BOP 2025
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BOP 37 v Counties 7 preseason
Don't read to much into that. The Bay had some weird positional placements.. At times Fiorbes played wing, Lalomilo played wing, Fineanganofo played 2nd 5 and Carter played centre. There were at least 3 playing who weren't in the original list of players announced and players were being swapped all the time
It looks like TTT, Ah Kuoi and Kumeroa are carrying injuries (they watched from the sidelines ). I'm hearing stories that Poihipi is already ruled out for the season despite being announced in the team last week.
There is plenty to work on.
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@Snollygoster-0 said in BOP 2025:
Poihipi is already ruled out for the season
He tore his ACL during Super
@Yeetyaah Yes. Apparently he was signed up just before the injury occurred.
I understand TTT is out for the season also.
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Despite the result, I feel you Steamers fans would appreciate this:
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Fun watch. There were some interesting tidbits in there too, I thought: the defensive review-session was a lot more brutal than I would’ve expected; Aidan Ross emphasizing again and again how he dreamed about being a Steamer much more than he did being a Chief or All Black when he was young (and this in the week he’s called into Wallabies camp..); Kaleb Trask coming across a lot sharper when he’s in first five-mode.
I also thought Kurt Eklund came across well, really calm and assured when speaking to the players in a huddle (which is easier said than done, if anybody’s seen Maro Itoje’s captain speeches in the behind the scenes-footage from the Lions). It’ll be nearly 10 years now since Eklund made his debut in the NPC for Auckland. I think it’s fair to say he was quite raw and error-prone in those early years. But what a player he’s turned out to be.
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Any BOP fans who want to do NPC Tipping for the season, go to this thread and pick the BOP team when you submit your tips for week 1 (first game is tomorrow night) https://www.forum.silverfern.rugby/topic/7464/npc-tipping-2025/7?_=1753813608209
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Going to be too hard for me this year I think, might still enter for week 1
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Fun watch. There were some interesting tidbits in there too, I thought: the defensive review-session was a lot more brutal than I would’ve expected; Aidan Ross emphasizing again and again how he dreamed about being a Steamer much more than he did being a Chief or All Black when he was young (and this in the week he’s called into Wallabies camp..); Kaleb Trask coming across a lot sharper when he’s in first five-mode.
I also thought Kurt Eklund came across well, really calm and assured when speaking to the players in a huddle (which is easier said than done, if anybody’s seen Maro Itoje’s captain speeches in the behind the scenes-footage from the Lions). It’ll be nearly 10 years now since Eklund made his debut in the NPC for Auckland. I think it’s fair to say he was quite raw and error-prone in those early years. But what a player he’s turned out to be.
Fun watch. There were some interesting tidbits in there too, I thought: the defensive review-session was a lot more brutal than I would’ve expected; Aidan Ross emphasizing again and again how he dreamed about being a Steamer much more than he did being a Chief or All Black when he was young (and this in the week he’s called into Wallabies camp..); Kaleb Trask coming across a lot sharper when he’s in first five-mode.
I also thought Kurt Eklund came across well, really calm and assured when speaking to the players in a huddle (which is easier said than done, if anybody’s seen Maro Itoje’s captain speeches in the behind the scenes-footage from the Lions). It’ll be nearly 10 years now since Eklund made his debut in the NPC for Auckland. I think it’s fair to say he was quite raw and error-prone in those early years. But what a player he’s turned out to be.
Yup had the tools Eklund, but his throwing was diabolical in those early years for Auckland.
Started his Super Rugby very late, but I remember he came on against the Crusaders in Chch 2020 for James Parsons who was forced to retire with concussion after the game from a knock he took, and although we lost, it was a breakout performance from Eklund that night and he hasn't looked back.
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Fun watch. There were some interesting tidbits in there too, I thought: the defensive review-session was a lot more brutal than I would’ve expected; Aidan Ross emphasizing again and again how he dreamed about being a Steamer much more than he did being a Chief or All Black when he was young (and this in the week he’s called into Wallabies camp..); Kaleb Trask coming across a lot sharper when he’s in first five-mode.
