NPR

Gumboot wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 7:46 pm I expect the Saders to come roaring back this season, even though they already have a few injury concerns.

Saders - Chiefs final with the Chiefs going one step further than last year.

Despite losing the Final, Rob Penney will be hailed as a coaching genius in ChCh and re-appointed for life.

Here. First.

Enzedder wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 7:13 pm Competition starts next Friday

Code: Select all

Round 1				
Date	Fixture	Venue	Kick-off	Broadcast
Friday 14 February	Crusaders v Hurricanes	Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch	5:05pm	Stan
Friday 14 February	Waratahs v Highlanders	Allianz Stadium, Sydney	7:35pm	Stan
Saturday 15 February	Fijian Drua v Brumbies	HFC Bank Stadium, Suva	2:35pm	Stan
Saturday 15 February	Blues v Chiefs	Eden Park, Auckland	5:05pm	Stan
Saturday 15 February	Force v Moana Pasifika	HBF Park, Perth	7:35pm	Nine/Stan
BYE: Reds

Odds for the overall winners

Blues are the overall favourites for the title with their million dollar backline. Chiefs and Canes following.

Main injury layoffs appear to be Sititi for the Chiefs and Darry for the Blooze.

Chiefs got to retain the Taranaki servitude with a 43-40 pre-season win over the Canes. As this effectively puts a curse on us, put your money elsewhere.

Blindside flanker Devan Flanders has a suspected broken leg, said coach Clark Laidlaw on Monday, adding to a long-term Hurricanes injury list that includes Lomax, Love and first five-eighths Brett Cameron and new recruit Lucas Cashmore.

Flanders suffered the injury at training, the day before the Hurricanes’ 31-19 pre-season win over the Blues, and is awaiting a further medical assessment to see how long he will be sidelined for.

“Unfortunately Devan has picked up a really bad injury; a total freak accident warming up in the captain’s run before the game on Thursday. He’s got an ankle injury and it looks like a leg break. We don’t know how long that’s going to be yet… pretty disappointing,” Laidlaw said.

Jerseys 10 and 12 will carry the most intrigue when Laidlaw names his side on Wednesday. Either former Crusader Riley Hohepa or Harry Godfrey will start at first-five, while either Peter Umaga-Jensen and Riley Higgins will play alongside Billy Proctor in the midfield.

Dan54 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:24 am Well NZer, McMillan has started with the next long term All Black 10 I see!! I real fan of Jacomb, and think he will be the man at 10 in next couple of years.

Enzedder wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 10:09 pm I was only commenting on the good players who have been lost. Journeymen are two-bob for a dozen.

I was thinking at 7pm last night that any sides playing them would have had 10 deaths from heat stroke by 8pm. I hate rugby in cricket season unless it's from oop Norf.

My daughter is doing an Ironman in 3 weeks in Taupo- she is going to struggle like buggery with nearly all of her training in Wellington

ROUND 1 TEAMS

*All times local
Crusaders v Hurricanes

FRI 14 February: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch (19:05)

CRUSADERS (1-15): Tamaiti Williams, Ioane Moananu, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Antonio Shalfoon, Cullen Grace, Ethan Blackadder, Christin Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Taha Kemara, Sevu Reece, David Havili, Levi Aumua, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan

Replacements: Manumaua Letiu, George Bower, Sam Matenga, Tahlor Cahil, Corey Kellow, Kyle Preston, James O'Connor, Dallas McLeod

HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numia, Jacob Devery, Tevita Mafileo, Caleb Delany, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields (co-c), Du'Plessis Kirifi, Brayden Iose, Cameron Roigard, Harry Godfrey, Kini Naholo, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Bailyn Sullivan, Fatafehi Fineanganofo, Callum Harkin

Replacements: Raymond Tuputou, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Pasilio Tosi, Hugo Plummer, Peter Lakai, Ereatara Enari, Riley Hohepa, Ngatungane Punivai

Referee: Nic Berry

Assistant Referees: Jackson Henshaw & Jeremy Markey

TMO: Brett Cronan


NSW Waratahs v Highlanders

FRI 14 February: Allianz Stadium, Sydney (19:35)

WARATAHS (1-15): Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Taniela Tupou, Hugh Sinclair, Miles Amatosero, Rob Leota, Charlie Gamble, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon (c), Tane Edmed, Max Jorgensen, Joey Walton, Lalakai Foketi, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii

Replacements: Mahe Vailanu, Tom Lambert, Siosifa Amone, Ben Grant, Jamie Adamson, Jack Grant, Jack Bowen, Darby Lancaster

HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Soane Mikaele Vikena, Saula Ma’u, Fabian Holland, Mitch Dunshea, Lui Naeata, Sean Withy, Hugh Renton (co-c), Nathan Hastie, Taine Robinson, Caleb Tangitau, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), Tanielu Tele’a, Michael Manson, Sam Gilbert

Replacements: Henry Bell, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Sefo Kautai, Nikora Broughton, Veveni Lasaqa, Folau Fakatava, Cameron Millar, Finn Hurley

