Hawke's Bay v Tasman
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Obviously, I'm delighted with the bonus point win. I hope it is enough to get another week in the comp.
Stand-out game from Devan Flanders, who was very good tonight. Also a great game from Marino Mikaele-Tu'u and Pouri Rakete-Stones. I don't know whether you noticed, but they didn't bring on Joel Hintz when Joe 'Apikotoa left the field near the end of the 2nd half; instead, they brought on Cracker (Braidwood) and moved R-S to TH. In the first scrum after that replacement, the Magpies frontrow absolutely crushed Ta$man's. What a great sight!
My MotM was again Tyrone Thompson. What a great asset he's become! I've been on his bandwagon from his 1st XV days, and I'm very happy that he's delivering! Too bad his twin has moved to the dark side. Has the same talent.
Isaia Walker-Leawere is a bit hot and cold. He can do great things in line-outs and mauls, he's super strong, but he's also a penalty magnet costing us. Josh Kaifa is an underrated warrior. He's always putting his body on the line, suffers quite a bit, but plays on and gets his turnovers. No idea why they didn't start him. He's so much more effective than Sam Smith.
Brad Weber was excellent in the backs and - apart from his goal kicking - so was McClutchie. Seeing the Ta$man kickers also missing kicks at goal (easier ones), I think the conditions played a big role. Generally speaking, it wasn't a game for the backs, with the field and the ball being slippery. Danny Toala and Neria Fomai dropped quite a few balls tonight, because of it, and so did their Ta$man counter-parts. Neria Fomai again proved he has to be a starter. I hope the coaches get it now. I also hope Lowe will be back on the right wing, next game (if there is one). Tiatia can leave for Perth now.
Finally, Quinten Strange was very lucky not to get carded.
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@Stargazer Well the old saying is defence wins matches. And to be blunt last night at McLean Park it did. Hawkes Bays swarming defence for the most part suffocated Ta$man. I know the conditions were crap, and not a lot of fluid back play. I tend to think defences have worked Stacey Ili out. Don't get me wrong he's a very good player, but I'm wondering if it's worth trying Chase Tia Tia in the midfield. I can recall when he played there for BOP he tore us apart, and to me I think he'd go well there. Makene at fullback would never let you down. Both Flankers and Thompson were outstanding last night. Thompsons got a huge future. If Funakis hurt Kaifa needs to start. He's got a huge motor and heart. Now I guess the rest is up to Canterbury to do us a favour. Finals football is different, the intensity, and pressure level lifts. Hawkes Bay have shown they can step up, and should they make it through there going to need to. Here's hoping.
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@Stargazer good summary..
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@Stargazer said in Hawke's Bay v Ta$man:
Finally, Quinten Strange was very lucky not to get carded.
He could've been carded before the lift as well. In the lead up to the 2nd HB try he was clearly offside, told to go back, then made a tackle while still a yard offside.
It was one of those incidents that would probably result in a card for cynical play but nothing happens because HB scored a couple of phases later
