Highlanders v Blues
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I would like to relate a small side story to the Blues winning the Gordon Hunter Trophy this afternoon.
When Tom Coventry was studying Physical Education at Otago University he was made captain of the University A club team.
The coach of this team was a local Dunedin detective Gordon Hunter. As with all players who were coached by this wonderful man,Tom recalled all the quirky and funny methods Gordie employed.
He said to Tom”You are my Captain and anything you want just ask me” Gordie looked after his boys on and off the field!
Tom went on to captain the Sth.Island v Nth Island Universities and scored four tries,but were credited to Dallas Seymour his co flanker because of them wearing wrong number jerseys.
We would like to think the Blues team did credit to Tom and his former mentor.Marvellous forwards game this afternoon. -
@Kirwan said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Bones said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Kirwan said in Highlanders v Blues:
@number9 said in Highlanders v Blues:
Bloody good game, the refs are useless.
Yeah, unhappy to watch an AB milk a penalty with a Hollywood. Poor.
I know, thought Ofa was better than that.
Very droll. We don’t want rugby to end up like soccer, so should have been play on when Smith pretended to trip.
If you watch the end on replay you can see that he does genuinely trip on KT’s foot before his knee contacts KT’s back which looked like a milk from the main angle they replayed.
IMO it would have been a shit call to let it go and award the try. KT was lying in an offside position cutting down smith’s options and Smith tripped on his foot. It’s either offside or accidental offside. -
I knew Gordon, he was a top bloke and a real presence around Dunedin, one of the few of these side trophies that really means something to me and around dunners
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it probably helped having Sotutu take his spot too, and then the talk of Sotutu being a bolter for the ABs...that would likely light a fire too
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Must say it was well worth the trip going down for the game. There were plenty of Blues supporters down there which I was surprised by as there was nex to no one when we played the Crusaders. The stadium was fantastic, easily the best in the country and credit to the Highlanders fans who were very gracious in defeat. I'll definitely head down again for a game that's for sure.
On the game, we completely out muscled them where they couldn't deal with our size and couldn't slow our ball down. Our big names Akira, Pat and Ofa really did smash them around and Karl T monstered their scrum along with Ofa. I notice Christie copped a bit of flak but he was very good I feel both in cover defence and by getting our attack going from the base. Caleb Clarke surely has to be in the next ABs squad as well. He looked like he was running around against little kids every time he touched the ball. Credit to the Highlanders as well, the never give up and always punch above their weight. Couldn't stand that penalty Smith got for diving which I hate in general but never mind.
Special mention to Alex Hodgman as well who came and spoke to me after the game. Absolutely top bloke who's enjoying running around injury free. He's certainly playing very well and continues to get better.
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also, Aaron Smith is the heart and soul of that Highlanders team. He is directly responsible for getting competition points year on year, it's absolutely remarkable.
The only other player I see who comes close to that level of impact is TJP. No surprises they're the 1 and 2 nines in the country.
Love watching him play, and to be at that level for that long astounds me. 8 years for the ABs, and we let him go from the Blues WTG (possibly able to be renamed WTF).
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@gt12 said in Highlanders v Blues:
Lander’s 8
ESPN has him with two tackles but he led the forwards for metres.
same stats by the look
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I’m more in the Ioane at 6 than 8 boat. Think he looks far more assured on the side and in that tight role. Today he was behind a dominant scrum so was easy yards off the back.
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Watched this on delay after playing. Great game to watch. If the Blues can lower the amount of penalties they give away, they'd be very difficult to beat.
Aaron Smith is amazing. Ioane was superb at eight. Frizzel is becoming the clear firm blindside flanker in the competition IMO. With a better pack he'd be dominant. As normal, some real depth in NZ rugby when it comes to backrowers.
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@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders v Blues:
I’m more in the Ioane at 6 than 8 boat. Think he looks far more assured on the side and in that tight role. Today he was behind a dominant scrum so was easy yards off the back.
Yrah, I'd be happy to chick Ardie at 8 and have both Frizzel and Sotutu on the bench...
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@gt12 said in Highlanders v Blues:
Lander’s 8
ESPN has him with two tackles but he led the forwards for metres.
Yeah.
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@booboo said in Highlanders v Blues:
@gt12 said in Highlanders v Blues:
Lander’s 8
ESPN has him with two tackles but he led the forwards for metres.
Yeah.
Yeah I'm sure you won't have noticed the second best 8 in SRA...
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@Bones said in Highlanders v Blues:
@booboo said in Highlanders v Blues:
@gt12 said in Highlanders v Blues:
Lander’s 8
ESPN has him with two tackles but he led the forwards for metres.
Yeah.
Yeah I'm sure you won't have noticed the second best 8 in SRA...
Akira?
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@booboo said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Bones said in Highlanders v Blues:
@booboo said in Highlanders v Blues:
@gt12 said in Highlanders v Blues:
Lander’s 8
ESPN has him with two tackles but he led the forwards for metres.
Yeah.
Yeah I'm sure you won't have noticed the second best 8 in SRA...
Akira?
Who?
Match Centre
