Kiwi wrap (Wed)

Kiwi wrap (Wed)

21 Jan 2009

Keo.co.za brings you the latest news from New Zealand’s Super 14 franchises.

All Blacks set to return for Chiefs

Richard Kahui, Liam Messam and Sitiveni Sivivatu are all set for some game time against the Highlanders in Rotorua this Friday.

A 29-man squad has been named for the Chiefs’ second pre-season clash and coach Ian Foster will be keen to keep the momentum going after last weekend’s win over the Auckland Blues.

Foster believes the Highlanders game is the right time to get his All Blacks back in action.

“The timing is right to get Kahui, Messam and Sivivatu back in the mix, particularly with the next pre-season match for our guys not scheduled until February 7 against the Hurricanes in Gisborne,” said Foster.

“On Friday night we will again be putting our systems to the test as well as putting new combinations out on the field.”

Chiefs - 15 James Wilson, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Dwayne Sweeney, 11 Tim Mikkelson, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Toby Morland, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Craig Clarke, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 James McGougan, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Joe Savage.
Subs – Hika Elliot, Hikairo Forbes, Sona Taumalolo, Culum Retallick, Romana Graham, Luke Braid, Serge Lilo, Sione Lauaki, David Bason , Sitiveni Sivivatu, Callum Bruce, Richard Kahui, Save Tokula , Trent Renata.

Canes without stars

Nine first-string players are missing from the Hurricanes 27-man squad to face the Blues this Friday.

All Blacks Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Rodney So’oialo, Andrew Hore, Jason Eaton and Hosea Gear will only join the squad from next week, while Jeremy Thrush, Faifili Levave and Josh Bradnock miss the Cane’s first pre-season clash due to injury.

Coach Colin Copper is set to give a number of the fringe players some playing time and has named All Blacks John Schwalger, Piri Weepu, Cory Jane, Alby Mathewson, Scott Waldrom and Neemia Tialata on the bench.

Hurricanes - 15 Zac Guildford, 14 Andre Taylor, 13 Jason Kawau, 12 Tamati Ellison, 11 David Smith, 10 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 9 Chris Eaton, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Api Naikatini, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Jacob Ellison.
Subs – Ged Robinson, John Schwalger, Bernie Upton, Piri Weepu, Willie Ripia, Cory Jane, Alby Mathewson, Shane Cleaver, Scott Waldrom, Jarrad Hoeata, Nathan Hohaia, Neemia Tialata.

Crusaders’ rookie hookers set for action

Back-up hookers Daniel Perrin and Jason MacDonald will have the opportunity to showcase their ability when the Crusaders take on the Western force on Friday.

With doubts over the possibility of Corey Flynn being fit in time to face the Chiefs in the opening round of the Super 14, the two rookies will now fight it out for the No2 jersey.

Coach Todd Blackadder said he was still unsure if Flynn, who broke his arm on All Blacks duty last November against Munster, would be fit to face the Chiefs on 14 February.

Meanwhile, Colin Slade will run at flyhalf against the Force with Stephen Brett still recovering from minor knee surgery.

Crusaders - 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Jared Payne, 13 Adam Whitelock, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Kade Poki, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Steve Alfeld, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 George Whitelock, 6 Ash Parker, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 James Broadhurst, 3 Peter Borlase, 2 Daniel Perrin, 1 Owen Franks.
Subs – Wyatt Crockett, Jason Macdonald, Bronson Murray, Michael Paterson, Jonathan Poff, Thomas Waldrom, Andy Ellis, Hamish Gard, Tim Bateman, Casey Laulala.


