Northland v Taranaki
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Looking forward to this one, I'll be heading along with the young fulla. He'll watch for 2 minutes and get excited when he see's Tom Robinson whom he thinks is a mate of mine with equally long flowing ginger locks who incidentally also plays lock/6... down a punnet of chips then roll down the bank with his mates for the rest of the game... good times
Looks like it'll be good weather, which should make for a good crowd on a Saturday afternoon.
Our loosie mix will be interesting with all our injuries, thankfully Big Red isn't one of them. It might be a case of who ever is fit gets a game.
I'd like to see Gregory come into second five, but don't think the coaches share that view.
I believe this is Ross Wrights 100th game and there is a group of his family/friends all making Ross Wright masks for the occasion. I really hope they've got matching mullets too.
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@Gunner said in Northland v Taranaki:
down a punnet of chips then roll down the bank with his mates for the rest of the game
am sure you did that as a kid, I did that as a kid, TR Jnr did that when he was younger, it's what you do!
Fortunately the core of our team is intact, assume Matich is still available, bloody handy guy to have waiting to get out there.
Long term, 12 is where I think Gregory will end up, but I think he needs to get his confidence back, from the wing, with a bit of roaming licence.
I know I keep banging on, but we need to be involving Hyland in our play more, as a runner or decoy, we simply dont use him enough.
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Injured: Stokes, Tua, Levien, Jacobson, MacNamara, Hyland, Uluinakauvadra
All 5 would likely be in the match day 23 if fit.
Matich straight in to start at 8, Wiseguy drops out and Cooper onto bench, probably a bit tough on Wiseguy as he has done a good job so far, but Cooper needs time too...as I have said before, I would have preferred they went with Wideguy and stuck with him to allow him to grow, but they have pumped for Hawkins again, hopefully he repays the faith.
Mayanavaua seems to have passed Caird, probably his work rate and physicality is a little better than Caird.
Macilai on the bench is good to see, when I saw him a few weeks ago, he looks in much better shape than last year.
Rob Rush with a potential debut!
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Jayson Potroz, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Sean Wainui (c), Daniel Waite, Lewis Ormond, Stephen Perofeta, Lisati Milo-Harris, Kaylum Boshier, Lachlan Boshier (c), Tom Florence, Findlamor Hoeata, Josh Lord, Ben May, Bradley Slater, Reuben O’Neill
Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Jared Proffit, Donald Brighouse, Pita Gus Sowakula, Mitchell Crosswell, Kylem O’Donnell, Codey Rei, Lukas Halls
Waite moves into midfield to replace injured captain
By: Glenn McLean New Plymouth Old Boys utility back Daniel Waite has been named to start in the midfield for the...
New Plymouth Old Boys utility back Daniel Waite has been named to start in the midfield for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls against Northland after co-captain Teihorangi Walden was ruled out of the remainder of the Mitre 10 Cup. Walden was carried off the field during last Sunday’s Ranfurly Shield loss to Otago in Inglewood and later scans showed he had ruptured his achilles tendon. Impressive loose forward Lachlan Boshier and centre Sean Wainui take over the captaincy duties while regular skipper Mitchell Brown continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Waite, who has featured predominantly at first five-eighth for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls in recent seasons, is one of several changes to the starting XV for Saturday’s match in Whangarei. Veteran prop Ben May returns to the front row with Reuben O’Neill switching from tighthead to loosehead while Findlamor Hoeata replaces Tupou Vaa’i who has returned to the All Blacks squad as they prepare to take on Australia. Loose forward Tom Florence will start at blindside flanker after making a number of strong performances off the bench while Stephen Perofeta moves from fullback into first five-eighth. That move sees Tukapa’s Jayson Potroz move to fullback while the remainder of the backline remains the same. On the bench, Lukas Halls and Codey Rei come into the squad while Chiefs No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula makes a welcome return from injury. Yarrows Taranaki Bulls coach Willie Rickards said there was obvious disappointment in the camp following Sunday’s loss to Otago but they were determined to bounce back quickly against a Northland side which has looked impressive in the early rounds of the Mitre 10 Cup. “We came back together on Monday and had a good discussion around what has happened and the fact we have to move forward and focus our attention on what lies ahead for us,” he said. “We are not going to let one loss define our season and our ultimate goals remain the same. We know Northland will be especially tough to face at home and the squad is looking forward to playing a really positive sort of game up there.” -
I like that 23. Only thing I would change is Macilai to 11 and Gregory to 12. I don't understand why coaches are reluctant to play him at 12, it's the ideal position for him. Happy with Hawkins keeping 10 Jersey. Haven't been a big fan but he went well last weekend and don't think the others have shown enough to oust him yet.
