Completely satisfied Thursday, comrades. Welcome to the beginning of the Tremendous Rugby season. I for one am trying ahead to an thrilling season. The rubber meets the highway with spherical one among Tremendous Rugby and spherical three of the Six Nations. I wish to apologise upfront to my sleep cycle and liver.
As all the time this can be a fan run website and any contribution is all the time welcome be happy to achieve out to me at happyman@greenandgoldrugby.com.au be it with an article an concept or an opinion piece.
There’s additionally a ‘Submit a Story’ possibility. So be happy to have a crack because the extra the merrier.
Courtney Lawes on what Rugby is
IMHO greatest 6 to play the sport within the final ten years has had his say on what rugby ought to cease being apologetic about. Talking on the Rugby Pod and rebroadcast all over the place Courtney Lawes is quoted as saying the next.
“We have to develop rugby as a enterprise, as a sport and as a type of leisure that folks actually wish to get caught into,” Lawes wrote in his Occasions column. “We do this by leaning into all of the totally different elements that make rugby thrilling: the pace of the gamers, passing expertise, the road breaks, the turnovers, the respect, the camaraderie — and the uncooked physicality. Rugby is a harmful recreation and other people like that.
The fan favourites are all the time the gamers most prepared to place their our bodies on the road for the shirt, for the workforce. That’s what individuals wish to see from skilled rugby gamers.
“Individuals love the large hits and off-the-ball scraps, particularly as they’re all the time adopted by gamers shaking palms after the sport and going again to being mates. That’s what rugby is. That’s what makes rugby an amazing recreation and we have to begin being unapologetic about that.”
Personally I agree with him it’s a recreation for all sizes however it isn’t for everybody. A clever man as soon as mentioned we exit to harm the opposition not injure them however to make them harm a lot that they cease desirous to play.
.
Tremendous Rugby Pacific – Groups for Spherical 1
I like all groups being launched on the similar time every week. It should make for a greater product. It’s laborious to select winners primarily based on preseason kind however my picks are as follows:
Chiefs at house, they’re primed for a giant yr.
Melbourne at house. I count on a participant response to the scenario and Melbourne followers flip to indicate that they need a workforce.
Hurricanes to beat the Power with most likely a number of additional days of journey.
Drua to beat the Blues.
Highlanders to beat Moana at house.
Reds to dispatch the southern hordes.
Friday 23 February 5:05 pm AEDT – Chiefs v Crusaders at FMG Stadium,
CHIEFS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Bradley Slater, Reuben O’Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Kalyum Boshier, Luck Jacobson (c), Xavier Roe, Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Shaun Stevenson
RESERVES: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Jimmy Tupou, Simon Parker, Cortez Ratima, Josh Ioane, Daniel Rona
CRUSADERS (1-15): George Bower, George Bell, Tamati Williams, Scott Barrett (c), Quinten Unusual, Dominic Gardiner, Tom Christie, Cullen Grace, Mitch Drummond, Rivez Reihana, Macca Springer, Dallas McLeod, Levi Aumua, Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki
RESERVES: Quinten MacDonald, Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Jamie Hannah, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Taha Kemara, Ryan Crotty
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referees: Jordan Manner, Reuben Keane
Friday 23 February 7:35 pm AEDT – Melbourne Rebels v ACT Brumbies at AAMI Park
REBELS (1-15): Matt Gibbon, Jordan Uelese, Sam Talakai, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Josh Kemeny, Brad Wilkin, Rob Leota (c), Jack Maunder, Carter Gordon, Glen Vaihu, David Feliuai, Filipo Daugunu, Lachie Anderson, Andrew Kellaway
RESERVES: Alex Mafi, Isaac Kailea, Taniela Tupou, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Vaiolini Ekuasi, James Tuttle, Jake Strachan, Nick Jooste
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Lachlan Lonergan, Rhys Van Nek, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Rob Valetini, Luke Reimer, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan (c), Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Ollie Sapsford, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
RESERVES: Billy Pollard, Blake Schoupp, Sefo Kautai, Cadeyrn Neville, Jahrome Brown, Klayton Thorn, Declan Meredith, Tamati Tua
