Hawkes Bay vs Northland (RS)
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@Gunner and our guys are anything but rested...running on fumes after making that mammoth defensive effort on Sunday.
@Nepia funny how things are viewed, I recall your mate Walsh giving you guys every chance to win that one.
Plus we have Hawkins steering our guys round....
Pickerill is just incompetent
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@taniwharugby said in Hawkes Bay vs Northland (RS):
@Nepia funny how things are viewed, I recall your mate Walsh giving you guys every chance to win that one.
Even my Northland mate I was watching it with admitted that Walsh was favouring your lot and I've never heard him ever say anything not 100% positive about Northland the entire time I've known him.
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@Nepia your mate was wrong, you guys deserved a YC but he wouldn't give it...
Anyway, back to the real game.
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@taniwharugby said in Hawkes Bay vs Northland (RS):
@Nepia your mate was wrong, you guys deserved a YC but he wouldn't give it...
Anyway, back to the real game.
I tell him he's wrong all the time. This was the exception that proved the rule.
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HAWKE'S BAY
15 Kurt Baker
14 Lolagi Visinia
13 Stacey Ili
12 Ollie Sapsford
11 Jonah Lowe
10 Lincoln McClutchie
9 Folau Fakatava
8 Devan Flanders
7 Brendon O'Connor
6 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u
5 Tom Parsons
4 Geoff Cridge
3 Joe Apikotoa
2 Ash Dixon (capt)
1 Pouri Rakete-Stones16 Kianu Kereru-Symes
17 Jason Long
18 Joel Hintz
19 Isaia Walker-Leawere
20 Gareth Evans
21 Connor McLeod
22 Caleb Makene
23 Neria FomaiSame starting 15 that played Canterbury and Otago except for Sapsford in at 12 instead of Toala.
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Very strong Hawkes Bay side, to be honest , it would be a massive upset if the Taniwha got across the line given the talent man for man.
Was Hoping the rain that’s settled in today especially down in the Bay would stick around but unfortunately it’s looks like to clear by game day tomorrow.
Really concerned about the 5 x day turn around , I know for a fact the Taniwha are very banged up after a massive defensive effort against Southland in the last 20 minutes not to mention we have not played a full 80 minutes and beaten the sides we should be beating despite being on top of the table .
Hope we have not flattered to deceive.
I am picking Hawkes Bay to win comfortably , but I do wish the boys bring it and at least leave everything on the paddock , I know Tom Robinson will. -
@Steven-Harris I think we have beaten the teams we should have, which is why we are 4/5, but to keep on rolling we will need some luck now (bounce of ball and injuries) with a tough run in, starting Friday against a strong HB side.
Yeah that 5 day turn around is an issue, I guess one thing I have noticed about this team, is they seem fit, so they will be up for it, and if we are still in the fight at 60 mins I think they will be able to push on and keep HB honest, but if they get a couple of scores behind early, I think thats where the fatigue will kick in.
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@taniwharugby it’s very wet down here at the minute , which should take the sting out of the ground , but as said expected to clear
You make a good point about the fitness , but the Bay have so much quality in their backline , although if the coaches have done their homework they will place heaps of pressure on both Fakatava and Baker, my biggest concern is Marino Mikaele Tu’u, he’s a damaging runner , I have no doubts the Magpies will using him in Blake Hohaia’s Channel ,also with Ash Dixon back , he runs superb angles and we will need to be at our absolute best on defensive lineout drives , we have been better this year , but defensively we will need to be at next level. -
@Steven-Harris said in Hawkes Bay vs Northland (RS):
but defensively we will need to be at next level.
which we were for 20+ mins on Sunday, but will need an 80 min performance on Friday if we are to lift the shield, with our big guns (Olsen to hit his targets, Goodhue, Robinson, Pryor, Matich, Nock, Ranger & Gregory) all stepping up and taking control of the game:
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@Number-10 said in Hawkes Bay vs Northland (RS):
HAWKE'S BAY
15 Kurt Baker
14 Lolagi Visinia
13 Stacey Ili
12 Ollie Sapsford
11 Jonah Lowe
10 Lincoln McClutchie
9 Folau Fakatava
8 Devan Flanders
7 Brendon O'Connor
6 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u
5 Tom Parsons
4 Geoff Cridge
3 Joe Apikotoa
2 Ash Dixon (capt)
1 Pouri Rakete-Stones16 Kianu Kereru-Symes
17 Jason Long
18 Joel Hintz
19 Isaia Walker-Leawere
20 Gareth Evans
21 Connor McLeod
22 Caleb Makene
23 Neria FomaiSame starting 15 that played Canterbury and Otago except for Sapsford in at 12 instead of Toala.
Kind of annoyed with a couple of selections, I don't hate on Sapsford but Toala is a game breaker so losing him to injury is a blow and I was hoping the Baker experiment would be over, but it appears he's got some sort of must be selected section in his contract.
Interesting that they've reverted back to Flanders and kept Evans as an impact forward.
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I reckon odds are a bit wide, but understandably HB clear faves.
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I expect Robinson was well aware of the time Northland refused a couple of challenges with his comment, he comes across as a top bloke!
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@taniwharugby What usually gets overlooked in that 1978 controversy is that North Auckland (then) won both games against Otago and Southland anyway !
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@taniwharugby Robinson, Matich and Pryor is up there in terms of loosies running around at M10 level. Good luck for tonight - would be awesome for your boys to get up and get it
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@nzzp given Pryor was only signed in the Dev side, and Matich started the season on the bench too, then we have Robinson actually playing, we knew what that would bring.
obviously I'd LOVE to win the shield, but I just want a good game tonight, Northland will be measured against the front runner to win the championship.
We will need to cut out our dumb decisions and unforced errors, and exits, which shouldnt be exit, stage left, they need to be down field!
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@taniwharugby said in Hawkes Bay vs Northland (RS):
and Matich started the season on the bench too
Leaving him out of the xv in the early rounds was insane
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@Duluth yeah I assume they went for McNamara due to him being a couple of inches taller and a few kgs heavier than Matich, he has a pretty good work rate too, but Matich has been on of the workhorses of our team for a few seasons now, a vital part with his work rate and accuracy.
