Ice ice baby

Ice ice baby

8 Feb 2006

All Black sensation Isaia Toeava, the 20 year old fullback, will debut in the Vodacom Super 14 this weekend. Not in a jersey he would have expected, however.

Toeava, drafted from the Blues to the Hurricanes, will be hoping to make an impression against the team he will return to in five months time.

In New Zealand, the national coach has the power to force a player to be drafted, and after the Blues could not guarantee starting game time for Toeava to Graham Henry, the Grand Slam mastermind sent him to the ‘Canes.

He is not the only debutant, however. Lock Jason Eaton – who appeared for the All Blacks against Scotland late last season after an impressive NPC campaign – starts in the second row.

“We feel it’s the strongest team for this particular game,” Hurricanes assistant coach Murray Roulston told the Kiwi media..

“We’re happy but it wasn’t an easy selection.

“We had 13 internationals but we certainly chewed the fat for a long time over two or three positions,” Roulston said, making particular reference to the decision to play Ma’a Nonu on the wing to accomodate retired All Black captain Tana Umaga and Conrad Smith in the midfield.

“Because of the strength we’ve got in the midfield, and we’ve only got basically two specialist wingers in our squad, from time to time we’re going to have to make some decisions on a midfielder playing on the wing so it’s him this week.”

The Hurricanes

Isaia Toeava, Lome Fa’atau, Conrad Smith, Tana Umaga (capt),
Ma’a Nonu, Jimmy Gopperth, Piri Weepu, Rodney So’oialo, Chris Masoe, Jerry
Collins, Jason Eaton, Luke Andrews, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Joe
McDonnell. Res: Luke Mahoney, Tim Fairbrother, Paul Tito, Thomas Waldrom,
Brendan Haami, David Holwell, Shannon Paku.

The Blues

Isa Nacewa, Doug Howlett, Ben Atiga, Luke McAlister, Joe Rokocoko,
Tasesa Lavea, John Senio, Angus Macdonald, Daniel Braid, Nick Williams,
Greg Rawlinson, Ali Williams, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (capt), Tony
Woodcock. Res: Tim Dow, Saimone Taumoepeau, Kurtis Haiu, Justin Collins,
Steve Devine, Rua Tipoki, Brent Ward.


14 Comments

  • 1.carcass: Reply to this comment
    8 Feb 2006, 15:54 pm

    DRAGON ICE CREAM!

  • 2.bigg: Reply to this comment
    8 Feb 2006, 15:54 pm

    Why cant we have big strong 19 year olds?? How old was Hougaard when he first graced a bok jersey under that idiot Rudolf Straluei??

  • 3.BrumbyIV: Reply to this comment
    8 Feb 2006, 15:56 pm

    Where was he poached from?

  • 4.Knersboy: Reply to this comment
    8 Feb 2006, 16:00 pm

    never mind big 19 year olds, why cant the springbok coach have the same power as the nz coach.

  • 5.Fawlty: Reply to this comment
    8 Feb 2006, 16:03 pm

    Pierre Spies…

  • 6.KietieCat: Reply to this comment
    8 Feb 2006, 16:03 pm

    bigg, I refer you to Hercules Venter I think it is?? Help me out here…

    Any case, he is playing for the u/19′s this year at ten. He benches 130Kg, is quicker than Habana over 40m…

    Bench pressing 130 for a 18y.o. :o is amazing in my eyes. He can only go up.

  • 7.bigg: Reply to this comment
    8 Feb 2006, 16:06 pm

    Kietie – well I look forward to seeing him play then… Pitty about his first name though… If my parents named me Hercules I would f&*$#ing sue them…

  • 8.Chris: Reply to this comment
    8 Feb 2006, 16:07 pm

    Bigg

    Ice isn’t that massive bro. He’s 1.81m, weighs 92kg. So he’s been selected on skill.

    chris

  • 9.KietieCat: Reply to this comment
    8 Feb 2006, 16:10 pm

    true bigg, but maybe giving him that name made him aspire to what he is able to do today?

    You know living up to Hercules is a massive ask. You have to start your training very early, and clearly this guys did. :)

  • 10.sarky: Reply to this comment
    8 Feb 2006, 16:50 pm

    Agree that JW should have the same forcing hand to get Solly T & Brent Russell game time. **** Muir is not exactly sitting on a gold mine of talent – so if you are a bench baby like these two and Sephaka, they should be available to CATS.

    I mean the CATS are specced to go down anyway.

    Anyone know where Rustenberg is in case I want to watch a test? Wonder if old BVR’s replacement, Oregon Pine wants to play tests in Upington or Mamelodi? Could get interesting!

  • 11.DavidSp: Reply to this comment
    8 Feb 2006, 17:31 pm

    Heheheh

    Now aside from some Brumbies players, all my players are selected for Fantasy League

    Cool….

  • 12.lazyshazystormersboy: Reply to this comment
    9 Feb 2006, 07:35 am

    So’oialo is captain.

  • 13.copester: Reply to this comment
    9 Feb 2006, 11:28 am

    Hercules Venter played for Monument on the wing cant believe he’s become a flyhalf overnight??????

  • 14.SuperSize: Reply to this comment
    9 Feb 2006, 12:40 pm

    Jaques Forie was also big for a 19 year old. Now he’s big and fat. but still big.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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