The Silver Fern

Just watched the game after getting back from work. Wow are the past 3-4 years paying off. Execution of the basics and the game plan was top notch and the team looked v composed and level headed. Can’t remember the last time Otago completely blew a team out like that.

Hastie may have overplayed his hand a tad at times but he’s an excellent back up for the play offs and his kicking game is v good.

Everyone seems to be hitting form at the right time.

Simpson had the blinkers on as well, missed his outsides on a few occasions and opted to kick.

@Kirwan said in Counties v Auckland:

@Chris said in Counties v Auckland:

Reiko had a shocker he dropped a heap of passes and really made no impact.
Clarke on the other hand looked a real handfull for the defense.

To be fair, he was getting passes bouncing at his feet and hitting his shoulder.

He didn't play well, but there was chaos around him.

More than enough talent in this team to be performing better than this, have to look at the coaches. All of them.

That’s fair but looks like Reiko’s confidence is gone.

@Duluth said in Auckland v Manawatu:

@Kirwan said in Auckland v Manawatu:

Manawatu have a great backline (not you Laumape, thanks for the try). Their halfback in particular has great mongrel.

I expect the centre, Kyle Brown, to get a SR contract. He makes some good decisions

Conditions were tough in this game. Auckland played into the strong wind and had the dipping sun in their face. Manawatu had to put up with that in the second half

Some very good goalkicking from Taele given the conditions

Hopefully he does he was good last year as well.

@Duluth said in Ta$man v Auckland:

@Frank said in Ta$man v Auckland:

Why not now?

Good enough on attack. Needs to play more to tidy up some of his defence/decision making

EOYT makes sense

I have to admit, he looks a bit casual in his positioning on defense.

Ruben Love was all class yet again.

Might be time to have another look at this graph, haha.

663769f7-659d-4095-90ad-cc515e1dc983-image.png

@cliff said in Auckland v Taranaki:

Aj lam was badly outplayed by rona

The new blonde look makes Lam stand out for the wrong reasons.

@Bovidae

A couple of mis-kicks but he seems to have good distance at least. Way too many kicks were going straight to hand without much pressure on though. Most of the contestable kicks came from Funaki

@Bovidae said in Auckland v Waikato:

Four wins in a row over Auckland as well, which looks to be Waikato's best winning streak.

Equals.

Waikato won 4 in a row over Auckland 1954-55

1954 won 23-9 (Ham); won 14-13 (Auck)

1955 won 24-13 (Ham); won 17-14 (Auck).

@Grooter said in Auckland Rugby 2025:

@nonpartizan yeah Lam looks out of sorts. you expect your experienced players to lead the way however I do think back to what Shaun Stevenson opened up to media about, If you get in around the national set up (AJ was last November) and following that you don't know where you actually stand in pecking order it can play on a guys mind

I can see what you are saying. Ambiguity is not good for a players confidence. I definitely hope that he's going to be involved in the NZ XV matches in England later this year, at the least.

@Kirwan said in Auckland MOTM v BOP:

@Duluth said in Auckland MOTM v BOP:

Patrick easily.

Tele’a and Clark. Tangitau unlucky

I went the same, I'm starting to get excited about Cark's future.

Patrick was huge. This fucking season though, was a very, very hard to watch.

How can you have 95% possession and territory for 30mins and score one try?

And end up conceding 3 before the break!

I've just watched this game. Good to see Fineanganofo brought out his pink headgear from his school rugby days.

McGrath and Bates didn't want to use their bench.

@Duluth Didn't catch the game sorry.

Rugby's gone soft.

An outside back gets done for roughing up a prop.

Actually, good point, best game from the new 13 so far.

I think our coaches have been understudying with Robertson, out last ten mins of games has been poor all season.

Segnar easily the top for me, his hands taking passes at his feet, accurate defence and huge workrate. Beehre and Lam the next two for me.

Hard to pick the backs with that halfback stinking up the joint.

Michael Manson could be useful pick for the Highlanders.

@Duluth said in Auckland MOTM v Northland:

Oh and Reihana

We could Hall for his MVP trophy from last week?