Final: Canterbury vs Wellington
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@Winger said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
Wellington had their best 15 starting in the semi except for PUJ. And his replacement (Higgins) had a great game so nothing was lost
We really need Cowan back and fit enough to last until half time. The Cowan starting with Sheck around HT coming on works very well. If not our scrum could struggle a bit especially if Sheck can't last the whole match. Likewise Numia. Unsure how Cowan looked when he left just before HT.
If both PUJ are both fit it will be a tough decision for the coaches. Both have been going well but I would like another look at Higgins in a finals match
At this point I would rather Higgins starts over PUJ. No point bringing someone in who’s not 100% just for the sake of it. Higgins looks like a big match player already aswell so would be good to see him get another crack.
Pek Cowan is massive for us, he needs to atleast be in that 23 because we know where Canterbury’s strength lies. Get parity in that part of the game and we are more than a good chance.
@Canes4life agree! Cowen is a MUST have!!. otherwise if hes out, would mean Sheck, with Lauaki on the bench which is not good esp against Cantabs who have Trex Williams and DLB so fingers crossed there. PUJ been off lately, so quite confortable with Future AB Higgins!
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@Canes4life agree! Cowen is a MUST have!!. otherwise if hes out, would mean Sheck, with Lauaki on the bench which is not good esp against Cantabs who have Trex Williams and DLB so fingers crossed there. PUJ been off lately, so quite confortable with Future AB Higgins!
@BerhamporeNinja said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
@Canes4life agree! Cowen is a MUST have!!. otherwise if hes out, would mean Sheck, with Lauaki on the bench which is not good esp against Cantabs who have Trex Williams and DLB so fingers crossed there. PUJ been off lately, so quite confortable with Future AB Higgins!
Agreed, even if Cowen can last a half that would be brilliant. I would also bring in Lauaki for our other prop (I can't even remember his name) because he's a glearing weakness every time he comes on. Last week he got demolished in the scrum and missed an easy tackle that lead to the Auckland try.
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@BerhamporeNinja said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
@Canes4life agree! Cowen is a MUST have!!. otherwise if hes out, would mean Sheck, with Lauaki on the bench which is not good esp against Cantabs who have Trex Williams and DLB so fingers crossed there. PUJ been off lately, so quite confortable with Future AB Higgins!
Agreed, even if Cowen can last a half that would be brilliant. I would also bring in Lauaki for our other prop (I can't even remember his name) because he's a glearing weakness every time he comes on. Last week he got demolished in the scrum and missed an easy tackle that lead to the Auckland try.
@Canes4life TieTie Tuimaunga? yeah hes out of shape,unfit and careless! gave away a stupid penalty last week and week before. atleast be scrum well for us, i think he maybe LH replacement. i remember when he went to Manawatu and played for Samoa as a Tight head 2020? MP signed him, but he gapped it to Europe smh he was actually pretty good then
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I’m fully confident based on recent form that our boys can go down there next weekend and get the job done. In saying that Canterbury know how to win finals so it’s going to be a pretty good watch I’d say.
Wellington have all the form but Canterbury have that structured game-plan that suits finals footy. I just hope Wellington don’t go into their shells and instead back themselves and the game-plan that has seen them win 9 games in a row.
Bring on next weekend.
Cowan starting. O'Reilly is back. Higgins at 2nd 5.
It about our strongest team possible. Look forward to this game with some optimism. Whereas if Cowan (and O'Reilly to a lesser extent but great to have him back) was out I would have had (major) concerns about our scrum
Wellington: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Pekahou Cowan, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Dominic Bird, 6-Caleb Delany, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi (c), 8-Peter Lakai, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Pepesana Patafilo, 12-Riley Higgins, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Ruben Love
Reserves: 16-James O'Reilly, 17-PJ Sheck, 18-Tietie Tuimauga, 19-Taine Plumtree, 20-Keelan Whitman, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Connor Garden-Bachop
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Cowan starting. O'Reilly is back. Higgins at 2nd 5.
It about our strongest team possible. Look forward to this game with some optimism. Whereas if Cowan (and O'Reilly to a lesser extent but great to have him back) was out I would have had (major) concerns about our scrum
Wellington: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Pekahou Cowan, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Dominic Bird, 6-Caleb Delany, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi (c), 8-Peter Lakai, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Pepesana Patafilo, 12-Riley Higgins, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Ruben Love
Reserves: 16-James O'Reilly, 17-PJ Sheck, 18-Tietie Tuimauga, 19-Taine Plumtree, 20-Keelan Whitman, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Connor Garden-Bachop
@Winger said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
Cowan starting. O'Reilly is back. Higgins at 2nd 5.
It about our strongest team possible. Look forward to this game with some optimism. Whereas if Cowan (and O'Reilly to a lesser extent but great to have him back) was out I would have had (major) concerns about our scrum
Wellington: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Pekahou Cowan, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Dominic Bird, 6-Caleb Delany, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi (c), 8-Peter Lakai, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Pepesana Patafilo, 12-Riley Higgins, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Ruben Love
Reserves: 16-James O'Reilly, 17-PJ Sheck, 18-Tietie Tuimauga, 19-Taine Plumtree, 20-Keelan Whitman, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Connor Garden-Bachop
Only really big weakness is no 18. Sheck can cover both sides anyway so he will come on first no matter what I’d say.
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@Winger said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
Cowan starting. O'Reilly is back. Higgins at 2nd 5.
It about our strongest team possible. Look forward to this game with some optimism. Whereas if Cowan (and O'Reilly to a lesser extent but great to have him back) was out I would have had (major) concerns about our scrum
Wellington: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Pekahou Cowan, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Dominic Bird, 6-Caleb Delany, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi (c), 8-Peter Lakai, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Pepesana Patafilo, 12-Riley Higgins, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Ruben Love
Reserves: 16-James O'Reilly, 17-PJ Sheck, 18-Tietie Tuimauga, 19-Taine Plumtree, 20-Keelan Whitman, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Connor Garden-Bachop
Only really big weakness is no 18. Sheck can cover both sides anyway so he will come on first no matter what I’d say.
@Canes4life said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
Only really big weakness is no 18. Sheck can cover both sides anyway so he will come on first no matter what I’d say.
Good to know. But unlikely Cowan will last the full match. But Numia might. So expect to see Sheck on early in the 2nd half at TH. And pray Numia can last the full 80.
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I think we're all old enough that losing finals to Canterbury has been a consistent part of the life of a Lions fan. Let's hope these boys can flip that around and replicate the 2000 team.
Go well boys.
@foobaNZ said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
I think we're all old enough that losing finals to Canterbury has been a consistent part of the life of a Lions fan. Let's hope these boys can flip that around and replicate the 2000 team.
Go well boys.
100%, let’s finally turn the tide in our favour. It’s 22 years too long.
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@Chris said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
Wellington by a thousaaaaand.
Too much fire power for Canterbury.Wellington fans aren't falling for that, we've been in this situation plenty of times. We have already claimed the underdogs tag.

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@foobaNZ said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
Surely no neutral wants anything other than a Cant loss.
0-0 draw.
@Nepia said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
@foobaNZ said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
Surely no neutral wants anything other than a Cant loss.
0-0 draw.
BS! Are there Canterbury players in the Welly squad?
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@Nepia said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
@foobaNZ said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
Surely no neutral wants anything other than a Cant loss.
0-0 draw.
BS! Are there Canterbury players in the Welly squad?
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
@Nepia said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
@foobaNZ said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:
Surely no neutral wants anything other than a Cant loss.
0-0 draw.
BS! Are there Canterbury players in the Welly squad?
