Tasman vs Canterbury - semifinal

[Chris B.]

Pretty close to the best we can field - apart from missing endless No. 8 options and reflected in Braden Stewart being the bench loosie.

Not sure about Princep over Salmon on the bench and presumably Nankivell is still injured, with Aoake replacing him.

[Chris B.]

And "Go the Mighty Ta$man Mako".

Put those red and black bastards back in their box - they have won enough!!!!

[Chris B.]

TAB have the Mako as narrow favourites to win.

Ta$man $1.70
Canterbury $2.15

All based on home advantage I think!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/107906663/mitre-10-cup-talking-points-tasman-and-canterbury-the-biggest-show-of-semifinal-week

[Stargazer]

Apart from my obvious Magpies bias, this is the most exciting semi-final of the weekend. Ta$man should win this.

[Nepia]

@stargazer said in Ta$man vs Canterbury - semifinal:

Apart from my obvious Magpies bias, this is the most exciting semi-final of the weekend. Ta$man should win this.

Isn't this a trial match for your favourite franchise? :face_with_stuck-out_tongue_winking_eye:

[Stargazer]

@nepia They're not in the catchment area of my favourite franchise.

[sparky]

The All Blacks selectors overlooked a few of the Ta$man guys who have been in great form: Makalio, Parkinson, Hunt and Jordan. I expect them all to be fired up for the Semi Final and keen to make a point to the selectors

[Nepia]

@stargazer said in Ta$man vs Canterbury - semifinal:

@nepia They're not in the catchment area of my favourite franchise.

Equal favourite?

[Chris B.]

Canterbury suddenly with six All Blacks in their starting XV!

[Nepia]

@chris-b Pffft, you Ta$man-ians are so cocky you have an Ab on the bench.

[Chris B.]

@nepia That looks like easily the strongest team Canterbury has put out all season.

Thanks Hansen!

[taniwharugby]

@chris-b tbf only really Luke shouldnt be playing though with the rest all having played in RR (just for Moody)

[Chris B.]

@taniwharugby It is what it is, I guess.

Moody is a fucking handy acquisition, because the front row is a place where Ta$man could have a significant advantage otherwise.

Hodgman comes into the starting XV and another cab (not Lienert-Brown) has to come off the rank and onto the bench. I think we could have had a dominant scrum, which is gold in these games.

Whatever people think of Luke as an AB, he's pretty fucking handy at NPC level and it's the same deal with Sanders upgrading whoever would be on the bench.

What I do wonder is how come Moody needs warm-up games to come back from injury and Squire doesn't? I'll be watching to see what role Liam plays next week!

[African Monkey]

@chris-b Yeah Witelock is massive at this level and as you said they look much stronger now.

[ACT Crusader]

Ta$man’s to lose

[Chris B.]

@act-crusader said in Ta$man vs Canterbury - semifinal:

Ta$man’s to lose

GFY!

[Chris B.]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/107945375/tasman-fullback-will-jordan-has-puts-frustrating-year-at-the-crusaders-behind-him

Most interesting part of this is :

It turns out the Crusaders were struggling to determine why Jordan, a World Cup winner with the NZ under-20s last year, wasn't feeling 100 per cent.

"What it came to, it wasn't a concussion problem, but more if an inner-ear thing which was causing vertigo and a few vision problems. It just took a while to nut that out," Jordan said.

Jordan, who earlier this week was named Ta$man Mako "player of the year", was eventually cleared to play in July, but did not see the field down the stretch.

[KiwiMurph]

For Aussie viewers it looks like this game is now live on Fox tonight. My emails paid off.

[Stargazer]

@chris-b Wasn't that the same problem Ben Smith had last year?

[Chris B.]

@stargazer Certainly along the same lines.

Pretty good news, I think, for Will!