Tasman v Southland
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@Stargazer How dare they, surely a breach of copyright with those black and white hooped jerseys. That better not be an omen that they will purchase the entire HBRFU assets lock stock and barrel.
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1 Joseph Walsh, 2 Sabastian Siataga, 3 Christopher Apoua, 4 Craig Smith, 5 Raymond Tatafu, 6 Charles Alaimalo, 7 Tony Lamborn, 8 Arese Poliko, 9 Liam Howley, 10 Gregory Dyer, 11 Kieran Lee, 12 Raymond Nu’u, 13 Isaac Te Tamaki, 14 Tevita Latu, 15 Rory van Vugt
Reserves: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Niko Manaena, Viliami Tosi, Glenn Preston, Jacob Coghlan, Scott Eade, Jaye Thompson
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Several interesting selections in that team.
After watching our forwards get outmuscled by Harbour and Auckland, we clearly need some additional muscle from 4 to 8 - as well as needing more height in the lineout.
My choice would have been to drop Renton, who just doesn't appear to bring enough physicality - and replace him with Fox-Matamua or Isaiah Miller.
They've gone halfway with this, bringing in F-M and Renton's been shifted to 6, but Norris (who has been a valuable lineout target) has disappeared - injured, rested or dropped?
Very interested to see how Segner goes!
Ross should bring some lineout height - but, we also need him to bring physicality. If he can't, then we badly need Shalfoon or Hicks to get fit and bring some fire, because Ainley and Cirikadaveta are a pretty short locking combo and, frankly, aren't going to do it in the big games. I'm also vaguely hopeful that Quinten Strange might come back for the end of season.
Good to see Isaac Salmon is fit again. Isi Tuúngafasi getting a rest on the bench. And probably a good change - Sam Moli coming in for Quentin MacDonald. Last year Sam had plenty of problems with his lineout throwing, but he provided lots of enthusiasm and muscle in the rest of his game. Mainly the opposite to what QM has provided this year IMO.
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lucky they didnt score off that, massive forward pass