Otago vs Tasman
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http://www.mitre10cup.co.nz/News/33211/crossover-preview-otago-v-tasman
Otago
Vilimoni Koroi, Mitchell Scott (c), Sio Tomkinson, Matt Whaanga, Matt Faddes, Finn Strawbridge, Melani Matavao, Sione Misiloi, Slade McDowall, Naulia Dawai, Josh Larsen, Tom Rowe, Donald Brighouse, Ricky Jackson, Tom Hill
Reserves: Seko Pole, Jonah Aoina, George Bower, Joketani Koroi, James Lentjes, Kurt Hammer, Taylor Haugh, Jona Nareki
Ta$man
Will Jordan, Tomas Aoake, Levi Aumua, David Havili (c), Tima Faingaanuku, Mitch Hunt, Jack Grooby, Taina Fox-Matamua, Jacob Norris, Ethan Blackadder, Paripari Parkinson, Quinten Strange, Tyrel Lomax, Andrew Makalio, Wyatt Crockett
Reserves: Ray Niuia, Ryan Coxon, Blair Prinsep, John Akau’ola-Laula, Braden Stewart, Finlay Christie, Timothy O’Malley, Leicester Faingaanuku
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Looks like Otago, having qualified for the play-offs and with a Shield challenge next, have named a bit of a B team.
That's what they did vs Auckland!
Ta$man resting Alaimalo and starting Jack Grooby - otherwise the starting XV is probably the best available.
Braden Stewart is yet another step down the loose forward rabbit hole. We must be up to about a dozen loose forwards having played for us this year. On the plus side, Liam Squire was supposedly out for three weeks with his hand injury and is surely going to need to play multiple matches to get fit for the EOYT.
You fucking hearing me Hansen!*
Faingaanuku Minor gets a debut off the bench.
- Actually, he shouldn't be allowed to, but Hansen rolled out Naholo against us last year in the semis, so we're owed one.
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Pretty good effort - pack was a bit too powerful for Otago - especially in the first half.
I guess it's a product of the style of play, but (to my eyes anyway) Ta$man make a lot of soft unforced errors. In the first half they threw three forward passes (got away with one) that is just an easy turnover.
The curse of the 6/8 jerseys continued with Fox-Matamua failing an HIA.
Back to the top of the table and maintaining our narrow advantage over Canterbury.
I'm guessing that simply beating Hawkes Bay in the final game will be good enough for a home semi, but we will probably need a bonus point win to have a shot at top spot. Most likely have left a few too many bonus points on the park for that.
We've been handed a short turnaround for the HB game, which is a bit of a cause for apprehension.
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@stargazer said in Otago vs Ta$man:
FT: Otago 21 - 47 Ta$man
Phew, no bonus point for Otago. That's good for the Bay, who'll play Ta$man next.
Steady on there Stargazer, that last Ta$man try might have cost us the semi final win over Northland in KPs Tipping Contest. We might have been marginally ahead prior to that but things changed again with the final try. We will just have to keep our fingers crossed and wait for KP to post the final scores.
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@stargazer said in Otago vs Ta$man:
Phew, no bonus point for Otago. That's good for the Bay, who'll play Ta$man next.
So all you Bay fans will be cheering for Waikato next Sat.
