NSW, QLD trial teams

[aussies1st]

NSW - Benn Robinson, Al Manning, Troy Takiari, Al Kanaar, Will Caldwell, Wycliff Palu, James Campbell, Stephen Hoiles, Josh Holmes, Tim Donnelly, Chris Siale, Shaun Berne (capt), Ben Jacobs, Winston Mafi, Sam Norton-Knight, Adam Freier, Matt Skillecorn, Jeremy Tilse, Ben Hand, Rocky Elsom, Leroy Houston, Daniel Halangahu, Tom Carter, Lloyd Jones, Peter Hewat, David Lyons.

NSW squad is 26 players. They have some talented players there. Norton-Knight is a talent to watch out for.

Reds: C Latham, T Atkinson, J Huxley, L Johansson, C Brown, B Barnes, S Cordingley, B Mowen, T McVerry, H McMeniman, M Connors (c), M Chapman, T Court, S Moore, G Holmes; Res: P Niumata, S Hardman, A Mathison, C Treloar, O Avei, N Berry, A Brown, P Hynes, D Mitchell, D Croft, E Flatley.

Qld side looks very good this season and Mitchell is still on the bench. Atkinson on the wing is interesting. Hopefully Johannson wraps up the 12 and Barners the 10 as that would be one deadly combo. The locks are all over 2m and McMeniman is at loose which makes for one strong lineout.

 

[The Camden Leisure Pirate]

I’m going to the Tahs vs. Brumbies trial tomorrow, can't wait to see them rip-in......

 

[Scott]

How are Qld going to progress with players like Cordingly and Connors coming back in???

 

[Southern Warrio]

Highlanders to play Crusaders on Saturday.

1. Clarke Dermody
2. Jason Macdonald
3. Chris King
4. Kane Thompson
5. Hoani MacDonald
6. Adam Thomson
7. Tim Boys
8. Filipo Levi
9. Chris Smylie
10. Callum Bruce
11. Roy Kinikinilau
12. Seilala Mapusua
13. Matt Saunders
14. Vilimoni Delasau
15. Ben Blair
16. David Hall
17. Nick White
18. Grant Polson
19. Andrew Blowers
20. Jimmy Cowan
21. Ryan Bambry
22. Neil Brew
23. Pehi Te Whare
24. Nick Evans
25. Paul Williams

 

[aussies1st]

How are Qld going to progress with players like Cordingly and Connors coming back in???

Experience I guess. You can't have an inexperienced halfback pairing up with a talent like Barnes and locking you can't have 2 inexperienced locks with Hugh.

Brumbies squad
Forwards: Bill Young, Guy Shepherdson, Nic Henderson, Salesi Ma'afu, John Ulugia, Saia Faingaa, David Palavi, James McCormack, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Alister Campbell, Richard Stanford, Dan Guiness, Daniel Heenan, Peter Kimlin, Ben White, James Stonham, Julian Salvi

Backs: Luke Burgess, Patrick Phibbs, Gene Fairbanks, Luke Gray, Joel Wilson, Tim Curran, Anthony Faingaa, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Owens, Ben Batger, Ben Johnson, Jason Lagaali, John Williams, Francis Fainifo, Christian Lialiifano

The Brumbies this year really have a number of no namers.

 

[ozbash]

There is added interest in Saturday's Super 14 warm up game between the Highlanders and Crusaders in Queenstown.

Both teams open their pre-season campaigns, and there will be plenty of interest in the performance of Highlanders fullback Paul Williams.

It will be Williams' first run back in the southern outfit since badly breaking his leg almost three years ago in a shocking incident on Carisbrook.

Williams says it is still creating a few problems, but they can be managed, and all he needs now is more game time.

His aims for the Super 14 are very clear. He wants to get as much game time as possible, return to form and make a big contribution to the Highlanders.

Williams played for Auckland "B" in last year's NPC season, but is as yet unsigned for the new NPC Premier Division.

Meanwhile, the Blues travel to Brisbane to play the Reds in stifling heat, then travel to Gosford to play New South Wales next weekend.

Blues coach David Nucifora says the week long trip is a great chance to look at all his players.

Nucifora says they are taking 28 fulltime players, plus seven training squad players and all of them will see game time over the two matches.

Nucifora sees the clash with the Reds as a good challenge, as the squad flies out on Friday, and has to adjust to a three hour time difference, as well as 30 degree heat at night time.

The match will be played in four quarters, with unlimited substitutions.

In Perth, as many as 20,000 people could turn up to watch the Western Force's first competitive run-out, although it may not reveal much about the prospects of Australia's newest rugby franchise.

