v Waikato
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Crunch time!
While chances are slim, if we want a shot at hosting a semi final in the first time since, well the old 2nd division, we simply must win this one.
Waikato look all but set to top the table even if they lose to us.
But with HB on 23, us on 21 and Otago on 20 (with a game in hand) it is looking likely these 4 will be in the final 4 in 2 weeks.
My pick is we will play Waikato in Hamilton in 3 weeks, Otago or HB couldy host the other semi, although the way things have gone the past couple of weeks, anything can still happen and mathematically any of the top 4 can still host a semi, without bringing BOP into the equation with thier 3 games to go are also still a shot at sneaking in.
Any news on the injury front? We could do with some good news there, while players are stepping up and filling gaps admirably, we could do with a few of these guys back,.
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DRIVE IT WAIKATO!!!
Lineout drives that is! Hawke's Bay showed the way.
One thing we’ll want to do is keep you buggers away from the corner.. I’m already visualising a wall of red, yellow and black rumbling over the line!
I guess that all comes down to discipline in our own half. Keep messing up and we’ll be punished.
I’m thinking this will be a cracker though, not willing to make a prediction until I see our team named..
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@taniwharugby one thing I will enjoy is both Waikato and Otago bashing the crap out of each other with so much at stake in the last round..what sort of shape will they both be in going into semi final football,very hard to lift after a Shield challenge or defence.
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I won't see the game as I have other plans for Sat.
What I'd like to know is why Waikato always seems to be playing Northland in Whangarei in recent years. Things were so much simpler in the days of the NPC where teams alternated home and away.
@Steven-Harris Otago will probably field a B team vs Tasman but I'll be happy if they don't.
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@bovidae same reason we played Auckland up here for the first time in about 10 years...cross over matches and who chooses.
We've had some good matches the past few years though.
Otago might have a shot at a home semi or even finish top so might need points.
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@bovidae thats this season the only non-crossover; so with you dropping do you simply take the place of the team that went up? We played Wellington away last year so you replaced them, play us at home?
I doubt it is that simple though haha
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Looking at who Wellington played last year, and where, the answer is no.
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I rate our chances at home. Some key things need to come together.
The win on Sunday was great (winners are grinners):
- away from home
- at the end of 3 game week
- missing a few players
- against a very physical pack and some speedy backs so D was better
- lineout D was better bar one lineout.
- Exits were good but will now miss Gregory’s kicking if he is not available
- structure, game plan was good with a great worked move try
- some strong running into contact zones
So we need all that plus:
- accuracy at clean outs, which is partly keeping work rate high ( we have improved heaps aleady )
- better finishing, we created space a few times and then didn’t make the pass at the right time. At the same time a few passes were knocked down by tackler but that happens.
- to control the last 20 better. We still have long periods without the ball and with tiring legs the game opens up esp. if you give ball back. Maybe reduce offloads in this period. You don’t have Increase the risks you take, just keep grinding and points will come. We did this quite well to earn our last penalty.
So pleased for this team. Showed that they do have the ability plus a good squad culture with everyone contributing.
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@kev see I reckon if we had beaten HB, we would have lost to Counties (although for our finals aspirations, beating HB was best)
The sheer desperation we showed in that final quarter v Counties, I'm not sure it woulda been there had we picked up 5 v HB.
And when you think about how that game panned out, I reckon we lose that game more times than we win it; on another day, that knock over the line is a try, other bounces dont fall our way, but on Sunday, in spite of our injuries, in spite of our boys being out on thier feet we held on, as it really was crucial to our top 4 chances; huge ticker shown.
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Apparently team will look like this:
Northland
Tu'Ungafasi, Moulds, Rinakama
Goodhue, Douglas
Robinson, Matich, Pryor
Kitto, Debreczeni
Hohaia, Ranger
Roberts-Te Nana, Wright, Hyland
Reserves - Olsen, Atkins, Wiggins, Stokes, Matiu, Nock, Thoroughgood, TuaSo potential debut for Wiggins then Robinson, Matich, Nock and Tua all back form injury.
Injury list:
Regan Verney, Jone Macilai, Ross Wright, Jack Straker, Scott Gregory, Kane JacobsonFrom what I have heard, Gregory & Straker possibly back next week, Jacobsen suffering concussion symptoms still, Wrights status unknown, which means he probably wont be back?
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Apparently grandstand tickets almost sold out...hopefully the 'Ws' while playing at home and fine weather forecast will see a big walk up crowd too!
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@taniwharugby said in v Waikato:
Apparently grandstand tickets almost sold out...hopefully the 'Ws' while playing at home and fine weather forecast will see a big walk up crowd too!
Damn! I thought I'd just rock up and buy some tickets on the day
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Your team was right @taniwharugby apart from Thoroughgood being at 15 and Cooper on the bench. Will be interesting to see how Thoroughgood goes. To me seems to struggle with the speed and physicality of Mitre 10 Cup so far. Would've been interesting to see if they would've played Gregory at 15 if he had been fit. Good to have Robinson and Matich back.
