Sotutu is another big prospect.

@KiwiMurph I don't think Tasman were intentionally cheating though - it was pretty clear that their scrum was getting dominated, but trying to hold up - and that Harbour was scrumming for the penalty. Tasman wasn't just immediately folding - they were holding initially and plenty of opportunity for Harbour to have cleared the ball if they wanted - they didn't want to.

My post match interviews with Kieran Keane, Murphy Taramai and Fletcher Smith:

@Steven-Harris said in North Harbour v Bay of Plenty: @JK interesting that Northland who had a club day at the Magpies game on Saturday attracted over 7;000 people,.probably the best crowd of the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup ..it was promoted vey well..;with free buses laid on for all the clubs that were able to attend. Wasn’t a huge amount of promotion for the harbour one and certainly none from our club given the game clashed with junior prize giving which was a very well attended affair. I imagine it would be the same for many other shore clubs given junior rugby finished on the Saturday for the season

Some pretty good tries in the game from both sides. Good to get a win, even if over Southland

Lotu Inisi looks like he has a bright future. Thoughts?

@Nepia Not sure, just heard that they're resting for 2 weeks. Dalton has come back earlier though as he's just been named on the bench for the game against Northland.

43-12 to BOP

After coaching my son since he started playing when he was 5, this year he may not be able to play. Last year he played U14, this year he moves to U16...he is unsure if he wants to play given the size of some kids he will be coming up against, plus, we may not even have team at our club for that grade. 5 of the smaller kids have indicated they will stay in U14 (they are U60 kg so can without dispensation) So in the Whangarei comp last year, we started with 8 teams in U14, one team bailed halfway through as they were getting beaten by 80+ each week. They won't have a team this year, we probably won't, so likely 6 teams in U16 this year in Whangarei comp. So that's >30 kids who played rugby last year, not playing this year...without looking at the Far North comp that had 4 teams play one another for 16 weeks or so...

@dice I'd prefer Wellington in a knock out match This Harbour side seems to take the battle of bridge personally.. more like the 90's. They are more likely to pull out a freakish game because its Auckland

@steven-harris Perofeta did struggle at times last season but he has far more upside than Gatland and ideally would have been coming off the bench last season but ended up starting. I'm convinced that he'll have far more impact next season coming off the bench providing Black stays fit. @KiwiMurph I was very impressed with Plummer at 12 the other night. The kid has a massive future at 10/12 as he can not only run a game but isn't scared going into contact both on attack and defence.

taniwharugby said: @bovidae they are unbackable faves for their next game Just do tackle training all week. Our defence is hopeless so you only need to score once and make your tackles and the game is in the bag.

North Harbour has been scratchy all year. Somehow their results and margins have consistently been better than their form deserves. I guess they get credit for that

There was a great passage of play last night. Canterbury mullered NH in a scrum pushing them back 5m at a rate of knots, but front rows didn't pop. Liava'a miraculously managed to extract the ball from the back and ran it from the base of his backwheeling scrum. Drummond tackled him with a text book tackle and slid down to his ankles. But Liava'a remained on his feet and bunny hopped for about 5m with Drummoned wrapped around his ankles.

@crazy-horse I think there was more to it at the start of the Hurricanes season. He wasn't in the best shape but he was carrying a niggly rib injury that always linger longer than they should. I don't know much about the kid but I hope he has learnt his lesson. The Canes can't afford another season where Riccitelli plays almost every minute.

Aumua should consider moving to hooker. He's certainly big enough and could be very dynamic in that position.

@bovidae Not sure, I am told maybe tomorrow. Fingers crossed!!

@shark He played for BOP from 2013-2014. I think it was 2012 when he was in the NZ U20 side. I recall him saying when he signed for the Leicester Tigers that he signed for them because they were his favourite team to play with on Rugby 08 on PS2 haha.

@tim Otago's Donald Brighouse, Hisa Sasagi and Melani Matavao as well as Hawke's Bay's Stacey Ili and JJ Taulagi have also been selected for Samoa. http://www.manusamoa.com/news-sru/87-uncatergorised/156-manu-samoa-squad-for-the-northern-hemisphere-tour-2018

@rapido said in Canterbury vs. North Harbour: Watched highlights only. My takeaway is gee Hoeata is undisciplined. You seem surprised that a Hoeata is undisciplined ...

As mentioned in another thread, I very much doubt that Li will reach an AB jersey. Very surprised the Sevens team haven't snapped him up though, they certainly need that pace. Maybe an offer was rejected? I guess that he can still build a reasonable highlights reel in XVs to command some good pounds or Euros in a couple of years.

@chris-b said in Tasman vs North Harbour: @crucial you're replying to Stargazer's point. I'm not comparing it to anything - including contesting high kicks - except other stupid refereeing decisions. I'm trying to reply to two points really. Yours about the 'victim' putting themselves in a dangerous position and @Stargazer s one about being similar to BBBR.

Looks like Falcon got a bit of his mojo back which is good

@act-crusader No doubt he was showing some irresistible form early doors, his form dropping off a cliff was rather disappointing. If he gets that back and is consistent then he won't be able to be ignored. Reminds me of Tom Marshall, just a tad more electric.

@dogmeat it was funny watching the number of scrums that were just static with barely any movement from either side, no one able to establish any dominance, except that crucial 1 near the end Will be interesting to see how NH go against Canterbury though, you guys have a pretty good roster of players, cos right now it looks like there is the Canterbury Division, The Premiership & the Championship.

Good win for Harbour. Loving how they are playing this season. Counties discipline was shocking. A number of off the ball penalties as well as some holding back that wasn't picked up. TNW a class above and Laulala at fullback continues to improve. But Harbour forwards were dominant and they link well with a solid 9/10 combo. Volavola was due.....

@Stockcar86 said in Harbour vs Auckland: Happy to do a straight swap with Craig Philpott I retract that offer

@ACT-Crusader Gatland has been pretty sharp. Good distance on his kicking has put the opposition on the back foot.

@Duluth Yeah, he has a bit of a Ben Tameifuna physique. Could be good 30 minute player.

Awesome stuff Harbour. It is excellent for NZ rugby that Harbour are once again a force. Very happy the Blues have signed up coach Steve Jackson.

Haters.

@ACT-Crusader said in North Harbour v Tasman: I'd say the result is a fair reflection of where both teams are at this season. Annoyingly, Tasman has beaten all the Premiership teams, except Canterbury - but has only picked up seven points from three crossover games. On the other hand, I don't think we've had any comfortable victories - one or two where we've jumped away to comfortable leads and then let the opposition back in - maybe against Auckland ended up semi comfortable? Concerning seeing Havili limp off and Banks hobbling around at the end - if Marty isn't fit, I don't think even beating Southland is in the bag. Need Samu and Christie back, as well.

32 unanswered points to finish the game. Shield stays home for the summer Was bloody cold at the game, but a great atmosphere. Reckon we get the best crowds in the comp. Scott Barrett was my MOM

Wouldn't mind seeing Matt Vaega have a go at wing.

@African-Monkey said in North Harbour v Manawatu: Great win for Harbour. They're looking good for a semi final spot. 19 points has been the 4th spot in most years