Waikato v Manawatū

[Bovidae]

Waikato NPC team return home to FMG Stadium Waikato to face Manawatu Turbos.

Waikato NPC have announced their matchday 23 to face Manawatu Turbos when the two sides go head-to-head at FMG Stadium...

[Bovidae]

Finau injured against CM, but good to see Luke Jacobson back. More rotation amongst the props.

[Duluth]

[cgrant]

Waikato's bench front row is far better than the starting one. Could be decisive during the second half, unless the job has been done before.

[Bovidae]

@cgrant said in Waikato v Manawatū:

Waikato's bench front row is far better than the starting one. Could be decisive during the second half, unless the job has been done before.

The same plan used against CM. Kautai will be part of the top prop rotation once Filipo picks his best 23.

A first start for Tukuafu, whose partner is the co-captain of the Black Ferns the following day.

[Stargazer]

Big loss for the Poo

Manawatū Turbos co-captain Iose ruled out of Waikato match

The No 8 has been ruled out of Friday night’s national provincial championship game in Hamilton with an ankle injury.

Powerful wing Ed Fidow is also out with a rib injury.

[Bovidae]

This game is also live on Prime TV.

[ARHS]

@Bovidae said in Waikato v Manawatū:

This game is also live on Prime TV.

To see the score blow out in the second half?

[Bovidae]

@ARHS said in Waikato v Manawatū:

@Bovidae said in Waikato v Manawatū:

This game is also live on Prime TV.

To see the score blow out in the second half?

I wouldn't be complaining.

[Yeetyaah]

@Duluth I somehow missed the Luke Campbell signing.

[Crucial]

Anyone else feel that Roe operates better at this level yet Ratima shines more in Super?
Just how it seems to me. At NPC Roe distributes well and is able to clear the ball faster while Ratima's more 'aggressive' approach gets lost. Move up to super and Ratima will get people out of his way and comes across as the more effective of the two.

[Bovidae]

Ratima is the more robust of the two, so thrives with the physicality of SR. Roe needs more time and space to operate, which the NPC allows.

Roe starting with Ratima on the bench is the best use of them both for Waikato. I'd prefer to see a more equal share of time on the field though. So far Filipo has started each of the 3 halfbacks once.

[ACT Crusader]

Interesting first up breakdown penalty. The Turbos player technically tackled the Mooloo ball carrier and competed for the ball all in one motion.

[Steven Harris]

When your season is going south and you just can’t take a trick ..🤷🏻‍♂️

[Stargazer]

Beautiful try from Ratima.

[antipodean]

That's a nice try finished off by Ratima. Manawatū could do with a defence coach.

[Higgins]

@antipodean Obviously not within John Plumtree's gambit.

[Winger]

53-6. Highest score so far this week.

[Winger]

Manawatu started off well last year. What's happened to them

[Bovidae]

Well that was one of the most underwhelming 50 pt wins.

Waikato looked too casual for much of the match. McCurran, Sinkinson and Coombes-Fabling were the pick of the Waikato players for me. Sullivan had a shocker.