Final: Canterbury v Otago
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@george33 what an odd comment , i dont think anyone’s suggesting either Casey or Pledger are at All Black level atm
Kids like this is what makes the Npc exciting both of them have lit up this comp imo and the Npc is better for it
Super Rugby will no doubt be step up for both i have no doubt both of them will handle it
Theres a few players in the current All Black team that hardly look world class atm -
@Steven-Harris said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@george33 what an odd comment , i dont think anyone’s suggesting either Casey or Pledger are at All Black level atm
Kids like this is what makes the Npc exciting both of them have lit up this comp imo and the Npc is better for it
Super Rugby will no doubt be step up for both i have no doubt both of them will handle it
Theres a few players in the current All Black team that hardly look world class atmPledger looks like he’ll almost certainly play for the All Blacks and if he didn’t need to spend a bit of time putting a few extra kilos on, I’d have him in there now. The All Blacks have one good half back right now. The others are ordinary.
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@ShaquilleOatmeal Hotham's not ordinary, he just needs a decent injury free run. If he gets that NZ will have three decent 9s by '27, fingers crossed.
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@ShaquilleOatmeal No need to rush Dylan Pledger, but yeah all going well, he'll be in the ABs next year. A remarkably talented young half back, who should only get better with a full pre-season and a full season of Super Rugby.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@ShaquilleOatmeal Hotham's not ordinary, he just needs a decent injury free run. If he gets that NZ will have three decent 9s by '27, fingers crossed.
Hotham isn’t in the All Blacks right now…
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@Crazy-Horse said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@ShaquilleOatmeal Hotham's not ordinary, he just needs a decent injury free run. If he gets that NZ will have three decent 9s by '27, fingers crossed.
Meh, Hotham is just TJP without the defensive edge.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@ShaquilleOatmeal Hotham's not ordinary, he just needs a decent injury free run. If he gets that NZ will have three decent 9s by '27, fingers crossed.
More evidence is required on Hotham - jury is out.
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@KiwiMurph said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@Crazy-Horse said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@ShaquilleOatmeal Hotham's not ordinary, he just needs a decent injury free run. If he gets that NZ will have three decent 9s by '27, fingers crossed.
More evidence is required on Hotham - jury is out.
Agree. I liked what I saw from him this year, but some work ons for sure. Hopefully an injury free run will see him develop more.
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@Bones said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@Crazy-Horse said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@ShaquilleOatmeal Hotham's not ordinary, he just needs a decent injury free run. If he gets that NZ will have three decent 9s by '27, fingers crossed.
Meh, Hotham is just TJP without the defensive edge.
So an 80 test AB in the making then
Hotham’s sniping game is up there with Roigard. He doesn’t really have a kicking game which you need at international level.
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@ACT-Crusader said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@Bones said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@Crazy-Horse said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@ShaquilleOatmeal Hotham's not ordinary, he just needs a decent injury free run. If he gets that NZ will have three decent 9s by '27, fingers crossed.
Meh, Hotham is just TJP without the defensive edge.
So an 80 test AB in the making then
Hotham’s sniping game is up there with Roigard. He doesn’t really have a kicking game which you need at international level.
Nah bro, TJ wouldn't have even made 30 if he didn't have the defence!
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All hail the true backbone on New Zealand rugby.
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@Bones said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@ACT-Crusader said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@Bones said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@Crazy-Horse said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@ShaquilleOatmeal Hotham's not ordinary, he just needs a decent injury free run. If he gets that NZ will have three decent 9s by '27, fingers crossed.
Meh, Hotham is just TJP without the defensive edge.
So an 80 test AB in the making then
Hotham’s sniping game is up there with Roigard. He doesn’t really have a kicking game which you need at international level.
Nah bro, TJ wouldn't have even made 30 if he didn't have the defence!
Defence?
Hotham knows how to lead a haka too….
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@sparky said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
Most NPC titles (1976-2025) 17 Auckland
15 Canterbury
6 Wellington
3 Waikato
2 Otago
2 Ta$man
2 Taranaki
1 Bay of Plenty
1 Counties Manukau
1 ManawatuOf the 14 currently in First Division yet to win are:
- Northland
- North Harbour
- Hawkes Bay
- Southland
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Great season.
With the final, just not enough points in the first half. Canterbury did a brillant job in that half to stay close and keep us out.
That wind in the second half was just too tough.
TUJ's emotion at the end of the game was a strong reflection of how the team has bonded this year.
They only playing change we could have considered would have been to have started Hurley over Broomfield. Just to have him on the field, especially in the first half. Just too much for him to do in the last 30 into the wind.
Stoked for the guys to show they are a strong playing group. Sad for them that they fell at the final hurdle.
Have heard a rumour Solomon will also be playing for Otago next year. That will be a nice addition in the backs.
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@SouthernMann said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
That wind in the second half was just too tough.
Was interesting to note that for the third quarter Canterbury basically didn't use the wind - they scored a few tries through very nice hands against what looked like a tiring Otago D line. They kicked, sure, but not to pin things back into the corners.
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Cracking game. It is no wonder NZ Super teams have the wood on Australia when you've got a pool of players in that level of competition to pick from as the next string.
I know there are those who bemoan the void left behind through not playing South African teams regularly at Super level, as some form of preparation for Test level.
Flip that on its head: how many South African players are going to get through a game played at the sort of pace we saw in ChCh yesterday, without all the stoppages they are allowed to manufacture?
Remember the Cheetahs and their fat props who would have to tie their shoelaces or have a "neck injury" every 5 minutes?
Yesterday was the sort of rugby I want to see: fast, furious, skilful. Yes there is a place for everyone but if we want to keep the game moving forward we need to accept that props can't be 140kg+ at the top level, getting a breather every time they go into oxygen debt.
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@NTA said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@SouthernMann said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
That wind in the second half was just too tough.
Was interesting to note that for the third quarter Canterbury basically didn't use the wind - they scored a few tries through very nice hands against what looked like a tiring Otago D line. They kicked, sure, but not to pin things back into the corners.
From my Speights filled perspective at the time it was Otago's inability to combat it more than Canterbury using it. We just couldn't get any distancing with our clearances. It caused the team to try and run it out and forced errors.
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@SouthernMann said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@NTA said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@SouthernMann said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
That wind in the second half was just too tough.
Was interesting to note that for the third quarter Canterbury basically didn't use the wind - they scored a few tries through very nice hands against what looked like a tiring Otago D line. They kicked, sure, but not to pin things back into the corners.
From my Speights filled perspective at the time it was Otago's inability to combat it more than Canterbury using it. We just couldn't get any distancing with our clearances. It caused the team to try and run it out and forced errors.
I think that's pretty much it. I think Canterbury knew that too as they'd just played a half of that wind.
I think Christie was probably quite happy where the game finished at half time as he hoofed the ball into touch.
