NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry)
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@canes4life the Coach the Canes had to have, you know like that loss the ABs had to have before the 2011 and 2015 WC victories
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@nepia said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):
@chris-b And there you are - thought you'd been abducted by aliens. Following the same reasoning I am impressed with how Foster built the Chiefs so that Rennie could win with them.
It was also impressive how Vance Stewart set up the Crusaders in 1996 so that Wayne Smith could benefit and eventually win in 1998.
The work that Jed Rowlands and Frank Oliver did in setting up the Blues for Sloane/Henry to win in 2003 was impressive too.
Also, it was great how Hammett got rid of Nonu so that he could rebuild the team for four years of mediocrity and this allowed Boyd to bring Nonu back to get the Canes to the finals and set them up for the win the following year.
Nick White must be pleased with Auckland's win on the weekend. He built that team. Get that man a coaching gig in Ta$man.
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@act-crusader said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):
@canes4life the Coach the Canes had to have, you know like that loss the ABs had to have before the 2011 and 2015 WC victories
Haha a loss or two, or three, or even five I could take. But four years of consistent utter dross was a bit much.
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@daffy-jaffy said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):
@hooroo officially 20,130.
That would be the largest turnout to a final in quite a few years? Capacity at Canterbury isn't that in the temp ground is it?
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@kirwan said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):
And I can’t stress how bad the weather was, would have interesting to see how many would have turned up if the weather was better.
Did you go too? I managed to get a few beers into Duluth at the races beforehand.
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@hooroo said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):
@daffy-jaffy said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):
@hooroo officially 20,130.
That would be the largest turnout to a final in quite a few years? Capacity at Canterbury isn't that in the temp ground is it?
I was at the 2010 final at AMI/Jade. Less than 3,000 people.
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@hooroo said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):
@kirwan said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):
And I can’t stress how bad the weather was, would have interesting to see how many would have turned up if the weather was better.
Did you go too? I managed to get a few beers into Duluth at the races beforehand.
Yep, remember that All Whites game I went to with you? Crowd as at least as crazy as that.
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@duluth said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):
The only minor criticism I have of the free entry was where they put the fans.
They should have kept the end on stands stands closed. After the North stand filled up they should have opened the South stand
Particularly given the forecast
Yeah, they got there in the end, but took too long. At least they opened both levels on the South stand.
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@nzzp I don’t think that’s right. I never have been a Whitelock fan. I think he is a plodder but a role player. I have always been pushing Akira. After that game his work ons are obvious. Get fitter and more involved and you will be an AB. Unless you want to bring him on for a 15 minute cameo? Hell, if he lost 5 kgs which would mean he is probably in better shape they could not pick him.
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@kiwimurph Now is he good enough for Super Rugby?
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If Akira had been selected for the ABs and missed the semi and the final..does Auckland still win the title..?,I thought he was hugely influential in the semi final..
No question in the first half if you are doing an honest assessment I actually thought Whitelock was the busier player on the back of a more dominant scrum especially.Thought Akira got more involved in the 2nd half ,but he also fell off in defence when Tom Sanders scored in the first couple of minutes of extra time..
I think the guy is a talent no question,but really just wanted to throw a bit of balance into this conversation.
When a team has a very good victory as Auckland did,it’s easy to automatically think everyone had an awesome game..I read on this same blog,that Cameron had been outplayed by Plummer,I actually thought Cameron played very well,kicked well for goal in very blustery conditions and in the main took the right options and that’s not to say Plummer for a young showed some nice touches..but in the main,I reckon they may have ended up even.
The player I thought who was the best on the paddock and showed he should be in a super rugby squad was Olmstead..
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@sparky said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):
@tim Akira Ioane is clearly now a much better player than Vaea Fifita or Luke Whitelock. If he maintains form or pushes forward in Super Rugby next year, he'll be worth a place in the Rugby World Cup squad. Going easy on the beers and partying for a bit will help his cause. He might even move ahead of Kieron Read as the starting 8.
You’re kidding right. It’s Kieron Reid
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Just read this thread now lol. In classic 2018 fern style it turns into an Akira shit fight hahahaha.
Stoked for us that we could get up. Thought our loose trio really stood up especially after halftime as well as Seu and Faiane. Seu, for someone who runs so high and isn't the bulkiest of forwards seems to break the advantage line every time. Trainor has also improved out of sight this year and has barely put a foot wrong. Even Caleb Clarke looked alright out there and I am far from a fan of his at this stage.
Not hating on Brett Cameron, but how is he in the ABs squad? I don't see anything about him other than him becoming a solid Mitre 10 Cup player. Luke Whitelock has always been strong at this level. Don't think he's test level myself but still a very solid operator. I'd also expect to see Canterbury to keep hold of Ray Nu'u for next year to slot into their midfield. I get why they signed Burleigh but I'd have him ahead of Beard in their squad. He started to look very good for Southland towards the end of the season and was suprised that Canterbury didn't at least have him in their squad this season.
