@ARHS Was that Nareki's first game back? He had some good touches, loved the kick that lead to the try.

@Crazy-Horse said in Canterbury v Auckland:

I wouldn't be too down if I was an Auckland supporter. Having finally watched the replay I thought Auckland were looking the better team right up to when the half back was binned. Even after that Auckland were not far off. On any other day Auckland might have won that.

Maybe,But Canterbury have started slowly this season every game and have played their best rugby in the second half.

Beautiful afternoon for some running rugby eh. 83 points is a fair outing.

@ACT-Crusader said in Canterbury v Hawkes Bay:

@Nepia said in Canterbury v Hawkes Bay:

@Stargazer said in Canterbury v Hawkes Bay:

@Nepia Yeah, that was so dumb! Total brain explosion. Still rather him than Sapsford or Higgins at 12.

Normally me too - but my anger at the forward pass and Toala stupidity hasn’t subsided yet. 🤣

I had to scroll through the thread three or four times looking for your posts of anger with the forward pass to Visinia for HB’s first try. Just couldn’t find them….

That one should have been reviewed by the TMO too (not sure why you expect me to get angry on behalf of your province) as it may well have been forward like the game changing one we're discussing.

@Stargazer said in Canterbury v North Harbour:

@Nevorian Owen Bell, is that a cross between George Bell and Owen Franks?

That’s him what a beast

Pleased I wasn't around to watch this! 🙂

@Bovidae said in Taranaki v Canterbury:

Pukekura Park looked in really bad condition after this match. Probably not the best ground to play on after heaps of wet weather.

Yep Bov, while good park for viewing etc, it's really a cricket pitch and not really going to hold together with as much rain as we have had.

@African-Monkey I think we need to do that same and get rid of some of the dead wood in this team.

@Crucial said in Manawatu v Canterbury:

@Winger said in Manawatu v Canterbury:

It was a good change Canterbury not always winning. But this team must be close to favourites this year

Pretty stacked team already and Ennor to come back?

Still not convinced by the Canterbury backs. Strangely, despite the scoreline and the long-range tries, I didn't think the backs were all that impressive. Not terrible, but good enough I suppose. They will be tested when Canterbury come up against a pack that can hold their own.

Dear People of Canterbury,

Being the Head Coach of the Canterbury Men’s NPC side isn’t a role I take lightly. It’s a role I’m extremely honoured to have accepted and one I’ve taken with the full knowledge of the expectations that go with it.
No matter where you go in New Zealand people know about Canterbury Rugby, the history, the success it’s had, the players and coaches it’s produced. Just the thought of playing against Canterbury, especially here at home, left a lump in their gut.

Some of that success was down to you. You helped create an atmosphere that made it hard for our opposition. One that also inspired our guys to dig deeper than they ever had before, because they weren’t just playing for themselves, they were playing for you.

Images of the 80’s and 90’s on the embankment of Lancaster Park, shoulder to shoulder draped in red and black, screaming yourself horse show me the pride and connection you’ve had to the team in the past.

As a man not from Canterbury, it’s these sorts of images that inspires me each and every day.

Because I believe my role is far greater than just to inspire our boys to win on Saturday. A key part of my role, one that I’m extremely passionate about, is to make you proud, to inspire you to be there on Saturday, screaming for Canterbury, to connect you with the team, and for you to be proud of your team. Therefore, I wanted to ask you a question.

How do we recreate those scenes and what can I do to encourage you to be there?

Marty Bourke

Canterbury NPC Head Coach

P.s We’ve got the team to excite you and to inspire you, but rather than me tell you about it, our intention is to show you.

Not a bad little PR move by the front office.

@duluth said in Waikato v Canterbury (Premiership SF):

I agree. Some goodish players and some potential. But the squad is nothing special.. I think a few people haven’t noticed the change in quality (particularly the Sky commentators)

the quality of rugby analysis and insight in the commentating teams is woeful.

@cgrant said in Canterbury v Hawke's Bay:

On the positive side, we must reckon the Magpies are a very well coached team. Kudos for Ozich and his assistants. They have done a great job with underrated players such as Parsons, Toala, Enari and Kaifa, just to name a few.

