Tasman v Southland
-
-
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.
-
lucky they didnt score off that, massive forward pass
-
Someone once said something about a game of two halves (and then they said it again..).
This was that.
First half, Ta$man seemed a mix of casual, butter-fingered, overly-anxious hunguses determined to keep Southland in the game.
Second half they came out much more focused, accurate and playing for each-other and eventually broke the Southland shackles.
Not sure whether playing with the wind was responsible for some pretty dire catching and passing. Tbh Southland played the first half like there was a heavy mid-afternoon dew , as well.
Anyway, ended up pretty comfortable.
Much better from just about everyone compared to last week's debacle - at least in the 2nd half. David Havili back to being a talisman. Fox-Matamua went well at 8. Ross improved the lineout. Renton probably had his best game of the season.
Once we stopped dropping the ball Big Leicester and Fetu Paea started to look good. Fonotia was decent and Mark Talea had his moments.
Nice cameo from Segner with one blockbusting run and a little catch and pass to set up a try. Worth another run next week, IMO.
Biggest problem was Isaac Salmon at tighthead - we went from having a dominant scrum with Matenga, to getting beaten up. That suggest that Matenga might be worth a look from a Super team.
Pleasing effort in the loose from Sam Moli. I'm not sure whether he threw to the linout, but I'd stick with him for next week as well.
