That was a nice relaxing afternoon on the sideline even with the early try to the Stags. We looked like breaking them open every time we ran the ball. Sterner tests to come

@Bovidae yes. He has been quicker overall in the past. Think there is something going on in his mind about checking options before and after he picks up ball. Maybe just needs to hurry to one pace closer and wait for a call behind him. More minutes will sharpen it up.

It's a pity this conversion wasn't included in the highlights clip. How often does a loosie kick a perfect sideline conversion?

Mikaele-Tu'u kicked the conversion because it was his 50th game for the Magpies.

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Entertaining game.

@taniwharugby said in Northland v Southland:

@Duluth guess the only thing in Adams' favour is he was very low, but he only needed to set/drive, rather than blow over like that, it was only a half back 😉

@KiwiMurph I have no arguments, despite me not wanting it looked at, I think it warranted a look...am a bit surprised it only got an off-field Yellow, too, fortunately the 9 doesnt look like he suffered a head knock, so that is a positive!

To me Adam’s technique was pretty good, low and aggressive to a player looking to steal. The trouble is you have a small halfback going over the ball with head moving down and the clean out is risky because of that. To your point he probably only needed to set because it was a halfback but making that decision quickly when it could have been a loose forward is increasing the risk losing the contact. Looked worse than it was because he flattened him. If I am the coach I am wanting him to do that everyday of the week - just maintain his technique, stay low and try to avoid the head.

@taniwharugby I don't even know who they're playing but let me guess it's Northland? If so that'll be a great watch

Match stats are interesting. Pretty similar in most areas. A 1 point difference seems fair.

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@tim said in Taranaki v Southland (Championship SF):

@stargazer I think Sione Tuipulotu will cover lock. They only have 4 specialist locks in their squad.

One of whom (Poloniati) does not even start for the 'Poo.

@duluth I watched the game with one eye, while doing something else. He had a good game; influential in the pack.

Southland had a great game and was much better than the final score suggest. Injury worry for Charles Alaimalo, who's season may be over if his shoulder (?) injury is as bad as it looked.

@taniwharugby said in Southland v Northland:

@bovidae yeah they get 6 and we only get 4 as we weren't down to play Auckland.

Doesn't bother me much, we don't deserve to make it, and in not making it I hope it puts the blow torch on our coaches...but not holding my breath; covid handing out free passes.

The whole thing is a shambles - you can’t tell the scheduled games and the points are screwed up.

Northland deserve to finish last.

anyone seen any news on Nareki?

@mikedogz having Read there for most of the season will have been great for the team too.

@African-Monkey said in Southland v Otago:

@Chris It was bizarre that he was left out in 2018 when he was easily the best in club rugby that year but they decided to go for 2 journeymen in Phil Burleigh and Sam Beard instead which did nothing for them in the long term as they both only lasted the 1 season.

Yeah exactly we were not impressed with those selections they were both poor.
I was thinking that season Nu’u must get a chance then they name the squad with those two in,Bizarre is a great word for it no rhyme or reason to it.

Someone once said something about a game of two halves (and then they said it again..).

This was that.

First half, Tasman seemed a mix of casual, butter-fingered, overly-anxious hunguses determined to keep Southland in the game.

Second half they came out much more focused, accurate and playing for each-other and eventually broke the Southland shackles.

Not sure whether playing with the wind was responsible for some pretty dire catching and passing. Tbh Southland played the first half like there was a heavy mid-afternoon dew , as well.

Anyway, ended up pretty comfortable.

Much better from just about everyone compared to last week's debacle - at least in the 2nd half. David Havili back to being a talisman. Fox-Matamua went well at 8. Ross improved the lineout. Renton probably had his best game of the season.

Once we stopped dropping the ball Big Leicester and Fetu Paea started to look good. Fonotia was decent and Mark Talea had his moments.

Nice cameo from Segner with one blockbusting run and a little catch and pass to set up a try. Worth another run next week, IMO.

Biggest problem was Isaac Salmon at tighthead - we went from having a dominant scrum with Matenga, to getting beaten up. That suggest that Matenga might be worth a look from a Super team.

Pleasing effort in the loose from Sam Moli. I'm not sure whether he threw to the linout, but I'd stick with him for next week as well.

@Bovidae said in Southland v Taranaki:

So a good game to ignore then.

It was tough viewing. Not a great deal of highlights. Southland started well I thought and were up and in defensively. But the attack from both sides is pretty mediocre.

@taniwharugby said in Northland v Southland:

Oh, I will add, if we did win the shield and lost the other 4 games, I could live with that too.

😈

@Hooroo Small world eh, my flatmate went to school with him and knows him.

ive always wondered this...and havent been able to find an answer, whats with the grandstand at rugby park? why so offset? i get it if they couldn't afford or just didn'r need one the full length...but why not around the half way line?

BOP Lineout kept us in it and made the difference. Need to tidy up everything else...

Wow, the current Bay struggled but still won, hardly impressive but still won. We won’t miss Cane though

Just thought I would remind our Hawkes friends 😀

Apologies to @Magpie_in_aus who went through shit with this game

Lastly bring on the battle of the bays!

@Nepia said in Ultimate NPC: - Southland:

@Crucial said in Ultimate NPC: - Southland:

Any love for Ginge Henderson at 7?

Hard as nails that bloke.

All Black test captain with a 100% winning record and a +128 for and against.

Very small sample size there. 1 match versing Japan ? RWC. The Marc Ellis one?

Yep if you pick any of the older players who played 50 tests you'd be fairly safe

@nakosi said in Taranaki v Southland:

The worst half of rugby I've ever seen in my life, and I've seen a lot.
Naki is a disgrace right now.

Samoa and Russia say hello...

Naki got their act together in the second half and put together a few decent moves, even with the deteriorating conditions.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/115991204/mitre-10-cup-relief-overriding-emotion-as-southland-end-27game-losing-run

How on earth?

Love the finish of the game. Sums up Southland’s woes. Southland player did all the work to stay in the field of play and get the offload off, only for a basic handling error to happen straight after and game over.

Kept scoreless in the second half after a big lead. If Southland were a horse...

@shark said in Southland Rugby:

@Kirwan said in Southland Rugby:

@Magpie_in_aus maybe the solution is to redistribute the teams along populations lines? Should Southland just become a heartland team?

The criteria being how many people in order to have a Div 1 team? 100,000 would see others such as Tasman also demoted, and 16 sides from Greater Auckland.

Tasman's catchment - i.e. Nelson City, Marlborough, Tasman District has a population of 150,000.

Back on track. Although still far from a settled combination. Who's next up?

Some pretty good tries in the game from both sides.

Good to get a win, even if over Southland

Thanks for your answer. Poor guy, this may hamper his chances of winning a call for the next SR season for which he has been conditioning all year long.

@Steven-Harris Cripes another year of glass made warriors.

We never seem to get a good run with injuries, and they’re always crucial players too.