Hurricanes 2006 Squad

[philbe]

just a little prediction

01. John Schwalger
02. Andrew Hore
03. Neemia Tialata
04. Jason Eaton
05. Ross Filipo
06. Jerry Collins
07. Chris Masoe
08. Rodney So'oialo
09. Peri Weepu
10. Jimmy Gopperth
11. Ma'a Nonu
12. Tana Umaga ©
13. Conrad Smith
14. Lome Fa'atau
15. Shannon Paku

16. Mike Noble
17. Tim Dow
18. Luke Andrews
19. Ben Herring
20. David Gibson
21. Tamati Ellison
22. Hose Gear

23. Tim Fairbrother
24. Paul ***o
25. Serge Lilo
26. Tane Tuipulotu
27. Roy Kinikinilau
28. George Pisi


Thomas Waldrom will go to the Highlanders to get game time, Ross Kennedy & kristian Ormsby will get picked up in the draft

 

[Southern man]

The Hurricanes are very low on locks, With Filipo going back to the Crusaders, Andrews looking to go to Japan and Ormsby going to Counties. Not to mention that fact that Ross Kennedy is one of the more overrated players walking around New Zealand. Kane Thompson might get ago after being unwanted by Wellington, But over all a realy lack of quality locks up there.

 

[sambãd5]

tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiito

 

[..::ERIC::..]

Props: Schwalger, Tialata, McDonnell, Fairbrother / Penn
Hookers: Ward, Hore
Locks: ***o, Kennedy, Eaton, Draft lock / Thompson
Loosies: Herring, Masoe, Collins, So'oilo, Waldrom, Lilo / Willis / Draft
Halfbacks: Weepu, Lee
Inside backs: Gopperth, Ellison, Mafi, Umaga, Smith, Nonu
Outsides: Fa'atau, Gear, Paku, Kinikinilau

 

[NZL Fan]

....wouldn't be surprised if David Howell ends up there as back up first five(presuming he is playing super 12??) on the draft as the blues are unlikely to pick him up.............

Same old problem for the Canes however, lack of a decent tight five platform for the excellent backline to operate from - especially at the end of the season when the forwards really need to step up.

 

[..::ERIC::..]

I don't think we would even want to go for Holwell if he is in the draft. Gopperth has proved the goods and Ellison is a more than capable replacement if need be. Holwell isn't really that good anyway, he was only rated when people realised that we didn't have much backup but really he wasn't missed at all.

As for our tight five, I think its just the locks that we will be missing. Tialata is a class player, he was so destructive against Canterbury and made Summerville look like a fool. Hooker there is Ward and Hore who have been playing well. Its just really loosehead (McDonnel and Schwalger are nothing to write home about) and lock that are lacking.

 

[Southern man]

Apparently Ward will be off up North next year, So the Canes will need another back up hooker. Personally I hope they take Schwalger back.

 

[..::ERIC::..]

That sucks if that is true about Ward. He has really been in better form this season for Harbour. Schwalger (Hk) is nothing more that an oaf. He sucks at throwing and has little impact around the field. Mahoney is not S14 quality either. Draft hookers will be pretty slim


Lets look at last years team and make changes to what will happen this year:
Luke Andrews - going North, replace with Eaton
Isaac Boss - gone North, replace with Lee
Riki Flutey - gone North, replace with Ellison
Kristian Ormsby - gone North, may come back in the draft although a specialist lock would be prefered.
Scott Waldrom - injured, replace with Lilo
Brent Ward - not available in the draft anymore, perhaps Tagitakibau or a draft fullback such as Pisi or Clare
Joe Ward - rumoured to go North. No notable replacement.

Plus players like Tim Fairbrother, Tane Tuipolotu and Hosea Gear have been out of form and struggled to even make the Wellington bench, could be replaced with Schwalger, Mafi and Kinikinilau respectivley.

Jerry Collins, Lome Faatau, Jimmy Gopperth, Ben Herring, Andrew Hore, Ross Kennedy, Chris Masoe, Joe McDonnell, Maa Nonu, Shannon Paku, Tony Penn, Conrad Smith, Rodney Sooialo, Neemia Tialata, Paul ***o, Tana Umaga ©, Thomas Waldrom and Piri Weepu should all keep their spots.

 

[philbe]

Danny Lee sucks, we will be able to get a better halfback in the draft

 

[Hypnotised]

I hope Eaton turns out to be good, because as has been mentioned, we are seriously lacking quality at locks currently. I think Tialata will continue to be our best prop, but I think McDonell is actually a fair loosehead.

Backs should be destructive again this year, and as long as Conrad stays fit he'll supply the wings and distribute well as he usually does.