for others to do the work for us 
Piss poor of the union though if you have to hunt out a FB page to see who your squad is.
Josh Moorby, Rory van Vugt, Isaac Te Tamaki, Jaye Thompson, Amanaki Nicole, Scott Eade, Logan Crowley, Tony Lamborn (c), Matt James, Charles Alaimalo, Mike McKee, Manaaki-Selby-Rickit, Siate Tokolahi, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Ethan de Groot.
Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Joe Walsh, Chris Apoua, Ray Tatafu, Glenn Preston, Raniera Takarangi, Greg Dyer, Ray Nu’u
@mikey07 said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
The Bay hasn’t signed there most influential player Sheridan Rangihuna ?
From WEllington.
We all know that HB are above poaching (according to @Nepia )
@Crucial I figured since he’s a playing rugby in Hawkes Bay they might aswell sign him up
@Crucial said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
@mikey07 said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
The Bay hasn’t signed there most influential player Sheridan Rangihuna ?
From WEllington.
We all know that HB are above poaching (according to @Nepia )
I’ve never denied that we poach, in fact I’m usually complaining about our useless poaches. Obviously we’re not at Tasman/Canterbury levels.
@mikey07 said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
The Bay hasn’t signed there most influential player Sheridan Rangihuna ?
We actually have 3 decent homegrown options to choose from.
HAWKE'S BAY
1 Pouri Rakete-Stones
2 Ash Dixon
3 Joe Apikotoa
4 Geoff Cridge
5 Tom Parsons
6 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u
7 Brendon O'Connor
8 Devan Flanders
9 Folau Fakatava
10 Lincoln McClutchie
11 Mason Emerson
12 Ollie Sapsford
13 Stacey Ili
14 Jonah Lowe
15 Kurt Baker
16 Kianu Kereru-Symes
17 Jason Long
18 Joel Hintz
19 Bryn Evans
20 Solomone Funaki
21 Brad Weber
22 Caleb Makene
23 Lolagi Visinia
@shark said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
That's a fascinating HB side. Bryn Evans is back!? Caleb Makene now on board, and Kurt Baker. Weber off the bench. A decent looking tight 5, which unfortunately for Southland negates what might have been their only area of strength.
Makene returned home last year and played most of last years NPC.
Evans just happened to return home and they contracted him, which is good for the locking depth.
@shark said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
I thought Makene went to CM after leaving Canterbury?
I don't think so, he got loaned to Tasman at one stage but don't think he's ever played for Counties, @Crucial might be able to confirm.
@Crucial said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
Any team or squad lists around for HB? Their website has bits and pieces about signings but no obvious squad list
The full squad list is in the Magpies 2020 thread, here: https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/post/486544
@shark said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
I thought Makene went to CM after leaving Canterbury?
No, he was loaned for one season to Tasman and rest Canterbury. He went straight to Hawke's Bay after, never to CM. That was last year.
@Canes4life said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
@Number-10 Are Walker-Leawere, Farrell and Toala injured?
I assume IWL is injured. He didn't play the last few games for the Canes, and wasn't in the line-up for last week's preseason game either. Toala got injured in the club rugby final (back injury?).
Toala's injury might be serious enough. We have have to backs as injury replacement in the squad. Anzelo Tuitavuki and Bas Visinia. The first is a wing/centre and the second a midfielder. One is an injury replacement for Sam McNicol and the other wasn't named, but I can't think of another back who's injured at the moment.
Farrell is not in the squad, although he played club rugby. I understand it's his own choice not to play Mitre 10 Cup, but not sure.
@shark said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
My bad. I had his movements confused with Luteru Laulala who was in the Canterbury set up at the same time and may have left at the same time also.
Hello Grant Nisbett.
@Nepia I also choose to never utter the name of the former Horowhenua, Auckland and Blues 10-cum-fullback of whom we do not speak.
@Bones said in Southland v Hawkes Bay:
Interesting to see Flanders at 8 and MMT blindside. Would have thought other way around.
Yeah me too.
@Canes4life said in Southland v Hawkes Bay Preview:
@Number-10 Are Walker-Leawere, Farrell and Toala injured?
As @Stargazer has posted - yes, no, yes.
The HB Today this morning has Isaia Walker-Leawere on the subs bench but notes he is carrying a hamstring strain. The HB Today has a 6pm contributions deadline.
The team I posted was taken from the HBRU facebook post this morning with Bryn Evans (not Walker-Leawere) on the bench.
So it seems yesterday afternoon Walker-Leawere was on the bench, but this morning Bryn Evans is on the bench.
Tim Farrell, although played most of the club season, including the semi-final, was not available for higher honours.
@Billsy111 ,should not forget ,it was it was only in the last 20 that the Magpies took control against the Stags last year ,and for a good part of the game were one of the best scrummaging teams the Bay came up against ,to me the Stags look 30-40% stronger than they did last year..I would not underestimate them at home..Bay to win a tight one
@Number-10 said in Southland v Hawkes Bay:
HAWKE'S BAY
1 Pouri Rakete-Stones
2 Ash Dixon
3 Joe Apikotoa
4 Geoff Cridge
5 Tom Parsons
6 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u
7 Brendon O'Connor
8 Devan Flanders
9 Folau Fakatava
10 Lincoln McClutchie
11 Mason Emerson
12 Ollie Sapsford
13 Stacey Ili
14 Jonah Lowe
15 Kurt Baker16 Kianu Kereru-Symes
17 Jason Long
18 Joel Hintz
19Bryn EvansIsaia Walker-Leawere
20 Solomone Funaki
21 Brad Weber
22 Caleb Makene
23 Lolagi Visinia
The Hawke's Bay RU Facebook page now has Isaia Walker-Leawere at 19 not Bryn Evans ......
@Number-10 I guess they replaced their picture on Facebook, but forgot the one on instagram?
Ash Dixon in again from a rolling maul with McClutchie missing the kick again. Hawke's Bay 10-6 up at half time. Southland probably had more of the play in the 1st half but couldn't come away with a try for all their endeavour. Hawke's Bays set piece working well in tough conditions.
