Hawkes Bay v Southland (RS)
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1 Joseph Walsh, 2 Sam Stewart, 3 Morgan Mitchell, 4,Grayson Knapp, 5 Josh Bekhuis (c), 6,Blair Ryall, 7 Matt James, 8 Arese Poliko, 9 Jay Renton, 10 Marty Banks, 11 Rory van Vugt, 12 Scott Gregory, 13 Matt Whaanga, 14 Viliami Fine, 15mRobbie Robinson
Reserves: 16 Jacob Payne, 17 Paula Latu, 18 Quinn Harrison Jones, 19 Joe Robins, 20 Hayden Michaels, 21 Jack MacLeod, 22 Willie Tufui, 23 Solomon Alaimalo
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Stags hoping for Shield redemption
Southland is one win away from a ripper of a season. The Stags have also been one try or one defensive stop away from better results this season....
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@Higgins. It isn't bad when you can still field what is basically a Super Rugby Side to defend, or re win the Shield. However what must be remembered is that Southland have taken on very good Shield Snorters sides before in Napier and won. They are the kind of side that can sneak up on you and do what there no supposed to. Southland I think will attempt to play a territory based game, on the back of Marty Banks. They will also play a slow type of game and attempt to frustrate Shield Snorters into giving away silly penalties through poor discipline. Shield Snorters need to play an up tempo game, back there skills, and when given the chance apply authority up front, Scrums, Lineout drives and quick clean outs at ruck time. Southland won't bugger off easily. Get off to the right start, and do not take the foot off the throat. Keep these guys in the game, and Invercargill may have a new visitor. However after weighing every thing up, and the individual clashes it's reasonable to think Shield Snorters will prevail. At least as a Bay fan, I hope so.
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@Nepia Mate I'm not surprised at that. Danny's a better player than that. And putting him out there tomorrow gives him a good chance to prove it. He'd know he fucked up, so let him make it right. As for Tiatia, I think he's actually the kind of player that is under valued. I rate him, and think he's very capable of tearing a backline defence apart. He hasn't done it yet, but I think he will.
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@Billsy111 said in Shield Snorters v Southland (RS):
@Nepia Mate I'm not surprised at that. Danny's a better player than that. And putting him out there tomorrow gives him a good chance to prove it. He'd know he fucked up, so let him make it right. As for Tiatia, I think he's actually the kind of player that is under valued. I rate him, and think he's very capable of tearing a backline defence apart. He hasn't done it yet, but I think he will.
Mate, I was joking about Danny.
But, seriously, have you watched Tiatia so far? He's always been rocks and diamonds, yet he hasn't had any diamonds in his games for the Shield Snorters so far. Him tearing a backline apart once isn't going to balance out the rest of his Baker like play.
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I was there in 2009 and 2011 when we got it... Will be keeping a close eye on it from the golf course this afternoon.
GO THE STAGS
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@Billsy111 tbh this Southland side is a bit more adventurous and IMO they don't have the pack to slow things down enough to make it worthwhile or get into an arm wrestle.
They have scored some good tries though and don't think they will play much differently this week, but everything will need to come good for 80 minutes for them to nab the shield.
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@taniwharugby Well they have made a fine start on that score with it being very dull and grey here in The Bay this morning. It was sitting on fourteen degrees on the thermometer out on the back porch and there was a bit of light rain overnight with heaps more of the heavier variety forecast to arrive sometime later this afternoon so practically zero chance of any sunshine, or rise in temperature for that matter. Quite still here at the moment but an ever so slight easterly waffling through which means it is coming of the sea so will have a bit of chill to it, McLean Park being only four or five hundred metres in from the coast.
I am well prepared after finding a black and white beanie (with obligatory pompom on the top!) amongst things I have stored away up here and there is also a possibility of a similar coloured scarf somewhere that I haven't managed to unearth yet. Might mean a trip up into the attic to see it if is up there! Sadly still without my replica jersey/s (down in Wgtn) or old fashioned HB Rugby Supporters Club jacket (must be somewhere up in the rafters in the car shed?) which seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth despite me being certain that I would NEVER dispose of it.
Still will make do with my vintage HB Draught undies, black and white flecked Norsewear socks and Hurricanes jacket along with a crew necked cotton tee shirt with the HBRU logo on the front left breast that I managed to flukely pick up in an Op Shop in Taradale yesterday for just $3.00. Sadly my old schoolboy black mittens I came across last week are just a little past it to be worn today, thanks to some damn moths taking a liking to them! Not quite as attaired as I would like to be but beggars can't be choosers.It is looking increasingly unlikely my earlier 50 point margin will be reached given the dampish underfoot conditions but my fingers will be crossed anyway. Its paying $1.90 for my guys to breach the 32.5 point total and $3.80 for there to be a total of between 51 and 60 points scored altogether which looks appealing. Anyway wrap up warm if you are going to the game and be like me to ensure your hipflask is tucked away where the security on the gates cannot find it!
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@Nepia That's a good fair point about Tiatia. But I just think in a close tight game he's capable of breaking a game open. He can be an enigma but I personally think the guys got a lot of talent. And he's not likely to do something stupid like Baker did, for example against North Harbour.
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Seems like the referee left his whistle in the changing rooms, not blowing up for tackles off the ball and Southland players diving off their feet at rucks
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Nice try PJ
