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Above: Action from OBU v Poneke in 2016, with Galu Taufale about to bundle Sam Conventry into touch. The assistant referee is Jack Sargentina, who refereed his final match in Wellington (at least for a while) on Saturday and is off to the U.K for work and to further his refereeing career. Jack is very fresh-faced here, but showing remarkable composure as big bodies hurtle towards him!
Rugby started in Wellington this past weekend and continues this Saturday with more club and some college teams stepping out for their first pre-season matches.
We will have a a story coming out middle of this week looking at the pre-season calendar over the remainder of the month, ahead of our usual weekend preview on Friday. At a glance, Paremata-Plimmerton and Marist St Pat’s (at the Spillane tournament) are amongst the clubs that take the field for the first time Saturday.
The Hurricanes are away to Moana Pasifika, headlined by Ardie Savea and featuring Jackson Garden-Bachop and Pepesanaa Patafilo (and perhaps Julian Savea but he’s on the injured list).
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Website update Tuesday morning. Please be aware that our ‘old’ ClubRugby website, the one with the suffix ‘.co.nz’, remains down due to a hosting error that saw something break when they changed our plan and moved servers. This is the Draws & Results section with the draw and all the history and archives. UPDATE: We have the website back up with a new host, but all pages are currently showing the white screen of death so more work required to get these pages showing live.
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Rongotai College have a brand-new coaching staff and just four returning First XV players from last year. The new-look side hosts Porirua College in the first of five pre-season fixtures for them at home at 10.00am on Saturday.
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Northern United and Wainuiomata were in action for the first time this year against each other at Bishop Viard College. Being the first match of the year, no score was counted, but both clubs will be better for game, especially new players wearing their club colours for the first time.
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A 0/3 weekend for Hurricanes teams, for a combined points loss of 61-140.
This was magnified by two teams going big, with the Hurricanes U20s losing 22-57 to the Crusaders U20s in the first match of the day, followed by the Hurricanes Poua succumbing 10-50 to the Blueswomen.
The Blues were imperious in the collisions generating fast and direct attacks that often grew expansive. The scrum reigned supreme, and the lineout drive had starch. By contrast, the Hurricanes were laboured with momentum gained in fits and starts. Halfback Iritana Hohaia, fullback Isabella Waterman, and openside Elinor-Plum King were a hive of activity but lacked support.
Tragically, the Poua already has an extensive injury list with front rowers Karlie Faneva (knee) and Forne Burkin (quad) on the sideline, along with outside backs Raedeen Blake (knee), Te Rauoriwa Gapper (concussion), Harmony Kautai (ankle), Payton Takimoana (knee), Rangimārie Sturmey (ankle) and Shakira Baker (Achilles).
On to the main game, and Elon Musk’s new AI machine told us the Hurricanes would win 28-24 and, after a horror start and two yellow cards and a penalty try conceded by the Hurricanes, that prediction was alive for long periods.
The headlines would have been praising Mark Telea’s try for the Blues against the Hurricanes that won them the game, but it was their defence which beat the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes threw everything at the Blues on several occasions but the defending champions held firm. They held on when it mattered at the end as well, but we were wondering why they didn’t go for a scrum with the last play of the match with Blues No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu off the field? Both Hurricanes co-captains, Brad Shields (No.8) and Du Plessis-Kirifi were on the field as well.
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Harry Godfrey scored a Hurricanes record 24 points against the Blues. The previous best was 23 by Jamie Cameron in the first Super Rugby game in 1996. The most points by a Hurricane in defeat was 26 by Beauden Barrett in s 31-35 loss to the Highlanders in 2014. Lima Sopoaga scored 25 points for the Highlanders.
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Is Cory Jane the longest continuous serving former player-turned coach in Super Rugby?
He made his playing debut in 2007 and has been in the coaching circles pretty much ever since.
Stephen Larkham at the Brumbies would be another, but didn’t he take a break for a few seasons then return from player to coach?
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What about Ma’a Nonu going to Toulon?
We need a list of oldest professional rugby rugby players!
What about oldest Wellington club rugby players?
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If regular matches are to be played at the main NZCIS field, then perhaps a scoreboard for spectators on the far side could be added?
