Taranaki v Northland
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@taniwharugby said in Taranaki v Northland:
Assuming fitness, the changes I'd be looking at for next round is bringing Robinson back, maybe move Rush to 8, toss up between Matich and Mau'u, I really like the way Matich plays, but thought Mau'u was very good.
I'd prefer Mau'u/Matich/Robinson
Someone has to play considerably better than Matich to force him out of the side IMO. Northland isn't always the smartest side.. Matich improves that. I think it would be dangerous to leave out Matich and Moulds even if Robinson is back
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@Duluth fair point!
The most amusing/worrying part is Matich wasnt deemed good enough last year, but I'd argue he has been one of our better and most consistent players of the past few years (hell, probably since he joined in 2016)
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I assume he won't play this week though. Didn't he fail an HIA?
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I like Matich at 7. His work over the ball looks way improved from what I remember. Would have Mau’u coming on late, and a loose trio of Tom, Rush at 8 and Matich starting. Would probably bring Hallam-Eames in for Matiu on the bench too.
My theories will probably be completely wrong, but just my two cents. Loving the opportunity to even have these debates now, something we haven’t had the luxury of in the past.
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@taniwharugby said in Taranaki v Northland:
@J77 ha imagine if we had Ofa and Goodhue too...
Orgasmic!
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Nock has to start for me. He is a class player, and very experienced. Milo played really well though.
The difficult one for me is Hawkins. Whether he drops out of 23 or not. He has to be the slowest 1st in NZ rugby but that sideline conversion was money. What to do?
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I thought the ref had a good game but am convinced he should've been playing advantage for a knock on when they got the last penalty.
That was a really.good first up performance. I genuinely think with better under foot conditions we would have won more comfortably. Felt the backs looked hesitant on the ball after a while.
I thought we lost a lot at the ruck after Matich went off. They were committing more numbers to the breakdown and getting turnovers because of it.
If Robinson is fit I would like to see Robinson, Matich and Matiu at 8. I think we could do with a big ball carrier at 8 which is what Matiu provides.
Fonu struggled early on at scrumtime but could've been down to under foot conditions. Looks a good athlete and is a big unit - good prospect!
I would go for Kauika-Petersen at Hooker. I like Moulds work around the park but line out improved when BK-P came on.
I thought Reihana looked a lot more comfortable at this level. Also think Tua is starting to dominate at this level now.
Awesome result against a good Naki team!
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@Chiefy07 absolutely, we had no advantage. Went straight to a ruck and then passed back. Had to be a scrum to us. Would have been a shocker if we lost.
NB: the commentary team were trying to be supportive but ended up being condescending. Call it as it is - leave out superlatives.
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Here is a no punches held look at the game, one which will certainly bring nods of agreement from the likes of @Stargazer
The bloke disguised as a referee has taken the whistle-friendly nature of his previous guise as a netball official into the rugby arena and the sport is far worse off because of it.
It was no coincidence that the biggest cheers of the afternoon were reserved for the big budget half-time show when injured Taranaki players hoofed the ball high into the grey sky as young boys tried to catch it.
It surely had more to do with the fact they did not have to see or hear Jono Bredin blowing into his whistle for a graceful 12 minutes than anything else.