Think we will go well this weekend - picking a win
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@chiefy07 my team?
edit: I see, I copied it down wrong, the team I saw was the team haha
Northland
Tu'Ungafasi, Moulds, Rinakama
Goodhue, Douglas
Robinson, Matich, Pryor
Kitto, Debreczeni
Hohaia, Ranger
Roberts-Te Nana, Thoroughgood, Hyland
Reserves - Olsen, Atkins, Wiggins, Stokes, Matiu, Nock, Cooper, Tua -
@taniwharugby Terraces are the best place to be anyway!
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http://www.mitre10cup.co.nz/News/33201/championship-preview-northland-v-waikato
Northland
Myles Thoroughgood, Jordan Hyland, Rene Ranger, Blake Hohaia, Renata Roberts-Tenana, Jack Debreczeni, Jono Kitto, Matt Matich, Kara Pryor, Tom Robinson, Murray Douglas, Josh Goodhue, Ropate Rinakama, Matt Moulds (c), Isi Tu’ungafasi
Reserves: Jordan Olsen, Boyd Wiggins, Paddy Jo Atkins, Aorangi Stokes, Jaycob Matiu, Sam Nock, Noah Cooper, Tamati Tua
Waikato
Matty Lansdown, Bailyn Sullivan, Quinn Tupaea, Dwayne Sweeney (c), Sevu Reece, Fletcher Smith, Jack Stratton, Jordan Manihera, Jono Armstrong, James Tucker, Laghlan McWhannell, Tim Bond, Joshua Iosefa-Scott, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ayden Johnstone
Reserves: Mike Mayhew, Toby Smith, Sosaia Fale, Mitch Jacobson, Adam Burn, Raniera Takarangi, Pepesana Patafilo, Tyler Campbell -
Waikato gone for a sizeable pack with James Tucker having been moved to no6..similar tactic to Hawkes Bay..I suspect there could be a forward drive or 2.
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reckon we should have a bloody good crowd turn up today, shes an awesome spring day, gonna be pretty warm, was still about 23 yesterday at about 4pm, today shouldnt be any different.
Afternoon rugby, hope the boys can turn it on!
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WHAT THE FUCK
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Great to see Northland score a 2nd try, but ouch, this is getting really ugly for the Taniwha. Not too sure what to think of this team. Looking good one game, and weak the next. Waikato on the other hand, look like nobody can stop them from getting promoted back to the Premiership.
About that intercept try from Tupaea: is he slow or is Kara Pryor fast?
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That was embarrassing, can't recall last time we shipped that many too loose and too many unforced errors
3 of their tries were about 250m of running, such a shame as that was probably the best crowd since the 'stop the drop' game v BOP.
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Not one of the great days in Taniwha rugby ,talking to Matt Matich at the end of the game for some reason even he felt they were flat which is a bit hard to understand given the massive home crowd support that turned up and I must say it was awesome to see so many numbers so I am really disappointed for the supporters..!
I personally think the fact we have had to roll many of the same players because of injuries was a factor..where you look at Waikato and I must say full credit to them,they were able to change out 7 x players from the game against Southland,it’s bloody great luxury to have depth in this comp...
On saying all that some one on one tackles were disgraceful..what was worse Tana Umaga and Tony Hanks were on hand to see the Taniwha put in the worst possible shift.On the bonus point ,I really don’t give a shit wether we deserve to be in the finals or not,the rules say if you get 4 x tries you get a bonus point..end of story..
Can remember Auckland hanging onto their Premiership status by scoring an extra bonus point against Canterbury after losing to all the Premierhip teams including the relegated Waikato team..!
Did they deserve to stay up..?,hell yes because they finished ahead of Waikato by way of guess what..a bonus point... -
@steven-harris said in v Waikato:
On the bonus point ,I really don’t give a shit wether we deserve to be in the finals or not,the rules say if you get 4 x tries you get a bonus point..end of story..
Can remember Auckland hanging onto their Premiership status by scoring an extra bonus point against Canterbury after losing to all the Premierhip teams including the relegated Waikato team..!
Did they deserve to stay up..?,hell yes because they finished ahead of Waikato by way of guess what..a bonus point...Yes the rules are what they are
However you’ll never convince me that a team who has been thrashed deserves a bonus point. Regardless of what teams are involved
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@steven-harris think the writing was on the wall when Matich dropped that first high ball, as one of our best and most accurate performers over the past few years he had probably his most forgettable match (not finger pointing, just surprised that even he had a bad day) to pretty much sum up our day.
Still shaking my head...think it was 5 tries we gifted them, 5.
At one point in that 2nd spell pretty sure we had 2 props, 2 hookers and 4 loosies in our pack and then finished with 3 props, 2 hookers and 3 loosies...only in NOrthland haha
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A bit of good news out of an utter disaster Jack Debreczeni has been signed by the chiefs..and Northland are negotiating with Solomon Alaimalo to return to the Taniwha..
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@steven-harris coulda done with Solomon at 15 today...playing a guy who played 10 all club season there not a good idea, dont expect he will recall his first start fondly
