I'm slightly more opptimistic. With the All Blacks being given less game time this S15, I'd expect So'oialo to be in the side as captain if nothing else. Hosea Gear and Julian Savea remind me of a Jonah Lomu/Joeli Vidiri combo, in which power and pace really did work well, though that being said the game has changed. Either way I like our backline better than last year.
Schwalger is decidedly average, Hore I think was the best Hooker in NZ not so long ago and Neemia Tialata is the bane of my life, but a solid scrummager I guess (even if he likes to do a little shuffle with the ball, and then make contact, which he loses all momentum and causes a turnover). Eaton back from injury will be pushing for an EOYT spot, so I can't see the Hammet leaving him out, while Thrush has had a good NPC so far (maybe slightly inconsistant though).
Victor Vito will be the blindside, which I think he needs another big Super 15 season if he want to make the AB squad. Karl Lowe has looked pretty impressive, though I'd rather have had Scott Waldrom. So'oialo, as I've mentioned will probably get game time as captain when players are being rested, though Faifili Levavae may push for the starting spot mid to late end of the season.
Weepu must start. As you mentioned there is no point faffing around with Keats, as it will just hurt Weepu's game. Cruden must step up, and I don't think his last game convinced he could marshall a backline very well. Nonu and Smith are the best centre combo, but if AB's are being rested, it makes me worry who will be their backup's, as there really are no quality back up's from 10-13.
Players I'd like to see in the wider training squad-
Tomasi Cama (Looked quality at 10, but is obviously extremely versatile. I think I'm the only person who rates him in the 15 man game.
Kurt Baker (Looks good for Taranaki. I prefer him over Andre Taylor).'
That's pretty much it...The Canes have had all their good backup's pinched over the last few seasons, and I think we're ganna start feelling that soon. We've lost Robert Fruen, Zac Guildford, Sean Treeby, Scott Waldrom etc. i think it's about time we start drawing and securing more players from Hawkesbay, as a lot of our local talent is getting pinched.
It will definitely be interesting to see how the Savea/Gear combo goes together, it's a lottery really.. its probably one of those tactics that will be magic against some teams and hopeless against others, trial and error i guess. I do think they will miss Tamati Ellison though, i really rated that guy and a few times last season he was the best player on the field.
As for the front row, Hore was definitely NZs best hooker, but he is a very average lineout thrower which could really hurt the hurricanes. I think the locking stakes are very even with Eaton, Thrush, Broadhurst, Evans and maybe even Ross Kennedy again, but none of those possible combination's are good enough to match up with the SA teams. Im not sure about So'oialo for captain aye.. he has experience but you really want your captain to command a place in the team and preferably be injury free. You don't want to have to bench your captain because he isn't performing and you dont want to have to switch captains often because hes injury prone..
Im really not a fan of Cama at 15s either.. when i was living in Palmerston North last year i saw alot of the Manawatu B games and he was absolutely horrible in some of those. Hes like a worse version of Tasesa Lavea, flashy but can't control a game at all and his tricks dont always come off. His kicking isn't too sharp either, which is a concern given that Cruden can't kick very long aswell. Its a bit of a moot point really though as i can't see either Baker or Cama giving up sevens to be in the wider training squad..
The guys i would like to see in the wider squad would be;
Gillies Kaka (Guy is ruthlessly talented, could be out with the sevens team though)
Leighton Price (Has been a very handy lock off the bench for Hawkesbay, especially at lineout time. Hes only 21 so still has plenty of room to grow)
Jayden Hayward (Probably wont be picked up by the Highlanders again but is still good enough to make wider squad)
Alapati Leiua (Probably the best utility back in the region)
Aaron Smith (If he doesn't go to the Highlanders, i rate him above Keats)
Micheal Bent (Old school no nonsense Taranaki farmer prop. They need more of that and less prima dona divas like Tialata and Shwalger..)
