Sideline Conversions 11 March (some news and information to start the week)

Hutt Old Boys have got their season off to a positive start, winning the annual NZ Marist Spillane tournament in Taupo. PHOTO credit: HOBM Facebook page. Watch a full replay of the final HERE 

Week three of club rugby pre-season rugby coming up. More details in Friday’s preview, but some Premier pre-season matches at a glance coming up on 16 March include: Tawa v Avalon, Massey University v Old Boys University v Napier Old Boys Marist (game of three halves), Kia Toa v Oriental-Rongotai, Wellington v Martinborough v Waikanae (game of three halves), Paraparaumu v Johnsonville, Upper Hutt Rams v Central Hawke’s Bay and Taradale v Northern United.

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The Hurricanes head south to meet the hapless Crusaders in their fourth round Super Rugby fixture on Saturday.

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The annual NZ Marist Spillane tournament was held in Taupo this weekend, with Hutt Old Boys Marist winning the Division 1 trophy. HOBM beat the Hamilton Marist Ravens 38-36 in the final, after drawing with Wellington brothers Marist St Pat’s 26-26 on day one (progressing to the final by way of a tiebreaker).

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An entertaining pre-season match at a very dry Bishop Viard College on Saturday between the Northern United and Wainuiomata squads. Being their first hit-outs of the year it is hard to gauge form, but both sides debuted some new players and there were plenty of experienced returnees. In particular at Wainuiomata – they are not going to fall short on experience this year, particularly in their loose forward and inside backs department.  The two clubs also played a Premier fixture, but a scheduled Colts fixture was cancelled.

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Really good win for the Hurricanes against the much-hyped Blues. Sporadic breaks aside, the Blues only consistent weapon was a lineout drive. Another strong display and two tries by Josh Moorby must be catching the interest of All Blacks selectors. Peter Lakai in the unfamiliar position of openside flanker outplayed Blues captain and All Black Dalton Papalii. Bryadon Iose was another Hurricanes loose forward who was exceptional. His handling was delightful in some of the Hurricanes attacking movements leading up to tries. The fluidity in midfield between Riley Higgins and Billy Procter was very enlightening.

Did Asafo Aumua think Blues lock Laghlan McWhannell was his teammate? The Blues lock had three steals, one pass, and two lineouts from Aumua in the first fifteen minutes. Once the All Black hooker settled, he was his usual dynamic self.  James O’Reilly is a great back-up, a well-seasoned hooker now that you can well and truly rely on.

Was excluding Cam Roigard from the bench the worst decision the All Blacks made at the 2023 Rugby World Cup?

Kini Naholo continued his hot form to start the new season. He was a star of the NZSS Top 4 winning Hastings Boys’ High School team in 2017 (along with Devan Flanders), now he is stamping his mark on this level of rugby.

Xavier Numia was his usual industrious self, This time coming off the bench to play his 50th game for the Hurricanes. Pasilio Tosi is looking fit and good at scrummaging, so there is a lot of propping options this year..

Three high quality blindside flankers, Brad Shields, Flanders and TK Howden. Three high quality open side flankers, Du Plessis Kirifi, Peter Lakai and Iose, with Flanders, Howden, Lakai, and Iose all good at No. 8.

Caleb Delany is very versatile at lock or blindside flanker. James Tucker is a brilliant edition to the pack, he’s a tough and strong player.

Isaia Walker-Leawere is starting 2024 off well. The former Gisborne Boys’  High School player is sound on defence and he always is ready for another carry and he carries strongly.

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Elsewhere, It’s also good to see that Tyrone Thompson stayed with Rugby. Taukei’aho, Aumua, Thompson, Bell – four very good hookers for Razor to pick from.

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Sticking to their play once the match kicked off, a really solid win for the Hurricanes Poua over the South Island Matatu team on Saturday.

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The Hurricanes Hunters played the Crusaders Development team in Christchurch on Saturday. Result of the match unavailable. Really bizarre how all the Super Rugby franchises basically ignore the results and performances of their own Development and U20s teams. They generally name their line-ups with fancy social media graphics the day before their games and then provide zero follow-up.

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The Super Rugby U20s tournament gets underway at Taupo at the end of this week – taking place between 16-23 March. But, as above, no guarantee of coverage.

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SIXTY-ONE 🤩

Julian Savea sets the #SuperRugbyPacific all-time try scoring record 💥#SuperRugbyPacific #MOAvREB pic.twitter.com/31o3WQtldr

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 8, 2024

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A try for Ricky Riccitelli for the Blues on Saturday night off a blatant double movement. It didn’t matter as it was too little, too late, but since when has rabbiting close to the line become legal?

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With two wins, a draw, and eight defeats the 1996 Crusaders were last in the first edition of Super Rugby. They are the only New Zealand side to finish last in a full competition involving Australia, Argentina, South Africa, Japan, Fiji, and Samoa. Former All Black Vance Stewart was coach of the 96 team and All Blacks prop Richard Loe was originally appointed captain. They lost their first three and last three matches but did beat the Hurricanes 36-13. The chronological order of the Crusaders worst losing runs is.

