Te Ika-a-Māui vs Te Waipounamu Squads announced

[cashead]

The players were selected based on Province of Origin - i.e., where they started their senior representative career, rather than where they are now

The Good and Cool and Superior in Every Way North
Hookers
Asafo Aumua (Wellington)
Ash Dixon (Hawke's Bay)
Kurt Eklund (Auckland)

Props
Alex Fidow (Wellington)
Ayden Johnstone (Waikato)
Angus Ta'avao (Auckland)
Karl Tu'inukuafe (North Harbour)
Ofa Tuungafasi (Auckland)

Locks
Scott Scrafton (Auckland)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland, Captain)
Tupou Vaa'i (Taranaki)

Loose forwards
Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki)
Akira Ioane (Auckland)
Dalton Papalii (Auckland)
Ardie Savea (Wellington)
Hoskins Sotutu (Auckland)

Halfbacks
TJ Perenara (Wellington)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki)

Five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki)
Mitchell Hunt (Auckland)

Midfielders
Rieko Ioane (Auckland)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato)
Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)

Outside backs
Caleb Clarke (Auckland)
Damian McKenzie (Waikato)
Sevu Reece (Waikato)
Mark Telea (North Harbour)


The Inbred Racist Fart-huffing Sheepfuckers
Hookers
Liam Coltman (Otago)
Andrew Makalio (Tasman)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury)

Props
George Bower (Otago)
Alex Hodgman (Canterbury)
Nepo Laulala (Canterbury)
Tyrel Lomax (Tasman)
Joe Moody (Canterbury)

Locks
Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury)
Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Southland)
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury, Captain)

Loose forwards
Tom Christie (Canterbury)
Shannon Frizell (Tasman)
Dillon Hunt (Otago)
Reed Prinsep (Canterbury)
Tom Sanders (Canterbury)

Halfbacks
Finlay Christie (Tasman)
Mitchell Drummond (Canterbury)
Brad Weber (Otago)

Five-eighths
Josh Ioane (Otago)
Richie Mo'unga (Canterbury)

Midfielders
Braydon Ennor (Canterbury)
Leicester Faingaanuku (Tasman)
Jack Goodhue (Canterbury)
Sio Tomkinson (Otago)

Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (Canterbury)
George Bridge (Canterbury)
Will Jordan (Tasman)

[Banquo]

Quite amusing that the Barrett brothers are on opposite sides in an Origin game, rules notwithstanding. Will try and watch if its televised.

[canta_brian]

Cas, I will happily accept the inbred sheep fuckers line. The racist bit I take issue with.

I still want to see
Possibles v probables matches. Used to be the best match of the year.

[Cameo]

Has Dane Coles picked up an injury or something?

[Banquo]

Has Dane Coles picked up an injury or something?

not cool or superior enough

[cashead]

Has Dane Coles picked up an injury or something?

Niggly calf muscle injury that puts him out until November.

Ngani Laumape's broken arm rules him out, while Cane sits this one out as a precautionary measure after the head knock against the Hurricanes.

[cashead]

Cas, I will happily accept the inbred sheep fuckers line. The racist bit I take issue with.

There. Happy now?

[morepork]

Americas Cup RAHs Vs. honest working people.

[canta_brian]

Cas, I will happily accept the inbred sheep fuckers line. The racist bit I take issue with.

There. Happy now?

Much better thanks.

[canta_brian]

Americas Cup RAHs Vs. honest working people.

Wannabe Aussies vs Proper Kiwis

[morepork]

Wanna be JAFAs Vs. Noble guardians of the land and all the electricity JAFAs need to exist.

[canta_brian]

Wanna be JAFAs Vs. Noble guardians of the land and all the electricity JAFAs need to exist.

That’s the winner.

Cut the cable

[cashead]

Game's been delayed by a week. Stink.

[Lizard]

Fuck it. I had tickets to this with the lad. Should still be a good game though.

[cashead]

Teams announced:

North
1. Karl Tu'inukuafe
2. Asafo Aumua
3. Ofa Tuungafasi
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (Captain)
5. Tupou Vaa'i
6. Akira Ioane
7. Ardie Savea
8. Hoskins Sotutu
9. TJ Perenara
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Caleb Clarke
12. Anton Lienert-Brown
13. Rieko Ioane
14. Sevu Reece
15. Damian McKenzie

16. Ash Dixon
17. Ayden Johnstone
18. Angus Ta'avao
19. Scott Scrafton
20. Dalton Papalii
21. Aaron Smith
22. Peter Umaga-Jensen
23. Mitchell Hunt


South
1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Samuel Whitelock (Captain)
5. Mitchell Dunshea
6. Shannon Frizell
7. Tom Christie
8. Tom Sanders
9. Brad Weber
10. Richie Mo'unga
11. George Bridge
12. Jack Goodhue
13. Brayden Ennor
14. Will Jordan
15. Jordie Barrett

16. Liam Coltman
17. George Bower
18. Tyrel Lomax
19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit
20. Dillon Hunt
21. Finlay Christie
22. Josh Ioane
23. Leicester Fainga’anuku

[J Dory]

Predictions?

North by 12.

[morepork]

Mo'unga Barrett should be good. ALB feeding of BB could be tasty.

[morepork]

oh, and that Norf loose trio unit.....

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Predictions?

North by 12.

Mainland by 16

[cashead]

Honestly, it comes down to the quality of the bench, IMO.

The North has Aaron Smith and Dalton Papali'i (who should've started) who are potential game-winners.

The South has Liam Coltman and Dillon Hunt. Expect to see the South edge the North in the breakdown in the final quarter, and Smith creating something out of thin air to steal the game near the end.

The superior North by >7.

[Cameo]

In terms of All Black selection, who would you say has most to play for here?

There are quite a few with something to prove but my top three would be:

- Beauden Barrett
- Reiko Ioane
- Will Jordan

[paddy no 11]

WHy isnt it an actual north v south match based on where you are from???? would be a facile win for the south?

[zer0]

Quite the opposite. NZ's population is about a 75/25% split between the two islands, and the origins of professional rugby players tend to follow that trend; so it would probably end up being a pretty lopsided contest in the Best Island's favour.

Off the top of my head the Shit Island would lose Laulala, Whitelock, Weber, Bridge, Goodhue, Ennor, McNuggets, D.Hunt, Christie, and Ioane. In return they'd get, what, McKenzie and M.Hunt?

[morepork]

I will ban you, you spiteful pig islander.

[cashead]

In terms of All Black selection, who would you say has most to play for here?

There are quite a few with something to prove but my top three would be:

- Beauden Barrett
- Reiko Ioane
- Will Jordan

Shannon Frizell, D-Paps, Dillon Hunt, Tom Christie in the loose forwards - Frizell would be wanting to prove he's the guy for the 6 jersey, Papali'i would want to show his value as a physical unit that can cover 6 and 7, and Hunt would probably be aiming for the Daniel Braid or Matt Todd spot: the 3rd openside, but with a more reasonable chance of playing, what with Cane sitting out a lot of this year to fix up his body.

Weber would be fighting to retain his 3rd halfback spot, with Christie breathing down his neck.

Ennor and Rieko will be fighting to determine who should be partnering up with ALB.