BOP v Manawatu
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As we had a rare win, we at least need a topic for it. As strangely with just 2 wins from 9, we're still a faint chance of making the semis - although to be honest, I'd be happy with just winning back the real Bay title.
Good to see us close out a game so ruthlessly - yes I'm looking at you Ruki Tipuna and giving them a 5m line-out. The ref then felt sorry for us and called advantage over so yay for us.
Trial laws finally outed with Bay's choice of loosies - 3 big munters who just lumped it up all day, there is no need for a zippy fetcher and we should have ditched Blake a few weeks before injury did for him.
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Geesh, Its been a funny old season hasn't it ? I have gone through all the emotions from absolute frustration to total joy to sheer head scratching bewilderment. Given some of the performances, I have given the season away at times but at the end of the day they have kept in touch.
Last nights performance has a lot to be pleased about. That Manawatu team isn't too shabby. Its pretty well drilled with plenty of firepower and lets not forget they were the only team to beat Canterbury this year and they recently slaughtered Wellington so that win deserves some merit I think.
Despite the shennanagins at the end I think most will agree that BOP deserved the win. Its a long time since I have seen a bay forward pack dominate another team like that. And you're right Kiwipie, the new rules suit the larger loose forwards and less so the "Richie McCaw" type who scrap for the Ball on the ground. Blake has impressed though with his tackling and work rate.
So what are the permutations with regard the final games to get us in the semis ? BOP on 18, North Harbour on 19 and Manawatu on 22 points. So I suppose at the very least we need a win against Hawkes Bay and hope for losses for the other two . Piece of Cake !!.......
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Oh, and shame on you Rotorua !! If you had taken away the Manawatu supporters that would have been a very small crowd....You don't deserve any Bay games.
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@Snollygoster Harbour still have 2 games to play so we need them to lose them both - ideally with no bonus points. And their final game is away to Northland so I can't see them losing both. Not to mention we have to beat Hawke's ....
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Good point Kiwipie. The other scenario is for Manawatu to lose to Otago without a bonus point and for us to beat Hawkes Bay with a bonus point....in true "overly optimistic fashion" both scenarios are possible....
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@KiwiPie said in BOP v Manawatu:
@Snollygoster Harbour still have 2 games to play so we need them to lose them both - ideally with no bonus points. And their final game is away to Northland so I can't see them losing both. Not to mention we have to beat Hawke's ....
they will lose on Sunday!
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Enjoyed that forward performance - quite outstanding in the set piece. How bad is our backline? Not sure if the momentum is lost at five eighth, but the centres are getting caught very flat footed and zero penetration.
The ref was dire. Very inconsistent with not sin binning the collapsing of a maul when Retallick had copped it earlier. As for the end of the game - quite a joke really, something you would see at junior levels.
Personally I don't think we will be a shot for the semis as we do not deserve it. I'll be stoked to beat HB however!
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@GagaBoy said in BOP v Manawatu:
Enjoyed that forward performance - quite outstanding in the set piece. How bad is our backline? Not sure if the momentum is lost at five eighth, but the centres are getting caught very flat footed and zero penetration.
The ref was dire. Very inconsistent with not sin binning the collapsing of a maul when Retallick had copped it earlier. As for the end of the game - quite a joke really, something you would see at junior levels.
Personally I don't think we will be a shot for the semis as we do not deserve it. I'll be stoked to beat HB however!
Yeah I'll take being "The Bay" again although this season, going to Otago or Wellington for a semi wouldn't be an impossible assignment.
When we go wide, there is never any forward motion so the defence rushes up and we've got nowhere to go. And it has been like that for way too long. You look at a side like Canterbury and their personnel are not stars - but they all do the basics so well. Like moving onto the pass and creating doubt in the defence. We don't seem to have progressed beyond a good setpiece and maul
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@KiwiPie Unlike you guys I think we have a chance against both Wellington and Otago (however slim). Don't forget we lost to Otago by one point earlier this year and just beat Manawatu who put 50 points on Wellington. Don't forget also no one gave us a chance against Manawatu including the TAB. I think the hardest part will be actually making the semis.
Totally agree with what you both say about our backline
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@Snollygoster I actually said
"going to Otago or Wellington for a semi wouldn't be an impossible assignment"
so I think I am agreeing with you!
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D Duluth moved this topic from BOP Mafia on
