Brisbane Global 10s

[shark]

The most poignant remark there, Stargazer, is that this year is different due to the Lions tour. It's only just over four months away; not the time to be packing the All Blacks off to a high-pace pre-sets exhibition tournament on a rock hard ground in 30+ degree temperatures, while cutting into their designated rest period. Even if the tournament wasn't on, I'd much rather they played a pre-season game in Gore or Motueka with an expanded bench and 20 minute quarters than in Brisbane.

As for Marty McKenzie getting injured last year - that was carefully orchestrated by a group of concerned Crusaders supporters.

[mariner4life]

Stargazer, you are the ultimate rugby nerd, you would watch an U11s B-grade game if it was on TV.

If i can find a spare half hour over the weekend I'll probably have a look, but there is no way i am structuring time around it.

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby said in Brisbane Global 10s:

@Stargazer many of the frontline players don't play pre-season anyway, and again comes down to the individual player and franchise about how that pans out.

Pre-season matches more often include players from WTG or Dev sides as well.

Yes, definitely more WTG/Dev players, but still plenty of ABs and frontline players. For example, these were the teams for that Farmlands Cup game:

Highlanders: Brendon Edmonds, Liam Coltman, Siosiua Halanukonuka, Mark Reddish, Tom Franklin, Gareth Evans, James Lentjes, Luke Whitelock (c), Josh Renton, Marty Banks, Patrick Osborne, Teihorangi Walden, Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo, Matt Faddes
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ross Geldenhuys, Joe Wheeler, Sio Tomkinson, Aaron Smith, Liam Squire, Jason Emery, Ryan Tongia, Lima Sopoaga, Elliot Dixon, Shane Christie, Jackson Hemopo

Crusaders: David Havili, George Bridge, Sean Wainui, Kieron Fonotia, Sione Fifita, Richie Mo'unga, Andy Ellis, Jordan Taufua, Tim Boys, Jimmy Tupou, Sam Whitelock (c), Scott Barrett, Mike Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody.
Reserves: Ged Robinson, Wyatt Crockett, Oli Jager, Luke Romano, Mitchell Dunshea, Reed Prinsep, Leon Fukofuka, Ben Volavola, Marty McKenzie, Jone Macilai, Mitchell Hunt, Nemani Nadolo.

And these were the teams for the Eketahuna game:

Hurricanes: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Cory Jane, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara (c), Victor Vito, Callum Gibbins, Brad Shields, Mark Abbott, Blade Thomson, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Motu Matu'u, Reggie Goodes.
Reserves: Leni Apisai, Chris Eves, Ben May, Hisa Sasagi, Loni Uhila, James Blackwell, Vaea Fifita, Tony Lamborn, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Otere Black, James Marshall, Pita Ahki, Willis Halaholo, Jason Woodward, Wes Goosen, Malo Tuitama

Blues: Matt Duffie, Melani Nanai, Rene Ranger, George Moala, Matt Vaega, Matt McGahan, Billy Guyton, Steven Luatua, Jack Ram, Jerome Kaino (c), Hoani Matenga, Scott Scrafton, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Quentin MacDonald, Namatahi Waa. Reserves: James Parsons, Nic Mayhew, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Matt Matich, Bryn Hall, Ihaia West, Male Sa'u, Charlie Faumuina, Josh Bekhuis, Blake Gibson, Joe Edwards, Tevita Li, Michael Little, Lolagi Visinia

@mariner4life said in Brisbane Global 10s:

Stargazer, you are the ultimate rugby nerd, you would watch an U11s B-grade game if it was on TV.

If i can find a spare half hour over the weekend I'll probably have a look, but there is no way i am structuring time around it.

Ha, correct, although I'd only watch those U11s Bs if it was an Hawke's Bay team. Mrs SG being a rugby nerd as well certainly helps. And doing other stuff while watching rugby on tv.

[taniwharugby]

@Stargazer as Shark alludes to in the next post, how much time do these guys all get too?

Yes it would be great if we could have the best players on show, but at the end of the day, I'd rather they were on show when it matters.

[Wurzel]

Chris Boyd is stating that NMS, Jordie and Vaea Fifita will play the Brisbane Tens as none of them played a minute of the EOYT so according to the NZR's own policy they are not considered current All Blacks.

[shark]

For mine, the latter pair could play but I'd not want to ease NMS back in by playing that tournament.

[mariner4life]

So it's a home thing for the Reds, but Quade is allowed to skip because he's boxing. And they are playing Chris Latham.

And they are playing a trial against the Rebels 2 days later, so there will be heavy rotation.

How many different ways can you say "sideshow"?

[Crucial]

@mariner4life said in Brisbane Global 10s:

So it's a home thing for the Reds, but Quade is allowed to skip because he's boxing. And they are playing Chris Latham.

And they are playing a trial against the Rebels 2 days later, so there will be heavy rotation.

How many different ways can you say "sideshow"?

Leaves little room for the organisers to complain about no ABs when this is happening.
Fact is that is really is a circus and being outside of any official program will just get what comes. If they wanted to pay 'stars' to promote it without locking them in to play that is their problem.

[Crucial]

From the Herald

Only three All Blacks who were on the end-of-year tour to the Northern Hemisphere will be released to play in the Brisbane Global 10s rugby tournament next month.

They will not include two-time World Cup winner Jerome Kaino,
experienced outside utility back Israel Dagg or up and coming Damian McKenzie.

