Counties Manukau v Hawke's Bay

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

First of our three storm-week games and a lot of rotation already. An 18/19-year old debutant on the bench (Patrick Tuifua). Half of New Caledonia will be watching.

I hope Marino Mikaele-Tu'u isn't injured, because bringing in Smith into the starting line-up is weakening the squad considerably. I'm not a fan of Tiatia, but swapping him and Grigg doesn't make the squad stronger either.

[Duluth]

@Stargazer said in Counties Manukau v Hawke's Bay:

I hope Marino Mikaele-Tu'u isn't injured, because bringing in Smith into the starting line-up is weakening the squad considerably. I'm not a fan of Tiatia, but swapping him and Grigg doesn't make the squad stronger either.

I presume they think this will be the easiest of the 3 games? MMT to play against Waikato and Otago?

[Higgins]

@Duluth If you happen to lose an "easy" game then it cannot officially be called easy. Not that this will happen in this instance of course.........................

[Stargazer]

@Duluth I think it's more because they're prepared to risk losing this away game, because the other two games of our storm-week are at home.

[Canes4life]

Hopefully Godfrey can get a bit of game time at 10 this year. I really want him to be backup to Cameron next year at the Canes but he needs more game time running to cutter IMO.

[Stargazer]

@Canes4life I hope so, too. It depends on whether they see him or Makene as McClutchie's main back-up. If it's Godfrey, then he can slot in at 10 when McC needs to be replaced/rested and Makene can go to fullback. If it's Makene, it will be a straight swap for McC and Godfrey stays at fullback. I hope it's the first, but suspect they'll go for the second option. Having said that, Makene didn't even get off the bench in our first game.

[mikedogz]

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[Nepia]

At least we get one match out of Weber before they take him away to sit in a hotel watching the Ginga dither around on TV.

[Duluth]

Hohepa found plenty of space there

[Stargazer]

If I heard it correctly:

Toni Pulu out (injury during warm-up), Joshua Gray starting at 11.

Blake Makiri onto the bench.

[Mattasaurus]

Not sure if it is the hairdo .. but Sotutu looks like he has go bigger since super rugby ( or maybe NPC is smaller)

[Steven Harris]

Gee the cleanout on Hintz looked suspect

[Stockcar86]

@Steven-Harris said in Counties Manukau v Hawke's Bay:

Gee the cleanout on Hintz looked suspect

yeah like a bullet, off feet

[antipodean]

How the fuk does a ref determine that ball went backwards? Clear knockon at the maul.

[Higgins]

@antipodean

[Stargazer]

We're really missing MMT in this game.

[Higgins]

@Stargazer The balance of the loose trio is all wrong with him missing. Am extremely disappointed in the continual overlooking of Liam Udy-Johns for some unknown they have got wearing the number 7 jersey tonight.

[taniwharugby]

what a dumb kick by CM

[Stargazer]

The CM player should have been penalised, for first grabbing Smith's left leg (off the ball), and then his other leg as well, dropping him on the ground.