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Canterbury Head Coach Joe Maddock has today announced his team for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season, including eight new names from the 2017 Premiership-winning squad.
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The new squad members include five forwards and three backs, and a mixture of experienced campaigners and emerging provincial talent. Seven players were also named in yesterday’s All Blacks squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship.
“We are excited to name our squad today, as we prepare to kick off our 2018 season next Friday night in Blenheim,” Maddock said.
“In the forwards we have named 20 year-old Tom Christie for the first time, although Tom did feature in last year’s Final against Tasman. H
“He captained the New Zealand Under 20 side earlier this year in the Junior World Championship and is a genuine player for the future in red and black.
“The remainder of our new forwards all bring valuable Super Rugby experience to the group. Greg Pleasants-Tate has played for the Highlanders and has established himself as a strong scrummager who is dynamic around the park.
“Prop Sef Fa’agase joins us from the Queensland Reds, and was a member of the Wallabies extended training squad for the 2017 Rugby Championship. Sef is a player we’re excited to give an opportunity to this year.
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“Joining Sef in the front row is the experienced Chris King, who has over 100 Super Rugby caps to his name and previous provincial roles with Canterbury, Otago, Southland and Taranaki. His career has come full circle as he re-joins the Canterbury squad, so we know his experience will be invaluable in 2018.
“Whetu Douglas we know well – he was a crowd favourite with the Crusaders last season and he brings plenty of experience to the side, as well as great character. Whetu is a natural leader and his voice will be important for us this season.
“Sam Beard and Phil Burleigh are two new midfielders this year. Both have played for Edinburgh in recent seasons, and Sam also spent two years with Newport in Wales. We’re confident they’ll bring plenty of stability to our midfield combinations, assisting the younger members of our backline with their vast experience.
“Last but not least is exciting new talent, Ngane Punivai. At just 19, Ngane has come through the schools’ and academy system and while he’s a natural centre, we believe he also has plenty of potential to be a powerful winger for us this year,” Maddock said.
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Ngane Punivai is a local Christs College product who represented New Zealand schools in 2016. His professional debut has been highly anticipated as he progresses through the Crusaders system. With the departure of Highlanders midfielder Rob Thompson to Manuwatu, Punivai has the chance to feature in the 13 jersey. His younger brother Isaiah Punivai holds a similar pedigree, who is currently at St Kentigern’s and played centre for New Zealand schools last year.
The 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season was launched at a national event in Auckland this morning, where Canterbury hooker Nathan Vella attended as the team’s representative. Canterbury’s Mitre 10 Cup season will officially kick off on 17 August with a replay of last year’s Premiership Final, against Tasman in Blenheim.
2018 Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup squad:
Name Club
Sam Beard* Burnside
George Bridge HSOB
Phil Burleigh* New Brighton
Brett Cameron Lincoln University
Tom Christie* Christchurch
Hamish Dalzell Lincoln University
Whetu Douglas* University
Mitchell Drummond HSOB
Mitchell Dunshea Lincoln University
Ereatara Enari Lincoln University
Braydon Ennor University
Sef Fa’agase* Darfield
Billy Harmon New Brighton
Alex Hodgman Linwood
Oliver Jager New Brighton
Chris King* Christchurch
Daniel Lienert-Brown HSOB
Caleb Makene Lincoln University
Josh McKay Lincoln University
Greg Pleasants-Tate* Prebbleton
Reed Prinsep HSOB
Ngane Punivai* Lincoln University
Luke Romano Hurunui
Tom Sanders Lincoln University
Siate Tokolahi Sydenham
Nathan Vella New Brighton
*denotes new player in 2018
Canterbury All Blacks:
Owen Franks Linwood
Ryan Crotty New Brighton
Joe Moody Lincoln
Richie Mo’unga Linwood
Codie Taylor Sydenham
Luke Whitelock University
Sam Whitelock Lincoln University
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
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