Otago v Magpies - Championship semi-final

[Stargazer]

Magpies:

1.Mark Braidwood, 2.Kianu Kereru-Symes, 3.Ben May, 4.Tom Parsons, 5.Michael Allardice, 6.Geoff Cridge, 7.Gareth Evans, 8.Marino Mikaele Tu'u, 9.Brad Weber, 10.Lincoln McClutchie, 11.Mason Emerson, 12.Pasqualle Dunn, 13.Stacy Ili, 14.Jonah Lowe, 15.Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.

Substitutes: 16.Ben Power, 17.Jason Long, 18.Joe Apikotoa, 19.Josh Kalifa, 20.Devan Flanders, 21.Folau Fakatava, 22.Danny Toala, 23.Michael Buckley.

.

Squad according to the Mitre 10 Cup website.

No Ash Dixon.
It looks like Danny Toala has leapfrogged Sasa Tofilau in the pecking order.

Otagao must be favourites for this game, having won more games this season and probably on a high after winning the Shield. The Shield can also distract though, so hopefully that's the case and they've celebrated a bit too hard.

[Number 10]

This post is deleted!

[Stargazer]

C'mon my Magpies, you've already surpassed my expectations at the beginning of the season, but - please - do the previously unthinkable and get us in the Final!

[Nepia]

Yep, win or lose today the stench of the Philpott is behind us!

[Higgins]

Still leaves a lingering bad taste in the mouth though!

[Higgins]

I love those lineout drive tries, but only when it is my team scoring from them
HB 07 - 00 Otago after 5 minutes.
Hope you have managed to find a free stream to follow the action on Nepia

[Magpie_in_aus]

Hey @Nepia if you have slide into my DM's

Foxtel you literally have one job. Play all the rugby I watch...

[Magpie_in_aus]

found one

[Higgins]

Missed the second try whilst I was over checking the goings on at Mt Smart (still nil nil)
Otago 00 - 14 Hawkes Bay after 13 minutes

[Higgins]

Fantastic defence on our line. Where has that been all season? Halftime comes up
Otago 03 - 14 Hawkes Bay

[Stargazer]

@higgins I don't think the defence on our line has been our problem. Usually our midfield missed the tackles.

[Magpie_in_aus]

Im sitting at home screaming at the screen. FABGE with an amazing turnover. Im still trying to figure Ben Mays value. He has lacklustre pick and go's feet for hands. Finds himself mismatched in the midfield and we don't dominate the scrum. Can only assume he is brought in as a specialist tall lifter(similar to jamie Macintosh)

[Stargazer]

Man, my blood pressure is going through the roof! Exciting stuff. Keep going boys!

[Magpie_in_aus]

Just saw that second try. Man that was nice.

[Higgins]

@stargazer said in Otago v Magpies - Championship semi-final:

@higgins I don't think the defence on our line has been our problem. Usually our midfield missed the tackles.

You are probably right about the goal line defence but overall our defence has been about a D+ to a C-. There were times that it was downright cringeworthy, the Northland game and the first forty against the 'Poo being spectacular examples of this.
We are looking OK so far tonight and it would be disappointing not to finish it off with victory still a lot can happen in forty minutes that might not please us. Hopefully not tonight though.

[Nepia]

@magpie_in_aus Sorry man, wasn't checking feed!

[Magpie_in_aus]

Bugger. That was horrible to watch. Otago trying there best to not score

[Higgins]

Yes it sure was, but they got over in the end despite doing their best to not put any pressure on their conversion taker. Some really bad hungas on display there.

Very little possession coming our way since half time. Must be pretty tiring tackling for all that time.

[Higgins]

TRY to Mason Emerson completely and utterly against the run of play - whew!

[Stargazer]

I hate O'Keefe.