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan, George Myers
Friday 23 February 10:00 pm AEDT – Western Power v Hurricanes at HBF Park
FORCE (1-15): Marley Pearce, Tom Horton, Santiago Medrano, Thomas Franklin, Izack Rodda, Michael Wells (co-c), Carlo Tizzano, Will Harris, Nic White (co-c), Ben Donaldson, Chase Tiatia, Hamish Stewart, Sam Spink, Harry Potter, Max Burey
RESERVES: Ben Funnell, Charlie Hancock, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Tim Anstee, Ollie Callan, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, George Poolman
HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numea, Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi, Caleb Delany, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Peter Lakai, Jordi Viljoen, Brett Cameron, Kini Naholo, Jordie Barrett, Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Ruben Love
RESERVES: James O’Reilly, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tyrel Lomax, Justin Sangster, Brayden Iose, Cam Roigard, Riley Higgins, Salesi Rayasi
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant Referees: Graham Cooper, Jordan Kaminski
Saturday 24 February 2:35 pm AEDT – Blues v Fijian Drua at Semenoff Stadium,
BLUES (1-15): Joshua Fusitu’a, Kurt Eklund, Angus Ta’avao, Sam Darry, Josh Beehre, Anton Segner, Dalton Papali’i (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Stephen Perofeta, Caleb Clarke, Harry Plummer, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Zarn Sullivan
RESERVES: Ricky Riccitelli, Jordan Lay, Marcel Renata, Laghlan McWhannell, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, AJ Lam, Cole Forbes
DRUA (1-15): Livai Natave, Tevita Ikanivere, Mesake Doge, Isoa Nasilasila, Leone Rotuisolia, Etonia Waqa, Ella Canakaivata, Meli Derenalagi (c), Frank Lomani, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Selestino Ravutaumada, Apisalome Vota, Iosefo Masi, Epeli Momo, Isikeli Rabitu
RESERVES: Mesulame Dolokoto, Emosi Tuqiri, Jone Koroiduadua, Mesake Vocevoce, Vilive Miramira, Peni Matawalu, Kemu Valetini, Tudraki Samusamuvodre
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
Saturday 24 February 5:05 pm AEDT – Highlanders v Moana Pasifika at Forsyth Barr Stadium,
HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Daniel Lienert-Brown, Henry Bell, Saula Ma’u, Pari Pari Parkinson, Fabian Holland, Sean Withy, Billy Harmon (c), Hugh Renton, Folau Fakatava, Rhys Patchell, Jona Nareki, Sam Gilbert, Tanielu Tele’a, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
RESERVES: Jack Taylor, Ayden Johnstone, Jermaine Ainsley, Oliver Haig, Nikora Broughton, Nathan Hastie, Cameron Millar, Jonah Lowe
PASIFIKA (1-15): James Lay (c), Sama Malolo, Sione Mafileo, Tom Savage, Samuel Slade, Miracle Faiilagi, Alamanda Motuga, Lotu Inisi, Ereatara Enari, William Havili, Viliami Positive, Julian Savea, Pepesane Patafilo, Nigel Ah Wong, Danny Toala
RESERVES: Samiuela Moli, Abraham Pole, Suetena Asomua, Allan Craig, Jacob Norris, Aisea Halo, D’Angelo Leuila, Anzleo Tuitavuki
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Referees: James Mabey, Marcus Playle
Saturday 24 February 7:35 pm AEDT – Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium,
REDS (1-15): Alex Hodgman, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (co-c), Tom Lyngah, Mac Grealy, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Suli Vunivalu, Jordan Petaia
RESERVES: Josh Nasser, Peni Ravai, Sef Fa’agase, Cormac Daly, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Jock Campbell
WARATAHS (1-15): Angus Bell, Mahe Vailanu, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jed Holloway, Miles Amatosero, Fergus Lee-Warner, Charlie Gamble, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon (c), Tane Edmed, Dylan Pietsch, Lalakai Foketi, Izaia Perese, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Joey Walton
RESERVES: Theo Fourie, Hayden Thompson-Stringer, Dan Botha, Sam Thomson, Hugh Sinclair, Teddy Wilson, Harry Wilson, Max Jorgensen
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant Referees: Dan Waenga, Mike Winter
Pathways Are Laborious
Information this week from Scotland that the third tier that they launched about six years in the past is to be scrapped. From the Offside Line HERE
Given the convenience of journey and the small dimension of the league it places into sharp aid how laborious it’s to get this half proper. Australia has struggled for years to get this half appropriate and the NPC in NZ which is a wonderful league is sending them broke.