@Bovidae Nice try, Ron. Probably had Richard Pearse playing first five!

Tough loss. Watched the game again and the team put in a great effort, especially the starters. It's too bad that our subs came on and added very little. Outside of Adams, most of the subs had a negative impact on the game, especially Abel. If you watch the last 20 minutes, almost all the missed tackles and mistakes during that time were by our bench players. Their bench was much better and made key plays at the end of the game, which was probably the difference. I think both packs canceled each other out for the most part. I think our pack struggled to get much go forward for most of the game, but despite that, our backs were pretty dangerous throughout the match. We definitely made a mistake not having Sotutu somewhere in the 23 though. The way we corrected things in the last few weeks, I'm hopeful of next season. We were just a totally different team late in the season.

Haha

@Chiefy07 said in Tasman v Northland: Jack Debreczeni The irony there is he seemed to be made of glass in Super rugby haha! Yeah I mentioned the players we are missing above being a factor, and maybe the expectation has been the newbies will be able to execute plans they had when they were anticipating our 'best' players would have been available. I think the coaches need to take some of the heat, they provide the gameplans, conditioning (coaching group) culture etc...seems there is a bit wrong at present.

@SammyC said in Tasman v Auckland: Has anyone mentioned how shit Akira Ioane was? Yes he was very bad. He's put on some weight hasn't he. I couldn;t believe how easily Havili ran around him in that first half. Ha two players share the same non-AB selection disappointment but couldn't be more different in their attitude.

@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.

Oh and I'm also in the camp that doesn't move Goodhue to accommodate Ennor, but should attrition or lack of other options dictate that move - and there's no clear 12 for the Saders at the moment - then so be it.

@Snowy That one is already lined up for an entirely different, though highly unlikely, purpose!

@shark I reckon you won't get much use out of Will next year - even if you open that massive red and black chequebook! Who is the Aussie 10?

Big Leicester, David Havili and Will Jordan are an exceptional back three.

@sparky Dominating at a lower level as he does. Another flat track bully who always went missing in big tests.

A halfback and two or three other players will be added later. http://www.allblacks.com/News/34491/tasman-name-powerful-squad-for-2019-campaign

I had a re-watch yesterday. Pari Pari Parkinson was the best player on the field. Great first half at the lineout and with ball in hand, excellent second half in defense. This guy is more powerful than his lean frame might let it think. Good games from Aumua, Havili, Strange and Makalio as well. Jordan was a bit disappointing but the game did not go his way. Canterbury had less individual brilliance (with the notable exceptions of Drummond and Bridge) but their collective play in the second half was just awsome.

@chris-b said in Tasman vs Hawkes Bay: @crucial Or Canterbury. We will be at home and we won't be playing Auckland. Of course. I had forgotten that Auckland could leapfrog you still Your support behind NH will be greatly appreciated by myself in the tipping comp comeback I have planned.

@stargazer said in Otago vs Tasman: Phew, no bonus point for Otago. That's good for the Bay, who'll play Tasman next. So all you Bay fans will be cheering for Waikato next Sat.

@shadowtrooper said in Wellington vs Tasman: I'm hoping the Chiefs can attract Levi Aumua back next season, but this time give him some decent game time It would be good to know what happened this season. He's a big unit so perhaps fitness was an issue.

@stargazer It's all guesswork, but my reaction to seeing Crotty up close was that he's quite big and seeing David up close is that he isn't.

@crucial Tall Matt Todd! Lineout was rubbish. Missed Parkinson in the first half, but when he came on we lost Makalio and Niuia threw like he'd been taking lessons from Nathan Harris. Hope Makalio is nothing serious. One of quite a few we don't have great cover for. Once Lomax came on our scrum was dominant, but we didn't really get the full benefit of that. Still, points in the bank - onward and upward. When Hemepo came on he looked like an All Black - a cut above the average.

Parkinson was the standout player in this match. Great to see some young talented locks coming through.

Haha Auckland are never favourites against Canterbury especially down there. I'd back even the weakest of Canterbury teams to beat us in Chch. Oh well I suppose I''ll go along and watch and hope that this could be the one time we win haha.

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

@stargazer said in Tasman vs Southland: @shark I doubt Havili will go anywhere after the RWC. He's only 23, still developing as a player and - the last two years - the first choice fullback for the Crusaders (keeping both Dagg and Bridge out of the 15 jersey). He's is test capped and - presumably - he'll still be on the ABs radar. I have no doubt that's what his ambitions are; to get another shot at the ABs. He's not that far off. One or two more good seasons at SR level, and he may get another call-up, esp in case of a BFA departure. Sooner, in case of injury. Hansen & co have said they like his versatility. Getting the Tasman captaincy may give him some confidence, which he seemed to lack a bit at the beginning of the 2018 SR season. I actually think he reached peak form in 2017 and might struggle to get back there. Sure, Smith will be goneski after the RWC but he's still behind Barrett and McKenzie with the chance someone else could emerge (Jordan possibly). His versatility and potential issues in the Crusaders midfield going forward (ie Crotty injuries) could see him shifted around a bit as well, opening up opportunities for others in the Crusaders 15 jumper. All combined, I think he will find it difficult to get back into black and if he becomes frustrated due to any of the aforementioned factors, he could be off.

