Hawke's Bay v Counties Manukau
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Ili is having some game in this one.
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Dalton Papalii putting in some shift..
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Can remember all the talk about Nanai Seturo when he was at St Kentigern College and the battle to sign him from both codes..But is it fair to say that he has’nt lived up to those expectations..?
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My sincere apologies to Stacey Ili. I've been criticizing him a lot, but today he had a massive game. His combination with Lowe worked very well. Also a great game from Flanders, Weber, Mikaele-Tu'u, Lowe and Visinia. What a big beast that man is! I think Mason Emerson is not going to get much game time if everyone stays healthy. Danny Toala to start at 12 next game, please, with him taking over the goal kicking as well. To Joe Apikotoa, please, don't be afraid to score a try. Dropping a ball just a few metres from the try line is not something you want to do in a game that's closer than this one. FAB Devan Flanders is a great line-out option. He stole a few on the Counties' throw, too!
Oh, and
Woohoo!!!!!
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@Stargazer I’m actually unsure why you have a bee in your bonnet with Ili, he was pretty good last year once we figured out what he looked like.
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Hawkes Bay surely must back themselves to beat Canterbury next week after today's performance. With Canterbury missing their All Blacks and Hawkes Bay only missing Webber they surely must go close to being favourites at home.
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@Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Counties Manukau:
Hawkes Bay surely must back themselves to beat Canterbury next week after today's performance. With Canterbury missing their All Blacks and Hawkes Bay only missing Webber they surely must go close to being favourites at home.
Don't go too crazy it was only Counties - right @Crucial?
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@Nepia said in Hawkes Bay v Counties Manukau:
@Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Counties Manukau:
Hawkes Bay surely must back themselves to beat Canterbury next week after today's performance. With Canterbury missing their All Blacks and Hawkes Bay only missing Webber they surely must go close to being favourites at home.
Don't go too crazy it was only Counties - right @Crucial?
Sadly, yes.
Despite my optimism it looks very much like we are (nearly) full of average players. Competent but won't have many teams chasing their contracts.
I wish I could say that they just need a little time to gel under a new coach but they look OK in that area.
Simply not quite good enough. -
A week can be a long time in Rugby. Hawkes Bay clearly went away after last week , and had a long look in the mirror. What I saw yesterday, was a team playing with real intent, and a pattern and style of play that was good to see. Yes there were some basic errors made (handling, and turning over possession) but overall you'd give that a pass mark. Stacey Ili was outstanding, and his penetration in the midfield was impressive. Brad Weber's clearance at the breakdown and scrum was quick and very accurate. Visinia I thought was very hard to handle on the wing, and Devan Flanders showed why he is rated so highly. I still don't think the loose forward mix is right, but that will alleviate itself. Goalkicking is stii a concern, and you would hope that is worked on this week. A real test comes this week with Canterbury coming to town, and they'll be pissed off having lost the Shield. However as we all know they'll be no All Blacks available, and that evens it out somewhat. If Hawkes Bay eliminate the basic errors and again play with intent we could be in for a beauty.
