v Taranaki
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So, I feel we missed a huge opportunity to get a rare win over Auckland on Sunday, but need to flush the dunny and move on to a potentially more daunting prospect of Taranaki.
Obviously got taught a lesson by BOP, were looking likely for a huge win over Manawatu but fell off the pace in the last half hour, hopefully a sign thier conditioning isnt up to it given they are playing tonight and again on Sunday.
We need an 80 minute effort this week, we have put in 2 good halves of rugby, but bookended by a poor opening half v NH and a poor 2nd 40 v Auckland.
For me a little tweaking to the line up is required:
Wright, Moulds, Rinakama
Douglas, Goodhue
Robinson, Matich, Pryor
Nock, Debrezceni
Hohaia, Tua/Ranger
Gregory/Ranger, Wright, HylandOlsen, Tu'ungafasi, Straker, Matiu, McNamara, Kitto, Thoroughgood, Gregory/Tua
Would like a positional change between Douglas and Robinson, and maybe pushing Tua to the bench, and starting Gregory on the wing, although I do prefer Ranger on the wing where he can roam more.
Matt Wright needs to tidy up parts of his game, does something great and then something bad...maybe move Debrezceni to the back and give Thoroughgood a shot, I'm interested to see how he goes, had glimpses of his talent.
We can win this game, but will need to put in at least 60 mins of good work this week, a half will not be enough again.
While still plenty of games to dust off and get back up, confidence is key, and losing 3 on the bounce, can dent that.
If we can pick up at least a BP from this game, even if we lose but stay in the fight and push them, I'll leave Okara happier this Sunday than last...
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@taniwharugby said in v Taranaki:
maybe pushing Tua to the bench, and starting Gregory on the wing, although I do prefer Ranger on the wing where he can roam more
Just select Gregory in the midfield
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@duluth there is that too.
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@duluth yep Gregory to midfield is my option too.
Hopefully we can take advantage of Taranakis short turnaround. No better time to strike them.
I know it’s early, but to me this is must win. If not I can see us dipping out of top four contention as we still have some tough away games to come against performing opponents (BOP, Hawke’s Bay).. plus we have an away crossover against CM who we have struggled against the last decade or so..
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@j77 I'm preparing myself for a BP loss...
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@taniwharugby I see what you’re doing bro. Reverse psychology. I’m not even making a prediction, but did I mention I have Naki in my picks??..
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I think we should back the guys to turn it around:
- Tua to have another shot. Ranger to stay on wing. Get Hyland into game early. Gregory and Thoroughgood to get more game time.
- Matt Wright has always been a favourite but got caught on defence and had the ball stripped on attack. Two tries resulted. So big game expected from him. Best when he plays that DMac role injecting himself at second phase.
- Rinakama looked off the pace around the field so more energy required and maybe early sub.
- we lost our shape in 2nd half by trying too much, and not controlling the ball so better discipline even when behind. Less 50/50 balls.
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@kev love your optimism Kevy..hope you’re right 😉
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@j77 always Justin. 😀👍
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@kev to be more optimistic, Taranaki looked quite beatable if tonight’s game is evidence. Quite leaky defence out wide. Just their scrum and the likes of Tamanaivalu and Boshier we need to pay special attention to...
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big blow to Taranaki with Angus Ta'avao going into AB camp on Sunday, and yep as @J77 says, they look beatable.
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@taniwharugby that’s a bit of luck for us with Angus out. Tough for them losing their skipper.
Sure up our ruck and midfield defence and we’re in with a crack. Need to defend like we did against North Harbour.
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@j77 and a few more to defend like Nock did last week
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@taniwharugby yep, really impressed with Nock last week. Good to have Kitto snapping at his heels as well. Maybe the blues need to look at those two plus Fukofuka (sp?) for next year.. That’s if Pulu is going??
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@j77 Yep those wheels Nock showed in mowing down Nanai were surprising, and given some of his defence for the Blues was poor, he was very good in the Auckland game.
Hopefully some real pressure from Kitto will be the catalyst Nock needs.
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@duluth ah ok, thought I’d heard he was off. I guess it’s a three way scrap between our two and your boy then, depending on who’s already locked in.
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@j77 There were some articles saying he was gone, but the Blues corrected it on twitter
I wish he was gone.. I'm worried he'll be captain again too
Just a guess but I think Nock will struggle to make it. I think the Blues lost confidence in him.
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@duluth yeah you'd have to think it is unlikely the Blues re-sign him (barring an absolute stormer of NPC) they lost confidence in him, and he lost confidence in himself.
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@taniwharugby maybe a franchise change will do Nock good. Did I hear rumours the Highlanders were looking at him? Probably way off the mark, but I’m sure I heard that somewhere.
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@taniwharugby The Blues should ditch Umaga and keep Nock. Nock isn't the only player that Umaga hasn't got the best out of.
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@chiefy07 bang on Chiefy. The Blues have the players but the combinations / selections have been all over the place. Can’t work out what they are doing?
