NPC 2024 official thread

[Jethro]

Am I excited, well till the results come in from the first couple of rounds then if the Bay isn't doing well I'll pretend it isn't happening

Round 1 9th Aug - 14th Aug

Friday

Taranaki v Counties Manukau

Auckland v Wellington

Saturday

Canterbury v Northland

Southland v Otago

Waikato v Bay Of Plenty

Sunday

North Harbour v Hawke's Bay

Manawatū v Tasman

Wednesday

Bay Of Plenty Bay Of Plenty v Counties Manukau

[Guy Smiley]

Let's not forget the Heartland Championship...

https://rugbyheartland.co.nz/wp/heartla ... draw-2024/

17th August 14:00 East Coast vs. Buller (BOT) Whakarua Park Ruatoria
17th August 14:30 King Country vs. Mid Canterbury Taumarunui Domain Taumarunui
17th August North Otago vs. Horowhenua Kapiti TBC TBC
17th August 14:30 Wairarapa Bush vs. Thames Valley Trust House Memorial Park Masterton
17th August 14:30 Whanganui vs. South Canterbury Cooks Garden Whanganui
17th August 14:30 West Coast vs. Poverty Bay John Sturgeon Park Greymouth

[Enzedder]

Waikato Squad

2024 Waikato Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship Squad

Pita Anae-Ah Sue (19) Hautapu
Austin Anderson (8) Te Awamutu Sports
Hamilton Burr (49) Hautapu
Tepaea Cook-Savage (24) Fraser Tech
Liam Coombes-Fabling (38) Fraser Tech
Aaron Cruden (4) Morrinsville Sports
George Dyer (32) Fraser Tech
Samipeni Finau (31) Hamilton Old Boys
Luke Jacobson (28) Hautapu
Mitch Jacobson (75) Hautapu
Ayden Johnstone (48) Hautapu – Co-Captain
Taha Kemara (13) Te Awamutu Sports
D’Angelo Leuila (21) Fraser Tech
Anton Lienert-Brown (22) University
Patrick McCurran (13) Fraser Tech
Josh Moorby (*) Te Awamutu Sports
Damian McKenzie (37) University
Laghlan McWhannell (34) Hautapu
Ollie Norris (51) Hautapu
Sean Ralph (10) Te Awamutu Sports
Cortez Ratima (38) Otorohanga
Gabe Robinson (0) Hamilton Marist
Xavier Roe (36) Hamilton Old Boys – Co-Captain
Xavier Saifoloi (6) University
Daniel Sinkinson (22) Suburbs
Bailyn Sullivan (60) Hamilton Marist
Samisoni Taukei’aho (44) Fraser Tech
James Tucker (69) Hamilton Marist
Solomone Tukuafu (14) Hamilton Old Boys
Mason Tupaea (2) Hamilton Marist
Quinn Tupaea (38) Hamilton Old Boys
Gideon Wrampling (25) Hamilton Old Boys
Malachi Wrampling (9) Hamilton Old Boys

Once the ABs are back, this could be a fun squad. I have hopes of the playoffs at least

[OomStruisbaai]

Am I excited, well till the results come in from the first couple of rounds then if the Bay isn't doing well I'll pretend it isn't happening

Round 1 9th Aug - 14th Aug

Friday

Taranaki v Counties Manukau

Auckland v Wellington

Saturday

Canterbury v Northland

Southland v Otago

Waikato v Bay Of Plenty

Sunday

North Harbour v Hawke's Bay

Manawatū v Tasman

Wednesday

Bay Of Plenty Bay Of Plenty v Counties Manukau

Suppose you support the real Bay.

[Gumboot]

Mmmm... NPC

[OomStruisbaai]

Mmmm... NPC

Hi Bart from TSF?

[Gumboot]

Hi Bart from TSF?

Nope, I don't post on TSF, but it's nice to know they have a Homer fan. Haven't even visited the place in years, tbh.

[Jethro]

Suppose you support the real Bay.

Well if that Bay involves Magpies and wrecking trophies, then I'm fully in

[OomStruisbaai]

I am a Mooloo man with Oom Enz. Is there any chance the All Blacks play NPC?

[Gumboot]

I am a Mooloo man with Oom Enz. Is there any chance the All Blacks play NPC?

