Counties Manukau v Hawke's Bay

[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.

[Stargazer]

@Higgins Yeah, Kaifa is good player, but he isn't a 6 and reasonably small (unlike Ardie, he can't deceive anyone with his hair). Smith is small, too, and is quite limited.

Only Flanders has height in that backrow and obviously the best of that trio.