Championship Semi: Otago v Northland
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I just love the was Robinson plays, there was one ruck early in the second half, Otago had 3 players there, he went into ruck drawing one to him, he ended up leaving ruck, RObinson cleared the next guy, and the angle had him pressuring the other guy and then 3 more Otago players had to join and Northland only had RObinson and another but had done his job drawing all those players in.
Both our locks were excellent out there, always been a fan of Matich, dude has a motor on him! Our big unfit props were always willing with ball in hand, keeping the Otago forwards busy allowing our backs a bit of space.
Love Olsen too, gets through so much work, my only gripe is he is just too laid back when it comes to pressing the ref on things.
Nock, made a couple of big errors tonight, but outside that, he is a class act! Really come of age in 2020, if he can put this form into super rugby, he will be pushing for that back up AB 9 spot...just hope he is ok!
OUr mid-field d had a big disconnect tonight, but going forward they were good, just need Ranger to remember he often has someone outside him!!
Reckon we almost missed a shot not giving more time to Cooper and Faiane too, Matt Wright a steady hand at the back! Hyland being used...seems the game we have been wanting most of the season they are doing now.
Sure we missed a load of tackles and dropped alot of ball, but gee, we won for a change!!
Up the tanis!!
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Now here is an interesting scenario, and I don’t think we may need to tread this path..If by somehow Taranaki upset Hawkes Bay and to be honest ,I personally can’t see this happening..
Now because Semonoff Stadium in Whangarei is currently closed ..The NZRFU wants the Championship final held at Albany Stadium to appease the broadcasters..the Northland Rugby Union have been in contact with NZRFU to see if a possible final , and that’s a big if ..?, can be held in Kaikohe where the Waikato game was played last weekend..
I know if the game gets taken to Albany, it would piss many people off , and if that’s the case , it tells me everything and more about the people who run the game in this country ..just want to get everyone’s thoughts if this scenario happens ....? -
@Steven-Harris although shows an incredible lack of foresight by the numpties running the Events Centre, given 3 weeks ago, we were still an outside shot at a home semi, and they started work last week before the Waikato game, which given the advance booking needed for any tradies up here since coming out of lockdown, tells me they were booked several weeks ago, at least.
If naki pull off a miracle win, they should erect scaffold around Trigg Stadium or even Rugby Park where they played the Lions in the 30s, and hold it there.
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@Steven-Harris if that is the case Northland should give the NZRU the big middle finger and refuse to go to Albany.
Fuck ‘em, I rather we lose by default than be forced to give up a home final.
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@taniwharugby I think Okara Park was booked in for the lights upgrade months ago, that’s why the Waikato game had to go to Kaikohe in the first place.
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@Steven-Harris said in Championship Semi: Otago v Northland:
Now here is an interesting scenario, and I don’t think we may need to tread this path..If by somehow Taranaki upset Hawkes Bay and to be honest ,I personally can’t see this happening..
Now because Semonoff Stadium in Whangarei is currently closed ..The NZRFU wants the Championship final held at Albany Stadium to appease the broadcasters..the Northland Rugby Union have been in contact with NZRFU to see if a possible final , and that’s a big if ..?, can be held in Kaikohe where the Waikato game was played last weekend..
I know if the game gets taken to Albany, it would piss many people off , and if that’s the case , it tells me everything and more about the people who run the game in this country ..just want to get everyone’s thoughts if this scenario happens ....?Honestly, that would be Northland's own bloody fault! However, i don't see why it couldn't be held in Kaikohe if it was good enough for a round robin game.
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@taniwharugby can only assume it was due to contracts and $$$ why it couldn’t be changed?
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@taniwharugby said in Championship Semi: Otago v Northland:
@Gunner well roll back 5 weeks and we are 1st on the table, surely they are making contingencies back then?
Guess it is all moot really, can't see naki rolling HB.
They’re as good a chance as we were of beating Otago I reckon...
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@KiwiMurph be a good road trip ..and a really fast drive back to Auckland to watch the Aucks win the Mitre 10 Cup ..
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@Steven-Harris now that's a quality double!
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@Steven-Harris said in Championship Semi: Otago v Northland:
@KiwiMurph be a good road trip ..and a really fast drive back to Auckland to watch the Aucks win the Mitre 10 Cup ..
The Championship final is scheduled for Friday night, so any venue would need to have lights.
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@Bovidae , I understand that’s the issue , but you know when something like this happens , this is where the ability of an administration has the foresight to think outside the square and about the best interests of the community game or the parties involved but I guess when you have ignored the grassroots over the last 10-15 years and put all you energy into the All Blacks , your not gonna change your mindset anytime soon .
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Assuming Nock is out, I have no idea who the next cab off the ranks is?
Jayden Kemp was the starting 9 in the dev squad game a few weeks back, so assume would be him?? Don't know much about him.
Hopefully Cooper is ok too, been running the ship nicely, we scored 11 tries the past 3 games, up until then we had been struggling to get over the line.
I know I and plenty have been critical of selections, subbing this year tactics and lack of structure, but TBH the last couple of weeks something looks to have changed, while we still have some issues, these can be built on.
I said some weeks back I thought with the squad we have, making the semis was just par, making the finals was good.
Now we are there, I hope they can all go out and do themselves proud, they will need to step it up a few more levels to beat HB (assuming they beat naki) but they have some nice momentum now, so who knows.
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Got to say it’s the best I’ve seen josh goodhue play,he was into everything. Close behind I thought was Sam nock who has impressed this season
For otago I thought josh timu and umaga jenson both played very well and nareki looked very dangerous
