semi final v Waikato
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Waikato v Northland, Saturday 20 October, kick off 2.35pm at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Be interesting what sort of team we can put together.
Hopefully at least 2 or 3 from the sick bay will be fit and ready to show last weekend was an anomaly and maybe, just maybe a bit of Utu.
Need to start much stronger than we have been rather than being down by 20+ after 20 mins as we have the last 2 games.
So last week Goodhue, Olsen, Robinson, Ranger, Matich, Wright, Douglas, Macilai, Verney, Thoroughgood, Pryor, Roberts-Te Nana were unavailable.
We know Roberts-Te Nana, Throughgood, Verney & Macilai are def gone, I will assume Wright is still unavailable, and neither Douglas or Robinson looked good, but I guess until we know, we can hope they might be back.
My team:
Rinakama, Moulds, Tu'ungafasi
Douglas/McNamara, Goodhue
Robinson/Matiu, Pryor, Matich
Nock, Debreczeni
Gregory, Ranger
Tua, Wright, HylandOlsen, Straker, Atkins, McNamara/Albornoz, Matiu/Stokes, Kitto, Faiane, Cooper
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First 10 minutes we need to kick for territory and then d up rather than run it out.
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All you need to do is slightly antagonise our forwards and they will give you dumb penalties all day, especially if it is tight at the end and we are on you try line....
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@hooroo after our last effort, keeping it tight is the key
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So much of this game will depend on the injury list.
These are the sorts of games the SR coaches will be looking for guys to step up. So big opportunities for guys like Nock, Matich, Robinson, Hyland, Olsen, Kitto, Tua who may be on the fringes
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Rene Ranger has won both player of the year and players player of the year.
Jordan Hyland has won off-field performance
Moulds won team man of the year
Debreczeni most improved back
Robinson most improved forward -
@taniwharugby really pleased for Rene. He was always a great player for us but he has become a leader - always giving 80 minutes of effort. A great example for those around him and for fans there is nothing better than seeing his name on the roster each year. Hope he comes back next year.
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So bizarre to have the awards before the season is over.
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I pray for one thing only..!

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Absolutely gutted...coincidentally I am staying in Hamilton this weekend but at game time I'm gonna be in Rotorua, probably unable to watch, maybe not even able to listen, depending on what we are upto at that time 🤔
Could be a blessing or could be gutting...especially as we should be getting at least a few back off the injured list.
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From what understand there’s 25% chance that Pickerill be the official for the Northland v Waikato game on Saturday
Thought I would listen back to the radio commentary from last Saturday’s Shield challenge,former Waikato lock Steve Gordon absolutely tore him a new one and suggested he should go back to heartland rugby..
Maybe these odds are falling by the wayside.. -
@steven-harris although Waikato were pretty lucky in that game, they shoulda had 2 YCs, from where I was sitting he was fairly consistent in his poor decisions with both team bar the cards
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surely he wont consider playing for anyone else in NZ?
His 2 years at NH didnt really go too well, he knows where he should stay!
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=12143371
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TAB odds for Saturday:
Head to Head: Waikato $1.27 Northland $3.50
$1.87 for a 10 point start for Northland
Northland 13+ $10
Northland 12 and under $4.50
Halftime double: Waikato/NOrthland $8.00
Northland/Waikato $5.50
Northland/Northland $5.50I think pretty fair.
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@taniwharugby said in semi final v Waikato:
TAB odds for Saturday:
Head to Head: Waikato $1.27 Northland $3.50
$1.87 for a 10 point start for Northland
Northland 13+ $10
Northland 12 and under $4.50
Halftime double: Waikato/NOrthland $8.00
Northland/Waikato $5.50
Northland/Northland $5.50I think pretty fair.
Considering the TAB had your lot at 1.87 with a 1.5 point start in your last game and the Ferald had that as one of its bets of the round...…
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@crucial I will be very surprised if we are pumped like that again (while also not....) this team can play, just too inconsistent
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A few back form the injury ward: Ross Wright, Goodhue, Robinson, Matich, Ranger.
Albornoz gets a start, bit surprised, thought McNamara would have done enough to get another start but Albornoz looks like a bit of a worker too, Matiu over Matich is a big call IMO (although I guess he didnt have his best outing last time v Waikato) and Tua at 12 is also a bit of a gamble given his form, but hopefully he pulls finger and has a stormer.
Northland Team to face Waikato:
Wright, Moulds, Rinakama
Albornoz, Goodhue
Robinson, Stokes, Matiu
Nock, Debreczeni
Tua, Ranger
Gregory, Wright, HylandOlsen, Straker, Tu'ungafasi, MacNamara, Matich, Kitto, Faiane, Hohaia
Injury list: Douglas (fractured leg) Jacobsen (concussion) Pryor (shoulder) Mayanavanua (shoulder) Roberts-Te Nana (hammy) Thoroughgood (ankle)
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Referee appointments for the Mitre 10 Cup Championship/Premiership semi finals
Waikato v Northland >Paul Williams.
