The Silver Fern

A full replay in case you missed it -

Ummm so many mixed performances

Rayasi kept creating chances. Beehre was solid despite subbing relatively early. Lam was mostly good apart from one drop

Hodgman was close, gets through so much work. Funaki would’ve got a vote but that card changed the match

@Crazy-Horse said in Canterbury v Auckland:

I wouldn't be too down if I was an Auckland supporter. Having finally watched the replay I thought Auckland were looking the better team right up to when the half back was binned. Even after that Auckland were not far off. On any other day Auckland might have won that.

Maybe,But Canterbury have started slowly this season every game and have played their best rugby in the second half.

I don't know about Ahio cost us 3 scrum penalties. Choat, Hodgman and Gibson for me.

@KiwiMurph said in Auckland v Ta$man:

Not rolling away nearly cost Auckland another game.

Gibson and Choat take a bow.

Choat was my MOTM, but Gibson probably made the two plays of the game.

First game i had watched in a few weeks as we always seem to play while I'm working or I would have something else on and like you @Duluth AJ and RTS were easy to pick. The 3rd was near impossible to pick so I just gave it to Plummer because he scored a try haha.

Disappointing effort from a very lacklustre Auckland side.

And as the graphic showed DMac is up there with winning the most breakdown turnovers. Not a forward to be seen in the top 5. 🙂

Plummer seems a very good captain, talk alot, incluing alot to the ref, probably a bit much at times, but its a fine line.

Thought the starting props and Trainor went well.

Very entertaining game despite the incompetent refereeing. Trainor was the best Aukland player in a team which forgot to get out of its bus during the first 20 minutes, as the Frenchies say. I was impressed by Reihana. He's had his best NPC game ever. Murray is one to watch. He's only 19 and could develop into a very physical wing. He showed an impressive pace for his try. Great game from the Taniwha locks and loose forwards. They were into everything. As a neutral, I think the Taniwhas deserved the victory for the guts and passion they showed. A number of Auckland players looked desinterested at times.

Yes the Funaki - Plummer axis is working well. Good to see both getting consistent minutes.

Backline has a good balance to it - the midfield compliments each other well.

Census Johnston doing well with the scrum.

@KiwiMurph said in Auckland v Otago:

@FakatavaAllBlack was impressed by Withy and Holland for Otago.

Was coming into thread to say exactly that about Holland Kiwi, I have been watching hin for a while liking what he does, and although only saw first half hour of this game yesterday, he impressed the hell out of me. For a 19-20yo kid he even got a great build for a lock to go with his height. But his workrate really impresses me, he works well in mauls as well as lifting, jumping in lineouts . Looks a pretty complete package for a kid! And to top it off he caught AJ Lam from behind after he made a break.

@bayimports

Yeah he played well too. Up until this game I was worried he was a dud signing

@KiwiMurph said in Auckland v BOP:

@TheMojoman said in Auckland v BOP:

Rayasi really needs to break through in 2023. He just looks the goods and pace to burn.

Rayasi is about to turn 26 and had his breakthrough season in the 2018 NPC. For a winger he's running out of time.

That made me think of Shaun Stevenson, to see how old he is now. Lo and behold, they're cousins! Shaun is a year younger.

Good to see Plummer back

Match stats are interesting. Pretty similar in most areas. A 1 point difference seems fair.

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Rayasi, Tuipulotu and Dalzell.

Other than that first scrum and a little bit of fringe defence, Auckland played very well.

I do like Luke Campbell’s passing. Very swift from the base without any steps. Pretty accurate too.

Sullivan, Vikena and Funaki

Zarn’s try was the highlight of the match (8:24 in this video)

Just remembered about the MOTM polls. Here's the final results

10 AJ Lam
9 Funaki
7 Hodgman
7 Plummer
6 P Tuipulotu
5 RTS
5 Beehre
5 Peita
4 Choat
4 Rayasi
4 Gibson
3 Sullivan
3 H Tuipulotu
3 Trainor
3 Ta'avao
2 A Ioane
2 Ekuasi
2 Dalzell
1 Evans
1 Vikena
1 Pugh

The most consistent 4 players at the top Patrick only played a couple of matches but was in very good form. 1st in the QF and 1st= in the SF 2020 was the only other full season the polls have been run for Auckland. That year 15 players got votes, this year it was 21 2020 the winner (Rayasi) got 20 points

So the votes shared around a lot with no runaway winner when compared to other vote tallies (ABs, Blues, Auckland, Northland)