Tasman vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final)

[Chris B.]

@mariner4life said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

@Chris-B said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

@mariner4life said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

to be honest, if the South Central Vikings and their Super rugby level roster of poaches don't win this comp by the length of the straight, it is a choke job of epic proportions

Yeah - get the steps up the scaffold built early in the week - motherfucker.

The Irish are building a similar trapdoor on another thread!

this week is like a 90s video game!

By Sunday I could be among the most well hung men in NZ!

[mariner4life]

@Chris-B said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

@mariner4life said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

@Chris-B said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

@mariner4life said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

to be honest, if the South Central Vikings and their Super rugby level roster of poaches don't win this comp by the length of the straight, it is a choke job of epic proportions

Yeah - get the steps up the scaffold built early in the week - motherfucker.

The Irish are building a similar trapdoor on another thread!

this week is like a 90s video game!

By Sunday I could be among the most well hung men in NZ!

silver linings...

[nzzp]

We're going to get smoked. By 20 points. If we do well.

And if by some miracle we win, I can't see us doing it 2 weeks in a row

Defeatist here, but hoping for a miracle

[Higgins]

@nzzp 20 points is only a cigarette sized smoking compared to the cigar sized 40 pointer you got done for last time.

[nzzp]

@Higgins yeah, we've got some players back and are in some kind of form.

Mid season slump was horrific for us. Losing 3 on the bounce just terrible. We weren't even competitive.

[Bovidae]

I assume Ta$man will have Taufua and Squire back in the mix for this game.

[Hooroo]

I love how we are all setting up Ta$man for a massive choke.

Auckland are quite capable on their day.

[ACT Crusader]

@Hooroo said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

I love how we are all setting up Ta$man for a massive choke.

Auckland are quite capable [against Northland, Counties, Southland, Taranaki] on their day.

Fixed.

Auckland still have issues at 9 & 10.

[African Monkey]

@ACT-Crusader You missed BOP as well.

[Donsteppa]

@African-Monkey said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

@ACT-Crusader You missed BOP as well.

In that case, Ta$man are doooooooomed

[Chris B.]

@Hooroo said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

I love how we are all setting up Ta$man for a massive choke.

Auckland are quite capable on their day.

Yeah - the semi-finalists are Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington and.... Ta$man. That we're going to be the chokers if we don't win is a sensational achievement in itself!

Years since teams other than Canterbury or Auckland won the title:

Taranaki 5 (Clean your ears out Tom Marshall!)
Waikato 13
Wellington 19
Otago 21
Manawatu 39
Counties 40
BoP 43

Others - never.

[Hooroo]

@Chris-B said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

@Hooroo said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

I love how we are all setting up Ta$man for a massive choke.

Auckland are quite capable on their day.

Yeah - the semi-finalists are Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington and.... Ta$man. That we're going to be the chokers if we don't win is a sensational achievement in itself!

Years since teams other than Canterbury or Auckland won the title:

Taranaki 5 (Clean your ears out Tom Marshall!)
Waikato 13
Wellington 19
Otago 21
Manawatu 39
Counties 40
BoP 43

Others - never.

Wait!! Have you never won the title??

[Chris B.]

@Hooroo Never - we've only been around since 2005.

[mariner4life]

@Chris-B said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

@Hooroo Never - we've only been around since 2005.

[Hooroo]

@Chris-B said in Ta$man vs Auckland (Premiership semi-final):

@Hooroo Never - we've only been around since 2005.

I know you are relative new comers to the party (that fizzled out a decade + ago) but for some reason, I thought you had won it recently amongst Auckland and Canterbury.

I genuinely hope you do win it

[Chris B.]

@Hooroo Me too!

We had a big chance the year that Taranaki won - when we played them in the round robin we were ahead when the final siren went. But supposedly, Tom Marshall, who could have kicked the ball into the stands didn't hear it - instead it got turned over, Taranaki scored and so, they got home advantage in the final.

We did beat Canterbury in the semi - but, lost 36-32 in the final (Hometown was the ref!).

[Tim]

Auckland team to play Ta$man:

Alex Hodgman (Suburbs, 10 caps)
Leni Apisai (Loaned, 10)
Marcel Renata (University, 42)
Jamie Lane (Ponsonby, 15)
Scott Scrafton (Grammar TEC, 28)
Dalton Papalii (Pakuranga, 17)
Adrian Choat (Waitemata, 11)
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Ponsonby, 11)
Jonathan Ruru (University, 21)
Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC, 22)
Salesi Rayasi (Marist, 21)
TJ Faiane – C (Pakuranga, 38)
Tumua Manu (College Rifles, 22)
Caleb Clarke (Suburbs, 19)
Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby, 23)
Robbie Abel (College Rifles, 17)
Jarred Adams (Suburbs, 16)
Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby, 17)
Lyndon Dunshea (University, 4)
Akira Ioane (Ponsonby, 46)
Danny Tusitala (Ponsonby, 10)
Daniel Kirkpatrick (University, 10)
AJ Lam (Grammar TEC, 4)

Unavailable due to injury: Cameron Suafoa (shoulder), Blake Gibson (knee), Peter-Chanel Tagaloa (head), Marcelle Barnard (ankle), Jack Whetton (ankle), Tanielu Tele’a (head)

Auckland to swim with the Mako once more

Auckland will take on the undefeated Mako in Blenheim on Saturday afternoon (KO 2.05pm) Victory this weekend will...

[KiwiMurph]

No mention of Sotutu. I assume he is still out with injury.

Papalii should help keep the game competitive but cannot see this team tipping up the Ta$man juggernaut.

[Chris B.]

[Nogusta]

@KiwiMurph Sotutus been available the last couple of games. Just hasn't been picked.