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Reiko Ioane has only scored two tries in his last 34 matches. 32 of those as a starter.
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The Hurricanes Poua were wearing black arm bands on Saturday, why?
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According to this list here on the Super Rugby website, there are a total of 79 injured players. This list doesn’t include the Crusaders, so adding on their round two injured players list the total is 93 injured players across the 11 teams!
The Hurricanes injured list is one of the longest, these 13 listed players being:
- Zach Gallagher (Achilles / TBC)
- Daniel Sinkinson (hamstring / round 8)
- Ruben Love (ankle / round 7)
- Lucas Cashmore (knee / round 7)
- Brett Cameron (knee / season)
- Asafo Aumua (foot / TBC)
- Tyrel Lomax (ankle / round 5)
- Callum Harkin (head / round 4)
- Devan Flanders (ankle / round 14)
- Tjay Clarke (shoulder/ round 9)
- Riley Higgins (hand / round 7)
- Billy Proctor (Achilles / TBC)
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Admirable that the Chiefs tried something different to promote their day at Waikato Stadium on Saturday with their Rugby and Rhythms themed afternoon. But their execution was perhaps lacking. Rules numbers one, two and three are that you don’t pi#3 off your existing fanbase and loyal supporters. They did that by exponentially increasing their ticket prices, and there was quite a bit of angst about this online, including on their own Facebook page (heavily censored). Such as this comment:
“Why have you almost doubled ticket prices for this game? It is the only 4.30 game we have at home this year and I was going to bring the family along but not for $87 a ticket instead of $52. Did you consider that average rugby fan who just wants to watch footy not a music concert?”
We weren’t there of course, but the crowd wasn’t exactly bursting at the seams by the look of it on tv.
This is the same Chiefs that made you sign up and try and lure you and your credit card into paying a subscription for the year (circa $100) for their in-house content just to watch their pre-season match online against the Hurricanes a month or so ago.
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It was also Culture Round, but in reality every round of Super Rugby is Culture Round.
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Next weekend sees a Captain Marvel-themed round. From the media release:
“The five New Zealand franchises and apparel partner Classic Sportswear have announced a two-year deal which sees each club align with an iconic Marvel Super Hero, with jerseys and supporter ranges for each season.
The Super Rugby Pacific teams have selected their favourite Super Hero from the Marvel Universe, with the Chiefs as Black Panther, the Blues as Spider-Man, the Crusaders as Iron Man, the Hurricanes as Captain America, and the Highlanders as Hulk.
The New Zealand Super Rugby jerseys will be worn by the teams during Super Kids’ Round on March 14 and 15, with the full range available online and through retailers from early March.”
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What about Captain Porirua, and they can dress like as Jerry Collins and hopefully play like him too?
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In local news, the Phoenix have taken over Fraser Park Sportsville, it was announced last week.
It is unclear what the ramifications are for Avalon heading into the new season – Sideline Conversions has reached out for clarification.
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2023 HIBS captain Tom Devery played blindside flanker for the Highlanders U20s on Saturday in their match against an Otago XV in Dunedin.
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Stan Meads and Earle Kirton were interviewed by Steve Coles (Dane’s) dad at the Ken Gray Jersey unveiling at Paremata Plimmerton this past Thursday night. It was a great occasion for Nigel Solomon, father of Wellington Lion Stanley Solomon as he met the All Black his son was named after.
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On the subject of Dane Coles, it was understood he was all set to join Paraparaumu for the start of their season, but this could be delayed as he injured his hamstring playing Flag.
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Drama in the Six Nations between France and Wales.
“French officials have expressed their frustration after the Irish international had a club match factored into a ban, while a France international had their own club fixture excluded from a ban earlier in the tournament.”
Read more HERE
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McEvedy Shield tomorrow – Wellington College going for a 10-peat.
Re-read our piece this time last year looking at some past McEvedy stars and rugby players:
The idea of this column, and indeed the ethos of Club Rugby, is that it is a collaborative effort. We collate some news and happenings we think is relevant to the wider rugby community, but always happy to include outside contributions – please get in touch at editor@clubrugby.co.nz