• April 23, 1996 v Transvaal, Johannesburg, 23-55
• April 27, 1996 v Natal, Durban, 26-58
• May 5, 1996 v Highlanders, Christchurch, 27-29
• March 3, 1996 v Chiefs, Hamilton 26-27
• March 10, 1996 v Blues, Christchurch, 18-49
• March 17, 1996 v Queensland, Brisbane, 16-52

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The 2024 NPC draw was released last week. The Wellington Lions play five home round-robin games, including their last two at Wellington Stadium. Games below:

• Sunday 18 August, v Taranaki at Porirua Park, 2.05pm. Notes: Likely curtain-raiser to the Premiership First XV final.
• Sunday 25 August v Manawatu at Porirua Park 2.05pm. Notes: double-header, with the Pride playing at 12.05pm.
• Saturday 7 September v Southland at Porirua Park 2.05pm. Notes: Likely multiple clashes with representative rugby teams playing that afternoon.
• Saturday 21 September v Bay of Plenty at Wellington Stadium, 2.05pm. Notes: Likely some clashes with representative rugby teams playing that afternoon.
• Saturday 5 October v Hawke’s Bay at Wellington Stadium, 4.35pm

The 2024 FPC Women’s NPC was released last week. The Wellington Pride will be competing in the Championship division.

• Saturday 10 August v Tasman at Porirua Park, 12.05pm
• Sunday 25 August v Manawatu, Porirua Park, 12.05pm
• Sunday 1 September v North Harbour, 12.35pm

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Grassroots Rugby won’t be broadcast in 2024 after 25 seasons on air. A massive let down that Sky no longer supports it. Granted Sky is haemorrhaging dollars and losing viewership every day, but short-sighted decisions like this don’t help. Why do we need all these talking heads shows and sanitised programming that is effectively NZR propaganda?  TVNZ, in similarly dire times, refused to pick it up, though its likely their executives would prefer to save minority, fringe programs nobody watches rather than the local footy club. Could NZR+ pick up Grassroots rugby? Club Rugby would but obviously we don’t have the resources. Many clubs are active on social media but that doesn’t bring everything together or have the polish of a professional production. More crucially there are thousands of hours of footage documenting some of the greatest grassroots rugby moments in New Zealand. Let hope this footage isn’t lost but preserved. Remember what happened to St Stephen’s School. Years of valuable records and material just vanished and that includes much of the history of their First XV that boasted nearly 120 years of existence. They enjoyed extraordinary success winning the National Top Four in 1985 and 1991.

Grassroots Rugby Producer Denise Bell speaking to Rugby News last year. “We all do it because we love it…We provide a service that I think is needed out there…It certainly is, as an antidote to some of the staid stuff at the top level, where personalities are often suppressed. May Grassroots Rugby and its associated shows continue for at least another 25 years. Let’s hope the powers that be acknowledge the importance of this show and its value to our national game, even as provincial and grassroots rugby are feeling the squeeze.’

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Wondering how many notifications the @Hurricanesrugby Twitter / X has after last week, when the social media person finds the password and they log into their account for the first time this year. There would have been hundreds of tags to their handle on the platform last week that would have all gone unseen as they haven’t been on it since August last year.

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An interesting development last week – although it is unclear exactly what they will be doing. You can announce a trillion dollar package but if you don’t have the passionate people doing the work it means nothing. From the media release below:

“Gallagher Insurance is pleased to announce its partnership with the NZ Provincial Rugby Union Group, consisting of the 14 major provincial rugby unions throughout New Zealand. This is an unprecedented collaboration with the 14 provincial rugby unions who participate in the men’s Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship (NPC) and the women’s Farah Palmer Cup (FPC).

Gallagher Insurance and the provincial rugby unions will join forces on various initiatives to promote and uplift the sport of rugby to all New Zealanders by creating an environment where everyone can play, watch, celebrate, and belong to this great game.”

Read the release here: https://www.ajg.co.nz/news/gallagher-insurance-and-new-zealands-provincial-rugby-unions-join-hands-to-ignite-growth-in-rugby-and-business/?fbclid=IwAR2Tl0Jd-eSXo394rDq7OyGnseJKlLVSIDHpGiZ2uApSnL7ou7WTjfjSI60

The Heartland PUs are not included, but perhaps they’ll also “do their own thing” independently of NZ Rugby?

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Luke Murphy scored a try with the clock in the red to deny England the Under-20 Six Nations title and snatch a 32-32 draw for Ireland and maintain their unbeaten streak in the competition at 13 matches. Ben Waghorn’s late try looked to have sealed the title with a game to spare after Kane James’ score drew England level.

Ireland scored their bonus-point try through Henry Walker and looked in control before the frantic ending, which leaves both sides still in the running to take the title heading into the final round. The quality of rugby and the size of the athletes was very impressive. New Zealand tumbling further behind at this crucial level.

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Has England ever played more exciting rugby? If you get a chance to check out their phenomenal 23-22 win over Ireland. It was England playing expansively, taking risks they’d never take and emerging deserving victors. Ireland played their part and score two cracking tries too but it was the English who were marginally more daring and clinical. Will it last? English No.8 Ben Earl with 140 metres from 19 carries was named Man of the Match.

Italy won their first home Six Nations match since 2013 (26 matches) with their upset 31-29 victory over Scotland. That result has been coming, Italy drew with France and ran England close. Their World Cup was poor, but they’d knocked over Wales dramatically in the Six Nations too.

Remember to bookmark community rugby’s Photos website: https://clubrugby.smugmug.com/

New contributors welcome, as we continue to build up the hall of records of visual record of rugby in Wellington and the lower North Island.

To get in touch with that or anything else please email editor@clubrugby.co.nz