Hawke's Bay v Canterbury
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A long time between drinks. In fact if memory serves me right the last time Hawkes Bay beat Canterbury was in 1982 at Nelson Park Hastings. Canterbury bring a side to Napier that whilst under strength, will without doubt play like any Canterbury team, phase after phase, patience, and a knack of working teams out. They absorb, and then apply pressure, especially in the 10 minutes before and after halftime. There set piece is always strong, and there pattern never changes. However this a strong Hawkes Bay team capable of getting a result. For Hawkes Bay to achieve this they must out Canterbury at what Canterbury do best. If you go into a game like this with a predictable plan you'll lose. You must keep Canterbury guessing, and move them around the paddock, and move the ball away from them. Yes at times you do have to muscle up to them, and when you do show real intent. Some of the Canterbury players may be a bit rusty, so play to them. Just like Taranaki did, don't stand back and wait for them to come to you, go to them and ask the questions. Hopefully a dry ground, noisy crowd, and a good game of rugby. And most importantly have the belief that just because they wear Red and Black and represent Canterbury, these guys are human, not machines. Yes 1982 was a long time ago. Can the Bay do this? Remains to be seen but they have a good chance.
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I was at that game.
The one clear memory I have is Bill Bush got sent to the sin-bin. Those were the days when if you got sent to the sin-bin you didn't go the sideline and sit down as you do now, then you had to stand behind your opponent's goal-line.
Bush had to stand behind Hawke's Bay's goal-line at the city end of Nelson Park.
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@Number-10 I was there too and distinctly remember Billy doing a brown eye to the crowd as he got heckled whilst he was marching to the deadball line. My memory seems to think that it might have been as he was heading down to the deadball line at the scoreboard end of the ground but will defer to you on that minor technicality.
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Can I be given extra points in the Supporters Award for wearing a Magpies jersey with what looks like to be some beer stains on a couple of the white hoops? Don't recall spilling any before during or after the smacking of Counties last Sunday but the evidence is undisputable. Still I suspect there might be a few more added to those already there sometime later today. The fridge is stocked so I can accomplish my pre match warm up in traditional style before departing to my club down here's prizegiving. Fortunately we have a contingent of about ten or a dozen HB supporters here so will not be left to soldier on solo like I dutifiably did in the very same clubrooms that I will be watching the game from tonight that famous day when Nemia Tialata went to sleep on the playing field .
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@Toddy said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
Not enjoying the refs turnover interpretation. Players are resting their hands on the ground and he's blowing penalties in their favour.
Not sure I agree with his interpretation with the mauls either.
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The Hastings contingent are playing very well tonight.
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@antipodean said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
@Toddy said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
Not enjoying the refs turnover interpretation. Players are resting their hands on the ground and he's blowing penalties in their favour.
Not sure I agree with his interpretation with the mauls either.
A maul just went forwards, sideways, the other sideways, then forwards - and he called "that's one".
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@Nepia said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
@Bones said in Hawke's Bay v Canterbury:
Fakatava could work on his decision making.
I want him to work on his haircut first though.
We can't all be style icons like you bro.
