Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS)
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@Duluth that’s definitely our strongest starting 15 so far this year, should be a good game. Would rather they shift Pepesani to the right wing so we can start CGB on the left.
I’m a bit worried about the prop reserves though, they’ve really struggled to close out games for us this year and I’d expect Hawkes Bay to try and exploit that.
Hopefully we can make it four on the trot.
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@Canes4life Don't get your hopes up too high. A first minute injury to A. Morgan will derail any hope the Challengers had. Even though there is no specialist lock on your bench that should not matter much as there is no way any HB player would do anything that might cause your starting locks to be replaced.
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@Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS):
I’m a bit worried about the prop reserves though, they’ve really struggled to close out games for us this year and I’d expect Hawkes Bay to try and exploit that.
Especially our LH. The coaches have been keeping Numia on almost for the full game. Agree its our best starting side. Plumtree hasn't been as good as I thought would be
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@Higgins We have looked impressive with Morgan at the helm (unbeaten with him there I think) and I wouldn’t worry about our boys getting injured, you just focus on your own players.
Hawkes Bay will need to use their pack to nullify Wellington’s threats. If Wellington have one of their good days then the Shield could easily leave the Bay. In saying that though Wellington’s pack will need to gain some sort of parity against what has been an impressive Hawkes Bay pack.
We don’t need a specialist lock on the bench, we’ve got Delany at 6 who’s our lock cover and has also been our best forward this year.
What’s Hawkes Bays shield run at?
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@Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS):
we’ve got Delany at 6 who’s our lock cover and has also been our best forward this year.
Hes been good. But others who would compete for the best spot would be Lukai, Numia and Aumua
Looks a good side but HB must start as favourites.
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@Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS):
@Higgins We have looked impressive with Morgan at the helm (unbeaten with him there I think) and I wouldn’t worry about our boys getting injured, you just focus on your own players.
Hawkes Bay will need to use their pack to nullify Wellington’s threats. If Wellington have one of their good days then the Shield could easily leave the Bay. In saying that though Wellington’s pack will need to gain some sort of parity against what has been an impressive Hawkes Bay pack.
We don’t need a specialist lock on the bench, we’ve got Delany at 6 who’s our lock cover and has also been our best forward this year.
What’s Hawkes Bays shield run at?
Fifteen games since my guys last lost a Shield match. A total of 78 Shield game wins overall, the third highest overall
Otago 09 - 28 HB
HB 33 - 17 Northland
HB 47 - 12 Manawatu
HB 34 - 18 Wellington
HB 85 - 00 North Otago
HB 93 - 05 East Coast
HB 34 - 10 Otago
HB 36 - 33 BoP
HB 34 - 22 Ta$man
HB 41 - 14 Waikato
HB 38 - 20 Sth Canterbury
HB 95 - 22 Poverty Bay
HB 33 - 32 Counties
HB 25 - 23 North Harbour
HB 69 - 24 Southland -
@Higgins said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS):
@Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS):
@Higgins We have looked impressive with Morgan at the helm (unbeaten with him there I think) and I wouldn’t worry about our boys getting injured, you just focus on your own players.
Hawkes Bay will need to use their pack to nullify Wellington’s threats. If Wellington have one of their good days then the Shield could easily leave the Bay. In saying that though Wellington’s pack will need to gain some sort of parity against what has been an impressive Hawkes Bay pack.
We don’t need a specialist lock on the bench, we’ve got Delany at 6 who’s our lock cover and has also been our best forward this year.
What’s Hawkes Bays shield run at?
Fifteen games since my guys last lost a Shield match
Otago 09 - 28 HB
HB 33 - 17 Northland
HB 47 - 12 Manawatu
HB 34 - 18 Wellington
HB 85 - 00 North Otago
HB 93 - 05 East Coast
HB 34 - 10 Otago
HB 36 - 33 BoP
HB 34 - 22 Ta$man
HB 41 - 14 Waikato
HB 38 - 20 Sth Canterbury
HB 95 - 22 Poverty Bay
HB 33 - 32 Counties
HB 25 - 23 North Harbour
HB 69 - 24 SouthlandNot bad, it’s definitely time to end that run. 😁
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@Winger said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS):
@Canes4life said in Hawkes Bay v Wellington (RS):
we’ve got Delany at 6 who’s our lock cover and has also been our best forward this year.
Hes been good. But others who would compete for the best spot would be Lukai, Numia and Aumua
Looks a good side but HB must start as favourites.
Rightfully so as they are at home but Wellington definitely have the goods to do the job. Whether we can put it out there on the day remains to be seen.
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Some awesome old photos in this article.
Ranfurly Shield challenge for Wellington on Saturday in 100th match
Hawkeye and Leo the Lion in the 1960s, prior to another tight tussle between Hawke’s Bay and Wellington. It was recently asked of a long-time supporter what would you rather Wellington held a…
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@Stargazer 14, 15 and 22 still make me very nervy, particularly 14s defending. The bench looks just wrong with Jonah Lowe's injury susceptibility making more sense to have Nerai Fomai in 22 as he is more versatility than Grigg, not to mention being a better player overall anyway. The clash at second five looks enticing, another chance for Mr. Toala to prove Plumtree/Holland wrong. Although having said that PUJ also has plenty of the same to do!
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@Higgins So now the big boys come to town. For years and years we've heard and read the exploits of this team through the Dominion. Now don't get me wrong, this team were facing is very good. I do wonder though about there tight 5. Of course the exception is the hooker, whom I rate highly. I do however think Hawkes Bay have the fire power to match this. Wellington to me have a very good backline, who given the chance, with quick ball, will punish any defensive lapses. I still believe Hawkes Bay have the team that can get the job done, the thing for me is that it has to be for 80 minutes. The Bays lineout drive is getting there, and the Scrum is impressive. The way to stifle the Wellington backline is to beat there forward pack up. Should Hawkes Bay do that then the likes of Perenara, Morgan, Savea, and Umaga-Jensen can't operate. If they fail then Wellington are right in it. Hopefully the weather will be good, and the ground hard. Should be a good game, and I hope a Bay victory.
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@Billsy111 The Wellington tight forwards are what could at best be described as "average" so we should be able to have the upper hand there and our loose trio is rather good so clearly up front we should have them up front overall then. Our locks also don't often lose our throws but having said that there have worringly been a few losses on our own throws that we did not get when Ash Dixon was tossing the ball in. It was noticeable last week that we tried about four new variations of lineout drives which we have hardly seen before so that should keep the visitors guessing.
On the other hand some of our defence in the backs out wide has not what it should be and they will have needed to have done plenty of work on that during the week.
All going well it will be a hard old fashioned forward battle where there will only be one winner and after that we might be lucky enough to see Messrs McClutchie and Toala cut loose during the second half.
It is a real shame we won't get to see Alex Fidow. I had heard whispers amongst a few contacts I have at NPC in the past that there were a few times when accidental knock ons were conceded just to get the chance to engage Wellington in a scrum. We will miss out on that tomorrow.
Finally if all else fails they are bound to sub J Garden-Bachop on at some stage...............................
