@ACT-Crusader can't tell if that's sarcastic or not....was ok going left initially but then had 5m and kept going left and then bundled into touch, so dumb imo.

Aside from a dumb chip kick, agree Cruden did look in a different class.

@antipodean said in Taranaki v Auckland:

How does a union with the resources at its disposal look so average on the field? Why do Auckland players give away so many dumb penalties?

as a fan, if you find out pleaes let me know.

Very frustrating season.

Still, my return on investment was a bunch of games, and a sack'o'spuds. Can't complain too much.

@ACT-Crusader said in North Harbour v Ta$man:

I'd say the result is a fair reflection of where both teams are at this season.

Annoyingly, Ta$man has beaten all the Premiership teams, except Canterbury - but has only picked up seven points from three crossover games. On the other hand, I don't think we've had any comfortable victories - one or two where we've jumped away to comfortable leads and then let the opposition back in - maybe against Auckland ended up semi comfortable?

Concerning seeing Havili limp off and Banks hobbling around at the end - if Marty isn't fit, I don't think even beating Southland is in the bag. Need Samu and Christie back, as well.

i k

@kiwiinmelb said in Springboks v All Blacks:

Going to be interesting to see how selections evolve over the next couple of years ,

I cant recall an era where its just so hard to pin point a weakness in our game ,

Right now , with our run on side I guess you would say goalkicking is possibly it

sure we're so far in front in recent games that it hasn't mattered at all - but goalkicking is a definite weakness, not a possible one. barrett is a great player, but what did he hit off the tee, 5 from 9 or something? that's shithouse, he looked shithouse doing it, some of them were easy kicks, and conditions were not an issue.
at least getting to kick 9 conversions a week is plenty of opportunity to practice so it shouldn't be a weakness for long.

@Bovidae

I have been disappointed with Christie in these last few games. Moli looked really rusty on his return.

fcuk me if Christie kicks the ball out one more time on the farking full from a KO i'm going to kick him in the nuts! he's not looking too flash that's for sure.

We won.

That is all.

32 unanswered points to finish the game. Shield stays home for the summer 🙂

Was bloody cold at the game, but a great atmosphere. Reckon we get the best crowds in the comp.

Scott Barrett was my MOM

The Lions halfback and 1st Five are very unexperienced. With Shields missing as well, I can't see Wellington winning this one.

Pretty effective rush defence employed by the Mako$ tonight.

Some good attack from both sides, but a poor set piece let Auckland down badly.

A solid all round game from the Mako$.

@gollum said in Pumas v All Blacks:

@antipodean said in Pumas v All Blacks:

Cruden's had that much time? TBH I've normally pretty well on my way by that stage of the game this year - not really paying attention once we've secured a bonus point before the subs come on.

Not just Cruden, whoever comes off requiring us to slot in a midfielder its tended to be Ben moving there. On one occasion at least our Midfield has been Smith at 12 & Naholo at 13 for 15 minutes.

It hasn't happened that often this year though. 3 of the 8 tests Bender has been in he has been the cover for midfield. In only 2 of those that I recall he has actually moved to the midfield.

We've used Tamanivalu and ALB as the bench cover for the most part.

Turbos:

Chris Eves (Volvo) Hunter Prescott (Hino) Jake Ilnicki (Mack) Kane Thompson (Truckstops) Liam Hallam-Eames (Hynds) Antonio (Humphries) Callum Gibbins (C) (Wadham Partners) Valentino Mapapalangi (Gary Douglas) Jamie Booth (McIntosh Cranes)(Blazer Game) Otere Black (Capture Signs) Nathan Tudreu (Cash Converters) Hamish Northcott (Telcospec) Jason Emery (Stuarts Ltd.) Curtis Reid (Silvester Clarke) Ambrose Curtis (McDonalds PN)

Reserves
16. Tim Cadwallader (Kubota)
17. Fraser Armstrong (Clarke Underground)
18. Mike Alaalatoa (Bell Booth)
19. Jackson Hemopo (Stevensons)
20. Harrison Brewer (Fleetwise)
21. Toby Morland (Computercare)
22. Sam Malcolm (JB Wheel Alignment)
23. Ngani Laumape (Cafe Cuba)

http://www.turbosrugby.co.nz/news/225-turbos-named-to-face-old-foe-wellington

I saw that stat on Sunday and was surprised how far ahead they were to everyone else.

Rieko is also leading the comp in tries, clean breaks and metres gained. He's practically replaced Moala's production from last year. Too bad we couldn't get those two playing together in the midfield this season.

Akira topped the comp in defenders beaten last year with 71 in 11 games(he looks on track to get those numbers again if we make the semis). He also had 13 clean breaks last year, but already has 12 this year in 3 less games. He's also topping the comp in carries once again this year.

Obviously very happy with a win, especially given it was our 3rd game in eight days and we'd just come off an extremely tough game against Waikato. Taranaki played well and could easily have won it. They have some excellent forwards and really dangerous backs, but IMO they are just lacking a wee bit in the halves with key decision making players.

Some of these Wellington backs looked good

Goosen I hope gets more game time at 2nd 5. I think he could be very good in this position. He would need to bulk up a bit though but would like to see him tested against a tougher team

Umaga-Jensen is class but feel his best position will be 2nd 5 or center. So with Barrett Junior as well the Canes have some exciting midfield options

JG-B is finding his feet at 1st 5 but he needs to read the game better at time. But that will come. And Woodward is a very good gain for Wales if eh can stay injury free

In the forwards Asafo Aumua is an exciting future option

angihuna, 22 Pakai Turia, 23 Mike Lealava’a

A bit late in replying but Waikato did much better than I thought. As I expected, the scrum proved our undoing in the end with 2 late penalties.

I was gutted to lose the RS to Canty in 1994 but don't have the same disappointment now. My attutude is that to lose the RS, you first must win it. And I've witnessed plenty of both!

That was some ugly rugby. Counties couldn't have looked more different to the team that beat Waikato.

Wouldn't mind seeing Matt Vaega have a go at wing.

@Dice said in Auckland vs BOP:

Eklund's playing drunk.

I'm not sure why he is rated in the Auckland system? There's at least 3 former Auckland hookers playing for other NPC sides that I would select over Eklund.

Nick White said:

we’ve gone from only enough backs, and now they’re starting to come back. But the flip side is now we’re losing a few forwards

The set piece will continue to struggle until GPT and Prattley come back. At least the backs managed to blow some cobwebs out.

The defence has been a mess all year. At least as bad it was at the start of last season. Last year it improved after we brought in Pollock..
From a distance it seems that Polwart should be starting his coaching career at a lower level than NPC

Why did Tei Walden not start? he was running some beautiful lines out there when he came on.

Flattering scoreline for Otago as Canterbury were in complete control for most of it until they rolled on the subs.

after trailing at half time, 'naki take out the win 30-19 if not a bit of controversy with Manawatu's Gibbons appearing to score on the post pad in extra time but the ref didnt bother going upstairs, obviously a crucial BP missed, hopefully it wont come back to bite them.