They are definitely no underrated by HB supporters at least. We know a thing or two about how to rate players properly given the torment of some of those thrust upon us in the past.

@act-crusader I agree though Canterbury got away with continually holding on to players after cleaning them out at the ruck so wasn’t all Wellington’s way.

We were discussing this leaving the stadium and joked that NZR would issue an apology during the week.

@gt12 Yeah, probably the pick of their backs.

@kiwimurph said in Auckland v Canterbury:

That must explain why Ardie is the AB number 8 - his renowned towering height.

1.88 according Mr Google (cough, cough bullshit). 2cm below adequate.

I had two moments of pure happiness this year - yelling at my tv until we lost the shield and yelling at my tv until we stayed up

@Snowy said in Otago v Canterbury:

@Kiwiwomble said in Otago v Canterbury:

@ACT-Crusader are you Justin marshall?

His comments are usually better than Justin. Low bar, I know.

Damned with faint praise

@mariner4life said in BOP v Canterbury:

@Hooroo said in BOP v Canterbury:

I'm a bit late, are we still dining out on this result??

we?

NZ Rugby as a whole.

That was a peach of a last 20 mins from us. I was supposed to be at the game but decided to go down a couple of weeks earlier instead. Mates still went though and are still celebrating.

Another thing. Chay Fihaki looked really good last night, which is great. But it annoys the living fuck out of me that Canterbury retain Fihaki, an Auckland kid out of Sacred Heart, and allow local lad Sam Gilbert to go to Otago. Both were in NZ U20 last year, and sure, Gilbert is a 15-cum-10 who can cover wing as he did last year for Canterbury, while Fihaki is a wing-cum-centre, but they're near enough postionally that it looks like Canterbury (and the Crusaders) made a choice and the local kid lost.

@African-Monkey said in Canterbury v Wellington:

@Chris Really? Looks can be deceiving I guess, he doesn't look that big at all and I have seen him play club rugby up close so that does surprise me weight wise.

Yeah he is quite a big unit

@stargazer I must be well over triple figures for the Wellington game by now. I am seriously considering buying another HB jersey to ensure I have enough left to last the entire club season down here as I'm sure some sort of sabotage/theft will occur to my sole jersey left given it is worn most Saturdays!

On another note, presumably the collared Ranfurly Shield edition jersey now gets mothballed until perhaps we get a challenge. Helluva shame as it's the best jersey since around 1993.

@mariner4life Sky has been showing archive NPC playoff games. I have recorded last nights Waikato-Canterbury SF from 1998, as I remember it well. I won't bother with the final. 🙂

For those in NZ, there is another replay shortly.

@Machpants said in North Harbour v Canterbury:

@Yeetyaah said in North Harbour v Canterbury:

Are the harbour players wearing their club socks?

Looks like it. Good money saving idea!

It was club round. They do it for a round every year and but thought most the provincial teams did something similar?

Ok. Cullen and playing at the Showgrounds Oval tips it in favour of the poo for me.

@Nepia said in Ultimate NPC: - Canterbury:

@shark said in Ultimate NPC: - Canterbury:

How did Deans become the final choice at fullback?

Home provinces get selection preference over your poaches, Rangi is playing for Tasman.

Isn’t it ironic?

I thought the most interesting selection in this game was Grace at 8. I wonder if that's a decree from above (Razor and/or the All Black selectors)? There's definitely an opportunity there for the Crusaders as we have better cover on the blindside in Blackadder and Sanders (Roots also) and really fuck all behind Douglas at 8. Given the MOTM award went to a debutant on the blindside, maybe he'll stay there for the season.

@Stargazer Might have to loan some players from Tasman.

Anybody else get that feeling we were going to capitulate against them again haha

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@Siam said in Otago vs Canterbury (RS):

18 year

Pffft. Fcking newbies.

A little premature with the previous comment as Counties did somehow manage to score but they only snuck in a couple of minutes before the end. Final score was Canterbury 38 - 05 Counties

@shark said in Canterbury vs Manawatu:

@Tim said in Canterbury vs Manawatu:

Is Josh McKay the new Michael Collins?

More like a faster Damien McKenzie without the positional smarts.

How fast is he, he must be a bullet? DMac is quick.