ITM Cup 2010 Wellington

[EREHWON WARRIORS]

From Lions website this am......

Vodafone Wellington Lions squad named for ITM Cup
 

The Vodafone Wellington Lions have named their squad for the ITM Cup which kicks off at Westpac Stadium against Tasman on Sunday 1 August at 4.35pm.
 

The 2010 Vodafone Wellington Lions ITM Cup Squad is:

Adrian Barone (Petone)
Dane Coles (Poneke)
Hayden Cripps (Petone)
Jacob Ellison (Northern United)
Fa'atonu Fili (Marist St. Pat's)
Scott Fuglistaller (Wests Roosters)
Hosea Gear (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Michael Hobbs (Old Boys-University)
Cory Jane (Upper Hutt)
Alapati Leiua (Northern United)
Faifili Levave (Northern United)
Serge Lilo (Northern United)
Alby Mathewson (Upper Hutt)
Motu Matu'u (Oriental-Rongotai)
Api Naikatini (Northern United)
Charlie Ngatai (Poneke)
Ma'a Nonu (Oriental-Rongotai)
Buxton Popoalii (Northern United)
Daniel Ramsay (Poneke)
Mark Reddish (Oriental-Rongotai)
Ged Robinson (Marist St. Pat's)
Julian Savea (Oriental-Rongotai)
John Schwalger (Northern United)
Conrad Smith (Old Boys-University)
Rodney So'oialo (Captain, Wests Roosters)
Lima Sopoaga (Old Boys-University)
Apoua Stewart (Marist St. Pat's)
David Te Moana (Manawatu, Loan)
Jeremy Thrush (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Neemia Tialata (Petone)
Ruki Tipuna (Poneke)
Shaun Treeby (Tawa)
Victor Vito (Marist St. Pat's)
Piri Weepu (Wainuiomata)


The 2010 Wellington Lions squad includes Wellington's five current Tri-Nations All Blacks, Cory Jane, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Victor Vito and Piri Weepu, plus Alby Mathewson who has been called into the squad as cover for Weepu who is preparing for the arrival of his first child.

Former skipper Rodney So'oialo takes over from last year's captain Jacob Ellison to captain the Vodafone Wellington Lions in the 2010 ITM Cup, the last season of the National Provincial Championship in its current format.

So'oilao, who became the second player to reach a century of Rebel Sport Super 14 appearances for the Hurricanes earlier this year, leads an exciting squad brimming with talent.

The squad includes four new players who have yet to play for the Wellington Lions, including recently named World IRB Junior Player of the Year Julian Savea.

Outside back Savea is joined in the Wellington Lions squad for the first time by young first five-eighths Lima Sopoaga and Hayden Cripps and former Manawatu prop David Te Moana. Petone pivot Cripps was in the Hurricanes Schools' side in 2008 and Old Boys-University's Sopoaga was a member of the New Zealand Schools' team last season. Specialist tighthead prop Te Moana is on loan from Manawatu and has played 39 games for his home province.

Oriental-Rongotai hooker Motu Matu'u played in Wellington's opening two Ranfurly Shield defences last season against Wairarapa Bush and Wanganui but has yet to make his NPC/ITM Cup debut.

Michael Hobbs, who earned 10 caps in his rookie season in 2008, returns to the Wellington Lions in 2010 from Otago via the Highlanders in this year's Super 14. Following his debut NPC/ITM Cup season for the Lions in 2008, Hobbs was drafted to the Blues for the 2009 Super 14, before joining Otago. However a stress fracture in his back meant he missed the entire 2009 provincial season.

As well as five current All Blacks, plus Alby Mathewson, the 2010 squad features four players recently involved with the New Zealand Maori in their winning Sealord Centenary Series campaign against the New Zealand Barbarians, Ireland and England. These are: hooker Dane Coles, winger Hosea Gear, halfback Ruki Tipuna and lock Daniel Ramsay.

Midfielder Charlie Ngatai also recently represented New Zealand at the IRB Under 20 World Cup, alongside Player of the Tournament Savea. Ngatai made his NPC/ITM Cup debut nine days short of his 19th birthday last year and returns for his second season.

The squad features 15 current Rebel Sport Super 14 players. These are: Jacob Ellison, Gear, Jane, Alapati Leuia, Nonu, Conrad Smith, John Schwalger, So'oialo, Jeremy Thrush, Neemia Tialata, Vito and Weepu (Hurricanes), Hobbs (Highlanders), and Serge Lilo and Alby Mathewson (Blues).

There are five players from last year's Wellington Lions NPC/ITM Cup squad playing for other provinces this year. These are: Robert Fruean (now Canterbury), Daniel Kirkpatrick (Hawke's Bay), Mathew Luamanu (North Harbour), Anthony Perenise (Hawke's Bay) and David Smith (Taranaki).

The Lions play Canterbury in a pre-season match in Christchurch on Friday, in a re-match of the 2008 and 2009 finals.

The 13-week ITM Cup round-robin series runs from next weekend through to the third weekend of October, ahead of the semi-finals at the end of October and final on Saturday 6 November.

The Lions play four of their first five games at home at Westpac Stadium, against Tasman, Counties Manukau, Waikato and Northland, ahead of later home games against Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki.

Away fixtures include big matches against traditional provincial rivals Otago in a last ever visit to Carisbrook on 14 August, Auckland at Eden Park on 11 September and Canterbury at AMI Stadium on 25 September.

There is a scheduled Ranfurly Shield challenge against current holders Southland in Invercargill on 23 October.

