The Silver Fern

..and Counties fans will be a bit happier now

Taranaki starting to take control

You'd hope he's only out for 2 months.

Taumateine has been sneaky good for Counties. I think he's been one of the better halfbacks in the M10 this season.

Far better back play from bop. Black put players into space this week and both half backs looked snappy. But the manawatu defence did give them space.

Another thing. Chay Fihaki looked really good last night, which is great. But it annoys the living fuck out of me that Canterbury retain Fihaki, an Auckland kid out of Sacred Heart, and allow local lad Sam Gilbert to go to Otago. Both were in NZ U20 last year, and sure, Gilbert is a 15-cum-10 who can cover wing as he did last year for Canterbury, while Fihaki is a wing-cum-centre, but they're near enough postionally that it looks like Canterbury (and the Crusaders) made a choice and the local kid lost.

@ACT-Crusader said in Counties v Manawatu:

Entertaining game. Unfortunate finish for the Turbos with that attack incorrectly called in touch.

Lineouts again a lottery for both sides.

Who is the last forward to score a hat trick in the NPC?

Last forward to score a hat trick in Mitre 10 Cup was Patrick Tuipulotu for Auckland v Ta$man, September 7, 2018.

This game was at the same time as the shield match. Sky should realise theres people who will watch one game and record the other

The fluffybunnies announced the shield result and score at the end of this match

@Bones said in Manawatu v Otago:

@ACT-Crusader he's just one of those players that operates better with less time and space... instincts better than his planning!

also just doesn't the wheels...running off someone shoulder for sprint to the line? perfect...covering a whole backfield?...no

this was promising,

*“I’ve enjoyed centre, at the back of the Highlanders season, playing a few games and getting used to it,” Collins said.

“The risk is, if you are shifting every couple of weeks, you start losing the finer touches which take a couple of weeks to get used to.

“I’m pretty happy to play at centre for a wee while.”*

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/300112618/ranfurly-shield-michael-collins-vows-otago-wont-die-wondering-against-taranaki

@kev yeah I feel that FB gives him too much time to think about what he is about to do, he seems to work better with less time when playing more on instinct, that said, I'd say his confidence probably isnt where it needs to be right now either, which is why a stint on the wing, and then moving in later in the game might be best for him

Ok. Cullen and playing at the Showgrounds Oval tips it in favour of the poo for me.

@Tim I reckon Manawatu might have the better pack - at least in terms of the "greatness" pantheon.

Waikato only has Loe and (for a short time) Messam as regular first choice ABs.

Manawatu has Knight, Lambert, Shaw and Eveleigh.

@Bovidae said in Ultimate NPC: - Manawatu:

Lee Stensness
Lachie Cameron
Craig Wickes
Ken Granger
Jackson Hemopo
Jason Eaton

Wickes didn't last long.

I thought Granger.

Forgot Nug is from the Poo - My immediate thought was Donaldson

Pretty good pack.

Clayton McMiillan

I get BOP press releases emailed to me, I will try and post them more.

@shark said in Canterbury vs Manawatu:

@Tim said in Canterbury vs Manawatu:

Is Josh McKay the new Michael Collins?

More like a faster Damien McKenzie without the positional smarts.

How fast is he, he must be a bullet? DMac is quick.

How on earth?

Love the finish of the game. Sums up Southland’s woes. Southland player did all the work to stay in the field of play and get the offload off, only for a basic handling error to happen straight after and game over.

Kept scoreless in the second half after a big lead. If Southland were a horse...

@J77 ha not quite, just use them differently.

Outrageously bad refereeing for the Koroi try with the Otere Black obstruction.

Makes my head explode.