The Silver Fern

Canterbury clearly the better side this week. Excellent defense and very clinical. I think Counties were missing both Francis (they badly lost the territory game) and Tupou - they were beaten at the breakdown and couldn't get their usual pick and go momentum.
They needed to take one of the 3 early opportunities when they dropped the ball over the line/held up to give themselves a chance. And once Tuiloma went off, the scrum went from being dominant to being dominated. Still, they kept going, and didn't fold like Counties teams of the past might have; I enjoyed watching them this season. Looking forward to next season.

@fiamacho said in Canterbury v Counties Manukau, semi-final:

@Eddievx I think you are giving Tuiloma too much credit. The Counties scrum was not dominant at all, there was parity until the Counties tight 5 got tired and that was half way through the 1st half. Tuiloma was simply not that good.

I think you are not giving him enough. The change was fairly obvious. Similarly in previous games this season. Granted he gives away a lot of penalties when he doesn't get it quite right.