Hawke's Bay v Canterbury
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What a nailbiter that was. Best forwards for me were Flanders, Dixon and Parsons, although O'Connor also won a few important turnovers. And, of course, Evans as soon as he came on. Best back by far was Jonah Lowe, but youngsters McClutchie, Fakatava and Toala also had a good game.
The ref was annoying, but I think he didn't disadvantage one team more than the other.
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Congrats Hawkes fans, always great to break hoodoo teams. Not only a big win, but also a great fight! Well deserved, enjoy!
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Well done Hawkes Bay. Good final play.
No leadership in those last few minutes from our boys. Far too erratic.
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Congratulations Hawkes Bay!
Jeez - there's a bit of a lack of weaponry in that Canterbury team.
Give it to Mataele, but if he doesn't do something big, there's not many others who are regularly going to make big plays.
@Chris-B said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
Congratulations Hawkes Bay!
Jeez - there's a bit of a lack of weaponry in that Canterbury team.
Give it to Mataele, but if he doesn't do something big, there's not many others who are regularly going to make big plays.
Was Mataele playing?
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Well played HB. Certainly a few holes in our side with disruption from the current All Blacks all being gone, a bunch of kids on the bench covering the front row, inexperienced midfield, lacklustre out wide etc. But still, 15 or so SR players in the 23 should be enough most weeks. The experienced HB forwards made a big difference, and their largely unheralded backs were superior to ours too.
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Just wondering what I'd do differently with the team next week. I don't think there is any fire-power we can bring into the squad in the front row unless Brodie McAlister comes back from injury (and Harry Allan, but I think he's gone for the season?) I'd certainly have Romano in the 23 though, for his grunt. Which probably means Prinsep sitting it out unless he starts at 6 and Sanders moves to 8. I'd give Burke a start, McLeod for Poihipi if fit, and both Punivai brothers to start with McKay to fullback for Newstubb.
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Darry looked useful, although he needs to add some bulk. Pity the Blues have locked him up for the next three years. And on that note, likewise Otago and the Highlanders re Will Tucker. Both highly promising locally produced locks at 2m+ and both lost to the Crusaders when we need to be considering how we replace Whitelock. I read that Razor said Darry didn't want to compete for a spot. Ouch.
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Generally speaking I don't like hangovers, but this one I'm strangely enjoying. That game last night was something special, not just because Hawkes Bay won it but because it had a bit of everything. Hawkes Bay started well, moved Canterbury around and kept the attacking mindset. The set piece namely the scrum was strong, and out wide Visinia and Lowe were on fire. Toala looked full of running and Baker at the back looked very assured. Fokatava played well, but too many inside flick passes. Canterbury as per usual after halftime came out full of fire, and looked to be pulling away towards the 70 minute mark, but for me the best part of this game was that Hawkes Bay stayed tough, stayed in the fight and never gave in. Devan Flanders, Ash Dixon, Tom Parsons, Joe Apikitoa take a bow, you were all simply brilliant. Brendan O'Connor likewise at the breakdown. Jason Long magnificent last scrum, and good to see he like the rest of the pack never gave in and conceded. 1982 seems a long time ago, and is but this Hawkes Bay effort showed everything you want to see in players in the Black and White jersey. Great game, great effort, and for once an enjoyable hangover. Well done boys.
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Hilarious. I just saw the highlight of the first HB try on insta, the last pass is a mile forward
@mariner4life said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
Hilarious. I just saw the highlight of the first HB try on insta, the last pass is a mile forward
I'll have to check that one out again, but there was another with two very marginal passes as well.
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I take it back re the two marginal passes; that try was disallowed (was the one where Visinia was held-up).
But upon review, the Visinia try down the right touch should have been disallowed. O'Connor passed the ball exactly on the 22m line, and Visinia caught it as he stood on the painted 2 on the goal-line side of the 22. Which is about 1m forward. Although in real time it looks ok, to the point where I didn't question it last night.
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Some guys still don't know how it works aye. It's not about where a player catches the ball, a ball is allowed to drift forward; it's about where players are when the pass is made. At the time that O'Connor passed the ball, Visinia was next to him (to be more precise, about a footlength behind him).
The second thing that you need to look at is the position of the hand of the player passing the ball. The ball should leave his hands backward. And that's exactly what O'Connor did.
So it was the flattest of flat balls. Near perfect. Not forward.
Sorry, I didn't manage to make a better screenshot. This is just after the ball left O'Connor's hand. O'Connor is still a tiny bit in front (look at their feet). And there's a good reason why Visinia was in front of him a second or two later: O'Connor was tackled and Visinia is faster. The ball drifted forward; that happens when you pass a ball while running. Physics.