Pre season 1      16 July               Turbos  35     Lions    29

to come....

Preseason 2       23 July               Canterbury at AMI Stadium, Chch.

 Cheers,
Baz 
 

[Gwynn]

Forward stocks are that bad in the capital that we have to borrow David Te Moana from Manawatu?  I had a feeling things weren't spectacular, but this is just jaw dropping.  Wellington needs to take a long hard look at how we're developing front row forwards if we can't afford to bring through out own.

That said, excluding All Blacks (bar Mathewson who we'll likely have back soon), the team I think we're likely to see:

1. Tialata
2. Coles
3. Schwalger
4. Ramsay
5. Reddish
6. Naikatini
7. Lilo
8. So'oialo
9. Mathewson
10. Fili (if fit, otherwise Hobbs)
11. Gear
12. Treeby
13. Ngatai
14. Savea
15. Popoalii

To be honest I don't have the greatest faith in this side - the inside backs are full of promise, but no experience, Popoalii isn't great under the high ball, and the NZRU isn't a fan of Fili occupying the 10 jersey ahead of someone who's more likely to play for the Hurricanes (Fili's not eligible for All Blacks selection, so won't be likely selected as a pivot in the Super 15).

The bright side is that our initial forward pack looks relatively solid, but I expect to see both Tialata and Schwalger shown up on a regular basis, and Coles displaced by Robinson as the season progresses.

Too much focus on flashy backs from the WRFU in their development plans, not enough forwards coming through.

[EREHWON WARRIORS]

From DOMPOST yesterday.....

Bell happy with result as Lions roar in Christchurch                                By JONATHAN MILLMOW

Wellington hinted at a promising ITM Cup when beating Canterbury 25-19 in a pre-season rugby match at Linfield Park in Christchurch yesterday.

Leading 25-0 with 15 minutes to play, Wellington did lose shape when introducing some young substitutions but the result was never in doubt, according to assistant Lions coach Andre Bell.

"We didn't bring the right attitude against Manawatu last week [lost 35-29], this week we did and if we can bring that each week we will be dangerous this year."

Central to Wellington's win was stand-in captain Neemia Tialata. He scored a try, anchored a solid scrum and played the full 80 minutes.

Bell said it was hard to single out individuals but when pressed, offered up All Blacks Victor Vito and Alby Mathewson as well as young wing Julian Savea, who scored a length-of-the-field intercept try.

"Alby sniped well and Victor Vito was very strong," Bell said.

"Julian Savea scored an intercept, and if he plays every week like he did today people will be impressed."

Despite dominating possession and territory, it took Wellington 23 minutes to break the deadlock via a try out on the left wing side from Tialata.

First five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili added a penalty soon after before fullback Apoua Stewart completed the first-half scoring with a try in the right-hand corner.

No8 Faifili Levave scored their next try soon after halftime and then Savea intercepted a Colin Slade PASS near his own line and raced away to score. Hayden Cripps' conversion made it 25-0 with about 15 minutes to play.

For Canterbury there were consolation tries to flankers Brendon O'Connor and Matt Todd (2) and two conversions by Colin Slade.

Bell reported no injury concerns, though he did sub Alapati Leiua before halftime after the centre rolled an ankle.

BTW, Jamie Joseph should be given some time as Wellington coach before shfting south as both Pat Lam (for Orkland ) & Todd Blackadder (for Tasman ) were granted after their elevations. Come on NZRU show some BALLS!


Cheers,
Baz 

[Gwynn]

Seems my fears were confirmed in the match against Counties.  After what was a gutsy showing against Tasman, the WRFU should be celebrating Joseph is leaving, while the Highlanders should be terrified.

What a pack of powder puffs!

[DH]

Seems my fears were confirmed in the match against Counties.  After what was a gutsy showing against Tasman, the WRFU should be celebrating Joseph is leaving, while the Highlanders should be terrified.

What a pack of powder puffs!

The thing is Gwynn, I don't think you can look too much into it. Wellington/Canterbury/Auckland (in particular) are not the teams they where in the ITM Cup. If I look at the Canterbury squad, half the team are complete unknowns. Wouldn't have a clue who they are. I'm sure Wellington & Auckland are the same. The competition now is what it is. Its a development league. Us oldies still might have some emotional attachment to its importance, but with expanded S14/15, tri-nations & the non-availabilty of ABs, the comp is not & never will be the same.

Its actually not a bad thing. Its cut the big boys down in size & allowed the others to compete. So you end up with quite an even comp. Its not neccessarily something thats going to transfix the nation (Southland accepted), but its still OK.

cheers
DH

[Gwynn]

When you look at the teams they fielded against Tasman and Counties they had Tialata, Schwalger, Thrush and Gear as all regular Super 14 starters, while Coles, Ellison, Levave, Fugistaller, Ramsay, Reddish, Fili, Ngatai, Treeby, Tipuna and Stewart all have one, if not more seasons of NPC behind them.  I agree they haven't been able to field the Wellington sides we saw several years ago that were blessed with a lot of experience, there should have been more than enough in this side to comfortably put away Counties.

Unless of course I'm seriously underestimating the quality of this Counties squad - which has a more than useful backline, but it's forward pack didn't strike me as anything too threatening, though this was exactly where they trumped Wellington at the weekend.

I agree that those of us who have grown up with the NPC have a much greater attachment to it than the Super Rugby generation, and as such we're having to get used to a lesser spectacle - but at the same time as you suggest the leveling of the playing field means it's a much more enticing competition to watch, and really expands the base of rugby strongly outside the main metropolitan centres.