The Silver Fern

@Duluth first half we had zero line speed, zero energy, even our usually good defenders missed tackles, and then when we did get into a bit more of a pattern, defending our line first at a maul then making tackle after tackle would have sapped them hugely, which we did a few times IIRC.

Mauling and defending for long passages is hugely taxing, more so if you have a few of players with fitness not where it should be.

A full replay in case you missed it -

@Bovidae said in Taranaki v Manawatu:

So there was a problem with the lights.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/129926662/rugby-to-come-out-of-the-dark-at-yarrow-stadium

Funny at game I wasn't aware of lights problem, but if I think back maybe there was a bit of shadowing.

Take the 4 pts and flush the dunny.

I was not expecting Te Rama Reuben (a no.8) to move into lock. Hopefully the injuries to Leuila and Coombes-Fabling aren't too serious and we get some locks back for the storm week coming up.

@Chris Yep, he was cited after the Highlanders v Hurricanes game, this year, and got a 3 week suspension for smashing his shoulder into Gareth Evans' face.

@Bovidae said in Taranaki v Canterbury:

Pukekura Park looked in really bad condition after this match. Probably not the best ground to play on after heaps of wet weather.

Yep Bov, while good park for viewing etc, it's really a cricket pitch and not really going to hold together with as much rain as we have had.

@KiwiPie the commentators were saying Jesse and Kurt were catching up on old times frequently, a running battle apparently

Here is a no punches held look at the game, one which will certainly bring nods of agreement from the likes of @Stargazer

https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/129505310/rugbys-return-to-pukekura-park-a-damp-squib

The bloke disguised as a referee has taken the whistle-friendly nature of his previous guise as a netball official into the rugby arena and the sport is far worse off because of it.

It was no coincidence that the biggest cheers of the afternoon were reserved for the big budget half-time show when injured Taranaki players hoofed the ball high into the grey sky as young boys tried to catch it.

It surely had more to do with the fact they did not have to see or hear Jono Bredin blowing into his whistle for a graceful 12 minutes than anything else.

@tim said in Taranaki v Southland (Championship SF):

@stargazer I think Sione Tuipulotu will cover lock. They only have 4 specialist locks in their squad.

One of whom (Poloniati) does not even start for the 'Poo.

@duluth I watched the game with one eye, while doing something else. He had a good game; influential in the pack.

Southland had a great game and was much better than the final score suggest. Injury worry for Charles Alaimalo, who's season may be over if his shoulder (?) injury is as bad as it looked.

@canes4life said in Taranaki v Manawatū:

Awesome to see the Naki and Manawatu combining for a haka in honour of Sean.

Nehe leading the Tika Tonu got me a little emotional.

Pretty good game to watch. Naki are a very well drilled side. Always seem to have runners set and support players in motion.

@bovidae agreed on those things. Naholo missed tackle badly for Waaka try. Thought game was won then for Waikato but some bad decisions by F Smith and the loss of Roe's cool tactical head cost them. Mcwhannell was great but whole tight five were very effective.

@frank said in Otago v Taranaki:

How did future All Black Josh Lord go?

I don't think Lord was used as a lineout target at all in the 1st half as Hoeata and Sowakula were the main options. It was only once Hoeata went off injured that Taranaki changed their lineout calls.

One of the intriguing things about this season is highlighted by Daryl Gibson's own words:

"He's really lifted training, obviously having the All Black captain in our team is a real lift for our players. Certainly to see him train at the intensity he trains at for our younger players and even our senior pros, to know that's the level you've got to be at if you want to be at the very best." (Source: Rugby: All Blacks skipper Sam Cane charts return to rugby after long layoff )

While you'd expect the All Blacks captain to lift standards at training, the couple of pre-lockdown training sessions I stumbled across looked relatively chilled. To be fair, not every session can be run at 100%, but so far it's not looking good on the park against better prepared teams.

The coaching team can genuinely point to injuries. I suppose it's hard to know how much preparation comes into some injuries, or not.