Southland vs Auckland

[nzzp]

@tim said in Southland vs Auckland:

How has Choat played? Sotutu?

Choat just scored a try - generally played well I think

[African Monkey]

@tim And Andrew Ready is a regular for the Reds.

[KiwiMurph]

Liaina has looked tidy at 9 since he has come on.

[Kirwan]

@tim said in Southland vs Auckland:

How has Choat played? Sotutu?

Choat just scored a try, and worked hard all game. Sotutu has been fine too, some good carries. It’s been one off the ruck stuff all game, thanks to the rain.

[Steven Harris]

@african-monkey personally I think he is more dynamic than Fukofuka..

[Dice]

I think all the young backrowers have done well tonight.

[Stargazer]

@steven-harris said in Southland vs Auckland:

Gotta give the Southland boys their dues,from what I believe they have no super rugby players, apart from Tony Lamborn who played a couple of games for the Canes ,they have hung in there without looking like they were ever gonna win.
Been really impressed with Selby Rickett he is right up there in the lineout stats throughout the Mitre 10cup..Also wish Nico Costa had stayed in Auckland,has looked really good behind a beaten pack.

Other players with SR experience: Matt Johnson, Brayden Mitchell and James Wilson.

According to the Otago Daily Times, the Chiefs and Highlanders have shown interest in Selby-Rickit.

Oct 7, 2018

Selby-Rickit stands out in narrow loss

Southland's run of Mitre 10 Cup losses has increased, but the bright side is lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit looks to be Super Rugby-bound. Southland...

I didn't know anything about him, so when I googled him, I found out he's the son of of former All Black Hud Rickit, and younger brother of two Southern Steel players, Te Paea and Te Huinga Reo.

stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/92676059/another-selbyrickit-sibling-heads-south-to-chase-sporting-success

[nakosi]

damn it must be depressing to be a part of this organisation..either a fan or a player...no way out

[Crucial]

@nakosi said in Southland vs Auckland:

damn it must be depressing to be a part of this organisation..either a fan or a player...no way out

There's just no foundation. The club game has been struggling for years now and despite some good efforts, such as enticing school players from Auckland with a potential fast path and a free eductaion, it has almost died.

Sadly the good young players get snaffled by the Otago and Canterbury schools and can see the benefits when they see the likes of DMac.

For a while there was hope that the SIT Sports programme would be the saviour but a number of defections where players took the education then ran back home set the tone and the moving of the Cycling NZ HP centre to Cambridge really kicked them in the guts from something they were building up a good reputation in.

You can't say they haven't tried to think of solutions but have basically been steamrolled by a changing lifestyle and the strength of other unions.

[Steven Harris]

@nakosi one of the really big issues they have in the Southland area is player drain which the quality of club rugby has dropped away ..they have have realistically got about 10-12 players of Mitre 10 level.

[Bovidae]

I would have thought Hewett would have enticed some Cantabs down south.

The sports that Southland have dominated in recent years (netball and basketball) are almost entirely due to imports. Much easier to do when your squad is ~12 players.

[Crucial]

@steven-harris said in Southland vs Auckland:

@nakosi one of the really big issues they have in the Southland area is player drain which the quality of club rugby has dropped away ..they have have realistically got about 10-12 players of Mitre 10 level.

Its not only quality it is quantity. 6 Prem teams only (and they are scraping numbers to make Prem teams) means a short season