The Silver Fern

The try that Selby-Rickit scored would never have happened (reffing issues or not) back in the days when forwards actually had to pile into rucks. In some ways it was a consequence of the constant fanning out that happens now.

@Winger I wouldn't mind seeing this pack to start the year. Plenty of experience in that 8 now and there is a good mix of x-factor and grit.

Numia / Mafileo Aumua Lomax Delany Bird / Sangster Shields Kirifi (new Captain) Flanders

Bench forwards:
16. not sure about Hooker. Southall and O'Reilly are my preferred signings.
17. Mafileo / Numia
18. Lauaki
19. Bird / Sangster
20. Lakai (covering 7/8)

Players there or there abouts: Iose, Howden, Walker-Leawere, Rakete-Stones

I was so angry at the poor refereeing in this match. I suppose Josh Kaifa is invisible and allowed to enter rucks from anywhere. Despite all the hometown calls I was staggered the BOP reserve xv held out with 14 men.

@ARHS said in BoP v Otago:

@bayimports yes had his best match today. Was disappointed by his erratic kicks in earlier matches.

Geeze the BOP locks do a lot of work.

Definitely - Selby-Rickit and Sangster have been huge as a pair for us.

I was oustanded too booboo, I was at game, and had feeling players were a little uncertain who was who at times. Do BOP not have an away strip? Naki's is an almost all black jersey.

@ACT-Crusader His kicking in first half was very average indeed. But, he did get better

BOP players flopped over the ruck at the three rucks prior to the penalty. Could have been penalised four phases in a row.

well he was also Bay assistant coach, so not a newcomer

@KiwiMurph said in SF - Canterbury vs BOP:

It's a shame Poihipi isn't a starting 12 in Super. Class player.

@Bones said in QF - Waikato v BOP:

Is he the one most likely to become the next Kurt Baker?

He does seem to have a bit of Baker about him. Good player, well suited to sevens but his workrate will bring value to NPC level if not Super.

I thought that Ratima played a big part in the comeback. He brought some energy on which DMac tuned into. The connection between those two was much better and DMac had that extra moment on the ball to wait for the defence to make a decision then try and take advantage.
That first of the three comeback tries was DMac on a good day to a tee. Ball in both hands looking at options then an acceleration through two forwards and a great offload.
Ratima mixed it up quite a bit and also cleaned some critical breakdowns on the verge of isolation.
To me that extra action and energy is what had BOP's storm week problems kick in and errors start.
Will be a cracker game next week.

@bayimports said in The Bay v Northland:

To think though the Bay just needed to hold firm in that one scrum and couldn't do it.

Some of the funniest reactions though to getting that scrum penalty at the end from Northland lol

Wasn't he giving it the "Doggies" one?
😂

@Nepia Just focus on cheering for Chiefs midfielder Rameka Poihipi!

That was a nice relaxing afternoon on the sideline even with the early try to the Stags. We looked like breaking them open every time we ran the ball. Sterner tests to come

Poor effort from Harbour forwards I thought. Don't know how Tolai got away with earlier lineout throws.
Telea was best on the park but MSR Ah Kuoi and Eklund v good also.

@Kiwiwomble if we don't defeat wellington this upcoming weekend then our quater final aspirations basically die😡

@mikedogz The reason I ask is that Waikato beat BOP in Tauranga last year but obviously didn't get the Cup. Maybe covid meant it wasn't on the line in 2021.

@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.

@KiwiPie the commentators were saying Jesse and Kurt were catching up on old times frequently, a running battle apparently