The Silver Fern

Looks like Akira is not playing, with Segner at 8

Beehre & Vikena obvious. Went for Heem in the backs.. a few flawed options for the third pick

Gibson missed a handful (4) but got through a lot of work. 25 tackles

@Stargazer said in QF - Canterbury v Auckland:

Arguably the worst high tackle to go unpunished was just last week, when Auckland wing AJ Lam knocked the snot out of Canterbury replacement Blair Murray in Christchurch.

Bourke was amongst those puzzled referee Nick Briant didn’t show Lam a card, despite Murray going on to score a try.

It turns out Lam, who scored a try shortly after knocking Murray’s block off, has since been cited after it was deemed the hit met the red card threshold, and Briant later called Bourke.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/300987505/npc-talking-points-why-tmos-in-provincial-rugby-have-less-power

A Ranfurly Shield rematch

Yes, the Log o’ Wood isn’t on the line, but Saturday night’s semifinal between Wellington and Hawke’s Bay is a beaut match-up nonetheless.

Logs

For all his size, he’s not really using it as far as I can see. Beehre is far busier

Don't need abs cover next year, as their last game October 28 latest, no t end of Nov like normal. They'll do full pre season, unless they have a deal

Vikina, Behere and Plummer

@KiwiMurph many people in Auckland Rugby asking the same question about Hickey , what has he really done coaching wise..?
Interestingly enough he turned up to one of Manukau Rovers training nights to see what they were doing differently
Given Rovers had a possible upcoming semi final against G-Tech in the coming weeks , even though he was there in his Auckland capacity , he was politely asked to leave given he had ties with G-Tech ..🤦🏻‍♂️

Thomas then.............?

Yeah, there is one U20 outside back that I expected to be promoted with all of the injuries but he must be injured too. I assume they are happy to keep Waisake Salabiau playing for the U19s.

Choat, Thomas, RTS

@Chris My comment was a bit of a pisstake, of course there are younger players there, Auckland have a few themselves like Heem, Royal etc. but it seems like Canterbury have a lot more older players than in previous years like Heinz, Crotty, Funnell, Moody, Romano mixed with guys like Lienert Brown, Drummond, Dunshea, Harmon, Prinsep and Jager either 30 or approaching 30. For an NPC side, it is fairly old.

@Kirwan said in Auckland MOTM v Southland:

One of those games where you could pick eight players.

can I pick Zarn's pass twice? His long balls were superb (again). He's warming into 10, still some 15 play (slow kicks) but overall starting to coem to terms with running the cutter

Michael Manson could be a good signing for the Highlanders WTG.

Spencer, McKenzie & Angus

Evans would’ve got a vote but that was costly miss. Akira good on defence didn’t get much going on attack. Tangitau a big improvement on his previous matches

@ACT-Crusader I think SOuthland may have that, 27 or so, they took it from us which was about the same as what Manawatu had when they beat us last week I think (24?)

@Duluth said in Auckland MOTM v Hawkes Bay:

Choat, Ioane & RTS

Evans, Fusitua, Tuipulotu we’re close too

Easy picks this week.

Akira, Plummer and Sullivan for me. Huge game from Akira, even stealing lineouts.

Jesus, the backs let the forwards down in this game.