The Silver Fern

@taniwharugby said in Southland v Hawke's Bay:

yep have heard comments now from about 3 or 4 9s that dont like them, they say it makes it so much messier for them.

So many games you see the disruption with feet coming through hacking the ball.

I guess in theory it speeds the game up if you clear it quickly but with feet kicking through you need to commit more numbers to secure it cleanly.

After watching it for a few weeks now, and seeing how 9s have to gather a ball with forwards trying to kick the ball, it's only a matter of time before a halfback gets kicked against his head. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet. One of the reasons for this rule change was to increase the safety of players by outlawing the diving etc, but if it has achieved anything, it hasn't become safer for halfbacks (or other players trying to clear the ball).

Buckman and Dearns would almost certainly have left because of offers received with much largers salaries attached and we cannot hold that against them.The retention of Robbie Fruean is one that needs examining. He is invariably unavailable because of injury and it would not be surprising if he too does not bugger off overseas next season given that there was not exactly a queue beating at his door to sign him this season. In short he had very little to offer the HBRFU short term and certainly nil in the mid to long term so why offer him a new contract.

Others like Andrew Horrell and Brendon O'Connor have been loyal players over a number of seasons so we cannot begrudge the likes of them and Buckman taking up high paying contracts overseas. Injured players like Gareth Evans might have made a difference but not a huge one everything considered whilst Sam McNichol is still going through the proving himself process and might have had some impact but we won't know until we have had the chance to see him over an extended period.
The biggest losses might have been Brendon Edmonds and Michael Allardice however our froint row has been going reasonably ok in Edmonds absense and Allardice was replaced by Geoffrey Cridge another Super Rugby player already under contract so thats a like for like replacement. In that regard we were already covered by the resources already available to us so that cannot really be proffered as a major reason in our decline.

Whatever the problem is is irrevelant now in regard to the ultimate outcome of this season so no point in dwelling on it. Hopefully the powers that be will learn from this and have the wheels already set in motion to ensure this season's disaster is not replicated next season.

Isn't Gibson a converted 7 as well? Goes to show we don't have many out n out 7s..

What last night showed is that this team can compete at this level. They played well and if not for a couple of errors and Ihaia missing that penalty, They would had won. Whilst I think it's fair to Canterbury is a step too far it does give some confidence leading into Southland Ta$man Manawatu Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

<p>Aerobic fitness is all part of 'conditioning'.</p>

HB Samoa beat Wanganui Samoa 32 to 21 yesterday.

55 - 26. Looked awesome after being 14 - 0 down early on. M Mackenzie 1 try, 7 conversions, 2 penaltys

<p>deleted</p>

<p>Only recently made it back to the flat and still reeling in abject disappointment. Glad to see I am not the only one to think the Bay were on the wrong end of some blantantly poor (from my point of view) crap calls, or non calls in too many instances. Having said that my guys were their own worst enemies with some somewhat diffident tackling (especially in the first half) amd interesting inability to contest lineouts, not helped by some of the interesting referring interpretations, or clear non calls on obvious infractions. No doubt I will be lablled a bitter loser but some of the calls were met with derision by even totally loyal Wellington supporters in the mob I watched the game with. We (all three of us) were hopelessly outnumbered but at least making up a decent component of the winning boat race team in a fiercely contested elimination challenge! </p>
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<p>All in all the visitors were slightly better on the day but it could have been different had the rub of the green gone the other way.</p>

<p>I am still fiercely disputing the Garden-Bachop try, it looked a clear forward pass from the winger to Garden-Bachops knee. I suppose questioning whether the Wellington No 18, who was clearly not part of any maul situation, was obstructing the HB player (Mason Emerson No. 11) when the Wellington halfback picked up the ball when laid back by Matenga after his little chip and chase run immediately before the try by the No 7 could also be something worth being disgruntled about.</p>
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<p>Would also be interesting if someone could carry out a study as to where the television time clock lost those two minutes that it was showing as still left ot play when the whistle blower blew his whistle for full time.</p>

