The Relegation Battle
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CM, Auckland and Waikato (that's a big chunk of neighbouring unions) are fighting it out for the wooden spoon and the drop to the Championship. Tasman also in danger as they have some tough matches ahead and although having a game in hand they have just started their hell week.
Remaining games:
Tas 21/ NHarbour (H), AK (H), CM (A). H 36, L 21, My Pick 24
CM 17 / Manawatu (A),Tasman (H). Highest 27, Lowest 17 My Pick 25
Ak 17/ Tasman (A), Canterbury (H). H 27, L 17 My Pick 24
WK 14 NHarbour (H), BOP (A) H 24, L 14, My Pick 19 -
They may deserve it, but I hope that Auckland don't go down, otherwise Graham Henry won't be able to repeat his redeemer act for the 5th* time by winning next year's premiership.
*Wales, Auckland, Blues, All Blacks.
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Just in case a 'who beat who' tie breaker comes into play
CM bt AK
WK bt CM
TAS bt WK
WK bt AKEdit: typos above now corrected
AK and CM yet to play Tas
In the next round a loss for Waikato against NH would make Tasman safe. If CM bt MAN and WAI lose the CM would also be safe. Ak could also find safety in beating TAS if Waikato lose.
Basically a Waikato loss would make things very difficult for them. Their hope is that NH will be backing up after playing Tasman midweek.
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@Crucial Err Waikato beat Auckland didn't they? The only highlight of the season. In fact I think we thumped them.
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@hooroo said in The Relegation Battle:
@Crucial Err Waikato beat Auckland didn't they? The only highlight of the season. In fact I think we thumped them.
Yes, you are correct as far as the win went. Maybe it was just a thumping in relative terms
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Waikato's 2 wins have been against Auckland and Counties.
We will need to beat NH this weekend to have a realistic chance of avoiding the drop.
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I think Tasman are safe.
Harbour v Mooloo is a huge game for both sides. I like what Harbour have shown this season but they are still a little up and down of late. Waikato can turn it on if they want it enough, but that has been few and far between.
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@tim said in The Relegation Battle:
They may deserve it, but I hope that Auckland don't go down, otherwise Graham Henry won't be able to repeat his redeemer act for the 5th* time by winning next year's premiership.
*Wales, Auckland, Blues, All Blacks.
He could redeem them even more by taking them back to the Premiership!
ACT - Tasman would need quite a few results to go against us, but the draw doesn't really help us much from here.
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Waikato will have a record they won't want if they lose to North Harbour - 6 losses in a row for the first time since the NPC began in 1976.
No pressure then!
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@chris-b said in The Relegation Battle:
@tim said in The Relegation Battle:
They may deserve it, but I hope that Auckland don't go down, otherwise Graham Henry won't be able to repeat his redeemer act for the 5th* time by winning next year's premiership.
*Wales, Auckland, Blues, All Blacks.
He could redeem them even more by taking them back to the Premiership!
ACT - Tasman would need quite a few results to go against us, but the draw doesn't really help us much from here.
Never in doubt against Harbour
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Wins to NH and AK would be nice on Sunday.
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So a straight shootout between two heavyweights.
Simplest equation - if Auckland beat a Shield-lost stung Canterbury at Eden Park, Waikato go down.
If they don't - Waikato need to either beat BoP or at least grab both bonus points in a losing effort. I suspect BoP will have a double incentive in this game, which they probably need at least two points from to make the play-offs - and the chance to send their neighbours down.
A video for both sets of fans.
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I knew Harbour would never win both games last round. Picked Waikato to win as we were already assured of a semi-final spot and seeing Akl relegated would be almost as good as winning the comp
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I wonder if any ABs will get a run in the final round - Kaino for one could use the game time.
Auckland deserve to go down - they haven't beaten any Premiership teams this season and lost to Waikato. It's squarely the Auckland Rugby Union's fault for first appointing Nick White & co 2 years ago and then not making a change last year when they were fortunate not to be relegated.
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@kiwimurph Laumape been released for Manawatu's shield challenge on Wednesday, so you'd expect others that came back with him should be released.
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@taniwharugby Probably not Naholo, now NMS is injured.
Maybe not Ardie, who I think has played a lot of minutes this season.
Probably mainly depends on whom they're planning to use vs Oz and who, if anyone, needs some gametime (Kaino would be one).
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If Kaino doesn’t play this week, he suurrrely will be a certainty for Brisbane.....
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@chris-b so Naholo, Laumape, Fifita all yes, Ardie no.
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@taniwharugby That's interesting on Naholo.
I wonder if that's a pointer that they're not planning to use him vs Oz?
Havili at fullback and DMac on the wing? Or ALB on a wing?
