2018 New Zealand Schools

[Stargazer]

Try Apineru in the corner after a great offload from Niko Jones. Reihana can't convert (difficult angle). 12 - 0 NZ

[Stargazer]

Not sure whether this NZ Schools team is worse than last year's, or that Tonga Schools is better than expected (and better than last year's Fiji Schools).

[Stargazer]

Another try from a line-out drive, scored by hooker Soane Vikena. Converted. 19 - 0 NZ

[Nepia]

It's annoying they don't have replays - I've got this going on my second screen at work and every time I turn back I see the conversion!

[Nepia]

Unsurprisingly there's some big boys on this Tongan team.

[Stargazer]

@nepia I have seen several replays, particularly of the tries. It looks like you missed those, too.

[Nepia]

Yep, I guess I missed the replays as well. Oh well, saw this try by our gigantic number 1.

[Stargazer]

Good try from that big LH prop Tamaiti Williams. Converted by Reihana. 26 - 0 NZ. It's almost half time.

[Stargazer]

They said a player had been signed by the Crusaders. Were they talking about Punivai or someone else?

[taniwharugby]

@stargazer that guy is HUGE.

[Bovidae]

As the comms said, both props aren't just heavy but very tall.

The backs haven't really clicked yet.

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Big food bill for his parents.

[Bovidae]

@stargazer Williams.

[Nepia]

Stargazer said:

They said a player had been signed by the Crusaders. Were they talking about Punivai or someone else?

Williams I think.

[Stargazer]

@bovidae Ah, yes, just googled and he was already selected for this year's Crusaders’ Junior Knights development camp.

[Stargazer]

The commentators keep on repeating that Gideon Wrampling, who just scored a try, is from Brisbane. Maybe it was already mentioned in the thread (I can't remember), but is he a Kiwi boy (NZ born or NZ parents) coming back to NZ or is he an Aussie who came to NZ to improve his game, only to ply his trade for Oz later?

[Stargazer]

For the Bay supporters here: Tyrone Thompson has come on.

[Nepia]

@stargazer You'd think that he would be committed to NZ to be in this team.

[Stargazer]

Try Blair Murray. Good work from Thompson in the lead-up to that try. Reihana converts. It's 40 - 0 to NZ.

[Stargazer]

NZ bench being emptied.