Manawatu vs Northland
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I think we are pretty much done for the year given the run home..these next 4 games are looking god damn scary .
I would like to see some of the guys they actually selected in the squad given a run ,James Cherrington and Jonty Rae come to mind and at least start thinking about next year..
I would not be rushing anybody back who is not 100%.,I agree with the coms of Taniwhrugby the midfield has been underwhelming, would like to see Scott Gregory push into centre and try Johnson at 2nd five.,give Jonty Rae a crack at fullback and Cherrington an opportunity off the bench..
Give Jarod Byrnes a crack in the 7 jersey and see what he can do..really think we have missed the boat not having a specialist 7.
Have not spotted Boyd Wiggins or Tom Stevens...?
Just hoping the coaches have not bottled it when it has come to selections -
@taniwharugby the two that just keep putting their hands up are McNamara (played rugby with his Dad) and Matiu.
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@Steven-Harris I’m all for not rushing players back now since the horse has more or less bolted, but one guy I would like to see from this week is Tom Robinson, he’ll be keen to rip into it no doubt. He’s the type of guy that will lift others around him, and against Canterbury that’s what we will need in spades.
I wouldn’t be rushing Josh Goodhue, he’s so susceptible to injury. An enforced break through to Super Rugby is what he need to get his body right.
I think Ranger will be itching, what’s the bet he comes back ASAP and goes all kamikaze. He won’t be 100%, but he’d be a massive improvement on what we have in midfield now. Can’t beat natural class.
Unsure what the status is on guys like Olsen and Matich??
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@Steven-Harris said in v Manawatu:
@J77 I just want 5 performances that make me think we are at least going in the right direction ..
And yes Robinson would be a welcome edition ..
Not sure on the status of Olsen and MatichYep that’s all you can hope for. If we can sure up that midfield (getting sick of mentioning them!) I believe we’ve got it in us to cause some upsets before this seasons done.
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Yeah. Dunno why they are not giving Gregory a run at 12. Especially when the incumbents are not really showing anything. I laughed when I saw the replay of the try where Laumape ran straight up the middle of the field untouched. It's a different camera angle, Laumape in the foreground, and if you look in the background you can see Johnson and Tua having a "discussion". Haha. What a f...ing shambles. This is starting to reflect badly on Witcombe and Konia. Defence is all about attitude and organisation, coaches can have a big influence on that. Seasons gone, move Gregory to 12. If he's guna make the big time, it'll be in that position. And I'm guna say it.... he even reminds me a bit of Joe Morgan. And jeez my second team is going good, just watched them demolish Counties. They've superceded Canterbury in the Crusaders franchise, incredible, imagine if Northland did that to Auckland.
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@mohikamo ultimately buck stops with Derren, but wtf is Konia up to, our back play is poor, particularly a number of moves centre on our mid-field which just isn't working, how is it we can see this but they can't?
If Ranger was available I expect it would make a positive difference, we have options, although you have the argument our cattle ain't up to it (Hohaia, Tua, Johnson) so if that's the case you minimise use of them as key parts of your moves.
Split them on attack and defence, skip passes...use them as decoys more.
They are too heavily involved in our plays that they have an influence on the execution, and with both 12 and 13 struggling it doubles the chance of it going wrong.
Broken record over.
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@taniwharugby haha reading between the lines I’m interpreting you saying let’s just run out there without a midfield! Why not..wouldn’t make much difference anyway.
