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Ex-All Blacks star Waisake Naholo set to make Canterbury debut
Former All Blacks star Waisake Naholo is set to make his return to first-class rugby in New Zealand after being named on the bench for Canterbury this weekend.
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Naholo, who played 26 tests for the All Blacks between 2015 and 2018, has returned to New Zealand after an injury-riddled spell with London Irish, where he made just four Premiership appearances across two seasons.
After signing with Canterbury for the 2021 NPC season, Naholo is primed to make his first appearance in the red-and-black jersey against Manawatu in Christchurch on Saturday.
The 30-year-old, who was part of the 2015 World Cup-winning All Blacks team, has been named in the No 23 jersey by co-coaches Mark Brown and Reuben Thorne.
This weekend’s match will be the beginning of Naholo’s quest to return to Super Rugby, a goal of which he has made clear he wants to achieve next year.
Naholo isn’t the only noticeable presence in Canterbury’s match day squad, as the squad has also been bolstered by the inclusion of one-test All Blacks midfielder Braydon Ennor.
Following a lengthy injury lay-off due to a ruptured ACL, Ennor was included in the All Blacks squads for this year’s Steinlager Series and Rugby Championship, almost two years after his test debut against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
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However, the 24-year-old hasn’t featured for the All Blacks this season as he was ruled out of New Zealand’s July tests against Tonga and Fiji after suffering appendicitis.
Upon his return from a five-week sideline spell, Ennor was released by the All Blacks to play for Canterbury in the NPC, but didn’t feature in last weekend’s season-opening loss to Auckland at Eden Park.
That won’t be the case this week, though, as Ennor has been named to start at centre in what will be his first match since the Crusaders’ 52-26 victory over the Melbourne Rebels in the final round of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman two months ago.
“We always welcome our All Blacks back, it’s great to have them in the environment,” Brown said, as per Stuff.
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“Braydon has come in and really added a good dimension, keeping everyone accountable. Obviously, he is a good footy player in his own right. He’ll really help that backline unit.”
All Blacks and Chiefs star Damian McKenzie has reportedly signed a deal with Japanese club Tokyo Sungoliath that will see him miss the 2022 Super Rugby season. #AllBlacks #SuperRugby #JapanRugbyLeagueOne #Chiefs #TokyoSungoliath https://t.co/NzX4fYRY5B
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 13, 2021
Elsewhere throughout the side, reserve lock Daniel Johnson and reserve loose forward Dominic Gardiner look set to win their NPC debuts after being named alongside Naholo on the bench.
Former Canterbury playmaker Brett Cameron, meanwhile, will return to Orangetheory Stadium with the aim of upsetting his ex-side after steering Manawatu to an upset win over Counties Manukau in the competition’s season-opener last week.
The Kamaishi Seawaves-bound first-five has again been named to start at No 10 for the Turbos, who will be looking to clinch back-to-back victories for the first time since September 2019.
Kick-off is scheduled for 2:05pm on Saturday NZT.
Canterbury: 1. Finlay Brewis, 2. Shilo Klein, 3. Oliver Jager, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Sam Darry, 6. Liam Allen, 7. Corey Kellow, 8. Henry Stowers, 9. Mitchell Drummond (c), 10. Fergus Burke, 11. Ngatungane Punivai, 12. Rameka Poihipi, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Josh McKay. Reserves: 16. Sam Stewart, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Daniel Johnson, 20. Dominic Gardiner, 21. Luke Donaldson, 22. Isaiah Punivai, 23. Waisake Naholo.
Manawatu: 1. Harry Allen, 2. Ray Niuia, 3. Tietie Tuimauga, 4. Micaiah Torrance-Read, 5. Liam Mitchell, 6. TK Howden, 7. Shamus Hurley-Langton, 8. Braydon Iose, 9. Logan Henry, 10. Brett Cameron, 11. Taniela Filimone, 12. Jason Emery, 13. Josiah Maraku, 14. Tima Fainga’anuku, 15. Drew Wild. Reserves: 16. Siua Maile, 17. Jarred Adams, 18. Flyn Yates, 19. Ofa Tauatevalu, 20. Johnny Galloway, 21. Griffin Culver, 22. Stewart Cruden, 23. Ed Fidow
Comments on RugbyPass
Has virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
4 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
18 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
18 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
18 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
1 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
18 Go to commentsSA sides should do the right thing and leave the champions cup, they are lowering the standard with completely one sided games, not up to the right level. The greatest club tournament in the world is being banjaxed by the weak SA sides.
18 Go to commentsCouldnt agree more. SA sides need to show more committment and really have a go at the Champions Cup. Its quite possibly the most prestigious title in Europe and SA sides need to respect that prestige and serve up their best. EPCR needs to do more to ensure that sides from South Africa and sides travelling to and from SA have a better chance in this competition. The Bulls were put in a really difficult position of having to travel there and back in one week. One could argue that this is what the SA sides signed up for and that La Rochelle didnt complain or send out weakened sides despite having to travel to SA and back and play on successive weekends but surely the situation is also unfair on La Rochelle as well and so EPCR needs to think about successive gameweeks and the travel effect of the competition
18 Go to commentsI hadn’t watched much Canes this season but sat through a replay of that Chiefs game with no distractions. That pack is beastly. I really like the look of Iose. He loves the tough stuff. The first Quins clip may be the best I have even seen for a TH driving his opposite into oblivion. i need to take your word for the contribution of Walker, but Collier there with a straight back pushing up from under was a lovely thing to see. Have you fallen in love with Baxter also, Nick? I think Stuart Barnes may have written his column about him recently, naked. He positively frothed.
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