Latest news with #TuppyDiackShield
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Toleafoa to start as Lio-Willie given break
All Black Christian Lio-Willie has been given some time off to unpack his suitcase and get settled in Dunedin again. The powerhouse No 8 made 22 tackles to help Otago beat Southland 24-15 in the NPC opener in Invercargill on Saturday. But the star loose forward has had a busy few months, and coach Mark Brown said Lio-Willie would take some time off and rejoin the team on Monday. "We really appreciate what Christian has done for us," Brown said. "After the All Blacks' campaign [against France] finished, he just jumped in his car and came down for the Southland game. "He has been domiciled up in Christchurch for the Super campaign ... and he has had a big few months, culminating in his All Black appearances and also the Super Rugby final. "He needed a break and now is as good a time as any to give it to him." Southern's Konrad Toleafoa will start at No8 for Otago against Hawke's Bay in Dunedin this Sunday and will be making his debut. The promising loose forward is a devastating ball-carrier and light on his feet. There is one other change to the starting lineup. Jae Broomfield earns promotion from the bench and will start on the right wing ahead of Charlie Powell, who had an underwhelming debut for Otago. "Charlie has done nothing wrong. In fact, he has been really good with his detail. "But it is more the fact that we felt Jae has been offering just a little bit more potency on attack, so for that reason he gets the nod." Otago have strengthened their bench. Highlanders midfielder Jake Te Hiwi returns from injury (groin) and will start from the pine. He had a hit-out last weekend in the Tuppy Diack Shield and performed strongly. Te Hiwi set up two tries and dotted down for Otago Metro South in a 52-7 win over Southland Metro. Highlanders blindside flanker Oliver Haig has also returned from injury (ankle) a little early and he will provide lock and loose forward cover from the bench, while Charles Elton drops out of the game-day squad. New Zealand under-20 halfback Dylan Pledger replaces Bob Martin and will look to make an impact from the bench. Prop Rohan Wingham, who was a late scratching last week, has been named in the reserves. Hawke's Bay have named an unchanged side after thumping Counties-Manukau 54-14 in the opening round. NPC The teams Otago: Sam Gilbert (captain), Jae Broomfield, Josh Timu, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Jona Nareki, Cameron Millar, Nathan Hastie, Konrad Toleafoa, Harry Taylor, Will Stodart, Joseva Tamani, Will Tucker, Saula Ma'u, Henry Bell, Abraham Pole. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ben Lopas, Rohan Wingham, Oliver Haig, Lucas Casey, Dylan Pledger, Jake Te Hiwi, Sam Nemec-Vial. Hawke's Bay: Zarn Sullivan, Jonah Lowe, Nick Grigg, Kienan Higgins, Lukas Ripley, Harry Godfrey, Ere Enari, Devan Flanders, Cooper Flanders, Miracle Fai'ilagi, Tom Parsons (captain), Geoff Cridge, Josh Smith, Jacob Devery, Pouri Rakete-Stones. Reserves: Kianu Kereru-Symes, Hadlee Hay-Horton, Lolani Faleiva, Hunter Morrison, Frank Lochore, Folau Fakatava, Lincoln McClutchie, Andrew Tauatevalu.
Otago Daily Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Lio-Willie rested, Otago strengthen bench
Jake Te Hiwi will return to the Otago bench against Hawke's Bay after recovering from injury. Otago have strengthened their bench ahead of a home game against Hawke's Bay on Sunday. But there is a notable absence as well. All Blacks loose forward Christian Lio-Willie is missing from the NPC team. He carried a heavy load during the 24-15 win over Southland in Invercargill on Saturday and has been given the week off. The powerhouse No 8 will rejoin the team on Monday. Southern's Konrad Toleafoa will start at No 8 and is making his debut. The promising loose forward had a shoulder complaint last season — otherwise, he may have made his debut by now. It is the only change to the forward pack. Lock Will Tucker pulled up lame in the opening minute of the game against the Stags and is still under an injury cloud despite being named in the starting XV. There is one change to the starting backline. Jae Broomfield earns promotion from the bench and will start on the right wing ahead of Charlie Powell, who had an underwhelming debut for Otago. Highlanders midfielder Jake Te Hiwi returns from injury (groin) and will start from the bench. He had a hit-out last weekend in the Tuppy Diack Shield and performed strongly. Te Hiwi set up two tries and dotted down for Otago Metro South in a 52-7 win over Southland Metro. Highlanders blindside flanker Oliver Haig has also returned from injury (ankle) a little early and he will provide lock and loose forward cover from the bench, while Charles Elton drops out of the game-day squad. New Zealand under-20 halfback Dylan Pledger replaces Bob Martin and will look to make an impact from the bench. Prop Rohan Wingham, who was a late scratching last week, has been named in the reserves. Otago team To play Hawke's Bay Sam Gilbert (captain), Jae Broomfield, Josh Timu, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Jona Nareki, Cameron Millar, Nathan Hastie, Konrad Toleafoa, Harry Taylor, Will Stodart, Joseva Tamani, Will Tucker, Saula Ma'u, Henry Bell, Abraham Pole. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ben Lopas, Rohan Wingham, Oliver Haig, Lucas Casey, Dylan Pledger, Jake Te Hiwi, Sam Nemec-Vial.
