Hawke's Bay v Canterbury
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Generally speaking I don't like hangovers, but this one I'm strangely enjoying. That game last night was something special, not just because Hawkes Bay won it but because it had a bit of everything. Hawkes Bay started well, moved Canterbury around and kept the attacking mindset. The set piece namely the scrum was strong, and out wide Visinia and Lowe were on fire. Toala looked full of running and Baker at the back looked very assured. Fokatava played well, but too many inside flick passes. Canterbury as per usual after halftime came out full of fire, and looked to be pulling away towards the 70 minute mark, but for me the best part of this game was that Hawkes Bay stayed tough, stayed in the fight and never gave in. Devan Flanders, Ash Dixon, Tom Parsons, Joe Apikitoa take a bow, you were all simply brilliant. Brendan O'Connor likewise at the breakdown. Jason Long magnificent last scrum, and good to see he like the rest of the pack never gave in and conceded. 1982 seems a long time ago, and is but this Hawkes Bay effort showed everything you want to see in players in the Black and White jersey. Great game, great effort, and for once an enjoyable hangover. Well done boys.
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@Stargazer said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
@Nepia It's funny how Ozich has swapped Mikaele-Tu'u and Flanders, compared to where they played at SR level. I definitely think that 8 is the best position for both, but for some reason he prefers Flanders at the back of the scrum. Not sure why, but it may have to do with that Hastings Boys' 8 - 12 combo you're talking about? I'm not sure it's good for Mikaele-Tu'u, but it's definitely good for Flanders to get all this game time at 8. It will be interesting to see what the line-up will be, next week. Will Evans be preferred at 8, or does he stay on the bench? Or will they move him to 7, with O'Connor moving to the bench?
I haven't in the past been a fan of Evans at 7 but it's the best way to get all three on at the same time. What's going in HB at the moment that we're pumping out 8s - including Hugh Renton who's getting starts for @Chris-B's Invitational Money Bags XV.
@Higgins said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
I was extremely magnanimous in victory last night, congratulating every Canterbury supporter in the clubrooms on their well deserved bonus point. Well not quite all as one turned out to confess later on that he was born in Hastings. That detail did not stop him demonstrating total support to Canterbury throughout. Thought seriously about aiming incorrectly when running into him in the urinal! The hangover is improving.
I've been pretty subdued too, but @shark's carry on in this thread is making me reach for my list of dodgy ref decisions and illegal play by Canterbury I compiled on my rewatch this morning.
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@Nepia It's funny how Ozich has swapped Mikaele-Tu'u and Flanders, compared to where they played at SR level. I definitely think that 8 is the best position for both, but for some reason he prefers Flanders at the back of the scrum. Not sure why, but it may have to do with that Hastings Boys' 8 - 12 combo you're talking about? I'm not sure it's good for Mikaele-Tu'u, but it's definitely good for Flanders to get all this game time at 8. It will be interesting to see what the line-up will be, next week. Will Evans be preferred at 8, or does he stay on the bench? Or will they move him to 7, with O'Connor moving to the bench?
@Stargazer yeah MMT has been very quiet at 6.
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Parsons has been outstanding. It's incredible he did not get a contract for the SR while teams like the Canes or the Chiefs had to field undersized and inexperienced locks.
@cgrant said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
Parsons has been outstanding. It's incredible he did not get a contract for the SR while teams like the Canes or the Chiefs had to field undersized and inexperienced locks.
I'm paying a lot more attention to him this season. He was drafted into the Blues this year and I'd never even heard of him!
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@cgrant said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
Parsons has been outstanding. It's incredible he did not get a contract for the SR while teams like the Canes or the Chiefs had to field undersized and inexperienced locks.
I'm paying a lot more attention to him this season. He was drafted into the Blues this year and I'd never even heard of him!
@shark He didn't get drafted into the Blues. It was the Highlanders wasn't it?
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@cgrant said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
Parsons has been outstanding. It's incredible he did not get a contract for the SR while teams like the Canes or the Chiefs had to field undersized and inexperienced locks.
I'm paying a lot more attention to him this season. He was drafted into the Blues this year and I'd never even heard of him!
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Parsons has been outstanding. It's incredible he did not get a contract for the SR while teams like the Canes or the Chiefs had to field undersized and inexperienced locks.
@cgrant Yeah, he has been good for years and was training with the Canes during preseason in 2019. He has been around their development team (Hurricanes Hunters) for years. It's mind-boggling that has never been signed, esp by the Canes. I hope this year's stint with the Highlanders leads to something; either in Dunedin or elsewhere.
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So, MSR, PPP, Dickson and Tucker are likely though. Parsons purely speculation. Whetton could be another. Handy group no matter what.
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@cgrant said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
They also have Selby-Rickitt. And what about Whetton ? Is he signed for 2021 ?
Selby-Rickitt, yes, knew I was missing someone. I wouldn't put Whetton in the same bracket.
@shark said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
@cgrant said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
They also have Selby-Rickitt. And what about Whetton ? Is he signed for 2021 ?
Selby-Rickitt, yes, knew I was missing someone. I wouldn't put Whetton in the same bracket.
i wouldn't be writing Whetton off, he has some solid performances after Dickson was injured, id be happy to keep him around, maybe let parete go
assuming we've been orgainsied enough to lock in more than one of two i think we're good for locks
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@shark No speculation about Parsons at all. I was only expressing the hope that his stint with the Highlanders (& his great performance for the Magpies the last few years) leads to a contract "either in Dunedin or elsewhere".
@Stargazer said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
@shark No speculation about Parsons at all. I was only expressing the hope that his stint with the Highlanders (& his great performance for the Magpies the last few years) leads to a contract "either in Dunedin or elsewhere".
He could replace Allardice at the Chiefs if the Canes want to continue with the midget Blackwell.
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@Duluth I'll set that on repeat for the rest of the weekend. :face_with_stuck-out_tongue:
@stargazer said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
@Duluth I'll set that on repeat for the rest of the weekend. :face_with_stuck-out_tongue:
I have just watched this for the 86th time and still rejoicing with immense enjoyment (slight disclaimer - only disappointment is that the score remains at just 20 - 19!). How many times are you up to now?
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@stargazer said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
@Duluth I'll set that on repeat for the rest of the weekend. :face_with_stuck-out_tongue:
I have just watched this for the 86th time and still rejoicing with immense enjoyment (slight disclaimer - only disappointment is that the score remains at just 20 - 19!). How many times are you up to now?
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@higgins I didn't keep track, but quite a few times! But I could say the same of the win over Wellington, the Ranfurly Shield win over Otago (including haka) and the final v Northland.
@stargazer I must be well over triple figures for the Wellington game by now. I am seriously considering buying another HB jersey to ensure I have enough left to last the entire club season down here as I'm sure some sort of sabotage/theft will occur to my sole jersey left given it is worn most Saturdays!
