North Harbour vs Counties
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<p>we've had some outstanding names in NZ rugby of late, but i think <span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Jonathan Taumateine Utility Back is my new favourite</span></p>
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<p>I know it is early days but if I was a Counties supporter I would be getting a little anxious, particularly on the loose head side of their scrum. The pace is rather high and I suspect some of the bigger men that are predominently wearing Counties jersies might be feeling the pinch way earlier than they would have done under the old rules last season. Losing Piers Francis to a head concussion check further adds to the worries.</p>
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<p>North Harbour 07 - 03 Counties after 25 minutes</p> -
Thought counties hands let them down a lot. Often looked dangerous on attack before a knock on stopped the play. Harbour probably lucky to get the win but I guess they did enough, just!<br><br>
Harbour still harbour but defence looked a bit better than the last few years. Gatland at 10 seems a better choice than mcghan even though he is young. Could work really well with Hall at 9 then Little and Vaega n the mid field. In fact quite a decent backline with duffie there, the inconsistent as ever Tevita Li and the new big winger from northcote who had a great club season but didn't really turn up tonight. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="606434" data-time="1471517707">
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<p>I enjoyed that after an enforced break. I thought there was some ok rugby at times.</p>
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<p>Funny seeing Walter Little's kid running around. </p>
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<p>Him and Matt Vaega looked impressive together in the midfield I thought. They look pretty good if they can stay injury free.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="606434" data-time="1471517707">
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<p>Funny seeing Walter Little's kid running around. </p>
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<p>Made me feel old, proper old. Seeing the kid of a top all black of my youth playing at rep level ... yeah.</p>
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<p>Good start to the season though. Breakdown laws look better, but I have to read up on them</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="606509" data-time="1471544333">
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<p>Him and Matt Vaega looked impressive together in the midfield I thought. They look pretty good if they can stay injury free.</p>
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<p>Probably Matt Vaega's best game. Little got better as he game went on.. his handling was a bit off early on</p>
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<p>An impressive combination given that their first choice would have been Ranger/Ahki</p> -
<p>As is Ranger too isn't he? He comes off contract with NH after this season too I think, having not suited up yet in 2 seasons.</p>
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<p>Ranger is injured for the year too. </p>
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<p>NH didn't have the budget to replace Ranger or Ahki so they have a smaller squad than most</p>
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<p>TR - do you think Ranger will head home next year? I suspect he will want to give something back to NH</p> -
<p>tough to comment on that given the reasons why he went to NH in the first place...</p>
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<p>Will just say his heart is in Northland.</p> -
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="606509" data-time="1471544333">
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<p>Him and Matt Vaega looked impressive together in the midfield I thought. They look pretty good if they can stay injury free.</p>
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<p>Yeah, I should have said funny seeing Walter's and To'o's kids running around.</p> -
<p>I thought Harbour looked a little bit better than Counties in this one. The stats seem to back that up too.</p>
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<p>If August Pulu played this game, I think Counties get the W. Judd was just really bad and held the team back(Vaka didn't help either). I would've brought on Taumateine a lot earlier.</p>
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<p>Li is just all comedy these days.</p>
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<p>TJ was doing his best Nisbo impersonation with how many times he got player names wrong.</p>
