The Silver Fern

@bayimports plenty of things to improve too. Anyone pick up on why the bloke picked at 10 didn't play?

ok...seeing Hurley actually bump off someone much bigger than him to set up that last try was a lot of fun

frustrating as that game showed everything thats right and wrong with us, dominant forwards...some good tries...we should have done better this year

@Stargazer

This article explains the situation with Cruden. Straight off the plane to play the following day.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/132826786/why-proud-manawat-man-aaron-cruden-is-making-shock-npc-return-for-waikato

@Stargazer I see he is listed as six foot three and seventeen stone eleven (or 1.90m 113kg in the new money) https://all.rugby/player/patrick-tuifua
Can stretch my memory back and vaguely recall the first round Altherm Tech v Hastings match and Hastings did have a shortish for a lock young guy charging around so that must have been him that day. I see Mr Tuifua also started as a lock in the second round clash but I was too busy looking for some flax bush to hid behind given the real thumping they were handing out to us for over half the game and then mostly looking skyward seeking devine assistance during the second half to notice him too much but he must have gone well given the domination they had, especially in the first half.

https://countiessportshub.co.nz/game-worn-tribute-jerseys-available-on-trademe/?fbclid=IwAR3GX_Db2_mWIGpcR1mEvUcwLEJQjhmu_k_qy3q3baFy3Cy5vxIb65yrrhs

Beautiful afternoon for some running rugby eh. 83 points is a fair outing.

@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.

Counties have already exceeded my expectations. Beating a solid Otago team and running Waikato and Hawkes Bay close. I hope they can make the Quarter Finals. Awesome that they are promoting local players and coaches. Plenty of talent comes out of the region and the odd one moves to the region. Got to work on the lineouts!!!