v HB

kev

Good tough team. Had Olsen taken over from Moulds?

Have want to do basics better. Exits after scoring, lineouts, holding the ball, not taking ball into touch, reduced individual errors. We have a power running game and really good defence but we need good energy levels from start.

taniwharugby

@kev makes you wonder, but I do think they are such similar players I dont think it makes a big difference, which is a bit tough on both of them.

Expect Moulds will start Sunday, and going forward if we make the top 4 I guess we will learn more then.

I guess we are banking on neither injuring themselves with the very limited time Matthews has had as well, more so with Ross Wright on the injury list and from what I hear, not expected back too soon.

Gunner

FFS, poor start.
Ranger kicking the ball away while on attack then back to back penalties result in a line out drive try.

J77

That grubber was bloody stupid. No wonder our wings see fuck all ball..

Gunner

Another bad penalty on Ranger, he was first man there, had all rights to have a crack at the ball.

taniwharugby

sounds like a good game for me to not be able to watch already...

J77

It’s going to be a fucking cricket score the way we are playing.

Gunner

@taniwharugby yep, HB look pretty focused, and patient.

Oh great.

The poor start is now an awful one.

4 penalties and 2 tries given away in the first 10.

Nepia

Magpies thread is a deadzone at the moment ... I'll contribute to yours (until Northland gain the ascendency, then I'll likely need to go and cook dinner or something).

Stockcar86

Nepia said:

Magpies thread is a deadzone at the moment ... I'll contribute to yours (until Northland gain the ascendency, then I'll likely need to go and cook dinner or something).

I'm lurking here too Nepia, so you are not alone

Nepia

Try to Northland - Matiu.

Gunner

Oh yes, needed to hit straight back and Jake the Muss burrows over.

More of this please forwards, don’t let the backs have it until you’ve committed a few defenders

taniwharugby

thing is, statistically HB has a very leaky defence, but we are not scoring as freely as we should be...so if a few balls stick and our defence remains, you'd expect that to be enough

Nepia

@gunner I think both HB and Northland have now benefited from dubious penalties that put them in a position to score their tries (that lineout was not straight before Evans put his hands on the lock in the air).

Gunner

Man a lot of penalties both ways early in this match

Nepia

taniwharugby said:

thing is, statistically HB has a very leaky defence, but we are not scoring as freely as we should be...so if a few balls stick and our defence remains, you'd expect that to be enough

Yeah, but we always score a few early on before we lose shape - so you'll be able to go on a run soon.

taniwharugby

@nepia penalisable offence trumps the other, no?

J77

Sorting out shit out now. Lovely try!

Gunner

Good finish by Matty Wright

Gunner

Nepia said:

taniwharugby said:

thing is, statistically HB has a very leaky defence, but we are not scoring as freely as we should be...so if a few balls stick and our defence remains, you'd expect that to be enough

Yeah, but we always score a few early on before we lose shape - so you'll be able to go on a run soon.

That’s enough of that...

This looks like it’s going to be one of those ‘defense is optional’ games

The Silver Fern

v HB