NZ Rugby News

Nickname: Mooloos

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2020 finish: Fourth in Premiershi­p (losing semifinali­sts)

Coach: Ross Filipo

Co-captains: Fletcher Smith and Ayden Johnstone

GAINS: Ayden Johnstone (back from injury), James Tucker (Australia)

LOSSES: Josh Iosefa-scott (England), Patrick Osborne (retired), Rivez Reihana (Northland), Louis Rogers (Australia), Adam Thomson (retired)

GO-TO PLAYER: Fletcher Smith The skillset Fletcher Smith possesses is undeniable.

Off the tee, he’s one of the best going. Waikato needs to be more clinical on attack, find a way to be more patient, and spot the gaps in the opposition defence that often don’t present themselves immediatel­y. Being the leader in that often takes a little thing called experience. Smith has been around the block a few times and is the ideal man to spark many points.

BREAKTHROU­GH PLAYER: Matty Lansdown It’s time for the versatile Matty Lansdown to come of age.

He’s too good a talent to be mediocre, and he’s also been around long enough to realise it. Injuries have plagued momentum, but whenever this man gets the ball, something good tends to follow. He just needs to take himself a little more seriously, stay injury-free, and do everything on the paddock his natural abilities allow. Do this, and he’s the breakthrou­gh player and

a core cog in the backline.

OUR PREDICTION: Sixth in Premiershi­p Another hotly contested Premiershi­p ladder is expected in 2021. Waikato will be there or thereabout­s but will have to win the big games against the likes of Tasman and Canterbury. Dropping those two fixtures won’t be terminal, but they’re very important in the context of the overall campaign.

 ??  ?? Fletcher Smith is back.
Fletcher Smith is back.
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