Otago v Northland
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@taniwharugby I am so disappointed in the Coaches. This team looks like it has a great culture because when we have won in all of those games they have come from behind at some stage to win. Plus our defence has been great. But instead of building on that, fixing issues with some courageous selections and development of young players we have played the same team and patterns week after week. Then we have a few injuries, the team starts to lose and we have nowhere to go because we have no options. Man management is always difficult but we have repeat offenders in critical positions. We shouldn’t expect players to not make mistakes but with that we want players who can be coached and bring something to the game. As a team they need to find patience - I think the coaches have talked about this all season.
Forward pack - most part really good, though lineout has really fallen away.
Backs ( all over the place )
Hawkins - plays well behind the line which impacts on our attack, slow to kick, weak kick, option taking was really poor last night, courageous defender.
Rene - just needs to be more of a distributor, and reduce his risks.
Leilua - wasn’t his game last night but has played well for most part. But backline has not functioned and he must be frustrated on wing.
Macalai - game of 2 half’s. Mostly dreadful in first. See comments on Leilua.
Gregory - much better last night. Pleased for him. Still looks like he is jogging. Would like to see real intent with his play.
Nock is looking really good. -
@kev agree on Ranger, he needs to simplify his game right down to the basics again. He’s trying miracle plays that may have come off when he was in his prime, but now he’s just looking stupid. He’s missed so many overlaps because he wanted to be a hungus and go for the glory himself.
Needs to pull his finger out of his ass. I still think he’s got a lot to offer, just needs re-tuning.
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@kev yea was one play last night which was baffling, a 10m blindside, 2nd or 3rd phase, 2 forwards on the advantage line and Hawkins took it 6 or 7m behind them, on the short side. Not sure what the plan was but never looked like it was going anywhere.
Yeah I think that is the issue with Ranger, he is making decisions based on him at his peak. We got in some good positions and he hasn't trusted those outside him and the play broke down or we lost possession.
Reckon he could even slide in to 12, although I think he needs to come off the bench next week.
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@taniwharugby looking for some positive things from the coaches this week.
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@kev I think it is more clarity around the game plan, they really need to take it back to the basics.
It seems too much of our game is based around the miracle balls we throw all the time or one player doing something special (or players are just doing thier own thing) yet in reality, the strength of this team is that, the team!
They just need to cut out the bloody unforced errors and the rest will come.
ON paper I think this is one of the stronger squads we have been able to put together for many years, but we just arent gelling, the handling errors and poor decision making just knocks us back every week, often when we are in great field position.
The amount of times we win a great turnover, only to hand it back with poor handling or a silly kick/pass.
Not sure what happened to our defence last night either, particularly our maul defence, which for the most part, our defence has been solid (bar our wide defence - and look where at least 2 tries were scored) was a very poor night at the office.
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@taniwharugby I think losing Josh Goodhue early had a big affect on the defence. He gets through a lot of work...
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@Chiefy07 yea he does, particularly around the fringes.
Glad he passed his HIA and thought it was smart of the coaches to keep him off given his history.
After watching the AKL/NH game last night we are gonna have to step up our physicality a few notches too.
MOTM POLL
https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/compose?p=/topic/4257/northland-motm-v-otago/3
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@taniwharugby said in Otago v Northland:
After watching the AKL/NH game last night we are gonna have to step up our physicality a few notches too.
That’s a tough last three rounds
Harbour/Auckland/Waikato
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@Duluth yup, not gonna be easy, made tougher by the limp performance on Friday.
Otago have a tough run in too, Cant (A) SOuthland (A) Ta$man (H)
Reckon Southland have probably the best run in, Manawatu (A) Otago (H), Counties (H)
Depending on naki's result today, they finish with Counties (H) Manawatu (A) HB (H)Potentially be tight for 2nd-5th (although Otago in the box seat for 2nd) with HB pretty much sealed as top
