Hastings BHS
This is a team that I have spoken about before in terms of how I would place and position them on the team so that everyone is accounted for and used on the field. I will get the easy one out of the way and that is Liam Udy John another top class Hastings BHS No.8 to add to Devan Flanders and Marino Mikaele-Tuu. Liam has the body, height, shape, fitness, skills for the traditional No.8’s that we select in NZ and he is the type of player that we need in the NZSS selection. I think this is going to be a big year for him and the way he show cases his talent and leadership with the Hastings BHS 1st XV and in the Hastings way whats best for the team is whats best for you. Now in the last write up I put Donovan Mataira at Open Side and Julian Goerke at Blind Side. Im not saying that’s the only way to do it, I said I would do it that way cause Donovan has more experience then Julian EVEN though Julian could be the better player. What I do know is that both those guys need to be on the field they need to be out there around the tackle ball, cleaning out bodies, making big runs and leading from the front. Emil Chricton is also a Blind Side and we could actually see him in that roll next year. Donovan could go to Lock and Emil and Julian could be the 6 and 7, but this year Emil would be the best back up for Blind Side but will play his best roll in Lock for this year.
St Peters School Cambridge
St Peters School Cambridge is one of the fastest rising rugby schools in the country and this years loose trio is FIRE!. This Loose Trio is so physical, explosive, dangerous and at times boastful a bit your going to love watching them play. If there were such a thing as a “Big 3” in a rugby team this would be the Big 3 for St Peters School. Andrew Viane (Top Picture) to me was a Star last year and he was so dominate in games last year it made me forget that he was a Young Year 12 blowing up Year 13 players trying to tackle him. He brings his running game every game and in the right system to where they use his strengths a lot and that’s what gets them down the field. They have an Open Side who I think is very underrated and is sometimes forgotten but Devin Gregory really does put in that work and he’s kind of “Lippy” on the field, but it’s funny to watch cause he backs it up 100% and I think it gets to players. He is very strong over the ball and once his arms wrap that ball he’s got you and thats what you need on your team. Vaiolini Ekuasi a very sort after player in the off season took his talents to Cambridge and he joined up with two guys that will challenge him and make him better. Vaiolini is going to be that next “Wave” of a runner after Andrew takes it up and I see St Peters scoring a lot of tries off an Andrew/Vaiolini carry. Vaiolini can also smash and crash, hits hard on defence and is just an all round beast on the field. Here is some bad news for you guys though, they have ANOTHER player in Simon Parker who was a U18 Blues Lock/Blind Side at St Peters that doubles up as a Lock/Blind Side and he’s definitely going to add to your problems trying to stop this team.
St Kentigern College
I have spoken about the Loose forward trio and what I think it should look like and what I think they can do with how they can get everyone on the field. I think with the talent and length they have at St Kentigern’s they will be able to really control a lot of their games from the forwards and to really out pace other teams and get more bodies around the ball and in play. The length for me comes from Rob Rush and his overall physical nature at tackle ball and in contact. He is very aggressive when it comes to contact but it’s controlled and directed at turning the body to get hands on the ball. The physical and aggressive nature doubles when you have someone like Sila Tituiti at No.8 and it’s his 3rd year in the 1st XV. He creates a bit of fear and anxiety around the tackle ball cause guys dont want to feel his shoulder, they dont want to make that contact and be held up off the ground cause Sila is so strong he can do that to you. Then the speed and tackle machine will come from Year 12 Cam Church who I really like a lot and Im waiting for him to really get that muscle on his body and start gaining some real strength cause I think he’s going to be a very good player.
Rotorua BHS
I really like this loose trio from Raukura this year and what they have added to it as well because I think they added an important player that really does make them better. Tuki Simpkins is the easy one to see out of this because his Year 11 year has really been one of the best I have seen since Etene Nanai was Year 11. Tuki carried a lot on his plate as a young player last year. He was kind of used as the main ball carrier, they guy who made the all important tackles and looked to make a play all the time in that forward pack. For me I think they have two choices at Open Side at Raukura and they are Manny Crawford and Nikki Jacobs. Both players are real quick around the field, play at a high pace, tackle well and strong and can get over the ball quickly. This selection would be the Coaching staffs hardest choice and it will be selected based on what fits their system and what player can offer the most while on the field. I think Tuki will play the No.8 spot but the Blind Side spot will be taken up by Malupo Ma’afu. Malupo is the player that Raukura needed last year to really make that edge defence stronger, add the extra toughness in the pack, make sure that tackles are completed and put to the ground thing like that. Malupo add all those things to this group and he’ll be the guy that helps bring that forward pack together.
Hamilton BHS
Another spot taken by Hamilton BHS and the returning players are actually really really strong and they have all had 3 years in the squad. Tom Martin I think will take that Blind Side spot and really add some bulk, physicality, another jumping option and overall leadership I actually would pick him to be the 1st XV Captain if it were up to me. Tom makes a big difference whenever he is on the field and I think that this year will be the same. So with Tom at 6 I see Dion Keogh as the No.8 and another line out option as well and he will be very good in line out situations with getting the ball and setting a drive from the back, great running option off a line out throw and having someone that physical in the driving maul plays makes a massive difference. Dion gives you a very strong defencive player that can chase down players and get his body over the ball as well. Jake Russ is the “Ball Hawk” and that will be his thing, way to strong over the ball, to quick around the park, good body position in tackles and doesnt waste opportunities to make a play for the team. They will be one to watch and I think that these 3 will go “Well good” this year.
Christchurch BHS
Otago BHS
Kings College
Napier BHS
Rosmini College
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