Western Australia will officially welcome rugby union into its sporting landscape on Saturday, with the Force taking on Super 14's other newcomer, South Africa's Central Cheetahs, in a four quartered trial match at Subiaco Oval.

But despite the anticipation around Perth, coach John Mitchell says he is wary of giving up one of his key assets, which is the element of surprise.

As well as holding back his Wallabies from the game, Junior Pelesasa, Lachlan MacKay and Luke Doherty have not been considered for selection because of injury.

Instead, Mitchell has named a squad of 27 that includes 19 players yet to play at Super 14 level.

 

[ozbash]

The Queensland Super 14 rugby team will reveal their new star league recruit on Saturday night in Brisbane against the Blues.

Former Brisbane Bronco Berrick Barnes has been named to start the trial game at first-five.

The match will be played in four quarters, the Reds using 26 players.

Queensland has listed Drew Mitchell, Elton Flatley and Chris Latham, along with new Wallabies Lloyd Johansson and Hugh McMenamin.

The Blues will use around 25 players in the match, but none of the five regular All Black starters, who only return to the camp on Friday as the side flies out to Queensland.

New coach David Nucifora says he will give all players game time on the short Australian tour, but the All Blacks will not be reintroduced until next weekend.

Nucifora says this means other players will getting a fair bit of game time.

 

[aussies1st]

That Force vs Cheetahs match will be a good match up. Usually trial matches don't mean much so if either of them fail don't read too much into it.

 

[aussies1st]

Donnelly has put his hand up for NSW no 10 position. They have tons of depth there now with Norton Knight, Rogers and some other guy who I can't remember.

Barnes showed some good signs on the Reds way to victory but his defence was a bit shakey.

 

[ozbash]

The Highlanders may have beaten the Crusaders 21-19 in their Super 14 warm-up match in Queenstown, but it certainly was not a match full of excitement.

Both teams scored three tries each with Roy Kinikinilau, Seilala Mapusua and Toby Morland dotting down for the southerners, while Steven Brett, Steven Yates and Lucky Mulipola crossed for the Crusaders.

Also for the Highlanders, Ben Blair kicked two conversions and Ryan Bambry kicked one.

Highlanders loose forward Andrew Blowers admits neither side gave too much away, given they play each other in round one of the new competition.

He says it was good to have a run around, and know neither team was taking the game overly seriously.

Across the Tasman, the Blues have been beaten by the Reds 29-14 in their Super 14 warm-up match in Brisbane, while South Africa's Central Cheetahs have won their match with the Western Force side from Perth 29-19.

 

[The Camden Leisure Pirate]

Very excited about the Tahs after their trial.
It looks as though they have planty of depth, unlike years gone passed.
Watch out for Chirs Siale if he get a chance at Super 14.

 

[Edwahu]

Anyone know if the Luke Gray who is in that Brumbies side is the same Luke Gray who played Flegg for Canberra last year?

 

[aussies1st]

Nothing on their website player profile wise. This is all their site says "Goulburn product"

 

[ozbash]

The Crusaders put up a dominant first half performance and then held off a storming Waratahs comeback to win their Super 14 warm-up match 32-30 in Sydney on Saturday night.

The red and blacks were at their best in the opening 40 minutes as they raced to a 27-3 lead.

But they could only add a try to man of the match No 8 Mose Tuiali'i in the second spell as they clung on to repeat the result from last year's Super 12 final.

Dan Carter had a rare off night with his boot, converting just two of the Crusaders' five tries to put a bit of pressure on the championship favourites ahead of next week's opening round.

But there was enough spark and precision in the first spell to keep Crusaders coach Robbie Deans reasonably happy as his side played an effective expansive game.

Captain Richie McCaw played in the unfamiliar role of blindside flanker but produced another outstanding performance to see his side home eventually as the Waratahs produced three second half tries and Peter Hewat kept the pressure up with his goalkicking.

The Crusaders face the Highlanders in their first match of the new championship in Christchurch on Saturday night.

The Waratahs take on the Reds in what will be an enormous battle of the two Australian enemies.

Both teams completed their pre-season commitments without major injury concerns and the Waratahs even managed to play the match with their jerseys carrying the controversial initials rather than numbers.


Crusaders 32: (M Tuiali'i 2, R Filipo, A Mauger, L MacDonald tries; D Carter pen, 2 con)

Waratahs 30: (S Berne, R Elsom, W Palu tries; P Hewat 3 pen, 3 con).

HT: 27-3

 

[aussies1st]

Carter had a major off day with his boots it seems.