Ultimate NPC: Round 1 Waikato v Manawatu

[Crucial]

A dry game in the Tron. Battle of the cockies
Cowbells are ringing and really annoying Mark Shaw.
Waikato look to have the edge in the loosies but if the two Aarons get front foot ball they could create havoc with Cully chiming in.

[mariner4life]

@Crucial said in Ultimate NPC: Round 1 Waikato v Manawatu:

A dry game in the Tron. Battle of the cockies
Cowbells are ringing and really annoying Mark Shaw.
Waikato look to have the edge in the loosies but if the two Aarons get front foot ball they could create havoc with Cully chiming in.

Waikato the better pack, and the backline is in general better than the 'poos as well. Except at 15 of course.

Cullen to score 3 and win it by himself on a chilli saturday arvo at Rugby Park

[Higgins]

Very tempting to vote for the 'Poo as they look to be strong and powerful enough up front to win that important battle, but can I find it in my heart to actually vote for them?

[Bovidae]

There haven't been many quicker halfbacks than Duggan. He regularly outplayed Meg in the late 1990s.

[dogmeat]

@Crucial Don't agree about the loosies and Waikato will be hoping there aren't too many scrums. Good as there front row is Knight and Lambert are formidable props. the Poos weakness is the lineout but I reckon it's a much tighter contest than may expected with an exciting Poo backline

[dogmeat]

Poo are going to suffer because most voters won't know how good the 5 old names in that pack are.

[Crucial]

@Bovidae said in Ultimate NPC: Round 1 Waikato v Manawatu:

There haven't been many quicker halfbacks than Duggan. He regularly outplayed Meg in the late 1990s.

Not many, but Nugget?

[Bovidae]

I'd take Duggan in a race. He played sevens for NZ for a reason.

[Crucial]

@Bovidae said in Ultimate NPC: Round 1 Waikato v Manawatu:

I'd take Duggan in a race. He played sevens for NZ for a reason.

I thought you meant quicker getting the ball out.

[Bovidae]

@Crucial I don't think any halfback has/had a pass as quick as Smith. Maybe Tonu'u, but he could be erratic.

[dogmeat]

@Bovidae Grim Bachop?

[Tim]

Manawatu have a class backline, so Waikato would have to get on top in the forwards.

[Bovidae]

@dogmeat said in Ultimate NPC: Round 1 Waikato v Manawatu:

@Bovidae Grim Bachop?

I'd still rate Smith ahead of Bachop. Laidlaw had a great pass in his day too.

[voodoo]

Some serious wheels in that Waikato backline

[Bovidae]

Sivivatu scored 5 tries against Auckland in a game. I'm sure he could manage a hat-trick against the Poo.

[Crucial]

@voodoo said in Ultimate NPC: Round 1 Waikato v Manawatu:

Some serious wheels in that Waikato backline

But they have Fozzie at 10

[Tim]

@Crucial Even worse, they are burdened with Reece Duggan!

[Bovidae]

I'm hoping this Ian Foster turns up.

[dogmeat]

Far and away the tightest one for me to pick.

[Tim]

@dogmeat Manawatu get close to parity in the forwards, and have much better halves.