I also thought Kurt Eklund came across well, really calm and assured when speaking to the players in a huddle (which is easier said than done, if anybody’s seen Maro Itoje’s captain speeches in the behind the scenes-footage from the Lions). It’ll be nearly 10 years now since Eklund made his debut in the NPC for Auckland. I think it’s fair to say he was quite raw and error-prone in those early years. But what a player he’s turned out to be.
Yup had the tools Eklund, but his throwing was diabolical in those early years for Auckland.
Started his Super Rugby very late, but I remember he came on against the Crusaders in Chch 2020 for James Parsons who was forced to retire with concussion after the game from a knock he took, and although we lost, it was a breakout performance from Eklund that night and he hasn't looked back.
@African-Monkey said in BOP 2025:
Yup had the tools Eklund, but his throwing was diabolical in those early years for Auckland.
I think he urned he corner in his last season with Auckland (2017). He was probably ready to kick on at SR level then.
I remember he had a terrible injury in a Blues dev game and that wiped out a full year. It was during that time he went to BOP for family reasons. The second part of his career after the long break has been very consistent
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@African-Monkey said in BOP 2025:
Yup had the tools Eklund, but his throwing was diabolical in those early years for Auckland.
I think he urned he corner in his last season with Auckland (2017). He was probably ready to kick on at SR level then.
I remember he had a terrible injury in a Blues dev game and that wiped out a full year. It was during that time he went to BOP for family reasons. The second part of his career after the long break has been very consistent
@African-Monkey said in BOP 2025:
Yup had the tools Eklund, but his throwing was diabolical in those early years for Auckland.
I think he urned he corner in his last season with Auckland (2017). He was probably ready to kick on at SR level then.
I remember he had a terrible injury in a Blues dev game and that wiped out a full year. It was during that time he went to BOP for family reasons. The second part of his career after the long break has been very consistent
Yeah he did. He shone but was overshadowed by how terrible the Auckland team was that year.
He's showing no signs of slowing down.
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Looking at that BOP starting XV, I reckon the ABs coaches told them to play Narawa at 14 given he was 13 last season and Carter was 14. Maybe the Steamers will mix it up though
Looking at that BOP starting XV, I reckon the ABs coaches told them to play Narawa at 14 given he was 13 last season and Carter was 14. Maybe the Steamers will mix it up though
You could be on the money. Moorby for Waikato is another one playing 14, not 15. A big reason for him breaking his contract in France could be because the ABs want him back in the mix and see him as someone that can help provide depth in that right wing spot.
Narawa playing in the centres would definitely have made more sense.
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Well the backline seemed to run smoothly with last season's wingers in the middle and last season's centre on the wing. Encouraging that we looked dangerous on attack as well as resilient on defence. As usual we will need a good run with injuries and ABs call-ups (I notice Leroy is injury cover for the ABs) and we should make the 8, hopefully the top 4 and maybe pushing for the top 2. Suspect Ta$man will improve as the season goes on so it could have been a decent time to play them.
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Well the backline seemed to run smoothly with last season's wingers in the middle and last season's centre on the wing. Encouraging that we looked dangerous on attack as well as resilient on defence. As usual we will need a good run with injuries and ABs call-ups (I notice Leroy is injury cover for the ABs) and we should make the 8, hopefully the top 4 and maybe pushing for the top 2. Suspect Ta$man will improve as the season goes on so it could have been a decent time to play them.
@KiwiPie All good points but (being forever the pessimist) I'm not getting too excited just yet. I think its far to early to judge the merits of that win till we see how we play without Leroy and Emoni and see how Ta$man perform as the season progresses. There's still plenty to be pleased about though ! I see the TAB rates us now third after Ta$man and Canterbury . We were Fifth before the season started . You have to be pleased how the team has progressed over the last few years though. It wasn't that long ago when we were getting beaten by most teams and now are genuine title contenders. I will bask on that thought after that win.
