V Manawatu

Gunner

Well that was a half of two halves. 
Our defense is really worrying me, we're conceding a lot of clean line breaks in the 10-13 channels. 
But sheesh out attack came to life in that second quarter, great to watch. More of that please!

Hooroo

I said to Duluth in a PM that I rarely watch NPC but glad I turned this game on. Great first half

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Duluth" data-cid="606763" data-time="1471594817">
Pryor has been struggling with the new laws but showing class with the ball in hand</blockquote>Yes he's given away 3 or 4 penalties at the ruck. He's giving it the confused look and the ref almost seems to be feeling sorry for him and letting him off lightly.

kev

Defensive line is all over the show but we have some game at least. The points have given us confidence, so we need to start well in second half. 
Scrum seems capable and even dominant sometimes but have been scrubs where we have not been in the contest.

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kev" data-cid="606771" data-time="1471595410">
Defensive line is all over the show but we have some game at least. The points have given us confidence, so we need to start well in second half. 
Scrum seems capable and even dominant sometimes but have been scrubs where we have not been in the contest.</blockquote>If by start well you mean give away a dumb penalty, then they've listened to you very carefully Kev.

Gunner

So the touchy reports foul play, but because there are no good camera angles, she's play on? 
Surely the ref has to back his touchies call there?

Gunner

Some greedy play there cost us a try, a couple of players in that movement had opportunities to pass to an unmarked man but didn't. 
Olsen held up over the line at the end of it.

Gunner

Yeeeeoooo!!!! 
Ram in, but easy conversion missed. 
24-20

Gunner

26-20 
Edit, that should be 27-20 shouldn't it? Sky have it wrong.

Gunner

Fuck. The poo in from a kick pass to Curtis. 
Black, the prick gets the kick from the sideline. 
27-27

Gunner

Fuck we've gone right off the boil, Soft turnovers creeping in. 
Dig deep you buggers and lift!

Gunner

Fuck fuck fuck. 
Soft turnovers and giving away soft penalties when we have the fucking ball costs us a try and most likely the game. 
Best we can hope for now is a draw. 
Not when we give away yet another penalty though.

kev

We should have kicked for the corners in the last 10 minutes. Played too much rugby around our half. 
It seemed like Manawatu players were standing on the side of the ruck kicking at our ball making it messy. If they want the new rules to work they need to tidy up this kicking at the ball at ruck time - I prefer the old rules in that regard where you had guys on the ball, rather than using their feet.

Gunner

Fucking disappointing, seemed to run out of puff in the last quarter - there were soft turnovers, soft penalties, no ball control at the rucks and we just didn't fire a shot. 
Tough 4 games on the road now... As TR has said, it's entirely possible that we'll be 0-5 before our next home game.

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kev" data-cid="606804" data-time="1471598777">
We should have kicked for the corners in the last 10 minutes. Played too much rugby around our half. 
It seemed like Manawatu players were standing on the side of the ruck kicking at our ball making it messy. If they want the new rules to work they need to tidy up this kicking at the ball at ruck time - I prefer the old rules in that regard where you had guys on the ball, rather than using their feet.</blockquote> Was thinking the same thing. I've never seen so many players come through (or around) a ruck and just boot the ball. It becomes a free for all and not good watching. 
Also very much agree with playing too much in our own half, especially as they were coming up fast and smashing us back well behind the advantage line time and time again. 
It felt like the last try had an air of inevitably about it, as I said before, we ran out of steam, which is a concern.

kev

I thought the performance was good in parts - set piece worked well and the outside backs looked good. Defence with straight lines needs some work. 
Yes we dropped off in the last 15 minutes. Thought we lacked control at this critical time. 
But the performance was miles better than last year. If they can build from this we will win some games. 
Nb: Macalai is such a quality player now. His time with the Crusaders has improved him as a rugby player.

taniwharugby

went in with such low expectations, after 20 mins, it looked like a big one on the cards....some good play, but by fuck the Poo got away with alot of off the ball shit, did that call in the 2nd spell with the TMO go looking for a knee and kick to the headl of Matich?? 
 
AR should have called it, was right in front of him, as was a half spear tackle on Dunn off the ball a little earlier.
 
Is it the new rules that allowed Manawatu to march round and kick at the ball almost every ruck as well?? 
 
Like the look of Solomona, he looks to have some toe...our mid-field defence looks all at sea at times.
 
Thought most of our forwards stood up, Matich in particular was everywhere, Goodhue had a big 1st half but wasnt as prominent in the 2nd.
 
Just before they scored the kick pass I said to J77 that thier winger was so wide, it was on....
 
The roller coaster ride as a Northland fan continues....go in down low, get lower, get up, up, look down form the top, and then at the last minute, you drop! 
 
More positives from that than I was expecting, but still a loss

the champ is here

Yep gotta say I was pleasantly surprised with the performance tonight. Not the result obviously but some good signs. I wouldn't be so down on our chances to get a result or two on the road, the loosies will get better, the 10 looks good and I like the look of our fullback.

kev

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kev" data-cid="606804" data-time="1471598777">
It seemed like Manawatu players were standing on the side of the ruck kicking at our ball making it messy. If they want the new rules to work they need to tidy up this kicking at the ball at ruck time - I prefer the old rules in that regard where you had guys on the ball, rather than using their feet.</blockquote>
 
Changed my mind - I like the new rules re players having to stay on their feet. A great change - they still have to watch fringing players kicking at the ball. I don't think they got that right in the Northland game. Also the players that are arriving need to make sure they don't go past the ball. A few times I thought we had won the ruck only to see Manawatu regroup after we went past the ball.

taniwharugby

I think if they are on thier feet, then they can do what they like, ruck it, or kick it, which is what Manawatu did to disrupt our ball, if they couldnt have it, neither could we, the fact they were coming round the side and off side all night was another issue all together.
 
Ref and ARs missed alot last night.
 
Some foul play, 1 that was a RC offence...I think Warren Dunns try came off the end of a forward pass several passes back, so fortunate they were looking at foot in touch, not back to the initial start of movement.

The Silver Fern

V Manawatu