@Stargazer @Stockcar86 @Higgins the better tipping team won on the day 🙂

<p>Congrats Stockcar - your boys have won their first Maddison since 2002. A long time between drinks!</p>
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<p>Still don't like the M in NOBM huh?</p>

<p>Hugh Renton's story:<br>
 </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
<p><strong><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Video: Rugby lifeline for Renton</span></span></strong><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">By Simon Hampton</span></span><br><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday 29 Aug 2016 11:41 a.m</span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hugh Renton's more grateful than most for a second chance at rugby.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"It's a bit of a shock being 16 or 17 and then being told you'll never play rugby again and you'll need emergency surgery on your neck," said Renton.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Why? Well, here's the bizarre part.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Woke up one day at about 4am with just the worst pain down my arm and back.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"I'd played a bit of rugby before so you're kind of used to pain, but nothing like this. It was like a hot burning knife being sliced down your back and arm."</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Nerve damage had led to his back being paralysed and all of a sudden rugby was out of the question.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Even everyday activities were a battle.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"All my back was paralysed so I couldn't talk on the phone.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"I could move it slightly but couldn't get the phone up, couldn't brush my teeth."</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hawke's Bay coach Craig Philpott had never come across something like that.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"A little bit of the unknown really," admitted Philpott. "He didn't know if he'd ever play rugby again."</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">And it really did take a miracle. Renton was all set for emergency surgery, but still had one question.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"I just asked if I'd play rugby again and they said 'nah, you'll never play again'"</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">'I was in shock, I think I just blacked out. Then about twenty minutes later they rushed in, burst through the doors and said it's a miracle.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"I don't know what's happened but it's all clear you don't need emergency surgery and then all these doctors and about 20 people all around just cheering.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It still meant months and months of recovery but after an event like that, Renton had a new perspective on life.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're a high school star you can imagine being told you'll never play again is pretty tough, but Renton's a smart guy and is working towards a Bachelor of Science at Massey University.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"My parents always taught me it was smart to have a back-up option and at Lindisfarne college they always put academics first, so I've always had that, and my sister's pretty smart so i have to keep up with her."</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Now he's back starting for the Magpies and it's a testament to his skill and persona that the Hurricanes signed him, even though he was still recovering.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He didn't play, but whenever Chris Boyd calls him up for a Super Rugby debut, he'll be happy - and now able - to pick up the phone.</span></span><br>
 <br><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Newshub.</span></span></p>
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<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.newshub.co.nz/sport/video-rugby-lifeline-for-renton-2016082911'>http://www.newshub.co.nz/sport/video-rugby-lifeline-for-renton-2016082911</a></p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="561887" data-time="1456880908">
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11597926'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11597926</a></p>
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<p>Imagine what the result would have been had the formerly license to print cash Ranfurly Shield not been there? Worrying times indeed. Perhaps a look could be paid at the number of semi-professional players on the payroll? Thanks heavens we have ACC which presumably covers the salaries (or 80% of them anyway) of the almost permanent broken down fully contracted players like Hugh Renton and Geoffrey Cridge (and now I suppose you could sadly add The Barracuda).</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, Higgins, losses were made on the three Heartland Shield defences and on the Auckland defence (because it rained from about a week before the game through to the night itself). </p>
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<p>All up, gate revenue was down compared to last year. Also the Napier City Council get 15% of every ticket sold.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stockcar86" data-cid="562931" data-time="1457303856">
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<p>and Sam McNicol :)</p>
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<p>Cheers, I knew I'd forget someone.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Number 10" data-cid="601111" data-time="1469736392">
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<p>The other news is Gareth Evans is out for the season with a knee injury similar to Michael Allardice.</p>
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<p>That's bloody awful for the bloke! Third season, he's injured; now he doesn't even get to play one single game for us. He has no luck!</p>