New Zealand Rugby has been mute since the Herald revealed All Blacks stars will be at a premium in terms of involvement in the inaugural tournament on February 11 and 12.

There was no further comment yesterday, but the Weekend Herald understands the union is intending to give the all-clear for Blues loose forward Steven Luatua, Highlanders hooker Liam Coltman, Hurricanes lock Vaea Fifita and Crusader Seta Tamanivalu.

All toured with the All Blacks in November last year but had limited game time with Fifita not even getting on the field.

Jordie Barrett, younger brother of Beauden and the "apprentice" on the northern tour with the All Blacks, has also been released to play in the tournament.

Nehe Milner-Skudder will make his return to rugby alongside Fifita and Jordie Barrett.

Lock Luke Romano, absent along with the injured Milner-Skudder from the northern tour, is also set to play for the Crusaders.

Those players who toured with the All Blacks have been subject to a 12-week stand-down from all rugby which cast their involvement in the Brisbane event into serious doubt.

Kaino, Dagg and McKenzie have been used extensively in promotions by the tournament organisers, Duco Events, but now will not play.

It's understood the trio may travel to Brisbane as tournament "ambassadors" but won't play.

[hydro11]

@mariner4life said in Brisbane Global 10s:

So it's a home thing for the Reds, but Quade is allowed to skip because he's boxing. And they are playing Chris Latham.

And they are playing a trial against the Rebels 2 days later, so there will be heavy rotation.

How many different ways can you say "sideshow"?

This! At least the NRL gets behind the 9's. I actually think 10's itself will be interesting to watch. Can't see the tournament being a success however.

[mariner4life]

Waratahs to debut an exciting new talent. Some Fijian bloke called Lote Tuqiri...

[Wurzel]

The Crusaders ain't even bothering to send Richie Mo'unga such is the prestige of this new event...

BNZ CRUSADERS SQUAD FOR THE BRISBANE GLOBAL RUGBY TENS:

Backs---------------------Forwards
Bryn Hall----------------Ben Funnell
Leon Fukofuka-------Andrew Makalio
Mitchell Hunt ---------Tim Perry
Digby Ioane-----------Chris Gawler
George Bridge-------Michael Alaalatoa
Sione Fifita-----------Oliver Jager
David Havili----------Mitchell Dunshea
Tim Bateman-------Quinten Strange
Jack Goodhue------Pete Samu
Seta Tamanivalu--Jordan Taufua
Manasa Mataele--Jed Brown
Sean Wainui---------Whetu Douglas
Marty McKenzie

[Bovidae]

@Wurzel How long has Whetu Douglas been training with the Crusaders?

[Bovidae]

Lot's of WTG players and extras in the Chiefs squad.

The Gallagher Chiefs Brisbane Tens Squad is:

FORWARDS:

Siegfried Fisi’ihoi
Liam Polwart
Atu Moli
Sam Caird
Fin Hoeata
Liam Messam
Sosefo Kautai
Taleni Seu
Mitchell Brown
Luke Jacobson
Lachlan Boshier
Hika Elliot
Mitchell Graham

BACKS:
Brad Weber
Joe Ravouvou
Finlay Christie
Tim Nanai-Williams
Sheldon Tovio
Sevu Reece
Jonathan Taumateine
Shaun Stevenson
Solomon Alaimalo
Alex Nankivell
Dwayne Sweeney
Luteru Laulala
Latu Vaeno

[KiwiMurph]

The Blues team is:

1 Josh Goodhue, 2 Hapakuki Moala-Liava’a, 3 Tom Robinson, 4 Sam Prattley (Co-Captain), 5 Kara Pryor, 6 Marcel Renata, 7 Brandon Nansen, 8 Joe Royal, 9 Scott Scrafton, 10 Murphy Taramai, 11 Ambrose Curtis, 12 Matt Duffie, 13 Pasqualle Dunn, 14 Billy Guyton, 15 George Moala, 16 Sam Nock, 17 Declan O’Donnell, 18 Stephen Perofeta, 19 Rene Ranger, 20 Jordan Trainor, 21 Matt Vaega.

Coaches: Steve Jackson, Dave Ellis

[mariner4life]

@Bovidae Dwayne Sweeney??!!

[Stargazer]

Hurricanes:
Nehe Milner-Skudder, Cory Jane, Reg Goodes, Loni Uhila, Ricky Riccitelli, Asafo Aumua, Chris Eves, Mike Kainga, Joe Apikotoa, Vaea Fifita, Mark Abbott, James Blackwell, Brad Shields, Reed Prinsep, Toa Halafihi, Hugh Renton, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Kemera Hauiti-Parapara, Otere Black, Vince Aso, Matt Proctor, Wes Goosen, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Ngani Laumape, Jonah Lowe, Jordie Barrett.

Highlanders:
Aki Seiuli, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Liam Coltman, Josh Dickson, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, James Lentjes, Craig Millar, Dillon Hunt, Gareth Evans, Luke Whitelock, Kayne Hammington, Josh Renton, Fletcher Smith, Tei Walden, Rob Thompson, Jason Emery, Tevita Li, Matt Faddes, Sio Tomkinson, Marty Banks.

[Stargazer]

Not just Richie Mo'unga missing from the Crusaders squad. Ihaia West is also not in the Blues squad. Looks like not just the AB first five eights, but all the first choice no. 10s aren't going.

[Bones]

That hurricanes squad looks bloody good.

[Bovidae]

@mariner4life Sweeney is a real blast from the past and a surprise selection. Take that Duco!

BTW, he's only 32 so not that old.