Otago Daily Times
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
North Otago display ‘pleasing'
It was a typical preseason clash between North Otago and Otago Country on Saturday. The Old Golds ran away with the victory in the annual fixture, recording a 47-24 win over Otago Country in sunny Wanaka conditions. Ben McCarthy, who has returned from a stint overseas, bagged two tries off the bench for North Otago, while Otago Country hooker Keegan Ferguson snatched a brace on debut. The Old Golds opened through winger Hopoate Finau, but Country's forwards rolled up their sleeves and got to work. The home side's set piece was strong with their lineout helping halfback Josh Cook get into space, throw a dummy, and get Country on the board. The Old Golds forwards started to find some space with back-to-back tries, but Country's strong scrum helped Ferguson grab his first. His opposite, Hayden Tisdall, scored before halftime to give the Old Golds a 28-12 lead. Otago Country came out of the sheds with big intent, retaining possession and closed the gap with Ferguson's second. Both teams brought on reinforcements off the bench, opening up the game, and the Old Golds ran in three tries in the final quarter. North Otago coach Luke Herden said it was a quality game considering both sides' limited preparations. "Otago Country were always going to be tough and never go away," Herden said. "We scored two or three good tries in the first half, and we sort of let Otago Country back into the game with ... our mistakes. "But when we did get our game going, we were really effective, and really happy with how that all went. "I thought our game drivers did pretty well, especially in that first half. "We managed to play with width at times, very accurately as well, and overall the whole team's decision-making was pleasing. That was good." Otago Country now turn their attention to the Tuppy Diack Shield. They head to Lawrence this weekend to meet Dunedin Metro South in their opening game in the inaugural competition. North Otago have the week off — "we'll take this week to get our systems and structures all fine-tuned" — ahead of the Heartland season getting under way next weekend. They open their campaign against Heartland powerhouses Whanganui away next Saturday. Preseason game The scores North Otago 47 Ben McCarthy 2, Hopoate Finau, Mitch Morton, Savenaca Rabaka, Hayden Tisdall, Matia Qiolevu tries; Kenta Iemura 4 con, Isaac Clunie 2 con Otago Country 24 Keegan Ferguson 2, Joshua Cook, Sam Wyber tries; Jared Hayes 2 con Halftime: North Otago 24-12.
Otago Daily Times
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Bright start for Otago teams
The Otago teams have made a bright start to the inaugural Tuppy Diack Shield. Otago Metro South posted a comprehensive 52-7 win over Southland Metro in Invercargill on Saturday. Promising lock Josh Tengblad claimed some good lineout ball and nabbed a couple of steals. He also carried strongly. Otago midfielder Jake Te Hiwi returned from a groin injury and made a positive impact. He set up a couple of tries and scored one as well. Otago-contracted loose forward Max Ratcliffe bumped off several tacklers on his way to a five-pointer in the corner. Otago Metro North beat Southland Country 38-24 in the other fixture, which was also hosted in Invercargill. Kaikorai loose forward Slade McDowall scored two tries and had an industrious game. The openside was outstanding for his club this season and is pushing hard for an opportunity for Otago. Halfback Oliver Thode was another to impress. He played in Otago's warm-up against Southland last month and acquitted himself nicely. Otago Rugby Football Union game development manager Michael Smith, who helped come up with the concept of the Tuppy Diack Shield, said it was a great start to the tournament. "It just shows the strength of club rugby in Dunedin when we can form two teams who are very competitive."
Otago Daily Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Stalwart of southern rugby memorialised by competition, shield
Pip Jones, of South Otago, holds up the new shield which bears the name of her father, Otago rugby great Tuppy Diack, who died recently. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH A former Gore man, who died last month, will be memorialised through a new rugby competition and shield. The Tuppy Diack Shield will make its debut this season. Diack, who died in Dunedin, aged 94, played for both Otago and Southland. He also played one test for the All Blacks, in 1959. Born in Invercargill, he was once the head boy at Gore High School. The former winger was revered and in a fitting tribute, Southland Country, Southland Metro, Otago Country and two Dunedin metropolitan teams will contest a new competition for the Tuppy Diack Shield. It will be a straight round-robin, attached to the end of the club rugby season. The opening round will be on August 2. Otago Rugby Football Union game development manager Michael Smith said it was a great shame Diack had died before he got to see the competition in action. However, Diack had been aware of the idea and was very pleased to put his name to it. The wood the shield is made from is from a fallen totara tree in the Catlins area and was carved by Patrick Bowden and members of the South Otago Turners Club. The tree was understood to have been about 1000 years old. "It's a great bit of wood," Mr Smith said. The new competition was a way to bridge the gap between club and provincial rugby, as well as offering players who missed out on representative opportunities something else to aim for, Mr Smith said. After the competition an Otago B and Southland B team will be selected for a triangular tournament that will include a Canterbury team. — APL
