Wellington vs Northland
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@mn5 tickets still way overpriced too. Almost 30 bucks for an adult. Like I say move it to the suburbs, Porirua, Petone or even the Hutt Rec.
Wellington have a bloody good side and should be right up there this year, it’d be nice to see a few more yelling for them as they go about their business. Hell, we lose almost every weekend and still show up!
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@taniwharugby definitely testing the patience of the faithful that’s for sure!
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@j77 said in Wellington vs Northland:
Just like to acknowledge the Taniwha supporters that showed up today, just shows we have a great following.. as for the Wellington crowd, piss poor! I’ve seen bigger crowds at average club games. Don’t know why they don’t play out at Jerry Collins stadium in Porirua or the Petone Rec? On today’s evidence that wouldn’t sell out either.
I've heard rumours that they're going to move the Wellington v Hawke's Bay game to Jerry Collins Stadium. No idea whether there's any truth to it, but it would be a good decision.
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@stargazer would definitely make sense. Barely saw a soul walking up to the stadium today, was almost more embarrassing than our ass whooping today!
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@j77 said in Wellington vs Northland:
@taniwharugby definitely testing the patience of the faithful that’s for sure!
There was a lack of intensity, speed, accuracy in our performance that we have all seen before. Balls being stripped from players, props running upright, players being isolated at the breakdown, broken line defence. Generally we have players that can match it physically but our speed was off and exposed when you play the squads with all s15 players. I hear that we were very good against Auckland - trick is getting players up regularly.
I would say the number 1 action this week is choosing a 3rd halfback. How do you ever go into a match with one specialist halfback?
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@kev yea that performance was a long way off what they showed last week, sure Tom probably leads things in terms of physicality but the others were still smashing into Auckland players last week too, and making tackles.
Yesterday there was no physicality we missed what 30+ tackles and were just all round too passive in so many aspects.
I think I counted 6 times we had the ball stripped, WTF, that should happen maybe once a game.
I wonder how far off Wright is, think he has to back Olsen up. Our lineout functioned better yesterday than last week, except once Tou came on and Goodhue off.
What did Goodhue go off for? Assume he was supposed to be out for 80 but they bought Hallam-Eames back on.
Tua is hopefully just a precaution as I saw him stretching his hammy.
@Steven-Harris when does Pryors ban end? Rush.might be better running at 6, if not moving Hallam-Eames there when Caird is available.
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@duluth said in Wellington vs Northland:
@chiefy07 said in Wellington vs Northland:
Think Tua and Gregory are both better at 12 so will be interesting to see which way round they would set up in midfield together.
Gregory at 12 IMO. He looks better when he has less time to think.. keep him closer in. Tua has a good outside break too
Think Gregory has an all round game that is best suited to 12. His left footed kicking game yesterday is another advantage for him being at 12. Tua last year seemed to find his feet at 12. Like you say he has a bit of pace to get on the outside, will probably come down to how he defends at 13
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@kev said in Wellington vs Northland:
@j77 said in Wellington vs Northland:
@taniwharugby definitely testing the patience of the faithful that’s for sure!
There was a lack of intensity, speed, accuracy in our performance that we have all seen before. Balls being stripped from players, props running upright, players being isolated at the breakdown, broken line defence. Generally we have players that can match it physically but our speed was off and exposed when you play the squads with all s15 players. I hear that we were very good against Auckland - trick is getting players up regularly.
I would say the number 1 action this week is choosing a 3rd halfback. How do you ever go into a match with one specialist halfback?
Couldn't agree more @kev
In some respects it seemed like a pre season game. We've been pretty lucky the last few seasons I think we've been able to ease into the season without playing one of the stronger teams first up. It's going to take a big lift in performance to get a result this week.
Hopefully Nock is back for rest of the season - that game showed how influential he is for us
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@j77 there are shit crowds all across the comp, it’s been like that for ages now at this level.
The disgraceful thing is that Wellington Rugby expect people to turn up at $25 a ticket after little to no promotion of the game.
