The Silver Fern

@Bovidae said in Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua:

@Crucial said in Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua:

Santo Taumata injured before the game. They had to quickly fly in a WTG replacement to make the 23 as they already had a couple of prop injuries. I think they ended up with a prop at hooker but still smashing the Canes scrum.

Vici-Rose Green was the replacement player. IIRC she ended up at flanker when she came on, even though she is a hooker.

Hadn’t trained with the side much at all. The WTG players don’t get much group training and she only arrived the day before the game.

Bot coach and whoever is forwards coach go sit in naughty corner right now

The Hurricanes Poua showed that good defence wins games. I thought Matatū was unlucky with some referee's calls - I don't think the first(?) disallowed try was a knock-on and that "neck-roll" deserved a card - but the Poua took the scoring opportunities they got; Matatū didn't.

Entertaining game (more than the first half of the other game).

I did not like the refereeing in this game. Cogger-Orr seemed to always favour the defensive team, and often never let the attacking player to even place the ball.

The Poua played much better than the final score indicated, particularly with no warmup game. A dominant Chiefs Manawa scrum (even with 7 players) and tenacious defence was the difference.