Auckland v Canterbury

[Bovidae]

@Canes4life said in Auckland v Canterbury:

Gus Brown getting absolutely monstered at scrum time.

Yes, I was going to post this. A big step up from U20s.

Those first 35 mins were dire. Hauiti-Parapara is a handbrake.

[nzzp]

Just turned this on as I thought it was 7pm. Christ this is a hard watch - skill levels not high, brainlessness and it's only 2 minutes of the second half.
This comp was superb, but these two teams are really struggling.

[nzzp]

Nice maul setup and some good passing in close at last.

Only got anothre 10 minutes as out with friends soon, but go the Auks

[Machpants]

Fuck me that is bad

[Landers92]

2 of the competitions teams with arguably the biggest history and expectation and they are producing an absolute lemon of a game.

Both teams were poor last week to be fair but you expect a higher level of play when you consider how many full time professionals are out there.

[Duluth]

Hopefully we don’t see CL play for Auckland again

[Duluth]

That was awful Vikena. He’s regressing this year

[Duluth]

Well done XTH

[antipodean]

There are some lazy defenders in that Auckland team.

[Duluth]

Hard choice for Auckland player of the day:
https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/topic/6832/auckland-motm-v-canterbury

[Kirwan]

Who do I see about getting that 80mins back?

[Duluth]

Still have a crazy error rate

Something is really off with the side. Players who looked very good at the next level up are struggling at NPC level

Pressure must be on McGrath, Bates and Hickey

[Kirwan]

Not impressed with the coaching at all.

[Bones]

@Duluth said in Auckland v Canterbury:

That was awful Vikena. He’s regressing this year

Music to a highlanders fan's ears.

[KiwiMurph]

This is one of the worst Auckland teams I've ever seen.

The positive is the young players. Simpson looked much better than Christian L.

I will say though - whilst I thought Taele did some fine things - I don't see how a player of his size is going to be the future star that some are predicting - he looks WAY too small for the midfield in the modern game.

[Mauss]

@KiwiMurph Regarding Taele, surely physicality outweighs size? And of that, Taele has plenty.

But I'll admit that I'm quite biased. Taele reminds me of Matt Giteau and the latter is one of my all-time favourite players.

[Duluth]

@KiwiMurph said in Auckland v Canterbury:

I will say though - whilst I thought Taele did some fine things - I don't see how a player of his size is going to be the future star that some are predicting - he looks WAY too small for the midfield in the modern game.

He subbed on at 10 against Otago. Maybe that's where he winds up?

[antipodean]

@KiwiMurph said in Auckland v Canterbury:

This is one of the worst Auckland teams I've ever seen.

Certainly one of the greatest reversals in form when compared to the Blues. It looks like a confusing mishmash of styles too.

Either the wider squad aren't coming to terms with the gameplan, or there's a substantial drop in quality.

[nzzp]

@antipodean said in Auckland v Canterbury:

Either the wider squad aren't coming to terms with the gameplan, or there's a substantial drop in quality.

[Lancaster Park]

Admittedly only saw the highlights but given the strongly held views by many in Auck that Akira is a beast but we just dont appreciate it I would have thought he would be playing like a man against boys at this level.
Did anyone at the game or seeing it all see him as a step above the rest?