@Machpants said in Brumbies v Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Brumbies v Hurricanes:

That Enari and Hohepa combo off the bench must be close to one of the worst ever for the Canes. 🤮

Hopefully Harkin has practised pinning his ears back this week.

Yeah it's the forwards we've got the problem, before they even get on. No Aumua is a really worry. I can't see us winning this one, not unless the team have had iq added since last weekends debacle

Aumua hasn't been playing well so isn't as big a loss as he might have been if he was in form. The issue is that Tuputupu is a penalty magnet and has a very low rugby IQ, he cost us a chance of beating the Crusaders two weeks ago because he wouldn't give the halfback the ball off a lineout drive, and then he gave away a penalty that allowed the Force to tie up the game last week. He also got a red card last year against the Chiefs for a dangerous tackle so hopefully he reigns it in and just does his core job well.

I also think it's a huge risk starting Lomax from the pine. The Brumbies have a very strong and experienced tight five and I just can't see us beating a team that rarely makes mistakes, plus we have a horrible record in Canberra.

Here's hoping I'm wrong and we can get a result because we are running out of weeks now.

@Bones who are the two midgets?

@Duluth said in Moana Pasifika v Drua:

Savea brothers named for first Moana Pasifika game together in Drua clash  – Moana Pasifika

alt text

Tito Tuipulotu, Millennium Sanerivi, Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, Tom Savage, Samuel Slade, Miracle Faiilagi, Ardie Savea (c), Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Jonathan Taumateine, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Fine Inisi, Danny Toala, Lalomilo Lalamilo, Tevita Ofa, William Havili

Replacements: Tomasi Maka, Monu Moli, Chris Apoua, Allan Craigm Sione Havili Talitui, Melani Matavao, Patrick Pellegrini, Julian Savea

Unavailable due to injury: James Lay (neck), Lotu Inisi (knee), Michael Curry (neck), Neria Fomai (knee/season), Sama Malolo (shoulder), Samiuela Moli (rib), Sione Mafile’o (neck), Solomon Alaimalo (foot).

Fair to say the Moana front row copped a bit of a beating by the Brumbies with all the front row injuries this week.

@Canes4life said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

@Mr-Fish said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

Few big injury returnees for the Chiefs this week.

Sititi?

Lord, Trask too.

Players unavailable due to injury:

Damian McKenzie, Hand, Returning soon
Leroy Carter, Foot, Returning soon
Etene Nanai-Seturo, Hamstring, Returning soon
Liam Coombes-Fabling, Knee, Mid-term
Fiti Sa, Shoulder, Long-term
Rameka Poihipi, Knee, Season

Sef Fa'agase, Richie Asiata, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Seru Uru, Fraser McReight, Joe Brial, Tate McDermott (c), Tom Lynagh, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Dre Pakeho, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell

Replacements: George Blake, Alex Hodgman, Massimo De Lutiis, Angus Blyth, Ryan Smith, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Heremaia Murray

@nostrildamus said in Crusaders v Blues:

@reprobate said in Crusaders v Blues:

So, the Blues have more AB backs than can fit on the park in Christie, Barrett, Ioane, Telea, Clarke, Perofeta, Plummer. And yet AJ Lam is their best back?

Half of the ones you mentioned may have already mentally packed for overseas.

Which would be a sad indictment for any pro player who is still contracted to play at the level they have been selected for.

I hope this isn’t the case for these Blues players or any other player in this situation.

@Nepia said in Force v Hurricanes:

TBH when watching live I thought White was closing down the space so thought the pass was the right idea, the execution not so much.

Harkin could have definitely made that, White may have got to him but he wouldn't have prevented the try. A shame, as Harkin was probably the form back of the night for me until that blunder.

Motikai Murray is a good player abit similar to ardie savea

@African-Monkey said in Blues v Moana Pasifika:

Surpised Moana are going with Garden-Bachop and Matavao as their 9-10 this week. I would have backed them to win this, but with those 2 there, it's cause for concern imo. Matavao is a good 20 minute player, but doesn't have a great kick or a great pass. I refer to him as the Samoan Fin Christie for a reason as he's virtually a clone of his (doesn't defend as well as Christie though). Garden Bachop, although he made a positive impact last week coming on, makes me nervous coming on and isn't in the same class as Pellegrini.

Totally agree. Ridiculous that Pellegrini was dropped to the bench. Matavao was there by default due to the injury to Taumateine but yeah he's bang average in 15s.

Thank you

Teamwork

Got around to watching this finally. Holland is very, very bloody fit, isn't he. Good to see JRK back, a few nice touches and a few errors, to be expected. Fakatava looks like he's been working on his kicking this year - he made a couple of errors with kicks just going out on the full, but I like the ambition - there's a big difference between a box kick which drifts too far infield and one which is very close to the sideline. Important if Miller is going to play, as he stands way too deep.
With everyone fit, there's a pretty dangerous side in there: Nareki, Tavatavanawai, JRK, Tangitau, Fakatava is a decent list of attacking threats, and they all look for space.

Why provide evidence for that which is self evidently true?

@Crazy-Horse said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@Bones said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@KiwiMurph yeah I really like him, like @Duluth pointed out, his post contact is great, seems to be one of the best in that regard for me.

You know they'll opt for Shalfoon don't you?

Shalfoon sounds like a gentlemans insult from the 1700s

@Tim said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

Young tighthead prop Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou: how is his scrummaging?

Went quite well in the last 2 games, especially against international class opposition.

Probably no need for Mafileo now unless injury strikes.

@Duluth thanks

@KiwiInLondon said in Force v Highlanders:

@Bones said in Force v Highlanders:

@KiwiInLondon like I said earlier, he's not even noticeable apart from the odd lineout, definitely haven't noticed any niggle.

I notice it a lot around the ruck. He has resorted to pushing and pulling players in trying to disrupt but completely ineffective. He’s young but he’s had u20 and AB XV caps now and was touted as an all black. You expect those players to stand up in adversity, not shrink

Players get dragged down by those around them... he's running on fumes because we have no other locks, Dunshea is struggling, the loosies suck and the props have been ailing.

If he was looking good in this rabble, he'd be the best lock of all time.