The Silver Fern

INteresting decision on Bond, given Reuben Wright has been in the HP squad, while he probably isnt quite up to moving past MItre 10 Cup (possibly not quite tall enough either, but then at this level not as much an issue) he isnt likely to let you down either, been very good for Kamo in the games I have watched.

Watched the Kamo-Wellsford game today, Ross Wright looking in pretty good shape, Whiria looks sharp at the back for them too, got some gas and some nice touches, but with his pack getting out-muscled he was often trying to create something form nothing.

Kamo won 23-5 in damp windy conditions, and gotta say, skill level seems pretty good too, Sykes looking handy as as Wright for Kamo.

Northland v Auckland always appeals, especially up here, the rivalry is more one sided as its been a fair while since we beat Auckland, but the way I understand how the crossovers work is Auckland selected us for a home game, one day we'll make them pay for seeing us as an easy 5 points...surely!

@Duluth I am pretty sure it has been 4 straight years at EP, and prior to that I think we may have missed 2 seasons of playing Auckland at all, so 5 or 6 sounds about right, as we musta been at Okara since the game in Kerikeri which was about 2009 I think, but certainly seems a long time.

edit - had a look at the ITM site, and looks like the Kerikeri game was the last 'home' game we played Auckland....

I see Phil Kite had been training with the Reds in pre-season and now called in to replace an injured James Slipper.

http://www.redsrugby.com.au/News/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/17717/St-George-Queensland-Reds-injury-update.aspx

@taniwharugby Hayden was solid but if the Woodmans qualify then they get added. No real answer just a chance to reflect.

@taniwharugby
Popped along to watch to watch the world secondary schools sevens at Sacred Heart College yesterday,whilst Scott Gregory was'nt as prominent as he was last week for the Northland sevens,he showed on many occassions,he has great strength,and very good pace,that could see him end up as 2nd five or centre,has a powerful left foot punt,standing beside him,stands around 6 foot plus,i am picking hes around 95kgs,similar build to Anton Lienart Brown,agree with Kev regarding Gregory,will be a great aquistion for the Taniwha moving foward.
Waisea Lawabuka should be available for the Nationals,has a shoulder injury at the minute,
Brady Rush and Robert Rush are also available selection which is great news,also great to see Whiria Meltzer back in Cambridge Blue,however beacuse under the NZRFU rules,only 2 x loan players can be used,which is absoloute joke,Whria Meltzer being one,the other 2 being Noah Cooper and Adam Simpson who is very swift,both play their rugby in Otago,but are Northland Boys,they can only select

@Lozzy not sure what you mean there, as he was working at the NRU prior to becoming CEO, so already had an e-mail address?

I think Alaimalo looks like he has had his instincts beat out of him.

He looked like he was gonna be a star after 2 rounds, barely done anything since then, looks to have serious gas, but doesnt seem to back himself.

We looked so passive out there, waiting on defence so often, and then on attack just too slow and lateral.

Such a shame cos was a good crowd out there

Thought the officials missed alot.

Such a dissappointing end to the season, we have some very good players, but we lack any penetration in the backs as well as making some poor decisions too often.

Yea we have conceded points inside the first 5 of every game bar last week, look at how that turned out....ah yes, getting out of our 22...

@Nath-Jac it was Moulds best game for some time for me and good to see him impose himself on the game.

and another point: start better!

The fitness thing is an odd one as they do look farked at times, yet they do finish reasonably well, or more that our defence doesnt fall off a cliff.

Yeah is odd that we can still find plenty of positives, when we are (sadly as I predicted) 0/7....but when you put this season up against 2015, this side would probably have put 40 past that one!

@cgrant said in Northland v Wellington:

@Stargazer said in Northland v Wellington:

@cgrant said in Northland v Wellington:

Is Walker-Leawere injured ?

He played with the U19s in Taupo and scored the winning try for 3rd place at the National U19 Tournament!

I am surprised he is still so young as he is very big and powerful. He does punch well above his age !

I guess that's why he was in the NZU20 team and will be able to play for them again next year: http://www.allblacks.com/Player/U20/2538

@Nath-Jac,i know,i was pulling my hair out at the time..

@taniwharugby You can add coaches to that development list. The loss of Whitcombe and Konia in the off season hurt us because they left us without anyone running the ship. With our club rugby lacking intensity we were a long way from the mark last year. A new coach also does not get the contracting options of the the established coach. You would think that there should be 2 or 3 coaches who go from club rugby to coaching our rep teams with an eye to progressing them internally to our top job. Is that happening now?

I think the team has made great progress this year under Ritchie and he should get his 3 years ( like you said TR, 3 years gives you a chance ) .The youth and depth of the squad should mean this team can go from strength to strength. Never easy but some good performances and a couple of wins before the end of the year would signal the change we supporters are looking for. The BOP game was a drop in standards but not the whole season.

Think I chose Goodhue, Waa and Matich

Pryor, Sililoto, Kite

we were down 17-0 to manawatu after 15<br>
Can't recall how quick Auckland got ahead<br>
We conceded that weak cross field kick very early v otago <br>
We conceded 3 tries in 10 last night<br><br>
Seems to me something is not quite right when we walk out to play? We need to start better.<br><br>
Lads will appreciate the full week off for BOP, which I agree with chiefy is one that have to target. <br><br>
While I had correctly picked us being 0/4 at this point, I think this team have shown attacking flair and some heart that was just not there last year, at all.

The promotion and coverage of ITM cup is very poor. It annoys me because it was the rugby I was brought up on and Northland has always ( until last year and when we were part of the Chiefs ) been treated like crap at s15 level. <br><br>
Still think the success of future AB teams depends on strong roots but with so much attention directed at s15, crowds and interest is definitely dwindling. But with the ABs and S15 teams winning no one seems to care. <br><br>
In the US they seem to maintain a lot of interest in College sports despite their professional competitions.

Picked Macalai, Matich, Waa.<br><br>
Macalai is all class - accurate with what he does, makes ground in traffic, finished the opportunity he was given.<br>
Matich - has a high work rate and apart from one dropped ball early on, accurate.<br>
Waa- pushing for more starting roles in the Blues with dominant scrum performances, and improved general play.<br><br>
Jack Ram was awesome as well particularly suited to the tight physical work required for this game.

<p>We should be winning the lineouts lost stat....</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Despite losing our opening matches, I see far more positives about our rugby already this year than last year, and looking at our draw, a winless season is again on the cards, but if we lose every game fighting, then I'll be able to deal with it easier than last year</p>
<p><img src="https://scontent-syd1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/14115028_1371651159530811_4090615459994224916_o.png" alt="14115028_1371651159530811_40906154599942"></p>

<p>As has been said, northland going to the lineouts really cost them any chance of victory. Forgettable game of rugby, good to get 5 points but that was about it. Concerned with our midfield as we are missing Moala badly from last season. Forwards went ok, and Renata looked a lot better than Tu'ungafasi when he came on.</p>