v Manawatu
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I know its still fairly early, but 4 games in and we are already starting to look at must win games.
Historically, 19 is bare minimum to make the top 4, although last year had the highest with us sneaking in on 25 points; ave since 2011 would see 21 points as the requirement.
We currently sit on 6 points, 5th on the table, meaning to be safe I think we need to be looking at >23 points (+17)
Which means we win our remaining home games (Manawatu, Southland >both below us< and Waikato) with BPs and pick up 2 other BP away (HB, CM, BOP) should be enough.
But as the old cliche goes, one game at a time, so we need to get past Manawatu, a team that we seem to find ways to lose to, home and away!
We have a pretty good set piece this year, scrum and lineout, although as always both seem to have the odd lapse, our defence is sound, we are creating plenty of chances but lacking the execution.
We need to play with a bit more discipline, patience and accuracy and the tries will come, as someone mentioned in the Otago thread, it's like we want to score off every play. I'd like to see us mix it up a bit and play some territory now and again, we might surprise the opposition!
We should beat Manawatu, probably comfortably, but with the discipline and inaccuracies we have shown so far, we will need some luck to fall our way as well.
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@taniwharugby we’re definitely in danger of getting left behind if we drop this one.
I hope we make good decisions this week, play percentage footy for once. Keep turning Manawatu around and playing the corners. We can target them up front as we should have the wood on them there.
Will be pissed if we push those crappy unnecessary offloads this week.. And shit, if we have three on one overlaps, use them!
I’ve backed us in tipping for the first time this week, better not let me down dudes!
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Some interesting changes
Moulds back, but on the bench, Pryor to 6, Robinson back to lock.
Douglas obviously not broken face, as he is on the bench.
Kitto & Gregory get thier first starts, Noah Cooper on the bench, so assume Tua injured (after his best game of the season so far)
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@taniwharugby good to see Jono getting a start. Would like to see Myles get some game time. But most of all want to see us win 😀
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15 Junior Laloifi, 14 James Tofa, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Sam Malcolm, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Brice Henderson, 7 Antonio Kiri Kiri (c), 6 Liam Mitchell, 5 Brad Tucker, 4 Nick Crosswell, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Tim Cadwallader, 1 Fraser Armstrong
Reserve: 16 Sam Stewart, 17 Faalelai Sione, 18 Sione Asi, 19 Sam Slade, 20 Adrian Wyrill, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Otere Black, 23 Hamish Northcott
Otere Black is on the bench
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What happened to Robinson?
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Great half of footy by the good guys.
Our usual flair but with a shit load more rugby smarts with what we’re doing.
Our 2 starting locks off injured already, FUCK! They were both playing great too. Hope they’re not serious injuries.
They’re all playing well, especially the locks when they were on, Ranger, Hyland. Kitto has provided a real spark. Love Gregory’s left boot, and he’s had some nice touches and finished a great try before the break.
Now please play the 80 boys!!!
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Great win!
Thought we were lucky to get the runaway try at the start of the second half. Although the TMO made the right call as it wasn’t clear and obvious, I certainly thought Wright got a hand on it right from the get go.
Wasn’t entirely happy with some of the refereeing. Manawatu seemed to get a few not releasing penalties from guys who were off their feet, where as we had guys on our feet latched on to the ball and he’d let those go.
Great to have the complete performance we’ve been after all season.
Lots of guys put their hands up tonight, which was great to see. Matich and Kitto the pick of the bunch for me. Shout out to Jake the Muss Matiu for filling in at lock for 50-60 minutes, did a great job, we had the odd wobble in the scrum but so did they. Also good to see Atkins get a run, great reward for plugging away in club footy for Wellsford for the last decade or so.
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that looked like a clear and obvious knock from where I was sitting, and the team kinda gave it away by going back ready for a scrum.
BUt hey, we will take it, plenty of other times we have had those calls go against us, so you take em.
Bit of a flat final 20, but gotta give it to them.
Did they say much about RObinson or Goodhue, be gutted for both if they have sustained a season ending injury.
I like that Kitto is a threat around the fringes, is something Nock is capable of but doesnt seem to do much, Matich huge as usual, as was Douglas, Ranger constant menace. I like the work that Jacobsen gets through too. HYland had a stormer!
Much better performance, still a few decisions we make you have to question, and letting in a couple of soft tries (particularly the opening one) but it's the W with a BP that counts.
Thought the ref was a bit inconsistent, but think we got away with a bit of stuff, as did Manawatu.
Good to get one over them for the first time in years, gets the season back on track!
Yea boi!
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@taniwharugby said in v Manawatu:
Did they say much about RObinson or Goodhue, be gutted for both if they have sustained a season ending injury.
Couldn’t tell you sorry, had the tv on mute due to trying to get a grumpy baby to sleep.
Agree about Jacobson, not flashy but a great work rate and consistently being a menace at the breakdown.
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oh, was looking at the draw, our 'storm week' aint that bad either...Southland this Thursday, HB following Wednesday, CM Sunday then BOP Saturday.=, we gotta make the most of it.
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@taniwharugby said in v Manawatu:
@gunner he and Moulds are very similar players I think.
Yes can definitely see similarities. I think Olsen is a bit stronger and explosive in the close quarters contact where as Moulds is more effective a little wider.
We’re lucky to have two good hookers, three if you include Ross Wright.
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what was with the ref and his arm signals for a scrum? From where we were it looked like he was signalling a shot...
Gregory loves hitting those rucks, many times he came in off his wing to smash into them.
