v North Harbour
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@nath-jac we have some players with serious gas, but I dont think they'll get alot of gametime barring injuries.
I gotta say though, I reckon Tua looks very quick, he made a break in the club final and I had to do a double take to make sure it was him.
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A couple of surprises there, biggest one for me is Matiu over Matich, was wondering if Straker would get a start, but I hadnt seen enough of him.
http://www.taniwha.co.nz/newsarticle/66508
Northland Team:
- Ross Wright (Wellsford)
- Matt Moulds (Otamatea)
- Jack Straker - Debut (Kamo)
- Tom Robinson (Kerikeri)
- Josh Goodhue (Kamo)
- Murray Douglas (Awanui)
- Kara Pryor (Hora Hora)
- Jaycob Matiu (Hora Hora)
- Sam Nock (Kerikeri)
- Jack Debreczeni - Debut (Eastern)
- Rene Ranger (Wellsford)
- Blake Hohaia (Kamo)
- Tamati Tua (Kamo)
- Jordan Hyland (Wellsford)
- Matty Wright (Wellsford)
Replacements
16. Jordan Olsen (Mid Northern)
17. Isileli Tu'ungafasi - Debut (Mid Northern)
18. Ropate Rinakama (Waipu)
19. Kane Jacobson - Debut (Kamo)
20. Matt Matich (Western Sharks)
21. Jono Kitto - Debut (Hikurangi)
22. Myles Throughgood - Debut (Kamo)
23. Scott Gregory - Debut (Hikurangi) -
Just seen the Harbour team on their FB,14 x players with Super Rugby experience in the staring XV.
Looks their strongest possible lineup,only Harrison Groundwater at 2nd five the only non super contracted player.
gonna have to stay in the fight Taniwha,will be a good gauge to see where many of our guys who played super rugby are. -
@steven-harris very good NH side for sure, so we will need to be on song to get past them.
I think if we can pick up anymore than 7 points in these opening 3 games, I will be happy (although if we click we are capable of 12-15...)
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@taniwharugby ,if there is an upside,Harbour will be the strongest team we will play in the round robin games,we don’t play the other 3 x teams whom will be there at the business end.
Canterbury, Ta$man and Wellington.
One thing I do Like,our first 3 x games are against Premiership sides,which leaves only CM away,so good to get those games out of the way before we hit the 3 x games in one week scenario. -
@steven-harris said in v North Harbour:
we don’t play the other 3 x teams whom will be there at the business end.
Not rating Taranaki this year?
How do you think Auckland will go?
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@tim for me, Auckland is a bit of an unknown, on paper with guys like Pat T, Akira et al, they should be up there at the business end, I mean Akira carried the Blues at times, you'd expect Auckland would be easier to carry!
I think next weekend is probably our best shot at beating them for a while though, more so given it is the first time in probably a decade we have played at Okara, hopefully is a fine afternoon as I reckon there will be a good crowd for it!
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@tim if I had to rate the teams in order..
Premiership
1.Canterbury
2. Ta$man
3.North Harbour
4.Wellington
5.Auckland
6.Taranaki
7.CountiesMy floater here is Harbour,they are North Islands version to Ta$man,loaded with super rugby players,around 18 I believe in their squad,and the only disruption is big Karl T who will be with the ABs
Championship
1.Otago
2.Manawatu
3.Waikato
4.Bay of Plenty
5.Northland
6.Hawkes Bay
7.SouthlandThat’s the head speaking.
I did pick Northland ahead of the Magpies only because Northland does not play Canterbury, Ta$man or Wellington,sorry stargazer..!
My floater is Manawatu,their squad has great depth,and with Milner Skudder,Laumape and Hemapo floating outside the AB squad,that’s some serious firepower to bring back in,not to mention 2 quality goalkicking pivots Black and TeRure..In summary,just when you think your own team has a decent squad,you look at the others squads and go WTF..!
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Sorry Tim,on Auckland,with so many new faces coming in,they will have to gel,it’s realky important that their All Blacks like Akira and Patrick front up,their looses forwards are their biggest strengths,
Akira,Blake and Dalton..
Weakness could be their set piece scrum,Taniela Koroi is a good pick up. -
@taniwharugby said in v North Harbour:
it is the first time in probably a decade we have played at Okara, hopefully is a fine afternoon as I reckon there will be a good crowd for it!
Yup. 2007 was the last one in Whangarei (2009 was Kerikeri)
If its good weather etc I'll probably head up
Auckland needs to settle on the correct front row/halfback and midfield quickly. If they get that right they could challenge for the title. Probably too much change happening this year to be a real contender
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@taniwharugby said in v North Harbour:
@tim for me, Auckland is a bit of an unknown, on paper with guys like Pat T, Akira et al, they should be up there at the business end, I mean Akira carried the Blues at times, you'd expect Auckland would be easier to carry!
I think next weekend is probably our best shot at beating them for a while though, more so given it is the first time in probably a decade we have played at Okara, hopefully is a fine afternoon as I reckon there will be a good crowd for it!
Can Akira carry Auckland either running from ruck to ruck or emulating Luke Whitelock and just tackling all match?
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@steven-harris Taranaki does have some big losses: TTT, Mitchell Graham, Ngatai, M Mac, and of course the coach. Really interesting to see how they go this year.
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20 minutes until kick off,exciting curtain raiser between Takapuna Grammar and Westlake,title shared title 18 all,
Looked like an awesome crowd until the secondary schools final was completed..nek minute,there’s more journalists sitting in the press box.. -
@steven-harris you calling the game?
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@taniwharugby doing some written stuff for media works and will and I will chuck in some coms on this blog
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@steven-harris I'm listening on the radio...
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Good line speed earns Harbour a pen at breakdown
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Not a good start by the sounds...lucky Garland is kicking poorly.