Current squad members? Unlikely. But there should still be plenty of exciting fringe players like Lakai and Tupaea on show, and hopefully we'll see Taukei'aho and Roigard playing their way back to fitness at some stage of the comp...

[OomStruisbaai]

I am a Mooloo man with Oom Enz. Is there any chance the All Blacks play NPC?

Current squad members? Unlikely. But there should still be plenty of exciting fringe players like Lakai and Tupaea on show, and hopefully we'll see Taukei'aho and Roigard playing their way back to fitness at some stage of the comp...

Good to see Cruden still around.

[Jethro]

I am a Mooloo man with Oom Enz. Is there any chance the All Blacks play NPC?

Don't think it's a possibility which puts Hawke's Bay at an immediate disadvantage, oh wait do we have any All Blacks

[Enzedder]

Good opening first half by Taranaki over Counties to lead 31-3.
Full time score 31-15 as Taranki just cruised through the second half.

Auckland Vs Wellington just kicked off.

[Gumboot]

Missed most of both games, but good to see Wellington get the win, and also to see Zarn Sullivan back in action. Fingers crossed this comeback works out better than his last one.

[OomStruisbaai]

Waikato take on Bay of Plenty Steamers in game two of the double headers at FMG Stadium Waikato, on Saturday afternoon, kick-off is at 4.35pm:

1. Ollie Norris (Hautapu)

2. Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia (University)*

3. George Dyer (Fraser Tech)

4. James Tucker (Hamilton Marist)

5. Laghlan McWhannell (Hautapu)

6. Malachi Wrampling (Hamilton Old Boys)

7. Oli Mathis (University)*

8. Patrick McCurran (Fraser Tech)

9. Xavier Roe (Hamilton Old Boys) – Co-Captain

10. D’Angelo Leuila (Fraser Tech)

11. Gideon Wrampling (Hamilton Old Boys)

12. Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Old Boys)

13. Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)

14. Newton Tudreu (Hamilton Marist)

15. Josh Moorby (Te Awamutu Sports)*



16. Pita Anae-Ah Sue (Hautapu)

17. Ayden Johnstone (Hautapu) – Co-Captain

18. Solomone Tukuafu (Hamilton Old Boys)

19. Tai Cribb (Hamilton Marist)

20. Andrew Smith (Hautapu)*

21. Quintony Ngatai (Hautapu)

22. Taha Kemara (Te Awamutu Sports)

23. Austin Anderson (Te Awamutu Sports)

* = Waikato Debuts

[Enzedder]

Man, Auckland had so much ball for so much of the game, they didn't know what to do with it. Well played the Lions for knowing where the tryline was.

Come on Mooloos.

[Jethro]

Taranaki making a statement and continuing from last season. Counties falling off a few too many tackles, their defensive coach needs to put in some overtime. Surely Naholo is making a statement for a recall to the ABs on this performance.

[Jethro]

The Lions went to Eden park, not only won the match but got a bonus point and left Auckland with zero in the bank.

Wellington looking very strong, Auckland ... uhmm ... could be a long season for A Team supporters ... once again!

Early days, but Wellington look to be setting the pace.

And in case you thought that was all she wrote folks, Waikato, Canterbury et al still to come this weekend

[Enzedder]

I'll be streaming the Waikato game and keeping an eye on the Oz Boks game at the same time. These clashing times are dumb

[Kiwias]

Red and Blacks about to kick off vs the Taniwha

[Kiwias]

See that really pisses me off. Taniwha have a penalty advantage and put a guy to the try line needing only to ground the ball, but he loses the ball forward. Ref takes them back for the penalty but my question is: why is having a player in position to score a try not considered sufficient advantage?

[Kiwias]

Typically scrappy first hit-up but the coach really does need to tell Canty to put away the dinky grubber kicks when on attack in the oppo 22

[Enzedder]

BOP have given the Mooloo's a right rogering in our home paddock.

36-21 final

[Jethro]

Canterbury get a deserved win, though the Taniwha can consider themselves unlucky on occasion with the line open a few times and a few of the Refs decisions, that forward pass to deny the Taniwha was marginal at best.

Meanwhile in the deep south the Southland/Otago derby was a ripper, with the Stags looking a lot better this season. Surprise win to Southland in Round One.

