Counties v Taranaki

[Duluth]

Reuben O'Neill, Ricky Riccitelli, Donald Brighouse*, Tupou Vaa'i, Mitch Brown (c), Kaylum Boshier, Lachlan Boshier, Pita Gus Sowakula, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Daniel Waite, Jackson Ormond, Teihorangi Walden, Sean Wainui, Waisake Naholo, Jayson Potroz

Reserves: Scott Mellow, Chris Gawler, Kyle Stewart, Jesse Parete, Johnny Faletogoa'i-Malase*, Warwick Lahmert, Regan Verney*, Kini Naholo

(*denotes debut)

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https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/114852367/two-sets-of-brothers-named-in-taranaki-bulls-side-for-clash-with-counties-manukau

[Duluth]

15 Andrew Kellaway 14 Kirisi Kuridrani 13 Cardiff Vaega 12 Sonny Bill Williams 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo 10 Riley Hohepa 9 Jonathan Taumateine 8 Malgene Ilaua 7 Sam Henwood 6 Samuel Slade 5 Daymon Leasuasu 4 Sikeli Nabou 3 Tim Metcher 2 Joseph Royal 1 Conan O’Donnell

Reserves: Donald Maka, Mark Royal, Suetena Asomua, Johnathan Kawau, Dan Hyatt, Liam Daniela, Nathaniel Apa, Kalione Hala

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https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/114876531/all-blacks-midfielder-sonny-bill-williams-named-to-start-for-counties-manukau

[Bovidae]

@Duluth No Orbyn Leger. Is he injured?

[Crucial]

Anyone able to give some updates on this? Setanta haven’t got this one.

[Stargazer]

@Crucial Just tuned in. Counties have scored (not sure who). Counties leads 5 - 0 after 4 and half minutes.

[Dice]

Who's that number 12 for Counties?

[Stargazer]

@Dice He looks a bit like SBW, doesn't he?

[Stargazer]

Try Wainui for Taranaki.

[Stargazer]

7 - 5 Taranaki after 8 minutes.

Nanai-Seturo limping.

[Duluth]

@Dice said in Counties v Taranaki:

Who's that number 12 for Counties?

3 great touches in the lead up to the first try

[Stargazer]

After a good maul, Taumateine passes to Nanai-Seturo, who scores in the corner.

[Stargazer]

12 - 7 Counties after 14 and a half minutes.

[Stargazer]

And again, Taranaki hits back immediately. Waisake Naholo scores the try.

12 all after 17 minutes.

[Tim]

Who was the old guy with the balding head?

[Stargazer]

Penalty try to Taranaki. Samuel Slade sent to the bin for collapsing the maul. 19 - 12 Taranaki after almost 20 minutes.

[Stargazer]

Taranaki's first five - Daniel Waite - has a powerful boot.

[Dice]

@Tim I think that's Jayson Potroz.

[Stargazer]

Counties giving away too many penalties. Shot at goal coming up ...

[Stargazer]

22 - 12 to Taranaki after 24 minutes.

[Stargazer]

This is becoming a try fest. Prop Conan O'Donnell scores for Counties.

22 - 19 to Taranaki after 26 minutes.

[Tim]

Halfback battle is pretty interesting in this game.

[Bones]

Couple of big lump locks out there eh, 4 for naki and 5 for CM.

[Stargazer]

Great scrum from Counties.

[Stargazer]

Haven't seen much of SBW since those early minutes.

[Tim]

Taranaki's Super Rugby frontrow is getting drilled.

[Stargazer]

That was a great break from Taumateine that he butchered himself with a terrible pass.

[Stargazer]

Result: Taranaki scores; Lachlan Boshier going over.

[Tim]

Yeah, should've kicked.

[Stargazer]

Half time: Counties 19 - 29 Taranaki

[KiwiMurph]

Two Aussies in the starting back 3 for Counties - Kuridrani and Kellaway.

[Bovidae]

@Tim said in Counties v Taranaki:

Taranaki's Super Rugby frontrow is getting drilled.

Mellow is at hooker, not Riccitelli. I didn't see the start of the game so no idea why.

But C-M definitely have an advantage there.

[Dice]

I see some rucking

[Tim]

For all the fuss, Nanai-Sotero hasn't set the world alight.

[Tim]

Would like to see a replay of that tackle.

[Dice]

SBW forcing a few too many offloads in this half.

[Dice]

@Tim Think he's more of a fullback than wing. Was dangerous there for Counties last year.

[Tim]

Counties just can't finish it off.

[Nepia]

I don’t think a team should get the scrum for a knock on if they take a drop goal attempt.

[Steven Harris]

Been impressed with Counties Manukau set piece scrum and lineout ,just failing to get really quick ball to get in behind the Naki

[Tim]

@Steven-Harris Or hold on to it!