Any hooker from anywhere that isn't Dane Coles
I'm hoping Bleyendaal will get some gametime later in the NPC - this is particularly likely if Slade goes away on the end of year tour (which starts before the end of the NPC). Apparently they considered playing him on the bench over the last few weeks with Slade away, but decided a full game for the B side was more beneficial for him than getting a few minutes off the bench backing up Brett. I agree, both the Marshall's have played well, however if Canterbury can get hold of an experienced player like Berquist they will likely pick him James Marshall, as they won't want two rookie first-fives in their squad. I think Tom Marshall has a genuine chance of making the squad, as he's very talented and can play a number of positions.
If Quentin MacDonald can recover well from his injury I'd consider him a good backup for Flynn - the choices after him within the Crusaders region are limited (I don't rate Fualau either). They will likely look to draft in a hooker, however with the franchises all having 3 hookers within their squads this year their choices will be more limited. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to target Tim Dow, as he's a solid experienced hooker whose playing well, and is probably only the forth choice hooker in the Blues region.
It will be interesting to see how Bleyendaal goes.. He looks like the type of guy that will adjust sooner than later though, he has an amazing work ethic, some mates of mine from Christchuch boys said that he was very close to dux in his seventh form. Which is a phenominal effort given he was trying to pursue a rugby career at the same time.
Not sure on Tim Dow though, i havnt seen much of him this year but in previous years he hasn't impressed me in the tight. I read somewhere that he plays his club rugby at centre?.. when does David Hall get back from injury? he would be the best bet. Then perhaps Lawrence Corlett considering he was Crusaders development anyway years ago..
That team is a fair bit off.
1.Sona Taumalolo (I think he is still contracted to the Chiefs?)
2.Aled de Malmanche
3.Nathan White (Has been playing well at tighthead)
4.Craig Clarke
5.Hayden Triggs (O'Neill has gone to the Melbourne Rebels)
6.Liam Messam
7.Tanerau Latimer
8.Colin Bourke
9.Brendon Leonard
10.Mike Delaney
11.Sitiveni Sivivatu
12.Stephen Donald (It was working well last year when both were fit)
13.Richard Kahui
14.Lelia Masaga
15.Mils Muliaina
16.Hika Elliot
17.Toby Smith (James McGougan has been pretty average in the ITM Cup. May seems to be behind Smith
18.Callum Retallick
19.Scott Waldrom (Luke Braid went to the Blues - Chiefs have signed Waldrom)
20.Taniela Moa (Most likely is available for the Chiefs. If not then Kerr-Barlow. Poluleuligaga is overseas)
21.Jackson Willison
22.Tim Nanai-Williams
"And while i dont want Broadhurst to get the spot as i don't rate the guy at all, i can't see him being overlooked. They put alot of effort into luring him up here and he was the top dog last year."
Rubbish. I've looked through my rugby magazines and quickly found 10 with Hurricanes in them. James Broadhurst was on the bench for one of those games I found. He didn't start any. The coaches preferred a bench with Nick Crosswell and Scott Waldrom for most of the season.
"Realistically i can't see Barrett, Sopoagaga or Cripps given the backup 10 spot seen as they are all under 20 eligible. That rules them out of the NZ sevens squad and im pretty sure the Hurricanes would need to get special exemption from the NZRU to pick them."
Also, Hayden Cripps isn't U20 elligible. He was born in 1990.
Hayden Cripps
I don't think there should be too much problem with Barrett and Sapoaga being selected for the 'Canes. The U20 tournament won't be very long. It is only June 5th - 21st. I imagine if Sapoaga and Barrett were selected they wouldn't be getting much game time, it would mainly be introducing them to the environment.
I must have gotten confused with Patterson, but still i see Broadhurst logging alot of time next season regardless.
As for Cripps, that comes as a surprise because he was in the same year group as Barrett and Sopoagaga.. oh well.
I think there actually is a problem with them getting selected,as in the NZRU probably wouldn't allow it. The duration of the tournament is totally irrelevant. I know for a fact that no NZ under 20 training squad members are allowed to make the NZ sevens team, this is how a 17 year old Beauden Barrett was able to make the team when guys like Gillies Kaka, Julian Savea and Charlie Ngatai couldn't. The NZRU have made a rule saying they aren't allowed, and the sevens circuit is miles less taxing than Super rugby so i can't see them allowing it. When was the last time an under 20 eligible player played super rugby?
