@Bovidae Yes, good to see mitch getting game time...he's playing well too. Just good to see Luke on the field. I thought Pickerill was a step up from the guy last week.

@ACT-Crusader said in Counties v Manawatu: Entertaining game. Unfortunate finish for the Turbos with that attack incorrectly called in touch. Lineouts again a lottery for both sides. Who is the last forward to score a hat trick in the NPC? Last forward to score a hat trick in Mitre 10 Cup was Patrick Tuipulotu for Auckland v Tasman, September 7, 2018.

@taniwharugby Gregory needs to play in the midfield I reckon. Lots of contact, build his confidence.

@Crucial said in Hawkes Bay v Counties Manukau: @Nepia said in Hawkes Bay v Counties Manukau: @Crucial said in Hawkes Bay v Counties Manukau: @Billsy111 You guys also need to do some lineout drive training. The moves were so predictable that even our motley bunch knew what you were about to do and were able to nullify. *apart from that bullshit YC/PT call I just think we don't need to overuse it, overuse of it contributed to our loss against Southland and a few times last year. We have some bloody good backs and top class loosies, we should base more attack around them rather than overdoing the lineout drives. It was more the case that you only had one drive move (apart from going around our side and dragging it down to get a PT) and we studied it beforehand. Shit coaching on your side. Yeah, as you had a whole season and one game of it to study.

@Bovidae said in Counties v Tasman: Read has some conditions from his Japanese club around playing time. He was only allowed to play 40 mins last night and won't be playing against Hawke's next round, along with missing some other away games. Ah stink, it would have been good to have him start in the kind of form he was in last year. Although, to be serious, it would have been goof for Flanders to have had a run against him.

A little premature with the previous comment as Counties did somehow manage to score but they only snuck in a couple of minutes before the end. Final score was Canterbury 38 - 05 Counties

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/115991204/mitre-10-cup-relief-overriding-emotion-as-southland-end-27game-losing-run

@Dice Yup I know what you mean I've seen the same stuff too. I feel like he's a rough diamond who'll get better in time. His lineout definitely needs working on but he has the physical attributes to go far and is worth perservering with in the long run.

Oh and I'm also in the camp that doesn't move Goodhue to accommodate Ennor, but should attrition or lack of other options dictate that move - and there's no clear 12 for the Saders at the moment - then so be it.

@Higgins and look at to Owen Franks now? the game is evolving so along with core roles, props need mobility,speed,covering/sweeping like a loose fwd and the way the game is heading the "high intensity/fast pace", you need to keep up and do more then just "scrum". And remember the Lions front row are young Fidow 21, Aumua 21, Numia 20. still boys and still developing. and re them being boys getting paid a mans wages?? mate the game turned professional a long time ago. keep up with the times higgy! they are the most exciting front row in the game right now. Lions/Canes are lucky to have them and i am excited to see them grow and develop. cut them some slack

My post match interviews from the game:

Lotu Inisi looks like he has a bright future. Thoughts?

Is it just my bias or do most of SBWs 'round the corner' passes actually go forward? Comms, ref and touch judge don't seem to think so.

Awesome work Counties. Auckland have a home semi.

@dice I'd prefer Wellington in a knock out match This Harbour side seems to take the battle of bridge personally.. more like the 90's. They are more likely to pull out a freakish game because its Auckland

@duluth Matich is a huge loss for us, hopefully it isnt too long.

@stargazer It's all guesswork, but my reaction to seeing Crotty up close was that he's quite big and seeing David up close is that he isn't.

The first CM try shouldn't have been, both inside chasers were in front of the kicker and advanced and had a direct impact on the play. The second try I can live with, not clear and obvious live that the chaser is in front.

@shark Probably, I had to go and check if there was a thread for this game haha.

Not a bad effort by Pulu. When are the Aussies calling him up? He's better than Maddocks.