Tasman v Canterbury>Mike Fraser
Otago v Hawkes Bay>Ben O’Keeffe
Auckland v Wellington>Brendon Pickerill Sorry about that..! -
@steven-harris first hurdle avoided, and also not the guy that we had v HB, in fact I dont think we have had this guy this season that I can see.
just need to beat Waikato now
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Cam Goodhue podcast with Ross Wright
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Biggest surprise for me is Stokes starting ahead of Matich and Tua in midfield whilst Gregory is on the wing. Good to get Ross Wright back. After his defence the last few weeks, Rinakama might be a tad lucky to start.
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@chiefy07 think Stokes is closer to a 7 than any of the others in the team, so for me its Matiu/Matich.
What we lose in work rate and accuracy MAtiu brings with his ball carrying and probably harder defence.
The Tua one is interesting, especially as his defence has been poor this season, so he needs to be on ppoint this game otherwise the game could well again get away from us pretty damn quick.
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@taniwharugby said in semi final v Waikato:
@chiefy07 think Stokes is closer to a 7 than any of the others in the team, so for me its Matiu/Matich.
What we lose in work rate and accuracy MAtiu brings with his ball carrying and probably harder defence.
The Tua one is interesting, especially as his defence has been poor this season, so he needs to be on ppoint this game otherwise the game could well again get away from us pretty damn quick.
@taniwharugby I think Matich is more than capable of playing 7 at this level. Wasn't he playing 7 for Akl before coming back North? I think Stokes is decent and hasn't done anything wrong but would've liked to have seen Matich in for his defensive work rate - think that will be very important Vs Waikato
Agree on Tua - very important that he is solid in defence. Surprised given how both have played on the wing and how both have played in the midfield this year that they're named how they are.
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@chiefy07 cant recall, I thought he was 6? I thnk he is capable of playing 7 too, I just think right now, Stokes is playing closer to that role.
With Pryor supposedly off might be a chance for him to stake a claim on that for next season.
We simply must start well, too many matches we have been scored against in the opening 4 or 5 mins, and v Waikato and BOP have been down by >20 after about 20 odd mins, and from there you are always gonna struggle playing catch up.
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http://www.mitre10cup.co.nz/News/33291/championship-semifinal-preview-waikato-v-northland
Matty Lansdown, Tyler Campbell, Quinn Tupaea, Dwayne Sweeney (c), Sevu Reece, Fletcher Smith, Jack Stratton, Jordan Manihera, Mitch Jacobson, Adam Burn, James Tucker, Tim Bond, Joshua Iosefa-Scott, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ayden Johnstone
Reserves: Sekope Lopeti-Moli, Toby Smith, Sosaia Fale, Sam Caird, Murray Iti, Kylem O’Donnell, Bailyn Sullivan, Declan O’Donnell
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@chiefy07 to me Matich is only on the bench because he is coming back from injury. He would be starting other wise. The Tua/ Gregory switch is odd but hope they know what they are doing.
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Article suggests that losing the Shield is bad for us...that remains to be seen, I thought before the game them losing the shield in a close one would be better for us...although that may also be an incorrect POV as well.
While its be great if we win, I am resigned to us losing, but at least we can do it in style, like last week Haha...I refer you to my tagline below.
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@taniwharugby the article also fails to mention how many injuries we have had in recent weeks. But we have a strong side and a good bench. Probably a couple off our best but not bad. I’m going down so hope we start well which seems to be our big issue. Would like to see us kick off 😀
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@kev I'm in a hotel in Hamilton now, but can't watch the game 😫
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@taniwharugby 😒 so close you can smell it
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Spoke to the Waikato media manager yesterday,they are only expecting between 3-4,000 people to the game because it’s the long weekend,given they had a similar crowd there last weekend for a shield defence, it’s bloody embarrassing..!.good opportunity for the Taniwha supporters to make their presence felt.
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The first 2 minutes were all us, the next 12 all Waikato.
7-7
Again an extremely poor exit play put us under pressure which Waikato turned into points.
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Awesome team try from Gregory!
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Oh wow, a quick tap penalty from inside our own 22 ends with a try to Gregory in the corner.
7-14
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Holy hell, what a fantastic try to Northland.
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@higgins @Stargazer the last pass may have been forward, but we’ll take it.
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Oh fuck yes!
M Wright under the sticks
7-21
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Poor defence, professional foul under the sticks earns Nock a yellow card.
Fuck this will be a game changing 10 minutes. If Waikato don’t level the scores or take the lead I’ll be very surprised
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I am staggered that you guys managed to get raped by the DSW a coupe of weeks back. Things looking reasonably promising for a Championship final in Napier next weekend so please don't you blow it from here Northland, although now at 14 - 21 things are looking a bit more dicey than I would like.
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@higgins said in semi final v Waikato:
I am staggered that you guys managed to get raped by the DSW a coupe of weeks back. things looking reasonably promising for a Championship final in Napier next weekend so please don't you blow it from here Northland/ although 14 - 21 thing are looking a bit mor dicy than I would like
You’re dreaming, this is Northland, we can blow a 14 point lead quicker than anyone in the business.