19 Comments

  • 1.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 08:13 am

    Chiefs and Highlanders are there for the taking. They look weakish

  • 2.Tjorra Nagel: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 10:45 am

    The British Newspaper “The Independent” has released a “50 best rugby players in the world” list, it makes for interesting reading:

    1. Richie Mccaw (NZ) 2. Juan Martin Hernandez (ARG) 3. Dan Carter (NZ) 4. Sergio Parisse (ITA) 5. Victor Matfield (SA) 6. Matt Giteau (AUS) 7. Shane Williams (WAL) 8. Bryan Habana (SA) 9. Schalk Burger (SA) 10. Juan Smith (SA) 11. Jean de Villiers (SA) 12. Mike Blair (SCO) 13. Ma’a Nonu (NZ) 14. George Smith (AUS) 15. Pierre Spies (SA) 16. Stirling Mortlock (AUS) 17. Fourie du Preez (SA) 18. Vilimoni Delasau (FIJ) 19. Paul O’Connel (IRE) 20. Luke Mcalister (NZ) 21. Nili Latu (TON) 22. Tony Woodcock (NZ) 23. Brian O’Driscoll (IRE) 24. Nathan Sharpe (AUS) 25. Thierry Dusautoir (FRA) 26. Mario Ledesma (ARG) 27. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (FRA) 28. Mils Muliaina (NZ) 29. Martyn Williams (WAL) 30. Bakkies Botha (SA) 31. Joe Rokocoko (NZ) 32. Nick Evans (NZ) 33. Sailosi Tagicakibau (SAM) 34. Ryan Jones (WAL) 35. Lote Tuqiri (AUS) 36. Yannick Jauzion (FRA) 37. Sebastian Chabal (FRA) 38. Conrad Smith (NZ) 39. Rodney So’oialo (NZ) 40. Ricky Januarie (SA) 41. Lee Byrne (WAL) 42. Andrew Sheridan (ENG) 43. Patricio Albacete (ARG) 44. Sitiveni Sivivatu (NZ) 45. Felipe Contepomi (ARG) 46. Aurelien Rougerie (FRA) 47. Ali Williams (NZ) 48. Adam Ashley-Cooper (AUS) 49. Euan Murray (SCO) 50. John Smit (SA)

    According to this list the current World XV would look like this:

    1. Tony Woodcock 2. Mario Ledesma 3. Euan Murray (Sheridan is a loosehead) 4. Paul O’Connel 5. Victor Matfield 6. Schalk Burger 7. Richie Mccaw (c) 8. Sergio Parisse 9. Mike Blair 10. Dan Carter/Matt Giteau/Juan Martin Hernandez 11.Shane Williams 12. Matt Giteau/Dan Carter 13. Jean de Villiers 14. Bryan Habana 15. Juan Martin Hernandez/Mils Muliaina

  • 3.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 11:04 am

    Hmmm spot the Pom

  • 4.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 13:37 pm

    is that the Kirkpatrick kid that played 10 in the IRB junior RWC?

    #3 Hurricane: nonsense list

  • 5.clayfin: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 13:51 pm

    #4 Big Hit: Nonsense post big ***

  • 6.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 14:07 pm

    gayfin

  • 7.cane: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 14:24 pm

    #4 Big Hit:

    Nonsense List…..!!!!

    For a 2nd Tier Rugby Nation, England did very well to get on the list. Show some pride Bigglies.
    You are right up there with Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, (who have a combined population the equal of Bradford on Environs).

  • 8.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 14:45 pm

    #7 cane: they’d have a few more on the list if you guys stopped poaching all their players

  • 9.BlackPanther: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 14:55 pm

    Alot closer to the mark than the IRB Awards, for starters.

    Gee, no9 must have an incredible dearth of talent at the moment if Mike Blair is the best scrummy. Clearly Du Preez is the smarter option, albeit he is no master ala Joost or Marshall when he was in his prime. Kelleher would boss Blair off the ball, he’s no more than a tidy lightweight. Interesting to note that Ellissade flies in at 27th and yet Kelleher gets all the big games at Toulouse.

    Not 1 Pom, altho atleast these rankings provide England with a convenient shopping list for their next squad. Nice to see Scotland has 3, Engl have zip. I wonder if Engl will beat Italy to the Wooden Spoon for the 6N this year ?

    Interesting to note the Boks are still riding their RWC Champion status – 7 players ranked in the Top 20 and yet the Boks finished 3rd of 3 at TriN ’08. Huh ?!

