Auckland vs Waikato

[Higgins]

The basic catching, passing skills and ball retention skills seem to be difficult for some of the Auckland players to master.

[KiwiMurph]

@Higgins Welcome to a Nick White coached team.

[Tim]

@KiwiMurph Trainor's skills seem to have regressed seriously since last year, or even his game this year against the Reds.

[Higgins]

I understand your annoyance and frustration KiwiMurph. I have to suffer Craig Philpott's regime in the HB so know exactly what it is like.

[KiwiMurph]

@Tim I think that was more of an anomaly. Trainor looked woeful at the Brisbane 10s.

Wiseguy Faiane hooked.

Milo Harris with a nice clearance.

[KiwiMurph]

Brilliant Sevu Reece. A class above a lot of these clowns on the field.

[African Monkey]

See what happens when we give the ball to bloody Isi Tu'ungafasi. The guy is bloody hopeles and wouldn't make heartland championship sides let alone any other Mitre 10 cup sides.

[Tim]

@African-Monkey said in Auckland vs Waikato:

See what happens when we give the ball to bloody Isi Tu'ungafasi. The guy is bloody hopeles and wouldn't make heartland championship sides let alone any other Mitre 10 cup sides.

He isn't on the field, Dexter Fa’amoana is. Think it was Tamura-Paki who turned it over again.

[Tim]

Relegation is the most likely outcome. Auckland or Ta$man.

[KiwiMurph]

TJ Faiane has been shithouse too.

[African Monkey]

@Tim No that's definitely Tu'ungafasi and we are going down. Ta$man will come right.

[Tim]

@African-Monkey Was he a late replacement?

[African Monkey]

@Tim Yup unfortunately.

[Tim]

Tuipulotu and Ioane (as they should be) are by far the best players tonight. Christ, no team with them should struggle at this level.

[Tim]

I honestly don't think Auckland have back or skills coaches.

[Higgins]

A good number of the players are full time professional rugby players, thus should have all the basic skills under control already and really no justifiable reason for the employment of a skills coach. In this case it seems not.

[KiwiMurph]

This might be the worst Auckland team ive ever seen.

[Tim]

Ridiculous there was no yellow card against Waikato.

[African Monkey]

Geez that could have been yellow for that high shot.

[Tim]

@Higgins That's the attitude from the Hart era. The All Blacks and other teams have shown that constant practice and development of skills are necessary in the modern game.

These players don't perform this poorly at Super Rugby and international level, and don't become unskilled for no reason. Lack of training is the obvious answer.