v Manawatu
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So gutting that we should still be in touch with Wellington all but gatanteed home semi, instead we will be fighting for a finals spot away
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@taniwharugby we can still do this. We are playing some tough rugby but we should do this at their end of the ground. In many ways we played really well. I think we just need to play the % a bit more. I love the team we have this year andwith a win on Wednesday we will be good.
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@kev don't get me wrong, I love this team and think if they click could go to Wellington and win, but we need to be converting our chances.
That is the disappointing thing, creating so much.
That said I don't like our set up, so many times they had guys in out back line, yes a few times off side but also not, something not quite right there.
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@kev absolutely we can still do it. Just need to wipe that one and move on.
Some of that passing was terrible, we will need to sort that fast. Otago are a fast line-speed sort of team and will exploit us there if we throw those silly speculative long balls.
Yep we are an expressive, instinctive sort of team, but hell we sometimes just need to simplify things.
I thought Nock was quite poor tonight at the base, a little sloppy for his high standards.
I think we need to go back to Goodhue/Ranger in the midfield. Hohaia was ok, but it's more a consistent combination we need.
Macilaiand Ram were our best, by a long shot, Hyland and Alaimalo were solid too.
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My opinion for what it's worth is, every time Mouldsy or DP are taken off there is a clear drop in leadership, it's not their replacement players that are a problem it's the shift in leadership. They just need to keep their game plan in place across the whole 80 mins. Looking forward to Wednesday.
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@northlandallday who gets the skippers armband when those two go off? Ive never really thought about that. Ranger? Jack Goodhue?
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@j77 well possibly Breen?, but I notice every time Moulds goes to the bench there's heaps more pressure on the team across the board. DP usually covers pretty well but thy both went off at a similar time. Leadership for the last 20 was stressed. That's just my observation.
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Yea moulds leadership is a good point, Olsen is a good player but not a leader.
Given they seem to always take Moulds off have to assume they have a 2IC sorted....normally you'd expect it is Dan so maybe he came off with a niggle?
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@j77 We had so many clear chances:
- try disallowed for interference ( the defenders fell over )
- Nock falling over at base of ruck
- Ranger pass being intercepted with 3 on 1
- Kara Pryor throwing forward pass with 3 inside and line open
You add that to an intercept and a charge down for them and we gave the game to them with mistakes after playing so well. But the good thing about that is that we should have won and no reason why this still isn't our season.
But to pick up on your point, Nock who is a fine halfback, for my liking, has his head up at the rucks too much looking for options. He needs to get in, get the ball and clear it quicker as often the delay leads to a greater contest - he has a great pass and should rely more on his receivers for calling plays. With that I think we need more decisiveness and better game mgmt at 1st - esp. in last 15 mins.
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@kev not to mention the other times we were in the 22 and dropped it.
Also still think the ref bottled his call on that first disallowed try, he clearly saw that knock on, put his arm out, they made 2-3 passes and about 10m, so advantage overt looked to be his call, so not sure what knock on he went back to he supposedly hadn't seen.
As for that obstruction call, incompetent call by both officials there.
Oh well...need to dust ourselves off for Otago now, this is now a MUST win.
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Agree with all the coms posted on last nights match,just on a couple of players,Josh Larsen really impresses me,puts himself about and is not afraid to get involved in contact,looks to have a good game in the air as well.
The only thing he may have to look is putting on an extra 8-10 Kgs,could turn into a very useful grafting forward.
The other player I was keen to watch was Blake Hohaia,was a bit scratchy at first,but has a good burst of pace,and really good footwork.
The upside is,because of injuries,we have had to bring in or play some guys that have been around the Taniwha squad,like Larsen & Matiu,and i am sure Hohaia,will develop with more game time.
If there is one player we are missing,it's Matt Matich,he makes so many tackles,and many of them a low tackles,which gives the opportunity to turn ball over.
Thought we were a little to high,especially in the last 20 minutes.
Not the end of the world,but all of a sudden,Wednesday becomes a must win game. -
@steven-harris on the mark with the low tackles comment.
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well as I have mentioned before, I am a huge fan of Matich, love that he just gives 100% for every minute he is out there whether it is with the ball, knocking people over at rucks or in tackles, as good as Matiu has been, we work better with Matich out there.
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D Duluth moved this topic from Taniwha Rugby on
