Waikato v Wellington
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Lions were aweful tonight. Just can't afford to have guys like Blackwell, Kirifi, Goosen, Lam, Fifita, T Umaga Jensen rested at once. Too much experience off the park.
Pretty poor season management by the coach. Could have rested half the players against Southland last Friday and then another half against Waikato instead of taking half the team out at once. Could cost us a playoff berth with a tough run home.
Waikato well deserved their victory tonight.
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@higgins Totally agree. Wellington were rudderless. No passion and none of them looked like they knew what was going on half the time.
Only forward that really showed anything was "Izzy from Gizzy" as the commentators kept calling him.
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I don't know much about that Wellington number 18. Looking at the team lists for when he played against my club I see he was listed on the bench but cannot recall how he played if he did get on the field. Got a vague recollection seeing him play for one of the Heartland Championship teams but again nothing to really remember him by. Looks like he is probably an import from somewhere offshore. Hopefully someone out there might be able to fill us in with a bit of background on him.
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Waldrom is well past his best. as is Renata. Foe was a bit rubbish too. Filipo is worth another look at though. But Turia is only a backup 1st at best.
For the next game. Goosen at FB. He's Wellingtons best back and he's better utilized at FB than wing. I would have Lam and Filipo on the wing. And maybe try Billy Proctor at 2nd5 to see how it goes as defense in the first half was rubbish. Put Ben-Nicholas at 8, with Fifita and Kififi and Blackwell replacing Mangos. And hope JTA is back soon as out propping depth is not great
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Best Wellington team for me would be:
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Numia 2. Aumua 3. Toomaga Allen 4. Walker-Leawere 5. Blackwell 6. Fifita 7. Kirifi 8. Ben Nicholas 9. Price 10. Garden Bachop 11. Lam 12. T Umaga Jensen 13. M Proctor 14. P Umaga Jensen 15. Goosen
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Anyone but O'Reilly - far too small at this level. 17. Fahamoikioa 18. ? 19. Mangos 20. Kafatolu 21. Hauiti Parapara 22. Va'a 23. B Proctor
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I haven't read the comments yet but a few observations from the game.
(1) Waikato looked OK for 65 mins but the porous defence in the last 15 mins was bloody annoying, and a return to previous form.
(2) Wellington were very poor during that period, a lot of handling errors (from both teams really).
(3) Manihera is a frustrating player as he is always good for some meathead moments.
(4) The Waikato tactic of passing wide was always susceptible to an intercept so it was no surprise to finally concede one.
(5) Fifita did SFA in this game. You would expect him to shine at this level.
