v Southland
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Ffs....might go mow the lawns now
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Shitty ruck rules get us a favourable knock on
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So we sub our captain off but not our halfback?
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Pathetic attempt by McLeod there
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@Haydos couldn't agree more. That was there for the taking. Marwick is clearly a better player. I would like to know why Macalai and Waa, two top line players didn't start? Why? Why? Why? When your season is in the line would you not put your best foot forward?
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we are struggling to break the line and you leave one of your game breakers on the bench for 60mins.
NOw I thought Tua was average today, but I think he and Hawkins, as this appears to be the preferred centre pairing MUST start next week.
We missed far to many simple 1 on 1s, with 2 leading directly to a try through Breen and McLeod.
Seems daft you would sub your captain in a crucial position like hooker, but wouldnt sub your 9 who has been dominated all day and just fell off a simple one on one? What is it with how he puts the ball in the scrum, he makes it even more obvious he isnt putting it in straight, yet is so lucky he didnt get called.
THe coaches have made some really baffling substitutions all season, some way too early, some players you just wouldnt sub off, and then there are the constant rotations.
Matich probably just tried a bit hard out there today a few times, but I guess when you are playing in a team that seems to drift in and out of games, you can understand someone wanting to take things and go.
What has happened to Alaimalo, he has barely broken a tackle or beat a defender for weeks now.
As @kev alluded to last week, our exits plain suck, and that first 20 they were rubbish...our maul defence was woeful and surprised Southland didnt exploit it in that 2nd half better.
Positives: Kite, I like him alot! Best game by Neville too, real beast.Moulds playing really well, although I think was dumb not going for the 3 on halftime, our ball retention at times is ridiculously good, but if you are just recycling it 20 or 30 times and making 5m it is a pointless exercise...Breen looks good when he takes the ball to the line, but doesnt do it nearly enough, Hawkins is a brave defender for a little guy, and I am warming to him as a 12, Pryor & Matich keep smashing it, but they were kept in check
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Just to add to TR's comments above which all seem on the mark to me.
Our forwards have been great this year so not knocking them when I say a couple of tactical things would work well for us.
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why on line out defence would we ever go to a maul when we are so poor at this. We should always standoff and then tackle the player with the ball. When we reverted to that we looked so much better.
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if we do get sucked into a maul, the guy that try's to swim across the top / around the side should get fined. That must be the number one way to give away a penalty in today's game. Plus I think it is the slackers option so even if they don't get penalised they should be fined for putting their heads up and taking the easy option.
In the backs, the Southland defence was coming up wide so holding the ball up on the inside made some holes and has to be the variation to the 2nd man plays that they were reading.
To the coaches, what were you thinking re not selecting Marwick and Macalai to start?
Re Tua/ Dunn discussion - Tua was skinned badly leading to a try, but he will get better I hope.....The other two options for me are Macalai or Alaimalo ( if Wood is back).
Generally, we struggled to get across the gain line all across the field. Breen was the best. Southlands defence has been good all season, it's there attack that is average. Out backline options to create space seemed limited:
- size? No
- speed? Ok but not great, especially if we are just drifting across field
- Manipulating defences? We had slow clearances and played behind the line, our passing looked laboured or was it that our running lines are not right....
- running off the ball. We don't have enough of this all the time for my liking though we are a lot better this year because our fitness is better....
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I think Wood was dropped @kev as he is fit apparently, so dont think we'll see him back.
Too late in the peice to start experimenting, we shoulda done that 3 weeks ago.
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@taniwharugby so Wood gets dropped and we still have our halfback....makes no sense. I think we should be more aggressive with our player development? Lawebuka should be starting games....
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@kev word going around is Northland have a requirement that contracted players start if available, hense why McLeod Starts with Nock out. sounds crazy that a reserve player cannot play his way into the team unless injuries come into play but this is what has been said around the Northland Rugby scene. If true many of the selections now make sense throughout the year.
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@Nath-Jac yea I've heard that too...makes a mockery of everything really that a better player can't force his way in by you know, playing better rugby, which is what this is all about.
Is this a nz rugby rule via the players association or just at nru?
I didn't think Tua was on a full contract though?
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@taniwharugby im not sure mate and I have asked that same question but no one seems to know, it will be a shame if the pathway is restricted from the reserves. It would be nice as you and kev have mentioned in the past if the coaching staff came out and gave some clarity on their selections just so the spectator understands why the team is like it is. I cannot understand why our captain gets subbed too, I dont think any other team does this. anyway go the all blacks and have a good weekend.
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