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New All Black Tupou Vaa'i released to play in Taranaki's Ranfurly Shield defence as Stephen Perofeta returns from injury

By Online Editors
Tupou Vaa'i. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

While the likes of Tasman, Waikato and Canterbury have all said farewell to their contingents of national representatives for the coming weekend, Taranaki will have at least one All Black to call on in their first-up Ranfurly Shield Defence against Otago.

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Tupou Vaa’i, the youngest member of Ian Foster’s All Blacks squad, has been released to play for Taranaki on Sunday. With fewer than 20 professional matches of rugby under his belt, Foster and his fellow selectors would likely want to see the 20-year-old get as many appearances under his belt as possible in the lead up to the Bledisloe Cup series next month.

Beauden and Jordie Barrett, however, won’t be available for the match – though Beauden’s absence could be as much to do with the recent birth of his first child.

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The Breakdown | Episode 35 | Ranfurly Shield Fever

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The Breakdown | Episode 35 | Ranfurly Shield Fever

Taranaki head coach Willie Rickards will at least be able to call on Blues playmaker Stephen Perofeta for the first time this season. Perofeta injured his foot prior to the start of Super Rugby Aotearoa, which saw All Blacks legend Dan Carter called into the Blues squad.

Perofeta will slot in at fullback while Jayson Potroz takes over at first five to compensate for the Bulls’ lost Barretts.

Taranaki captain Mitchell Brown, who sat out last weekend’s victory in Christchurch with a hamstring injury, remains absent from the side. His omissions allows the Boshier brothers, Lachlan and Kaylum, to continue building on their impressive combination from last weekend, alongside the experienced Mitch Crosswell.

The only other changes to the side come in the front row, with the Chiefs pairing of hooker Bradley Slater and prop Reuben O’Neill taking over from Hurricanes teammates Ricky Riccitelli and Ben May. Former Chief Fin Hoeata also gets a chance to make run out for the first time this year after a slew of unfortunate injuries.

“It has not been hard to bring the squad back to a grounded level,” Rickards said ahead of the match.

“We realise the magnitude of the challenge we will face from Otago and we are all really looking forward to meeting that in front of our home fans. The prospect of a full house and a real atmosphere has everyone in our group really excited.”

The Premiership/Championship split of the Mitre 10 Cup means that Otago and Taranaki have clashed just three times in the last decade.

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Last year, after Otago took the Shield off Waikato at the end of 2018, Taranaki mounted an unsuccessful challenge in Dunedin.

This year, Taranaki are the holders, and won’t want to give up the Shield after just one week in their possession.

Sunday’s match kicks off at 2:05pm NZT from Inglewood.

Taranaki: Stephen Perofeta, Jacob Ratumaitavuk-Kneepkens, Sean Wainui, Teihorangi Walden (c), Lewis Ormond, Jason Potroz, Lisati Milo-Harris, Kaylum Boshier, Lachlan Boshier, Mitch Crosswell, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, Reuben O’Neill, Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit. Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Grawler, Donald Brighouse, Fin Hoeata, Tom Florence, Kylem O’Donnell, Daniel Waite, Brayton Northcott-Hill.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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