Counties Manukau v North Harbour

[Stargazer]

Counties Manukau

1 Pauliasi Manu, 2. Joe Royal, 3. Kalolo Tuiloma, 4. Viliame Rarasea, 5. Matiaha Martin, 6. Ronald Raaymakers, 7. Fotu Lokotui, 8. Sam Henwood;
9 Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Stephen Donald ©, 11. Tevita Nabura, 12. Orbyn Leger, 13. Tim Nanai-Williams, 14. Nigel Ah Wong, 15. Luteru Laulala.

Reserves:
16 Gafatasi Su'a, 17. Sean Bagshaw, 18. Coree Te Whata-Colley, 19. Leroy Jack, 20. Johnathan Kawau, 21, Liam Daniela, 22. Baden Kerr, 23. Albert Nikoro

http://www.steelers.co.nz/steelers-heat/news/beaver-to-captain-pic-steelers-for-home-clash-against-harbour.html

[Tim]

Looking forward to the front-row battle.

[Duluth]

Nikoro's fourth NPC side - Auckland, Tasman, Waikato now Counties

[JK]

Harbour

1. Chris Eves

2. James Parsons (C)

3. Sione Mafileo

4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti

5. Jarrad Hoeata

6. Glenn Preston

7. Connor Collett

8. Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a

9. Bryn Hall

10. Bryn Gatland

11. Tevita Li

12. Harrison Groundwater

13. Matt Vaega

14. Mark Telea

15. Ben Volavola

16. Steven Misa

17. Karl Tuinukuafe

18. Mike Tamoaieta

19. Brandon Nansen

20. Shane Neville

21. Chris Smylie

22. Dan Hilton-Jones

23. Shaun Stevenson

[JK]

Sorry for shit formatting

Few too many changes for my liking! No duffie and Stevenson to the bench.

Was Murphy Taramai injured?

[Bovidae]

@Duluth said in Counties Manukau v North Harbour:

Nikoro's fourth NPC side - Auckland, Tasman, Waikato now Counties

He's got Rico Gear's record in his sights.

[dogmeat]

Everyone should get their money on CM now. They are the surest of sure things.

I've tipped Harbour for the first time this season.

They're doooooooooomed.

[JK]

haha yeah i had a look and CM should win here. Harbour due a loss so have rested a few players to assist with the task.

[mikedogz]

Hardcase listening to the commentators on the stream I have found. Sounds like they are practicing before the actual broadcast.

[Tim]

@mikedogz Any huge calls to look forward to?

[Gunner]

Is the lighting at the ground poor, or is it just me?
The wide shots are bad, the lighting is making it look like TV coverage of a game from in '90s.

[mikedogz]

@Tim Tony Johnson's pen ran out of ink.

[mikedogz]

@Gunner Maybe because there is no light coming off the side of the field as there is an embankment not a grandstand.

[Higgins]

Have they shown a shot of the new goat tonight?

[Gunner]

Serious question here - I thought you weren't allowed to dive onto a player on the ground?

I think the right/sensible call was made, as the defender must be allowed the opportunity to defend his try line.

Just wondering what the actual rule is, and how can they differentiate this from the other one we see more often and is penalised - an attacking player diving on a defender who has himself dived on a loose ball...

[mikedogz]

I was worried he would get carded for the knee. A team mate this year did in club rugby. The timing of the knee was different in the club rugby game where it happened after the try.

Counties are winning the scrums but losing the ball in the contest. The try before half time shows what they can do. Nigel ah Wong is a waste of money for a Super rugby player he doesn't really stand out. Beaver has lost a yard or two of pace I think. TNW still has his.

[Bovidae]

It would have been interesting to see if the ref would have made a call if C-M didn't score as the NH backs never got back onside.

[Tim]

@mikedogz Good scrum battle, with Counties up 3 - 1 so far. Manu looking good.

[Tim]

What do our Cantabs know about Groundwater?

[Crucial]

@Gunner said in Counties Manukau v North Harbour:

Serious question here - I thought you weren't allowed to dive onto a player on the ground?

I think the right/sensible call was made, as the defender must be allowed the opportunity to defend his try line.

Just wondering what the actual rule is, and how can they differentiate this from the other one we see more often and is penalised - an attacking player diving on a defender who has himself dived on a loose ball...

Law 14.1 and it makes really interesting reading. You could interpret it as that a player can't dive from a long way out and remove the ball from being contestable.