How did the Harbour scrum go? Norris and Dyer and very good props.

@ARHS said in Northland v Shield Snorters:

Awesome from Northland 9s and loosies. They were the difference with the HB stars a bit quiet. Thought the ref did well but maybe HB unlucky on some calls.

That's not strictly true, there's only so much McClutchie, Flanders and to a lesser extent Fakatava can do on their own in a diss-functioning team.

But as a team Northland definitely had it over the Shield Snorters.

@ACT-Crusader I think SOuthland may have that, 27 or so, they took it from us which was about the same as what Manawatu had when they beat us last week I think (24?)

@African-Monkey said in RWC warmup - Ireland v Samoa:

Ireland lucky. If Samoa had a line out, they win that game. Having said that, McFarland was clearly played at in the air in that last line out. Should have been a penalty.

Samoa defence was immense and they exposed the Irish in a few areas tonight, defended against them in general play better than the ABs last year.

Ireland not as good as they and the public in general think they are.

How were Ireland lucky? It was pissing rain which suited Samoa who were happy to play kick chase. They're a bigger, heavier side and played the conditions well. Ireland are a light side who like to move the ball.

Samoa got a lucky try.

For the lineout the same thing was happening the irish lineout throughout.

@Tim said in France v Australia -:

Eddie said after the game that was basically the plan they want to use against Georgia.

How missed tackles and bad discipline is any different to what we've trotted out recently is anyone's guess...

@Stargazer

This article explains the situation with Cruden. Straight off the plane to play the following day.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/132826786/why-proud-manawat-man-aaron-cruden-is-making-shock-npc-return-for-waikato

I was oustanded too booboo, I was at game, and had feeling players were a little uncertain who was who at times. Do BOP not have an away strip? Naki's is an almost all black jersey.

What a break away from rugby!

I decided to register nothing that happened during the preceding eight days - like a tree falling in the forest, I saw and heard nothing, so none of it happened. My reality is better than most of yours - and the skiing was fabulous!

So, Ta$man continue their winning ways.

And off to the TAB now to plank a small fortune on the ABs winning RWC! 🙂

@ACT-Crusader said in Canterbury vs Wellington:

Exciting game.

Did Umaga-Jensen release the ball in that tackle after his break? Looked pretty suss to me, even on the replay.

On the front on replay it didn't actually look like PUJ was held - so therefore didn't have to release. A lot of refs would have pinged him though.

@Steven-Harris said in Otago v Southland:

Finn Hurley must have put a bet on the drop kick option last play

i know right...was weird, southland already needed to score twice, if the guys are spent sure plug the corner, take a breath setting up the lineout, make the exit, drop goal really just gives them the good chance to counter from broken play

Thankfully this made the crushing AB loss on the weekend a little more palatable, can't believe how far England have fallen but super pleased for Fiji who always had bucket loads of talent but not quite the forward pack to get the job done.

Massive boost for Fiji going into the RWC, I can only but hope they continue their momentum.

@taniwharugby Yeah I'm done with rugby for the weekend as well after this mornings debacle, and last nights jekyl and hyde show.

The Northland rugby circus continues next week where we will no doubt beat Shield Snorters. The following week we will flick the loss switch again and get pumped in Dunedin. So predictable at times..bloody gumbies!

@Stargazer said in Wellington vs Ta$man (RS):

@Dan54 said in Wellington vs Ta$man (RS):

Don't know wht Naki would put up that (I know it was a joke etc), because we play Ta$man in New Plymouth, so wouldn't of got a crack, unless they were hoping someone took it off Ta$man.

Because there's more than one route to a Shield challenge*: if Ta$man had won it off Wellington and then lost the Shield to Harbour; Harbour successfully defended it to Waikato and then lost it to Otago, and Otago defended it successfully against Northland, then Taranaki would have their only possible challenge this season against Otago in Dunedin on 16 September.

*according to picture in NPC thread

F*** me Star, appreciate the info, and eyes might stop spinning in an hour or so, and brain will try and compute that!😲

@Stargazer said in RWC warmup - Ireland v England:

@MiketheSnow said in RWC warmup - Ireland v England:

@Stargazer said in RWC warmup - Ireland v England:

6 - good record - sorry - early guilty plea? = 3

3 - Tackle school = 2

That’s even fucking worse

@Machpants said in RWC warmup - England v Wales:

The previous panel were fucking incompetent, it was always a shoulder charge, not tackle. Therefore no mitigation allowed, useless Ozzie fluffybunnies

Agreed. It seems to me that as a matter of consequence the three witless muppets constituting the panel should never be involved in rugby judicial processes again. Clearly couldn't understand what everyone else could read and understand regarding the law and process flowchart, and see with their own eyes when watching the footage. To have been hoodwinked into rescinding the card demonstrates they aren't fit for the role. Utterly, incomprehensibly, fucking useless.

Almost as bad is the appeal panel tying themselves in knots to let Farrell the Fuckstick an avenue into the RWC. Amateurs running (and ruining) a professional game.

@SidBarret said in RWC warmup - Wales v Springboks -:

@MiketheSnow would have a knock on in goal so a goal line kick off (based the SA v NZ game with the knock on call on Kolbe)

(The ref was playing advantage to SA in this instance so the question is academic)

Cheers