<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="561887" data-time="1456880908">
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11597926'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11597926</a></p>
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<p>Imagine what the result would have been had the formerly license to print cash Ranfurly Shield not been there? Worrying times indeed. Perhaps a look could be paid at the number of semi-professional players on the payroll? Thanks heavens we have ACC which presumably covers the salaries (or 80% of them anyway) of the almost permanent broken down fully contracted players like Hugh Renton and Geoffrey Cridge (and now I suppose you could sadly add The Barracuda).</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, Higgins, losses were made on the three Heartland Shield defences and on the Auckland defence (because it rained from about a week before the game through to the night itself). </p>
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<p>All up, gate revenue was down compared to last year. Also the Napier City Council get 15% of every ticket sold.</p>

<p>Agree with what both of you are saying, the Blues props were very good.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>However the suggestion that Franks had a low workrate made by cgrant is a bit wrong in my opinion.</p>
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<p>12 Tackles in a match is excellent for a tighthead prop. I would like to see a few examples of Faumuina making this many tackles in a match?</p>
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<p>Crusaders were very good at the breakdown. This is where both Franks brothers excel. They are ruck hitters rather than ball carriers (the canes definately missed this on the weekend). I don't think the crusaders lost their match in the forwards, rather by giving too much broken field space to Mackenzie/Cruden etc</p>
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<p>This weekend will be interesting. The blues scrum looked pretty good against the highlanders, but I think the crusaders have the best scrum in the comp. Big test for Ofa and Patrick Tuipolotu who has question marks over his scrummaging. Crusaders will need to win this battle to have a chance of winning, Blues have a lot of dangerous ball runners.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="561430" data-time="1456602059"><p>
Looks like Jason and Thingys love child.</p></blockquote>
<a class="bbc_url" href="https://www.google.com.au/search?q=jason+gunn+thingy&client=ms-android-telstra-au&prmd=ivsn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjP-5msiprLAhWIJ5QKHUSfDQYQ_AUIBygB&biw=360&bih=559#imgrc=ykG_VN1WL7OG8M%3A">https://www.google.com.au/search?q=jason+gunn+thingy&client=ms-android-telstra-au&prmd=ivsn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjP-5msiprLAhWIJ5QKHUSfDQYQ_AUIBygB&biw=360&bih=559#imgrc=ykG_VN1WL7OG8M%3A</a>

<p>Cheers for starting this thread mate, helps my fantasy rugby selections immensely.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="560813" data-time="1456407039">
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<p>Difference is Read is a much more multifacited player.</p>
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<p>Jerry & Rodney were good players, but they both leaned heaviliy on single areas. In Jerrys case it was his physicality close in, in Rodneys it was his engine. When Jerry had neck / shoulder issues he lost the physicality & the rest of his all round game, while good, wasn't anywhere near good enough to cover. Same when Rodney slowed down. When Rodney was top 3 to every fricking ruck for 80 minutes it didn't matter than he was short & lacked power in the carry. Because that one trait was a huge part of how the ABs played. Once that went you think "we could pick a genuinely lineout option instead"</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>If you are picking a guy mostly because of  just one trait, when he loses that one trait he's at risk. Read probably has 5 aspects to his game where he is head & shoulders above the next guy (Vito).</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Same with Richie, he maybe wasn't getting hands on the ball as much as Cane late on, but he was far better in the tight, carried better, tackled harder etc.</p>
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<p>Although there were worrying signs last year that he was losing more than just one or two of those traits.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hopefully he's had a good break off season and will be rearing to go this year.</p>
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<p>Also, I'm not sure Richie carried harder or tackled harder than Cane - he was just all round a better player (he was the GOAT) - but you just identified two of Canes biggest strengths and one that Richie had to work hard on (even the GOAT has to work hard some times).</p>

<p>Thanks for the good news, I was getting pissed off for sure.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiPie" data-cid="560387" data-time="1456254168">
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<p>He used to have good defence but it is getting shita and shita.</p>
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<p>Bad. :D</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="559551" data-time="1455861071">
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<p><strong>He's a Northlander so is a Blues fan.</strong>  Wilson doesn't like the Chiefs.</p>
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<p>Is that even possible?  :think:</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="559579" data-time="1455865317">
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<p>Yeah I've got a theory that the longer kiwis are over here in London, the more Aussie we sound. My bro had been here for over 10 years when I turned up and wondered why he was speaking Aussie, thought my boss was Aussie but same story there. I travel all around the UK and do a fair bit of training so have been forced to adapt to be understood, just due to being so many different accents around the place. Although when I go home all my mates just think I sound like a posh twat.</p>
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<p>If your shirt has buttons and you have all your teeth Hutt people basically think you must be some sort of film star.</p>

<p>Interesting to see Namibia doing relatively well.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Good to hear the West Indies have some good 'uns coming through too.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="559345" data-time="1455786869">
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<p>YOU act like anything that is Australian is not to be trusted. What's up with that - Aussie steal your burd or something?</p>
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<p>Aha! The now deeply traditional cultural practice of the respectfully observed Garry Lyon Rule rears its head!</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="TeWaio" data-cid="559348" data-time="1455787327">
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<p>A slightly less-fat Jesse Ryder?</p>
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<p>Ingram was the guy you select when you've had a quick flick through the cricinfo averages and you can't afford or be arsed to actually go and see him play. He must have had an eye like a dead fish, because his set up would have to have been one of the worst I've seen.</p>
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<p>Selectors hoping to pull a rabbit out of a hat with little regard to the likelihood of success.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="559206" data-time="1455704470">
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<p><b><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://tinyurl.com/BC-2008-10'>http://tinyurl.com/BC-2008-10</a></b></p>
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<p>BCs bowling for the 2 years he was bowling coach last time....</p>
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<p>Throws up an interesting one in Iain OBrien.</p>
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<p>Does not make pretty ready that, though the cattle is somewhat lacking. Southee at 42.5...</p>
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<p>On another note fuck Oram had good stats in tests. 36 batting average with 5 test tons (against <em>good</em> opposition too) is nothing to be sneezed at, and a 33 bowling average at an RPO of 2.3. If he had played 80+ matches instead of just 33 he could easily have ended up with 40/30 type stats which would put him up there with some of the best all rounders of all time. Gotta feel for the guy with all the bloody injuries he had.</p>

<p>I remember Fleming battling to get that average a tick over 40, fantastic effort for someone with such a shocking conversion rate in tests. Most top order guys worth their salt would have double the amount he made, easy.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="558943" data-time="1455574949">
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<p> </p>
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<p>Some people get a buzz out of it....</p>
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<p>....</p>
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<p><img src="http://www.h2g2.com/h2g2/skins/Alabaster/images/Smilies/f_facepalm.gif" alt="f_facepalm.gif"> ffs</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="517493" data-time="1442688186"><p>
Maybe he's just in a foul mood as he is in New Plymouth instead of London?</p></blockquote>
Christ! I know I am!

Whoops!