Great start to the comp from BOP, confidence gained form those 2 wins will be invaluable as they get to the tougher part of the comp and play Championship teams

@tim I think he'll get a run at some point. His scrumming is good for his age, but I do remember a game where he went up against Renata and got destroyed.

Sam Henwood dominated the awards night. Below is a list of the 2017 CMRFU award winners - Counties Manukau PIC Steelers player of the year – Sam Henwood Counties Manukau PIC Steelers defence player of the year – Sam Henwood Counties Manukau PIC Steelers player’s player of the year (chosen by the PIC Steelers players) – Sam Henwood Counties Manukau PIC Steelers Rookie of the year – Orbyn Leger Counties Manukau PIC Steelers most improved player of the year – Jonathan Kawau Men’s 7’s player of the year – Liam Daniela Bayleys B’s most improved player – Feta Luamanu Bayleys B’s player of the year – Penitoa Finau Don Ha B’s most improved player -Jimmy Conaglen Don Ha B’s player of the year – Faafouina Loau U19 most improved – Toti Nginingini U19 player of the year – Joshua Baverstock George Bell Memorial Trophy (services to rugby) – Dawn Newton Volunteer of the year – Karyn Adams Supporters Club – player of the year – Sam Henwood Referee of the year – John Wright AS Wilcox Premier Club player of the year – Joe Reynolds

Manawatu 24 - 29 Counties

@mikedogz said in Counties VS BOP: A draw is a fair result. Our points put Auckland in the relegation spot. BoP might get to play the Winston role. Auckland has BoP, Tasman and Canterbury to go. Waikato has Canterbury, Harbour and BoP. Counties a bit easier - Northland, Manawatu, Tasman Tasman is not quite clear either - Taranaki, Harbour, Auckland, Counties. Reverse order to what I would have chosen.

@Gunner said in Canterbury v Counties Manukau (Ranfurly Shield): Those poor Canterbury fans, their team has sapped the excitement out of watching them, they don't even look remotely interested that their team scored their 64th try of the game. It was a great atmosphere at the game for a Wednesday night. We'll never get tired of winning like this

Good win for Harbour. Loving how they are playing this season. Counties discipline was shocking. A number of off the ball penalties as well as some holding back that wasn't picked up. TNW a class above and Laulala at fullback continues to improve. But Harbour forwards were dominant and they link well with a solid 9/10 combo. Volavola was due.....

@taniwharugby Haven't seen hat much of Goodhue, but agree it would makes sense to take him on EOYT as apprentice.

He could be useful for the Canes.

@cgrant said in Counties Manukau v Auckland: @kev It was clearly a ref's error. Henwood jumped into the ruck from the side without any Fekitoa's interference. I wasn't able to watch the whole game and was in and out of it, but I wondered how the ref was judging "hands on" at the ruck. It's one of those weird ones that gets called differently as you go up the ranks. At Super and test level the player needs to lift the ball even when it is clear but at this level putting your hands on can be enough to make you fair game. Anyway, Auckland didn't deserve to win because this game was at Pukekohe and there was a mudslide on the bank for the kids.

That really was a perfect microcosm of a party at the rugby club rooms. Uncomfortable "dancing"/shuffling by most of the guys; one little shit trying to give it the hip-hop treatment; bad singing-along to the Exponents, and a bit of aggro.

Counties have more scum resets than any other Team in the Mitre10 Cup. Their tactic is to spoil the tempo of the opposing team at contact. I don't think that the Counties scrum was as "dominant" as what people make it to be. The difference this week was at the breakdown, where Counties struggled to break through the Canterbury defence. Too put it bluntly the Canterbury Pack "manned up" and Counties folded.

@Chris-B. said in Counties Manukau v Canterbury: @Crucial said in Counties Manukau v Canterbury: Sorry Chris B but I'd rather the semis involved a "battle of the inbreds" Happily, Southland can't deny us third, so you'll have to wait a week to play your Taranaki sister-wives - if you get the chance. I was referring to your lot wanting to play against your uncle-grandads

We won. That is all.