Salmon is a lock for backup tighthead at the Blues?

@family-man said in Canterbury v Tasman - Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Final: @billy-tell said in Canterbury v Tasman - Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Final: Sopoaga will be having nightmares about Mo'unga. Breathing right down his neck for that backup 10 spot at the moment. Not suggesting he should be an AB, and probably doesn't have enough "x-factor" but a more hardworking loose forward than Luke Whitelock is hard to find. Correct whitelock has really impressed me and I personally think with kaino nearing the end whitelock and ioane are the next best 2 I hope he doesn't go overseas just yet. But him and Brad Shields must be attractive targets for overseas clubs. I'm not sure what else Whitelock could do TBH, other than find a bit of x-factor. I thought he was a bit of a donkey when he made that ABs wider training squad a few years back, but his last couple of seasons have been very good.

Jordan, Lowe, Nankivell, Hunt, Frizell, Halakonuka and Makalio the standouts for the winning team. Tamanivalu, Perofeta and Sowakula were very good for Taranaki. TTT did a replay of his game for the Canes against the BIL. He has a lot of qualities but his decision making is something that has to be fixed.

Sam Henwood dominated the awards night. Below is a list of the 2017 CMRFU award winners - Counties Manukau PIC Steelers player of the year – Sam Henwood Counties Manukau PIC Steelers defence player of the year – Sam Henwood Counties Manukau PIC Steelers player’s player of the year (chosen by the PIC Steelers players) – Sam Henwood Counties Manukau PIC Steelers Rookie of the year – Orbyn Leger Counties Manukau PIC Steelers most improved player of the year – Jonathan Kawau Men’s 7’s player of the year – Liam Daniela Bayleys B’s most improved player – Feta Luamanu Bayleys B’s player of the year – Penitoa Finau Don Ha B’s most improved player -Jimmy Conaglen Don Ha B’s player of the year – Faafouina Loau U19 most improved – Toti Nginingini U19 player of the year – Joshua Baverstock George Bell Memorial Trophy (services to rugby) – Dawn Newton Volunteer of the year – Karyn Adams Supporters Club – player of the year – Sam Henwood Referee of the year – John Wright AS Wilcox Premier Club player of the year – Joe Reynolds

A bit late, but I thought Seu and Faiane gave it a good go in this game. Renata and Akira were decent too. I wish the Blues got Seu, because he's been looking Luatua-like this season. Papalii did look good coming on. He has really packed on the muscle the last 12 months. I'd be tempted to push Seu to lock and drop Slade to the bench this week, and bring Papalii into the starting line-up. I'd also want Sione Havili on the bench instead of Dominikovich-Murray.

@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.

https://cf-e2.streamablevideo.com/video/mp4/477px_3.mp4?token=1506741639-gwmzvUMVCip%2BcPYZpUMYXnNxwU7VZDXYu2ieDMxiNIk%3D

Yes, of course ... but he could get more playing time with the Highlanders than with the Crusaders who already have Havili, Dagg and Hunt to cover the FB position.

Man of the match for Tasman - Mitch Hunt. Honourable mentions for Guyton, Lowe, Taufua and Blackadder. Several others pretty good.

@taniwharugby said in Tasman v Wellington: @canefan I thought he showed a bit of toe on the Goosen break that Lam scored from motoring up the left, so probably a bit more to do with laziness?? When Tasman chipped behind him for the try it was like watching the Titanic turn

@Rapido said in Waikato v Tasman: @WillieTheWaiter said in Waikato v Tasman: @Chris-B. pretty annoying that the entire crowd knows you're not allowed to charge again if you've been pulled up on it but the ref doesn't. I thought it was smart of the Tasman players to fully commit even once it was apparent it was an early charge and actually knock it off the tee, not abandon it like naughty boys being harangued by teacher .... and let the kicker have 2 un-pressured attempts. Weird the ref let them charge a second time though. Got himself mixed up. There is some pretty hopeless reffing in our sport now that reffing has become a refereeing/in-game coaching hybrid. If I was the Mooloo kicker I would've gone and punched that Makos player that picked the ball up. It was clear that he hadn't started his approach. Ref bottled it big time.

@KiwiMurph said in Manawatu vs Tasman: Tasman really miss Banks and Havilli - a lot of youth in that backline and it shows - way too many errors. Hunt not the greatest couple of weeks. Yeah - I think our season goal might be trying to avoid relegation. The starting XV that we expected to have: i.e. including Havili and Hames, but not Squire; is very strong - but, things are very thin and green below. At the end, when Paulo and (I think) Ainley went off and Taufua was in the bin, we might only have had about a hundred NPC caps on the field and most of them belonging to Guyton and Fredericks. On the plus side, Jordan is going to be an excellent acquisition. He looked significantly bigger out there than I thought he was - already got a fair bit of Ben Smith about him. Some refinement to do, but he's going to have the goods.

@akan004 said in Tasman vs Canterbury: Dunshea looks really promising. Did he play Super Rugby this year? Yes, for the Saders.

I remember watching the news a few weeks back and they mentioned that every NZ Super team was interested in Enari.

Another quality game from these two teams. Great to watch.

Cowan looks spent, seems to be even more niggly than he used to, doesn't offer a great deal from what I have seen this season.

@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.