@Goffman
Its an old one (30 years old) but they are a class above, because they are pretty much just a SR side rebadged.
More so than the other 4 SR/NPC combos. A bit of a surprise to me that they dont win even more than they do!
I am half Cantab (and half Tas) so I know.

I am not impressed with Waikato's coaching this year, particularly the backline attack. I assume Sweeney is in charge of this. Some SR players are looking very ordinary at the moment. I realise that this was essentially a Waikato B forward pack (outside of the Jacobsons) but they are still providing enough momentum to create more.

And why take off the best Waikato back early in the 2nd half? Cruden was poor but he plays the full 80 mins. Let's see Cook-Savage have a go there FFS.

Those two botched attacking lineouts by Northland prevented any chance of a comeback. Very few chances otherwise.

Otago's defence was very good.

Bailyn Sullivan is a better player than ALB these days.

He's playing on the blindside because Christie is the incumbent 7, but I think his future is on the openside.

Ruben Love was all class yet again.

@Steven-Harris the backs need to buy the forwards a beer. Some inaccuracies caused a lot of issues - all that you said, plus that wide up and under that led to Hawkes Bay try against the run of play was so very average, Brady Rush was mostly rocks after playing well last week. But I thought Jordan Trainor was very good and we handled the high ball well.

@UpTheHarbs said in Counties v Taranaki:

Spoon Bowl against Harbour next Thursday

Pfft Auckland are Spoon favourites

@SouthernMann said in Ta$man v Otago:

On the whole a reasonably good performance. Which we should have won.

It is amazing what three or four class players can do at NPC level. Lio-Willie was immense and Bower lifted the team when he came on. Pledger is already a dominant player at this level.

Nareki's display defensively was top notch. Really led the way.

The team defensive effort again was fantastic.

Thought it was Te Hiwi's best game.

Apart from his dumb shit play running behind a player. Bell proved, again he is a capable player at this level. See, Guardian of the Bell boys. Compliments where they are due.

Casey showed he will be interchangeable with Lasaqa with rhe Landers. Such similar players.

Apart from the penalty at the end, was Wingham's best game in a longtime.

On the negative. Jeez Sammy Gilbert and Millar can make some simple errors.

On the whole, this Otago side is doing what it was building towards for a while. It should be there at rhe business end of the year.

Pledger and Casey were v good. How heavy is Casey? Looked a little light in contact a few times but also don’t want to sacrifice the speed he has

@Bones said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

@pakman or Love and Jordie...

Main thing is a 10 who sees space out wide and is prepared to miss 12 and throw straight to 13.

@pakman said in Boks v Wobblies I:

Howard was extremely well regarded by Leicester.

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Waikato has now beaten Taranaki in their last 4 Ranfurly Shield challenges, so a happy hunting ground.

Hadlee Hay-Horton had quite a game ! He can scrum and he can run. If the Highlanders or the Blues are in search of a good LH prop, then he could be the man.

Might be time to have another look at this graph, haha.

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Damn this weekends tipping must be on track to be one of the lowest...

@SouthernMann said in Otago v Counties:

@frugby said in Otago v Counties:

I personally thought Millar was a bit better today, but his limitations are clear. I have seen far worse 10s for Otago than him though!

He is a fine provincial level 10. As long as fans know that is his level. He is the standard 10 we have had come and go out of the Otago set up. Hayden Parker, Fletcher Smith, Chris Noakes, Matt Berquist and Cam Millar. All have similarities. Better than experiments like Vili Koroi and imports like Finn Strawbridge though. Josh Ioane at his best was better than them all.

Yep. Hence why Ioane played an All Blacks test - easy to forget how good he could be...

Cakobau's try was a great moment of brillance.