    Er, on what basis can Dan Carter be included as a no12 ? On his 1 starting appearance in ’08 which was, principally, to give that lemon Waikato man some insurance vs Australia at Hong Kong ? what nonsense. Given, he’s a genius in that position too, but noone could label him as a ‘utility’ player. He’s the best allround no10 around.

    How does BOD rank so high – he can hardly finish a game these days and his brilliance is only witnessed in very small flashes these days. Very sad, but very true.

    And exactly WHO has Paul O’Connell EVER bossed at International level ? Ive never seen him perform against a top tier nation, despite this big reputation. Heineken Cup, maybe. But thats a great competition filled with average players and journeymen.

  • 10.cane: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 15:17 pm

    #8 Big Hit:

    People have options Bigglies. It’s called Freedom of Choice. To play for the Land of their fathers, or the land of their Upbringing.

    Why are you so anti NZs Immigrant Peoples?

    England is a multi-cultural and diverse Nation. Why is it you have no understanding of the movement of peoples to and frow.

    Why do you lay this “heavy trip” on Our small and humble collection Islands.

  • 11.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 15:35 pm

    #9 BlackPanther: jeez you talk some rot. under the old rules NZ and Aus were QF teams so they had to push to change the rules around to suit their game. Never mind, it will all backfire in due course.

    #10 cane: excuses, say no to poaching

  • 12.BlackPanther: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 15:59 pm

    #10 cane:

    The guy (agreed – questionable) is a complete fraud, starve him of the oxygen of attention and he will, hopefully, slowly and painfully suffocate. Or atleast drown in a shallow puddle of his own bile.

    The Top 50 seems fairly put together altho how does that grossly-overrated big bench-pressing ponce Sheridan get a lookin at the World XV when he’s nowhere near a Top 50 player ? Ive seen better props at a primary school nativity play.

  • 13.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 16:21 pm

    #12 BlackPanther: the whole list is a joke, only half of those players deserve to be in there, they obviously don’t watch much rugby

  • 14.CHAZ: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 19:11 pm

    #13 Big Hit: B *** , now tell me how many times pomy land has been invaded by , the romans, vikings, french, and the list goes on and on, so in reality your not sure if your poaching when kiwis, saffas, aussies, frogs, and others are playing for the wilting rose, eh??
    Put a S in front of the H and your nic will be spot on, your comments are like your country and most of your lot, dreary, bleak, and full of ****!!!!!

  • 15.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 21:42 pm

    #11 Big Hit:
    Guys i think this post from Big Hit is correct in a way.We did change the rules,so we can instead of beating England 76% of the time (before the new rules) we are now sitting at 78% of the time we beat England,there it is.

    Big Hit RWC is not everything,if it is then why bother playing in between the years.Your only comeback against NZ is poaching,RWC and Munster.You will bring these up in practically every post,lets say 78% of the time,seems like a good number.

  • 16.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 21:44 pm

    #4 Big Hit:
    it is a nonsence list,as soon as i saw Sheridan in there straight away i new it was ****,its like the independent newspaper had a rule that to put in a quota English player.Not one Englishman should be in there

  • 17.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 23:03 pm

    #15 Hurricane: and you always go back 100 years into history. We have a few issues with getting our full team out due to overplaying the players so they pick up injuries. Your guys don’t play as many games so whilst we have 10+ players out every time we play NZ you guys are only missing 1 or 2.

  • 18.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 23:53 pm

    #17 Big Hit:
    Whats wrong with going back 100 years,its history just like the Munster game and the RWC but that dosnt stop you does it.So you want to forget about all rugby before the RWCs is that correct,ok lets work that out then.
    NZ played England 17 games since RWC started.
    NZ won 13 lost 3 and drew 1.Oh thats about 78% of the time we win,strange that

  • 19.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    21 Jan 2009, 23:56 pm

    #17 Big Hit:
    OH and so out of the 32 times NZ and England have played,you have never fielded a team that isnt missing 10 of their first choice players,but against the likes of Scotland and Italy etc you have you top team availible,phhhttt more stupid excuses from you,2009 just like 2008 for you,excuses excuses,yawn

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