We need to start well, all 3 games we've been slow to get started. I don't think Taranaki will roll over and let us back in like Manawatu and C-M
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@taniwharugby said in Northland v Taranaki:
@Gunner said in Northland v Taranaki:
down a punnet of chips then roll down the bank with his mates for the rest of the game
am sure you did that as a kid, I did that as a kid, TR Jnr did that when he was younger, it's what you do!
@Gunner 's son could be 35. It might not be entirely dignified but why not?
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This game would be more enjoyable if the players entered the rucks legally. Instead the ref is (rightfully)) blowing his whistle. Hopefully both teams address and respond.
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@antipodean I also hope Northland learn how to scrum and line out
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Two tries thanks to Scott lucky bounce Gregory!
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Ref incredibly quick at blowing some of the holding calls, but is doing both ways
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@taniwharugby said in Northland v Taranaki:
Ref incredibly quick at blowing some of the holding calls, but is doing both ways
And that's all you can really ask for as a player. Well, that and not making clangers.
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What a kick by Perofeta.
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@taniwharugby said in Northland v Taranaki:
@Snowy I know how old @Gunner is and no way is his kid 35 haha
More a reference to me doing it in my fifties. I'm game.
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Not one for handing out cards for the fun of it, but that one should've come earlier IMO.
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Some great D by the team. Not often we lose lead in second half and then come back. Good start to season.
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@kev said in Northland v Taranaki:
Good start to season.
Southland in Whangarei next week. Good chance of being 4 from 5
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@Duluth shh almost as bad as the ground announcer 10 minutes to go saying people could go on the field to celebrate the win
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@taniwharugby said in Northland v Taranaki:
@Duluth shh almost as bad as the ground announcer 10 minutes to go saying people could go on the field to celebrate the win
Nah easy victory. Whats par? 20 points?
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Bit of a scratchy 60 mins by both sides before Northland took it up a gear and closed it off.
But ill take that!
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@taniwharugby said in Northland v Taranaki:
@Duluth shh almost as bad as the ground announcer 10 minutes to go saying people could go on the field to celebrate the win
<6:45 to go and 15 points, exagerator!
Fun game, some monster hits that could really be felt. I thought it was all over rover the way Taniwha started the second half!
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Boshier has been very quiet the last two weeks.
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@Dice yeah we commented at the game he was oddly very quiet.
Our kick chase needs work, Leilua seems to lead the defence line, but so often on the kick through he was leading it, but by fuck if he wasnt holding them back as they were moving up far too slow all the time.
I like what he brings, he does alot of talking, is usually in good positions, although way out of position for the raking kick naki put in that lead to one of thier tries.
Scrum looked very shaky in the first half, but shored up in the second, lineout is a worry, cos we had our best aerial players out there today and we really struggled with a couple of not straights and poor timing.
Gotta love what Macilai brings to the game, still has a bit of x factor about him, make ground with ball in hand, and put in a big hit at the end.
Our loosies were ahead too pretty much in all facets, Matich letting Pryor & Robinson roam wide while he got stuck in the tight and worked tirelessly as always.
Thought Ranger was up and down, did some good stuff or was quiet
Hawkins had one of his better games I have seen him play, just played the role of a pivot and steered us around the park, although his line kicking still leaves alot to be desired!
As above, messy 50 or 60 mins, at times looked like we would run away, and then like we would throw it away, but I reckon that was probably about right in terms of scoreline.
Hopefully with that little bit of luck and a meat pie, Gregory is finding his way back to form.
Reckon Tuiloma might be pushing for a start too
Congrats to Ross Wright, the hundy club, Kara, Sam and Matt with the half, well deserved.
Was that disallowed try call fair? At the game I thought they were gonna call it knocked on with the bobble from Ranger, but no, was earlier.
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@taniwharugby disallowed try was a fair call in my view.
Good win by the Taniwha.
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@ACT-Crusader yeah my view of the big screen was obscured...
