Northland v Canterbury
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Vote for your MOTM
https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/topic/6141/northland-motm-v-caterbury
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@taniwharugby we were competitive in contact but lacked quality in everything we did. Option taking, execution. Looked like individuals. Late change of coach and only one warm up game maybe.
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Watching this game as a neutral, these were my general feelings:
Northland
- Started fairly okay, though benefitted from Canterbury being poor. I wouldn't say they were bad in the second half, they just weren't at the level of Canterbury who will probably win the competition
- Tight five went well, and the loosies were fine, but it was the backs who struggled. Reihana had a bit of a shocker IMO
- Actually forgot Goodhue was on the field until his shocker of a kick. The game just didn't flow his way.
- Sorely missed Moorby in the outside backs, as they had no penetration without him
- I wouldn't worry too much if I was a Northland fan, though they have the potential to be 0-3 at the end of next week with Moorby absent, and that will pretty much be them done for the season
Canterbury
- Really shit start, with Calder having a mare early, though he grew into it. Bell was rusty, but also grew as the game went on. He is going to have a big season
- Rest of the forwards were good, largely better than their opposites. It was a case of patience for them, and they eventually broke Northland down. For the first game of the season that was pretty good.
- Drummond and Murray were big game changers, and impacted the game well
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Was so gutted with that after watching it live last night. But a little more philosophical about it all this morning.
The score was 16 - 11 after 52 minutes, and 19 - 11 around the 60 minute mark when Rush was sinbinned. And, when Ranger also got sent for 10 soon after, the blowout was inevitable. By the end they were absolutely monstering us, any structure we'd had was out the window. Lineout dysfunctional, scrum under pressure, constant struggle to retain ball at breakdowns, backline getting smashed waaay behind the advantage line whenever we did manage to release it.
Injuries already a major concern after one game. I hope Nock's injury is minor, does anyone know how far away Moorby might be? We need him desperately now. I fear Ranger's lack of pace will really hurt us defensively out wide if that ends up being the preferred option over the next few games. At best I see him as a good impact option in midfield off the bench at this stage of career. Such a legend and was probably the most exciting, destructive powerhouse midfielder bar in the competition in his prime (those days with Jaryd Payne, what a combination), but time catches up with even the best eventually.
My realistic hope from last night was to sneak a bonus point out of the loss and avoid any serious injury concerns for what is always a squad light on quality backup players. Zero for two on that wish list...
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I thought we were in it until the cards, unlikely to win it but not embarrassed. Yes Canterbury were the better team, but that's just a fact. As mentioned lack of time with coach and pre-season games meant we were rusty. I guess as a move-into Northland supporter I can be a bit more philosophical compared to when The Bush gets bashed!
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@frugby said in Northland v Canterbury:
Actually forgot Goodhue was on the field until his shocker of a kick. The game just didn't flow his way.
Yeah I think the Cantabs speed off the line meant the ball barely made it to him
I think Northland should swap their midfielders. Goodhue is by far the best back and needs to handle the ball more often. He has the passing skillset and speed of thought to deal with the rush. Having him stand next to a young 10 is useful too. Tua has played well at 13 before and has a knack of getting outside breaks
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Something tells me me this could be a long season this year. We look like a side that has just been patched together..which essentially we have with next to no build up. But really we should have fired some more shots last night, especially in that second half where the discipline just went out the window.
I agree with above comments with swapping Goodhue and Tua around. Goodhue has lost most of his pace and would be better suited as a straight line hard hitting 12, where as Tua can work at 13 with his extra pace and space..
Injuries look a worry already with some serious looking ones adding to our already long list last night.
Standouts for me last night were Rob Rush and Sam Caird..those two got through a tonne of mahi and never stopped trying.
I Would hope we improve markedly against Taranaki, however I'm predicting 0-3 for storm week unfortunately, hope I'm wrong, but you just get that feeling..
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@fidz71 by the sounds, all 3 injuries are not great and sideline players for at least a few weeks.
Moorbynis HIA I believe, so all going well would be available for Naki...
One quite good aspect of our game, our maul defence.
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I think it could be time to promote some young guns with all these injuries.. three that spring to mind are backs Kiwi Duncan, Nathan Salmon and Tama Anderson.
Was impressed with Duncan in the club final, he looks fit, fast and strong. Certainly wouldn't hurt giving him a go.
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@taniwharugby
Thanks mate, who was the third one injured? (There was Pisi and Nock I noticed only)
Thank goodness Moorby is returning! -
@taniwharugby
Bugger... -
Lack of execution in the first half really came back to bite. Maybe if we had gone in up at halftime like we should have been, the pressure might have told on Canterbury.
Agree about swapping midfielders. Goodhue has always been better at centre but think injuries and how much he has bulked up probably means he's more of a 12 now. Can potentially play as a second playmaker too. Probably good to have him defending closer in too.
Personally I think that injury to Craig may make it hard for him to make it back into the team. I thought we looked better with Hallam Eames extra size and physicality. Sweetman to come in plays similar to LHE so can see Craig dropping down the pecking order for me.
Reihana will come good but certainly didn't hit the level last night that he was playing at last year. Will also be good to get Moorby back and push Murray back to the wing.
