Wellington vs Taranaki
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Arguably the game of the round with the 2022 champs going up against the 2023 champs on Sunday at Jerry Collins stadium.
I can't imagine there will be too much rotation for both sides pending on injuries and AB availability.
Hopefully Wellington get the services of James O'Reilly and Caleb Delany to bolster their pack. Apisai was a bit of a waste of space coming off the bench on Friday, I'd rather us select Harry Press if O'Reilly is still out.
If Wellington can win this game and then beat Canterbury (for the third time in three years in Chch) next weekend, they will be very well placed to kick on and make a run at their 6th title. Taranaki with all their firepower will be a huge challenge though and I can't see too much in this. Shutting down Kini Naholo will be very key to getting the result.
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Wellington team named to play Taranaki, B Proctor and Love into the side for game time. Higgins and M Proctor drop out. Delany will also make his return from injury from the pine.
Ffs, how does Julian Savea make the starting side ahead of Higgins and Proctor. Also there doesn't seem to be halfback cover so I assume Harkin covers both 9/10.
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@foobaNZ Julian Savea just keeps getting in the way. Can't he play all his rugby in Auckland, Apisai can go back there aswell.
I don't get the selections at all, if Savea is playing 14 this week then why wasn't he in that jersey last week? Then they could have kept Higgins in his preffered position of 12. Man these coaches do my head in.
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@Canes4life Callum Harkin started his club career at halfback (from my distant memory) and then spent time on some sort of exchange/scholarship??? stint with the Ulster setup at the end of his first season of club rugby. He looked pretty decent back then at my Axemen and watched him twice this season at first five for OBU (boooo!) where he further impressed me with his game management and ability to do the right thing at the right time. Never be a world beater but shouldn't let you down even if he is not overly sizeable (not too big and not too small).
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Wellington vs Taranaki Fast Facts:
Sunday’s match will be the 36th NPC fixture between the sides, with Wellington currently ahead on 30 wins to Taranaki’s five in their head-to-head history.
Overall, the pair has clashed 175 times in first-class fixtures going back to 1894, of which Wellington has won 123 Taranaki 47, with five draws and one abandonment.
Wellington has aggregated 1,187 points against Taranaki in all NPC matches, including 154 tries.
Taranaki has aggregated 712 points against Wellington in all NPC matches, including 83 tries.
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@KiwiMurph said in Wellington vs Taranaki:
The last maul try was bullshit though. Apisai was crawling on his knees for 2-3 metres.
Going purely off the highlights, that looks like an evening up non penalty.
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I missed this game as I was watching the UFC but will try and catch the replay later. (Looks like I may have to fast forward it).
