Northland v Canterbury
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Corey Evans is out injured, Lay being rested, Brady Rush to bench.
Hutchings with his 1st Start, Mullan to the bench with Moulds put due to HIA protocols I assume
The Evans injury forces the most changes, with both bench wings from last week, being promoted to start and Alaimalo moving to centre, and Reuben Stewart comes onto the bench for his 2nd time.
Howling sits on the bench for a 3rd time, hoping for his debut, while Zac Shanks suits up to hopefully get his long awaited debut.
Te Whata-Colley brings up his 50th if he gets out there too.
He and Ryan will need to be better than they were when they came on together v Ta$man where we went from a slightly dominant scrum to getting dealt to.
Gonna need to be on our game for longer than the 20 mins we put out v NH.
Been a while since we last beat Canterbury too...
Bell-Latu midfield, Bell a northlander and Latu was here last year
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@taniwharugby if we could get a few more of these players back from Auckland, Canterbury, Otago we would be well set. Be interesting to know whether we had opportunities to grab them or they have left for school etc. We haven’t promoted the young players we have in the squad whether that be because they are not quite at the level required but it’s been a consistent pattern for years.
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@kev I dont believe we had a chance with Bell, although they were looking at loaning him one year, i believe Casey we absolutely had a chance to sign, but didn't, same with Beehre, but I also think these guys would probably fall away in our dev system.
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@taniwharugby our development system seems to be they warm the bench for 2 seasons, and leave. Needs to improve.
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@cgrant said in Northland v Canterbury:
Northland should win
Said no one who's followed us closely for far, far too long
Big difference between hope and reality
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Ever since yesterday I have loved the Taniwha. Have high hopes for them for the rest of this game
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@SouthernMann said in Northland v Canterbury:
Ever since yesterday I have loved the Taniwha. Have high hopes for them for the rest of this game
We tend to struggle against Northland for whatever reason
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Poor option. Keep going in the tight or just go the droppy
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Stubby with a shank off the tee.
Ends in a draw.
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Yay...fuck...wait.
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Well, that was um, yeah.
Both sides blew some chances out there, both have rights to feel both relief and gutted at the end result.
For me the lack of punch in the backs is an issue, also some of the decision making...I mean going for that lineout when we had thier scrum under the pump 5 out.
While Lay and Renata might be better scrummagers than Apoua and Fono, the latter are more destructive when attacking.
Reihanas boot and hands running hot and cold, again.
Alaimalo is not a centre, was poor on both sides of the ball today, also think he bombed that breakout going left to no one when he had 2.outside to the right.
I like Renton, is a chirpy 9, always trying it on and chatting, can tell he spent time behind Smith, hope he's OK.
Congrats to Howling and Shanks on thier debuts, solid outing for both, also CTC on 50, for me a player that could have played higher levels, but even when offered a chance, didnt grasp it.
I really struggle to see why we persist with Balekana, he has shown zero impact or ability, so taking up space that a dev side player could have had, coach subs Salmon before him.
Brady Rush is far and away our 'most improved' this year, gives it everything, chases and works hard off the ball.
Anywhoo, I mean if someone had said at the start of the season we'd beat Southland, Auckland, Wellington, HB, NH and draw with Canterbury this season, id have taken it, and yet...
