Canterbury v Hawkes Bay
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Canterbury name strong side to round off Storm Week against Hawke’s Bay — Canterbury Rugby
The return of Captain Billy Harmon and All Black Braydon Ennor are just a couple of the changes made by Head Coach Marty Bourke as Canterbury look to end their storm week with a win against the in-form Hawke’s Bay.
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My sense that our new head coach has no idea how to select the team is getting stronger by the week. This will probably be one of our most difficult games, and in this game he rests Tom Parsons and Devan Flanders, gives the start to our smallest midget at TH because it's his blazer game and names a pretty average openside on the bench, which means he's going to sub Funaki, who has been massive for us, has a huge engine and doesn't normally need to be subbed (and there's always Kaifa, who can play at 7). Biggest improvement is Makene at fullback, but that may not have been the coach's choice and is probably due to his pet being injured.
Canterbury's game to lose.
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@Stargazer Listening to him during his slot just before 8.00am on local radio this morning he said that both Parsons and Flanders are injured, think that might also be the case with Chase Tiatia, but at least in the latter case it is not really weakening the team to any great extent. He also spoke about Ollie Sapsford and his interpretation on the way he performed against Nth Harbour was quite different to the way I saw it.
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@Higgins said in Canterbury v Hawkes Bay:
@Stargazer Listening to him during his slot just before 8.00am on local radio this morning he said that both Parsons and Flanders are injured, think that might also be the case with Chase Tiatia, but at least in the latter case it is not really weakening the team to any great extent. He also spoke about Ollie Sapsford and his interpretation on the way he performed against Nth Harbour was quite different to the way I saw it.
Ok, that's fair enough on those two being injured but really can not understand the benching of Fomai, he's been one of our best the last few years.
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So let's be honest, this is very much Canterbury's game to lose. Yes I know it's the end of there Storm week, but they have the depth of player to come through that. Hawkes Bay to be honest, haven't hit there straps yet, there's been glimpses of it, but as yet no 80 minute performance. Tom Parsons and Devan Flanders not playing is a big blow but it is what is, and injuries can't be helped. To be honest it gives other players a chance and remember Josh Kaifa was brilliant last year against these guys. Canterbury will start this game very quickly, phase after phase, and attempt to get points early. Hawkes Bay have to own the last 25 of the first half, and the first 25 of the second. No post halftime catnaps, no flat patches, if they do that they'll lose heavily. In all honesty to come away with some competition points would be good. Then get back home and get ready for Southland's Shield Challenge. No I'm not flying the white flag, but I'd be surprised if Hawkes Bay pull this one off, but hey you never know.
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I can't believe how much the Canterbury backs stood back to defend off that scrum
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@Higgins said in Canterbury v Hawkes Bay:
Yellow card against The Bay openside. At this rate and with hoped for consistency this could be a record number of cards in an NPC game and it instantaneously leads to Canterbury 05 - 10 HB after about 25 minutes
Deliberate infringements so worth a card. Kicking out at a player like that could have earned a card by itself.
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@Higgins said in Canterbury v Hawkes Bay:
Rakete-Stones held up over the line right on half time with the margin still being eight points. I doubt that will be enough, but you just never know....................
Hawkes Bay has a big pack. Every chance.
