Final: Canterbury v Otago
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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.
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@booboo said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@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
No need to rub it in.Anyway, we all know that a true barometer of provincial rugby success is the Ranfurly Shield, not the relative newbie NPC. We're per capita kings in that respect.
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@Nepia said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@booboo said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@sparky said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
Most NPC titles (1976-2025) 
17 Auckland
15 Canterbury
6 Wellington
3 Waikato
2 Otago
2 Ta$man
2 Taranaki
1 Bay of Plenty
1 Counties Manukau
1 ManawatuOf the 14 currently in First Division yet to win are:
- Northland
- North Harbour
- Hawkes Bay
- Southland
No need to rub it in.Anyway, we all know that a true barometer of provincial rugby success is the Ranfurly Shield, not the relative newbie NPC. We're per capita kings in that respect.
HB are the most surprising there. Given their historical success, they didn't manage to put it all together to win the NPC just once
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@canefan said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@Nepia said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@booboo said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@sparky said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
Most NPC titles (1976-2025) 
17 Auckland
15 Canterbury
6 Wellington
3 Waikato
2 Otago
2 Ta$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
No need to rub it in.Anyway, we all know that a true barometer of provincial rugby success is the Ranfurly Shield, not the relative newbie NPC. We're per capita kings in that respect.
HB are the most surprising there. Given their historical success, they didn't manage to put it all together to win the NPC just once
Yeah, we went into second division doldrums in the 80s and then struggled to get out of there for any length of time. Most of our good players wound up in Otago for the 90s. Then once they readjusted the NPC in the 2000s we've been a decent team.
Maybe it's a good thing we don't win, if we do there will be nothing left in life for me and I'll drop dead on the spot.
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@Nepia said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@canefan said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@Nepia said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@booboo said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@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
No need to rub it in.Anyway, we all know that a true barometer of provincial rugby success is the Ranfurly Shield, not the relative newbie NPC. We're per capita kings in that respect.
HB are the most surprising there. Given their historical success, they didn't manage to put it all together to win the NPC just once
Yeah, we went into second division doldrums in the 80s and then struggled to get out of there for any length of time. Most of our good players wound up in Otago for the 90s. Then once they readjusted the NPC in the 2000s we've been a decent team.
Maybe it's a good thing we don't win, if we do there will be nothing left in life for me and I'll drop dead on the spot.
Way to spin it mate. It's the hope that kills
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And there ends the most magical rugby campaign I have enjoyed since 2015. The way it just built and built and built for Otago, was genuinely magical. The quarter final and semi final, were top five nights I have had at Forsyth Barr, and winning the Shield at the evil umpire was a sight to behold.
I was lucky enough to make the trip up on Saturday, and even though we lost, the experience was awesome. Long live the NPC.
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damn it, really wanted that one, at least baring that third quarter it was very bloody close.
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@pakman said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
@ACT-Crusader Did I miss that he was off somewhere?
Last game for Otago.
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@Chris-B said in Final: Canterbury v Otago:
Pretty good effort by Canterbury.
I thought they might be hurt by Bell and Darry being called up, but having McAllister to play most of the minutes and Cahill onto the bench probably exemplifies their strength in depth, which is probably one of the biggest differences between them and other teams this year.
There was a period in there where I thought a couple of times that we could go with Bellβs ball carrying, which has been a step up this season.
But overall a couple of others stepped up.
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@ACT-Crusader Where to from there?
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Some comments online suggested that Canterbury are retiring Larry, and the pulled 'hammy' was a ruse.

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@taniwharugby i mean....i feel its needs to be the normal person...but i also love the gamesmanship
Its almost weird we dont have one anymore, there was some drama with shaq the cat...but we had the Otago razorback for a short time too
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@taniwharugby Gee that lamb looked quicker than the fijian that we had on the wing for the Taniwha this year ..sign him up ..!