Referee: Angus Gardner

Assistant Referees: Graham Cooper & Matt Kellahan

TMO: Ollie Kellett


Fijian Drua v ACT Brumbies

SAT 15 February: HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, Fiji (15:35)

DRUA (1-15): Haereiti Hetet, Tevita Ikanivere (co-c), Samuela Tawake, Mesake Vocevoce, Leone Rotuisolia, Joseva Tamani, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Caleb Muntz, Vuate Karawalevu, Kemu Valetini, Iosefo Masi, Ponipate Loganimasi, Isikeli Rabitu

Replacements: Mesulame Dolokoto, Livai Natave, Meli Tuni, Vilive Miramira, Isoa Tuwai, Frank Lomani (co-c), Peni Matawalu, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre

BRUMBIES (1-15): Blake Schoupp, Billy Pollard, Feao Fotuaika, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Luke Reimer, Rory Scott, Ryan Lonergan (c), Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Austin Anderson, Hudson Creighton, Ollie Sapsford, Andy Muirhead

Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Ieli, Rhys van Nek, Cadeyrn Neville, Judah Saumaisue, Harrison Goddard, Declan Meredith, Kadin Pritchard

Referee: Angus Mabey

Assistant Referees: Michael Winter & Stu Curran

TMO: Marcus Playle


Blues v Chiefs

SAT 15 February: Eden Park, Auckland (19:05)

BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Laghlan McWhannell, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Anton Segner, Dalton Papali’i, Cameron Suafoa, Taufa Funaki, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Beauden Barrett.

Replacements: Nathaniel Pole, Josh Fusitua, Angus Ta’avao, Che Clark, Adrian Choat, Fin Christie, Corey Evans, Cole Forbes.

CHIEFS (1-15): Ollie Norris, Brodie McAllister, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Lord, Simon Parker, Kaylum Boshier, Luke Jacobson (c), Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona, Leroy Carter, Damian McKenzie

Replacements: Bradley Slater, Aidan Ross, Reuben O'Neill, Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert Brown, Emoni Narawa

Referee: Damon Murphy

Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane & Ben O'Keeffe

TMO: Brett Cronan


Western Force v Moana Pasifika

SAT 15 February: HBF Park, Perth (16:35)

FORCE (1-15): Marley Pearce, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams, Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Vaiolini Ekuasi; Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart, Sio Tomkinson, Divad Palu, Mac Grealy

Replacements: Tom Horton, Atu Moli, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Reed Prinsep, Will Harris, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, Dylan Pietsch

PASIFIKA (1-15): James Lay, Millennium Sanerivi, Feteleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, Samuel Slade, Allan Craig, Miracle Faillagi, Sione Havili Talitui, Ardie Savea (c), Jonathan Taumateine, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Kyren Taumoefolau, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Pepesana Patafilo, Solomon Alaimalo, William Havili

Replacements: Sama Malolo, Tito Tuipulotu, Chris Apoua, Tom Savage, Ola Tauelangi, Semisi Tupou Tailoa, Melani Matavo, Danny Toala

Referee: Jordan Way

Assistant Referees: George Myers & Jordan Kaminski

TMO: James Leckie

Gumboot wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:42 am

Dan54 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:24 am Well NZer, McMillan has started with the next long term All Black 10 I see!! I real fan of Jacomb, and think he will be the man at 10 in next couple of years.

Hope you're right, coz we're not exactly flush with good young 10s just now... although I'm backing Harry Godfrey to do well if the Canes need him there. I've got a feeling he could turn out to be another good'un.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:42 am

Dan54 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:24 am Well NZer, McMillan has started with the next long term All Black 10 I see!! I real fan of Jacomb, and think he will be the man at 10 in next couple of years.

Hope you're right, coz we're not exactly flush with good young 10s just now... although I'm backing Harry Godfrey to do well if the Canes need him there. I've got a feeling he could turn out to be another good'un.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 3:44 am Yep.

Would like to see Godfrey at 10 and Higgins at 12.

Edit: Shit news for Flanders. He's a very handy player.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 1:24 am No sign of Higgins in the Canes playing 23. Is he injured?

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 1:24 am No sign of Higgins in the Canes playing 23. Is he injured?

Dan54 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 6:39 pm Yep in my picking comp for first game of year I went heart over head (and put them in before teams named have got
Cru-Canes- Canes by 9
Tahs-Clan Clan by 6
Drua-Brums Drua 15
Blues-Chiefs (think I got) Chiefs 9
Force-MP MP by 6

Firewater wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 3:09 am

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 1:24 am No sign of Higgins in the Canes playing 23. Is he injured?

I read somewhere that both Proctor and Higgins had minor issues so weren't selected. They could have played

Kiwias wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:11 am S Barrett cops first YC of the new season less than four minutes in.

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:25 am The Flat Ball is back

Kiwias wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:35 am

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:25 am The Flat Ball is back

Short passes to players standing still is not very smart

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:49 am Lots to like in that first half. New guys everywhere going well and making solid contributions.