I agree, these games need to be moved to a smaller venue. Mixing the matches between JC Stadium and The Hutt Rec would be a great option IMO.
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@canes4life crowds are definitely down over the whole competition, but if you were to compare numbers Wellington would have to be right near the bottom. I know most of the non big city provinces generally get good attendances.
Porirua would be my choice for Wellington to be based. Having played for North’s for a couple seasons when I lived down there I really did notice how much the people of Porirua get in behind their teams. Petone would be my second choice as I played there too! 😂
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On the performance itself, Wellington definitely have the firepower to win this competition if they can keep their best XV fit and healthy. Dominic Bird seems to be a great edition to a solid pack and the backline has the ability to score from anywhere.
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@canes4life said in Wellington vs Northland:
I agree, these games need to be moved to a smaller venue. Mixing the matches between JC Stadium and The Hutt Rec would be a great option IMO.
I agree - but these are made for TV, and the pre-fixed TV points at larger stadiums are helpful.
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@chiefy07 yep Nock would have been a massive point difference for us yesterday, whilst he probably wouldn’t have changed the result the margin could have been significantly lower.
Just shows with a team like ours we can’t afford to lose one or two quality players. We have no depth coupled with average selections from the coaches, that’s a concoction for disaster.
Our union seems to be making most of its noise off the field with new facilities etc etc, but we’re still lacking where it counts and that’s building depth and getting our recruitment and retention right. I still hold hope we can be successful like other unions our size, but shit I’d like to be still alive to see it!! And I’m not that old yet.. 😂
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@taniwharugby Pryor should be ready either round 5 or 6 ..would like to see Jonah Mau’u given a crack ,after all he was selected as specialist 7.
I think the coaches have made a massive mistake not picking Matt Matich ,he will give you work rate ,especially on the tackle ,we missed 40 x tackles which just unacceptable..
I would bring Matich into the squad at least as cover for Robinson… -
@steven-harris is he not even in nz yet then?
Yeah I'd have been on the phone to matich last week if I had been dumb enough to leave him out in the first place.
Smacks of arrogance to continue ignoring a player of his class just because it would be admitting you were wrong not picking him to start with.
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That’s all I was told regarding Pryor ,Regardless of where he is at the minute R5 or R6 return ..
Like yourself I am annoyed like hell over the performance or lack of it , not acceptable and after having watched most of the teams ..we are bottom of the barrel by a long way . -
@steven-harris if he has a 3 week ban, and isnt due to play until 5 or 6, means he likely isnt even in NZ yet, I assume judiciary take into account 2 weeks in isolation cant count toward games you miss too.
Last year we started like we did yesterday too, although was v Manawatu, in Whangarei and we pulled out fingers out in the 2nd half and got the W.
Cos based on the way other teams have looked, we will be propping up the table, which we shouldnt be, this is largely the squad that made the final last year. This is where our coaches show thier worth
Any news on Ranger or other injuries?
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The crowds at Sky Stadium are certainly a bit of a problem.
I just can't see moving the games to the other locations as a viable solution.
Porirua is only 4k.
Petone rec only has the grandstand and no embankment. Also, imagine adding another 1000 cars for a decent game day to the Hutt. I live two minutes walk from Petone Rec and traffic on a normal Saturday is bad enough.
Same problem for the Hutt Showgrounds.
My solution would be to drop ticket prices at Sky Stadium to $10. Then do what ever you can to talk Metlink into having trains run on game days. We normally always have bus replacements on Saturday/Sunday's and having trains on and incorporated into the ticket prices would bring people in to watch the games. I will not catch a bus from Petone to go to the game. But, I will jump on the train.
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@southernmann You used to be able to use the busses for free going to and from the game in the past, all you nee3ded to to show your ticket and they did not charge you. Not sure that is still happening but I used to take advantage of it all the I did not have free car park tickets!
Incidentally there was not much of an attendance last year at Jerry Collins Stadium when Wellington played the combined Nelson Bays/Marlborough outfit. Admittedly it was a rather awful day and Wellington were not performing all that well going into the game and were Absolutely Postively Woeful on that particular day.
