The Silver Fern

@cgrant said in Blues v Moana Pasifika:

Lauaki is a big prospect IMO.

The Hurricanes are trying to turn him into a loosehead, though. His only game for them this year was at 1 and he's playing there for the Hurricanes Hunters as well. I think the move does make sense: he seemed to struggle a bit with the technicality of tighthead, and loosehead might suit his scrummaging tendencies (he looks to me to have been more comfortable pushing upwards rather than holding his weight with downward pressure). It's a risk moving him but his development was stagnating so they needed to do something.

I do agree he has massive potential. But he needs to find his feet in the set-piece at the professional level first. Once he does that, I think he'll move up the levels very quickly.

@Tim said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

Young tighthead prop Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou: how is his scrummaging?

Went quite well in the last 2 games, especially against international class opposition.

Probably no need for Mafileo now unless injury strikes.

@Jet said in Crusaders v Moana Pasifika:

Scott Barrett Allblacks captain.

Deary me.

Useless.

He was in our top 3 most important players prior to getting the "Armband".

Non existent since.

I wonder if his back still isn’t right?

Follow the NH club comps on instagram and their highlight tries almost always have comical defending involved.

That'll have to go down as MP's best-ever performance. Not the first time they've taken the scalp of a bigger team (not even the first time they've bested the Canes), but it's the strongest performance they've put on the park by some margin.

no no you guys have got it wrong. Dan assures me that the players on the field know best, and the powers that be have thought this through. You guys just don't have the same level of understanding as they do.

dur.

@Nepia said in Reds v Moana Pasifika:

Pity that Taumoefolau decided to play for Tonga, poor form by Ta$man that they can't keep their young kids wanting to play for NZ. 😉

He opted not to play for them last year in the PNC and on the EOYT. Make of that what you will...

@African-Monkey yea wasnt having a go, but he talked about how they had both discussed playing at MP

The returning ABs looked a little rusty at times, but I think all will start in Rd 1.

My guess is that the back three will be Carter, Narawa and ENS. The loose forwards Finau, Brown and Jacobson (Parker on the bench, as he has switched between 6 and 8 in the pre-season games). There are some decisions to be made at lock and in the front row, including the reserves. Maybe some of the missing players were just being rested.

There are a few try highlights on the Chiefs FB page.

@mikedogz brilliant.

The Chiefs ask for feedback for the in-game experience from season members at the end of the season. The number one complaint for us is always the music being played during the game. They don't listen.

@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

@Dan54 said in Moana Pasifika v Waratahs:

Would imagine Tane will be pretty happy, they went well.

Don't think Tane Edmed would be all that happy.....

e or a to finish, someone will be happy. I been to rugby and had abeer before coming home,ok? 😁

I had actually gone for Grant, Tuputupu and Lakai, but admot to really struggling to pick them.

@Canes4life

Are you doing the Canes best player

@Nepia said in Moana Pasifika v Chiefs:

@MiketheSnow said in Moana Pasifika v Chiefs:

Only saw the highlights. Was it a RC?

Nope.

Absolute farce

@Machpants said in Moana Pasifika v Highlanders:

MP 15 been very good

He’s David Havili’s brother. William Havili is the best player in the MP backline this year in the absence of their stars they lost to the Highlanders (Tavatavanawai) and Crusaders (Aumua). The MP forwards have been a bit better this year but they’ve lacked a killer punch in the backs that they had with Aumua & Tavatavanawai. If only those guys had this year’s MP forwards giving them front-foot ball, MP would’ve had a few more wins.

Geez what's happened to Havili's boot this year? His kicking reminds me of watching women's rugby a decade or so ago.

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Moana Pasifika:

Even though I still think Parker and Sititi were playing in the wrong positions for this combination, you would have to say they combined well. Parker did miss a tackle in both of MP's tries though. Sititi was impressive in those preseason games in Japan so I think he might have forced his way onto the bench in the top 23 with this performance. I don't see McMillan deviating from Boshier at 7.

Narawa is getting up to speed quickly and seemed to be cruising for most of the game. A touch of Sivivatu I thought, where he never looks to be running fast but nobody catches you.

while i think you wont see a change for the hurricanes game in the starting loose forwards it wouldnt surprise me if sititi move into the 23.iand after bye week get more time starting if he continues to impress. nteresting they didnt put boisher on at all?

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

Vikena made 20 tackles in 62 mins. top was Choat with 21 in 80 mins.

I think Vikena played 80

He was about to go off then Perofeta went off. Vikena played in the loosies, Sotutu to 12 & Plummer to 10