Steamers v Taranaki

[Nepia]

@donsteppa said in Steamers v Taranaki:

Bugger, that’s a very strong looking Taranaki team on paper. Only one debutant.

The one debutant is also a Super Rugby player.

[KiwiPie]

10 consecutive wins? Surely we're due! When was the last. Delany's masterclass in the wind at Baypark?

[Snollygoster]

Bay of Plenty Steamers v Taranaki:

1. James Lay (10)
2. Liam Polwart (14)** (C)
3. Jeff Thwaites (21)
4. Kane Le’aupepe*
5. Tyler Ardron (7)
6. Hugh Blake (20)
7. Mitch Karpik (6)
8. Hoani Matenga*
9. Richard Judd (10)
10. Mike Delany (72) (VC)
11. Mathew Garland (3)
12. Terrence Hepetema (19)
13. Liam Steel (4)
14. Fa’asiu Fuatai*
15. Chase Tiatia (26)

Reserves:
16. Valentine Meachen*
17. Solomona Sakalia (33)
18. Ross Geldenhyus*
19. Aaron Carroll*
20. Ajay Mua (1)
21. Luke Campbell (16)
22. Kaleb Trask*
23. Trael Joass*

[Tim]

Trael Joass sounds like a character from a space opera. Dune or Star Trek or something.

[barky1]

Tough one first up. Is Lats injured? I see Parete is at lock for Naki, seems they knew we would pick a short lock in Ardron. I'm glad we have some continuity in the backline. What's with Simmonson? Contracted this year and last, but yet to make a rep game.
I'm keen to see how our front row goes this year. Some super rugby experience, somewhat unexpected for Thwaites, who did well I thought. I've always rated Sakalia, but she always misses part of a season with injury. I thought he was out best in the front row.
Gutted to lose some experience with the locks, but Ardron seemed to find five gears in a Chiefs jersey after being stuck in two last year.
Backs, gutted Monty Ioane wasn't picked up for super rugby. He had gas. Something our backs have lacked. Is Isaac Te Aute still around? Fuatai?

[trooa]

Simmonson could barely start for the BOP 19's last year let alone been ready for M10 Cup. Trained 7's all year, only played about 3 club games so coaches probably still view him as not at the required level yet. Can't see him getting ahead of that back 3 unless they get injured. Garland has been in exceptional form, no injuries this year and will be one to watch. Fuatai has come up from Otago, brought in to replace Monty, similar builds and players. Te Aute at halfback now, in and out of squad when needed as they as they only have 2 in squad. Same with Nicholas in back 3 I'm presuming, not sure whether that's because both chose to go back to their whanau club for 125th year and play Division 1 this year.

[Snollygoster]

You guys have pretty much summed things up.

Lats has a calf injury but has been running water in the last two preseason games so isn't to bad. Yes, Simmonson officially hasn't played played a game for the Bay but has been in all the preseason games. Tiatia is the obvious choice at fullback but it seems Trask has been bought in to cover fullback as well as first five. Warlaw is injured also...hence the reason Carroll is in the reserves. It looks like Meachen has been bought in to cover for hooker. I have no idea where Foketi is as I'm sure he would be in the starting 15 if available. I'm guessing Garland and Fuatai will not have the attacking flare that Webber and Ioane had but I would love to be proven wrong. Thats a fairly inexperienced bench.

Taranaki have named a scarily impressive team so a BOP win would have to be termed an upset but there are so many unknowns in the first games of the season. There are so many things we should learn after Saturdays game though. I have already began chewing my fingernails and are mentally preparing myself to be disappointed (as I do for most BOP games)...as it lessens the crushing blow when we lose.

[booboo]

@snollygoster said in Steamers v Taranaki:

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls v Bay of Plenty, 7:35pm

1. Reuben O’Neill
2. Ricky Riccitelli
3. Angus Ta’avao (c)
4. Jarrad Hoeata
5. Jesse Parete
6. Mitchell Croswell
7. Lachlan Boshier
8. Toa Halafihi
9. Logan Crowley
10. Stephen Perofeta
11. Sean Wainui
12. Daniel Waite
13. Teihorangi Walden*
14. Seta Tamanivalu
15. Beaudein Waaka

Reserves:
16. Donald Maka
17. Jared Proffit
18. Chris Gawler
19. Leighton Price
20. Adrian Wyrill
21. Warwick Lahmert
22. Avon Lewis
23. Latu Vaeno

*Taranaki debut

Is Parete at lock one of those selections to squeeze in the best players? Not up on how he compares to Crosswell but thought he looked good in his Super games.

Also @Donsteppa that line debutante has played at this level before ...

[KiwiPie]

@booboo Parete and Hoeata will be competing to be first to get a yellow card.

[Crucial]

No main site thread for this?
Big shock thrashing by BOP!
Doubt many tipped this result.

[Donsteppa]

How good was that?

[barky1]

Unbelievable! Been many a year since I've used the words Steamers and clinical in the same sentence. Seriously impressive (apart from the scrum) against a superior team on paper. New recruits were outstanding

[KiwiPie]

What was that? Superb.

Really impressed by all the "no names" in the XV, especially 4 & 5 but to be fair, everyone did their job really well. Can't remember the last time we stifled the opposition like that and then kept the foot on the throat. Now to keep it going with big teams to come.

[Donsteppa]

I feel like I should say a lot more about the game, but I’m still happily wallowing in “How good was that!”

[Snollygoster]

Yep, I haven't seen a game like that for a long time.... made all the more impressive being against last seasons top qualifying team and without Ardron, Wardlaw, latimer and Foketi.

[BOPRED]

Been away for the weekend. Watching the replay. Wow. Composure and dominance. (Scum apart). Then ....... the defence staye spud too and we didn’t leak points. Great start to the season which has lined us up against all the heavies early

[BOPRED]

Has anyone heard what the crowd numbers were? Seemed a bit sparse rom the TV screen

[mariner4life]

Best result of the weekend. certainly got the biggest "whoop" from me anyway.

[Snollygoster]

@bopred I was at the game and there crowd was fairly sparse as it usually is in Rotovegas. Its usually hard to get people to go out on a cold winters night in Rotorua and having the test on the same night cannot have helped.