v Southland
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I guess this is where we make a serious bid for the top 4 or we dont.
BOP's loss yesterday left us sitting in 4th 2 points ahead of them, 7 points behind Waikato and 6 behind HB, all of whom we are yet to play.
Otago who are 4 ahead of us, have the Cantabs this weekend, who will be stinging after thier loss to Auckland, so hopefully they (Canterbury) give them a hiding
BOP v Waikato is intriguing, with BOP needing to win to not fall away form the pack, and Waikto wanting to hold on to the top, HB are at home to NH, so could go top by end of the weekend.
If things go how I would like this weekend, the points will be as follows: Waikato 18, HB 17, Northland 16, Otago 15, BOP 14
Manawatu have Ta$man and Wellington, so it is likely they will fall behind.
On current form, we should account for Southland and pick up a valuable bonus point, need to give a few players starts, while being careful not to underestimate Southland (yeah yeah I Know)
With no idea who is fit and who is not (Ross Wright, Josh Goodhue, Tom Robinson, Tamati Tua) tough to pick a starting team, as all those would be looking at being in the 23 on Thursday.
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@taniwharugby Maybe good to note that Waikato have played a game more than the other Ch'ship teams.
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@stargazer even better then if BOP beat them
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I’d be looking at playing our best team possible for this one. We really need to put Southland to the sword. This is pivotal in terms of play off chances, so to bank five points here is crucial.
We’ve got a much better run in than some of our rivals, so we really need to crank up the tempo from this point forward to seal a semi on our own, rather than relying on other results like last year.
Underestimate Southland at your peril.. they have nothing to lose, so we’ll need to be 100% focussed like we were against Manawatu.
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@j77 said in v Southland:
Underestimate Southland at your peril.. they have nothing to lose, so we’ll need to be 100% focussed like we were against Manawatu.
Agree! The last game at home before Otago was one of the unluckiest games I have seen in an age. They ought to have won that. (Perhaps Counties?)
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Here’s an update on the injury front,
Tom Robinson (Shoulder,hopefully back the Waikato game) and Josh Goodhue (HIA should be good to go
next week) along with Ross Wright ( Groin Strain) was having scan this week but not looking too promising Kane Jacobson (HIA back next week)
Blake Hohaia (out one week only)
Think we will see Matiu replace Jacobson and Scott Gregory into 2nd five and Noah Cooper get a start on the wing.. -
@steven-harris so what's the status on Tua?
When you say they are good for next week, do you mean Thursday, or next week as in HB?
Would like them to give MacNamara a shot too, assume he'll go to the bench with Matiu starting?
Is Te Nana anywhere near being selected?
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@taniwharugby next game,Renata Roberts will probably make the bench,on Tua still having issues with his shoulder,may one or 2 x games away..Mc Namara will definitely be on the bench as lock cover...
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So...Moulds loose forward cover! Roberts-Te Nana on bench!
Northland team:
Isileli Tu'ungafasi, Jordan Olsen (Captain) Ropate Rinakama, Temo Mayanavanua, Murray Douglas, Jaycob Matiu, Kara Pryor, Matt Matich,,Sam Nock, Jack Debreczeni, Noah Cooper, Scott Gregory, Rene Ranger, Jordan Hyland, Matty Wright
Replacements
Cambell Matthews, Jack Straker, Paddy Jo Atkins, Sam McNamara, Matt Moulds, Jono Kitto, Myles Thoroughgood, Renata Roberts-Te NanaForgot about Verney!
Not selected due to injury
Tamati Tua
Regan Verney
Ross Wright
Tom Robinson
Josh Goodhue
Kane Jacobson
Blake Hohaia
Jone Macilai -
@taniwharugby we won’t be see Regan Verney in a Taniwha jersey this year which is a bugger,he would have been a handy acquisition with the injury crisis we now have ..from what I understand he’s been great value off the field with tactics etc..makes a change from
DB...!,and yes you got it right with Moulds,covering the loose forwards. -
@steven-harris how long was his contract, 1 or 2 years?
That team should still be good enough to account for Southland, hosing down here at present but supposed to clear up for Thursday.
Hoping Roberts-Te Nana gets a decent crack, the few games I saw of him for OBM he looked sharp, good feet and pace.
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@taniwharugby Verney was only signed for 1 x year..
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Southland
1 Loosehead Prop Stodart, Shaun
2 Hooker Thomas, Flynn
3 Tighthead Prop Mitchell, Morgan
4 Left Lock Fotheringham, Ben
5 Right Lock Selby-Rickit, Manaaki
6 Blindside Flanker Capil, Jack
7 Openside Flanker Lamborn, Tony
8 Number Eight Fukofuka, Bill
9 Half Back Renton, Jay
10 First Five Eight Hooper, Broc
11 Left Wing van Vugt, Rory
12 Second Five Wilson, James
13 Centre Johnson, Matthew
14 Right Wing Te Tamaki, Isaac
15 Full Back Tuimavave, TauasosiREPLACEMENTS
16 Hooker MacDonald, Jesse
17 Prop de Groot, Ethan
18 Prop Apoua, Christopher
19 Lock Tatafu, Raymond
20 Loose Forward Howden, Brenton
21 Half Back Costa, Nicolas
22 First Five Eight Nu'u, Raymond
23 Outside Back Ormond, Jackson
Changes to Stags Starting XV for Northland
The SIT Zero Fees Southland Stags have again adopted a next man up mentality ahead of its Week 6 Mitre 10 Cup clash...
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I only just noticed that Southland have Jesse MacDonald from Ta$man on the bench. He didn't make the Ta$man Mako squad and was named in the Ta$man development team a month ago. I had to look it up; he made his debut for Southland against Otago and was called up as injury cover for their reserve hooker.
