Tasman v BOP
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1 Isi Tu'ungafasi, 2 Andrew Makalio, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Alex Ainley, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 6 Jacob Norris, 7 Sione Havili, 8 Hugh Renton, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Mitch Hunt, 11 Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12 Alex Nankivell, 13 Fetuli Paea, 14 Mark Telea, 15 David Havili
Reserves: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Samuel Matenga, 19 Isaac Ross, 20 Braden Stewart, 21 Louie Chapman, 22 Kieran Fonotia, 23 Tima Fainga'anuku
Issac Ross on the bench
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F$$k that invitational XV is strong, I am going to suggest they took a visit from an Indian bookmaker last week..
To be fair Harbour were great last week, so maybe Harbour need to be Drug tested? Think the Bay is going to need the same injecting clinic to get close in this one. -
@bayimports The backs are good.
This year's forwards are just a decent NPC pack, though Lomax should add some starch on last week's pack.
Last week, I think we only had three current Super rugby forwards (and none who are regular starters), where Harbour had probably half a dozen.
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1 Jordan Lay, 2 Nathan Vella, 3 Jeff Thwaites, 4 Stan van den Hoven, 5 Keepa Mewett, 6 Aaron Carroll, 7 Mitch Karpik, 8 Joe Tupe, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10 Otere Black, 11 Chase Tiatia, 12 Dan Hollinshead, 13 Regan Ware, 14 Emoni Narawa, 15 Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16 Nic Souchon, 17 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Kurt Eklund, 20 Joe Johnston, 21 Leroy Carter, 22 Scott Curry, 23 Joe Webber
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Interesting stacking the bench with extra hookers. Presumably bop planning some front of line out moves.
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Hard watching bop backs constantly passing into players standing still. Just no forward momentum.
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Then otere finally times one for ware and voila. Commentators curse
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Christie winning the battle of AB halfback hopefuls.
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Cam Stone is a pretty good ref
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@Yeetyaah agreed on that. Tasman took their chances. Christie havili faingaanuku a class above. Bop just not playing with real belief in themselves. But vella and Thwaites good today.
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Only skimmed through this game. Was Eklund ok as a loose forward?
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Am watching the replay of this game. Call it fluffing if you like, but David Havili has improved so much over the last two years. His decision-making is outstanding; he's showing Crotty like qualities in organising the defence; has a great boot etc etc. It's a shame they didn't pick him for the ABs. I think he offers more than someone like Dmac.
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@Stargazer said in Tasman v BOP:
Am watching the replay of this game. Call it fluffing if you like, but David Havili has improved so much over the last two years. His decision-making is outstanding; he's showing Crotty like qualities in organising the defence; has a great boot etc etc. It's a shame they didn't pick him for the ABs. I think he offers more than someone like Dmac.
Come on mate, he was only playing BoP, meanwhile DMac put in a good shit against the high flying all conquering new Wallabies.
I assume he'll come into an extended squad though if they extend it now that he's not injured.
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@Duluth Did not notice him I'm afraid. Forgettable from BOP. But their front row was competitive. Otere Black seems to lack a bit of confidence in the new surroundings - bit flatfooted and ineffective kick options. Ware and Karpik had their moments.
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@ARHS Great try assist from Black for Ware's try just before half time.
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Haha, Finlay Christie so obviously milking a penalty and immediately going for the quick tap after the penalty is awarded, leading to the 2nd try from Fainga'anuku. Smart play from Christie, but oh so annoying for the opposition.
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Much better effort from Tasman this week, with everyone contributing.
Christie especially looked like he'd shaken off some rust and things flowed better from there.
However, as above, the forward packs seemed reasonably evenly matched. The Tasman backs just had more firepower and played with more adventure.
I think it will be a lot better for TTT to stay in NZ and play some rugby rather than sitting in an Australian grandstand watching the ABs. On that performance, I wouldn't want Otere Black very near an AB jersey either.