[Kiwias]

BoP were bloody impressive, as were the Stags in upsetting Otago. Taniwha are a bloody hard side to put away as they just never give up on attack or defense.

[Guy Smiley]

Good night to be a Steamer’s supporter. How soon do I have to decide my season allegiance(s)

[Gumboot]

North Harbour vs Hawke's Bay has just kicked off in Albany.

Like the Magpies' halves combo of Fakatava and Godfrey. Hall and Edmed are quite handy too, mind.

[Kiwias]

Nth Harbour and the Bay are having a right old ding dong, with some questionable defense but lots of exciting tries. Stevenson looking sharp for Harbour

[Gumboot]

It's raining tries.

[Kiwias]

Still raining and now the Bay is in the lead

[Gumboot]

Magpies take the lead 38-32 with 3 minutes to go...

[Gumboot]

And they go on to win it 41-32.

That was fun.

[Jethro]

BOP headed to Hamilton and won against a strongly quiet Waikato. Both sides scored some decent tries, showed some lapses in defense, and otherwise thoroughly entertained a sparse crowd.

North Harbour hosted the Magpies in a game I wasn't about to call either way (on another site). Harbour started well, got what should have been a winning margin, and then forgot that defense can win matches and HB have pulled a number of games out of the fire over the past couple of seasons. Neither team really look like NPC finalists, but the Magpies surprised last season, so anything is possible. For Bay supporters, the scrum is looking strong agan, Fakativa has another insane hair do, and a couple of the new backline recruits really showed some skill and gas.

Manawatu took on the team no one wants in Round 1, Tasman or Canterbury B if we are being nasty. Guess the question on everyone's mind is how improved are Manawatu this year, spoiler alert - still a lot of work to do. Tasman at a canter, though Manawatu weren't giving it away - so some positives there.

Teams to watch based on Rd 1, Wellington, BOP, Tasman.

[Gumboot]

Fakativa has another insane hair do

Looks like he's reprising a version of his old sheepskin lid.

Fakatava's an odd case. A couple of years ago we couldn't wait to cap him (an impending rule change was threatening to derail his ABs eligibility iirc), and many pundits were predicting great things. But then he had a couple of serious injuries, and now after finally getting fully fit and taking the reins from his mentor Aaron Smith at the Highlanders, he finds himself well down the national pecking order and hardly mentioned in selection discussions any more. He's still only 24, and I really hope he doesn't decide to cash in offshore, at least not till after '27.

[Torquemada 1420]

Counties' discipline not improving any?

[Jethro]

BOP won a good one at home against Counties, who were right plucky in the first quarter till they decided to test the ref. Some great tries for the couple of hundred people that showed up to enjoy, from both teams, but once again defense appears to be an elusive quality in NPC rugby this year.

Can't say I'm a big fan of the protection being given to the number nine, another rule change that I guess is meant to reduce injuries and provide more running rugby, but serious are number nines turning into a protected species in 2024!

So BOP are looking like serious contenders, Counties need to work on their discipline in short order to be competitive, the yellow cards are killing them.

Still early days, you only need a top eight finish to be in the running for the title.

[Jethro]

Round Two

Friday
Otago v Auckland

Saturday
Tasman v Canterbury
Northland v Manawatu
Hawke's Bay v Southland

Sunday
Wellington v Taranaki
Bay of Plenty v North Harbour
Counties v Waikato

Another excellent weekend of Rugby coming up folks, with a few vital clashes and some games that should sort out form in 2024.

[OomStruisbaai]

BOP headed to Hamilton and won against a strongly quiet Waikato. Both sides scored some decent tries, showed some lapses in defense, and otherwise thoroughly entertained a sparse crowd.

The Ref must have helped BoP.

[Enzedder]

BOP headed to Hamilton and won against a strongly quiet Waikato. Both sides scored some decent tries, showed some lapses in defense, and otherwise thoroughly entertained a sparse crowd.

The Ref must have helped BoP.

No, Razor did. {/AC mode}

[OomStruisbaai]

BOP headed to Hamilton and won against a strongly quiet Waikato. Both sides scored some decent tries, showed some lapses in defense, and otherwise thoroughly entertained a sparse crowd.

The Ref must have helped BoP.

No, Razor did. {/AC mode}

This is the first year we don't see any NPC live rugby.