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@chiefy07 but we know Tana ain't going anywhere next year so I'd be surprised if Nock is at the Blues next year.
While some of the fault lays at Tanas feet Nock didn't help himself either with some of his performances.
As I said hopefully with a genuine threat of Kitto breathing down his neck and Sykes in good form waiting for his chance this could be the making of Nock.
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at the TAB Northland paying $4.05...and give us a 9.5 pt start.
Seem pretty generous, but then I guess we are a Championship side at 0/2 up against a Premiership side 2/3.
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@taniwharugby might be worth a flutter..
What’s the forecast for Sunday? I’m lazy and can’t be fecked checking metservice.
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@j77 not ideal
Sunday 2 Sep
19°C
High
9°C
Showers. Northerlies turn westerly early morning. -
@taniwharugby cheers bro! Knew I could rely on the TR metservice.
Not ideal, might suit Nakis forwards a bit...
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@j77 keeping a close eye as I'm out on a trip to the Poor Knights tomorrow and not keen on feeding the fish like I did last time I went.
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Team is out. Tua to wing, Robinson to 6. Jacobsen starts McNamara and Mayavananua into reserves. Pryor must be injured.
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Keen to get a look at McNamara, so Matiu out for Mayavananua...
@kev yeah Pryor has to be injured, assume Matiu too?
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Two good positional swaps there. Moulds and Pryor both injured I’m assuming?
Who on earth is Campbell Matthews?
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@j77 shit I hadnt even noticed Moulds not there!!
Not sure on Campbell either.
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How about the 12 support staff. Is it just me or does that seem like a bloody shitload for a semi professional team?
Very good move swapping Red and Douglas around. Douglas seems more a cart horse lock than a loose forward to me.
Interesting to see how Tua goes on the wing and will be good to have a look at MacNamara off the bench. I actually think (90% sure) his grandfather is the late NZ fast bowler Bob Cunis, so he’s got some good sporting genes to help him on his way. @Nath-Jac might be able to confirm?Like the rest of you I have bever heard of the reserve hooker. The name doesn’t look familiar from any previous squad list or anything.... Straight out ring in like that hooker we got out of Canterbury 3 or so years back? I did see Hikurangi claiming him on their FB page though...?
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@gunner said in v Taranaki:
How about the 12 support staff. Is it just me or does that seem like a bloody shitload for a semi professional team?
Looks like you could be needing a couple of interpreters to support the support staff.
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Once again Facebook, The Advocate and the NRU website are atrocious in keeping us up to date on new players and injuries etc. You’d think at least one of them would write a piece.
I think our best informative sports writer out of the lot is @Steven-Harris!!
Be nice to know what’s up with Pryor and Moulds, and also who this Matthews cat is..
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@j77 I can see that he was in our under 19 side in 2016. So he is a Northland boy that has come through the grades.
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Taranaki
1 Jared Proffit
2 Donald Maka
3 Reuben O’Neill
4 Jarrad Hoeata
5 Jesse Parete
6 Mitchell Crosswell (CC)
7 Lachlan Boshier
8 Pit Sowakula
9 Logan Crowley
10 Daniel Waite
11 Manasa Mataele
12 Teihorangi Walden (CC)
13 Seta Tamanivalu
14 Regan Ware
15 Beaudein WakaReserves:
16 Scott Mellow
17 Chris Gawler
18 Kyle Stewart
19 Leighton Price
20 Tom Florence
21 Xavier Roe
22 Brayton Northcott-Hill
23 Toa HalafihiPlayers unavailable for selection: Mitchell Graham (leg), Fin Hoeata (shoulder), Mitchell Brown (knee), Stephen Perofeta (shoulder), Sean Wainui (shoulder) and Marty McKenzie (hip).
Taranaki Rugby
The official website of Taranaki Rugby and the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls. Inspiring Taranaki. Enriching Lives.
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@kev said in v Taranaki:
@j77 I can see that he was in our under 19 side in 2016. So he is a Northland boy that has come through the grades.
A quick google search tells me he's also been in the Blues U18 squad (and the Rarawa U14s
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@stargazer said in v Taranaki:
@kev said in v Taranaki:
@j77 I can see that he was in our under 19 side in 2016. So he is a Northland boy that has come through the grades.
A quick google search tells me he's also been in the Blues U18 squad (and the Rarawa U14s
).No disrespect to the young fella, but I can see Olsen doing 80 minutes tomorrow. I would have thought Ross Wright might be used as a hooker option in Moulds’ absence.
Either way it’ll be good for Matthews to be in the environment, as he could well be one for the future.
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@j77 Campbell Mathews played for Hikuangi this year,originally from the far north,he is very promising hooker,a bit of a surprise he has been selected over Ben Tou from Waipu or Micheal Lea who are both in the Dev squad hookers..big call from the coaches,but he was in the HP squad from earlier in the year...just wish we had some promising players coming through in other positions.