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@taniwharugby one eye distorts perspective eh
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@nzzp thought you had been up here
was more lack of a big screen that prevented me seeing the replay... -
@taniwharugby said in Northland v Taranaki:
@nzzp thought you had been up here
was more lack of a big screen that prevented me seeing the replay...in fairness, it's been a while...
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Stupid embedding thing...team haka for Ross
Congratulations Ross Wright on 100 games for the Taniwha #upthetanis...
14K views, 217 likes, 80 loves, 37 comments, 64 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Semenoff Stadium - Northland Events Centre: Congratulations Ross Wright on 100 games for the Taniwha #upthetanis
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Excellent performance from the Tani's to beat a pretty good Taranaki side.
It's a game we'd have lost in years gone by after slipping behind going into the last quarter.
Thought the forwards really stood up, and gee Big Red is either mad or just tough as f**k lining up Sowakula like he did, how good???!!!
A guy who has improved since last season, (I didn't really think much of him last year) is Te Whata-Colley, I love his physicality around the rucks.
Nock has got to have one of the best box kicks in the business. Those kicks of his looked effortless and had serious height on them, which you don't really see watching on TV. Noticed a serious step down in the slickness of the passing when he was subbed too.
Macilai - still got it!! He's a class act and quality finisher at this level. He has to play.
We SHOULD be able to put Southland away reasonably comfortably at home next Sunday. As improved a side as they are, they are limited and they'll be out of their comfort zone playing on a fast dry track with the sun beating down on them.
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Big Red was out at a bach on the coast this weekend, surrounded by a bevy of babes. Doing it right, he earned it!
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@taniwharugby Nock has the ball kicked out of his hands so knock on was at base of scrum prior to Ranger.
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@kev cheers, havent seen full replay to see what had happened, live I just thought it woulda come back to Ranger bobbling it.
Gotta say, the local DJ at
Okara ParkLowe WalkerTollSemenoff Stadium needs kick up the arse too!!1 - music was too loud (plus those pesky kids were playing rugby on my lawn)
2 - went on far too long, several times it only faded out as the team receiving a kick was catching it -
@taniwharugby said in Northland v Taranaki:
@kev cheers, havent seen full replay to see what had happened, live I just thought it woulda come back to Ranger bobbling it.
Gotta say, the local DJ at
Okara ParkLowe WalkerTollSemenoff Stadium needs kick up the arse too!!1 - music was too loud (plus those pesky kids were playing rugby on my lawn)
2 - went on far too long, several times it only faded out as the team receiving a kick was catching itMan a stadium named after that dodgy fluffybunny, very embarrassing
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@Machpants all about the money money money
Guess he is trying to redeem himself by putting out the cash...
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@taniwharugby A fitting haka for Ross. Great to see that commitment on the field as well. We have always had the ability to hit hard but now we some to be making more tackles and the defensive line is working better.
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@kev yeah our defence is largely pretty good so far, but we still defend too narrow, we seem to get flanked too often. I do wonder if that last try naki got was because I think it was Rush still walking across in the in-goal area with Leilua I think, thinking he had someone outside him.
Also on watching the replay, what was his card for, I hear the ref say repeated infringements against us, but he looked just onside, and more so than the 2 guys immediately inside him at any rate and I think Atkins and Hohaia were off side on the other side of the ruck, and ref blew up before he could be pinged for a ruck infrongment, so assume he was just the player the ref decided was off side?
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Everything bar that wide defence is coming on nicely this year. Loving the ability to fight for 80 minutes as well.
Really pleased with the fact that we can still look like we’re in second gear but still push on and put teams to bed. Shows that the fitness levels have increased in the off season. Was evident looking at the shape Ross Wright is in, and Te Whata-Colley to a lesser degree.
As Gunner said we should take Southland down this weekend, but definitely shouldn’t be banking any points before the game has started. Southland have shown their defence is very solid, but haven’t shown much on attack. If we unlock the D we should rip them to shreads.
As for individuals, I’m still not overly sold on Hohaia at 12 and would like to eventually see Gregory there with Leilua and Macilai on the wings. Would like to see Johnny Cooper get a crack at the back, he looked good there in a shit performance against Tasman.
The rest of the team look quite balanced, and even though I haven’t been a fan of Hawkins in the past, he hasn’t done much wrong the last two weeks.
