v Waikato
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Was was great to see a performance under difficult conditions to see our forwards roll their sleeves up in most facets and dominate Waikato to the point where their time in our 22 only amounted to very little.
I thought Tim Bond & Murray Douglas were superb,they just do their basics really well,kick off receives especially..Bond was my POTD..he shortened up Zac Guildford in a massive tackle deep into the game.
Other surprise to me has been Ross Wright,from what I understand,he's much fitter than he's been in recent season,and it's showing...
Talking to many of the reserves before the game,they are itching to get back on the paddock,they can see what's unfolding.
A little unsure about the status of the injured at this time,will be interesting to see if there are any changes,maybe Josh Goodhue for Josh Larsen,Tua on the bench,Matt Wright..to come back,Maybe Waa back..?,some really good headaches to have..(pardon the pun)
Watched both Wellington & Otago,mixed results for both,if your playing Wellington,stopping their offload game ,making your tackles and staying in the fight is key..
Otago were very impressive,very good set piece scrum and lineout ,but in terms of adding some balance to what was a one sided game,Hawkes Bay have up to 15 x players unavailable through injury,many of them with super rugby experience..it's tough gig as we very know..
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@Steven-Harris you looked nice and warm up in your little box last night
It was so cold last night, especially at half time and for about the next 10-15, like nothing I can recall at Okara/Toll!
Yeah I noted at a Kamo/Wellsford game Ross Wright looked in good shape!
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@taniwharugby I have always loved Ross Wright as a running hooker with a big heart - taking it to the line with little regard for personal safety. Been one of my favourite players for years and should have had a super contract. In the past with us struggling at scrum time I didn't think he was a prop but our scrum is awesome and he running as good as he ever has. Fantastic stuff. And it's great to see Jack Ram and Rene Ranger having seasons to remember as well. The imported locks have worked well, and we seem to have bench and squad players that are just as good as those on the field and add impact. Long may it continue.😀
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@taniwharugby even took my jacket off in the commentary box,felt for all the die hards on the terraces,tough night for them,watched the players run on to park the 2nd half and they were jumping up and down just to keep warm..
Can only see Good times ahead,that was going to be a good test in terms of where we are,I think,we can now go into games knowing we have depth and solid set pieces..
And with our weapons in the backs,anything is possible..! -
@Steven-Harris was waiting on my invite up into the dry warmth
Come the end of the game it had warmed up considerably and I was for the most part, still dry, but we ran back to the car to warm up and get home in time for the test
NH will be a good test again this week, can we break thier unbeaten streak or will they roll on!
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@taniwharugby the good news is
You should be much warmer this Thursday evening,should be balmy evening at Toll
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@taniwharugby said in v Waikato:
@Steven-Harris was waiting on my invite up into the dry warmth
Come the end of the game it had warmed up considerably and I was for the most part, still dry, but we ran back to the car to warm up and get home in time for the test
NH will be a good test again this week, can we break thier unbeaten streak or will they roll on!
I think we'll be the ones rolling on bro! Put the mortgage on it. 😛
Seriously though, really impressed with that performance. Once again we made some errors etc, but still looked like we were never going to lose. That's the mark of a very good team.
I like the fact we go out there and focus on our game, and what we want to achieve, rather than worrying about the opposition.
Harbour will be a sterner test this week, they come off a longer break than us, but if we can roll the sleeves up and crack on with the business I think we'll smoke them!
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@J77 confidence Justin,I like it..!,gonna be interesting to see if James Parsons starts for harbour this Thursday,was in a degree of discomfort when he left the field against Counties Manukau..we can beat these guys,
Their strengths are in the halves and back 3,totally confident we can more than match them up front.
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From strength to strength this Taniwha team. Great defensive effort with the loose forwards really standing out.
A shame we don't get to play you guys this season.
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@ACT-Crusader I"m not sure,Canterbury look on another planet,the Saders & Canterbury franchise is light years ahead of anything around in terms of recruitment,coaching & development..North Harbour looking the only real challenger from the Premiership..
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D Duluth moved this topic from Taniwha Rugby on
