BOP v Northland Mitre 10 Cup
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Bay of Plenty Steamers named to play Northland
Steamers Coaching Management Clayton McMillan, Rodney Gibbs and David Hill have named their side to take on Northland at Rotorua International Stadium at 5.45pm tomorrow evening.
The Steamers side features four changes to the starting line-up which narrowly lost to Otago last week. The only change in the forwards will see Te Puke Sports Aidan Ross starting at loose head prop, with Siegfried Fisi’ihoi moving to the bench.
In the backs, Rangataua’s Ruki Tipuna will run out for his blazer game as the starting half back, with Te Aihe Toma moving to the number 21 jersey. Teddy Stanaway will return from injury to start at centre replacing the injured Lalakai Foketi. Isaac Te Aute will start at fullback, with Whakarewarewa’s Te Rangi Fraser moving to the number 23 jersey. The bench will also see the return of Te Puna’s Shahn Eru after being side lined with concussion and the inclusion of Tauranga Sport’s first five eight Nick Evemy.
Steamers Head Coach Clayton McMillan said, “This week’s game is pivotal to the fortunes of both teams. Northland look like a team growing in confidence, and their combative performances in recent weeks against quality opponents has not been lost on us.”
McMillan finishes, “We expect a war and have prepared accordingly. We also look forward to returning to the Rotorua International Stadium where the players thoroughly enjoy playing.”
The team is as follows:
- Aidan Ross
- Liam Polwart
- Pingi Tala’apitaga
- Troy Callander
- Culum Retallick
- Jesse Parete
- Hugh Blake
- Joe Tupe
- Ruki Tipuna*
- Kelly Haimona
- Regan Ware
- Terrence Hepetema
- Teddy Stanaway
- Monty Ioane
- Isaac Te Aute
Reserves:
16. James O’Reilly
17. Solomona Sakalia
18. Siegfried Fisi’ihoi
19. Shahn Eru
20. Henry Stowers
21. Te Aihe Toma
22. Nick Evemy
23. Te Rangi Fraser -
Taniwha line up:
1.Howard Sililoto
2.Matt Moulds
3.Phil Kite
4.Josh Goodhue
5.Shane Neville
6.Tom Robinson
7.Kara Pryor
8.Matt Matich
9.Sam Nock
10.Peter Breen
11.Jone Macilai
12.Jordan Hyland
13.Warren Dunn
14.Waisea Lawebuka
15.Solomon AlaimaloREPLACEMENTS
16.Ross Wright
17.Namatahi Waa
18.Matt Talaese
19.Josh Larsen
20.Jack Ram
21.Malcolm MacLeod
22.Dan Hawkins
23.Tamati TuaCan only assume Waa and Ram are on the bench and not starting so they can provide some impact in the second half.
Tom Robinson on debut. -
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Joe Tupe is going well for you guys tonight. He is certainly running with great power, aggression and speed and invariably breaks the first tackle. He seems to be a little slimmer than last season or is it just my fading memory on what he locked like last year?
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@Higgins said in BOP v Northland Mitre 10 Cup:
I can't recall having seen Hori BoP this season. Hopefully everything is ok with him.
He's been at every game but maybe not there tonight - Tauranga people found it difficult to get there for a 5.45pm kickoff. He was at Counties though. -
@Higgins said in BOP v Northland Mitre 10 Cup:
Joe Tupe is going well for you guys tonight. He is certainly running with great power, aggression and speed and invariably breaks the first tackle. He seems to be a little slimmer than last season or is it just my fading memory on what he locked like last year?
Tupe is a lot better this season, much more dynamic and also benefiting from Carl Axtens going overseas as he is able to play 8 every week rather than 6 or the bench. He's have to be interesting super coaches with this form.
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That was a very enjoyable game to watch. Despite giving away many dumb penalties, once we strung together some phases, we looked really good, making metres with ease and scoring tries at will. The rolling maul was unstoppable and it was good to see everyone running with purpose.
Tupe is the man this year, Parete has been good and all the tight 5 were good tonight. Blake is still a mixed bag - he is quick around the field but makes mistakes and his miss for Northland's second half try under the posts was a shocker.
Hepetema has been good value this season and it is nice to have some gas on the outsides.
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This would have to be the best write up of a Bay game for years (from the Herald)
Rugby: Bay of Plenty run riot against Northland
By Niall Anderson
A scintillating attacking performance has given Bay of Plenty their first win in the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup.
Eight tries underlined the Steamers' 52 point haul; their biggest scoring output since 2003 in NPC rugby.
It was a deserved victory for a team who could be considered hard done by in their first three games of their campaign.
Clayton McMillan's men had been more unlucky than outclassed in their three opening losses, losing by minimal margins including two defeats which came down to the final seconds.
Their win was a credit to their forward pack, whose power was rewarded through two tries apiece to loose forwards Joe Tupe and Jesse Parete, while first five Kelly Haimona marshalled a smooth backline showing.
Tupe was a standout with 14 carries and 11 tackles to go with his two tries, while promising 20-year-old fullback Isaac Te Aute was elusive and fleet of foot, gaining a game-high 94 metres.
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good win by the bop and great to see the bop 76 side there is well, man it was cold
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D Duluth moved this topic from BOP Mafia on
