Hawke's Bay v Northland
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FT: Magpies 25 - 16 Northland
Slightly messy game with lots of handling errors. The drizzle probably had a big role in that, but also the new combos with so many new players on the field. To me, outstanding for the Magpies were Gareth Evans in the pack and Harry Godfrey in the backs. I can see a big future for the young lad! Funaki's impact off the bench was massive, and Ili and Lowe also settled the sometimes slightly rattling defence in the backs.
Lots of pinball moments in this game. Not a high quality game, but still entertaining enough.
Only injury worry seems to be Joe 'Apikotoa. Hope he'll be okay for the semi v Ta$man on Saturday (4.35pm).
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Didn't watch...yep, that's where I'm at.
Watched the highlights, and glad I didn't.
So most of the season we kick for the corner when we should have taken points, in a game that means Jack shit with players wanting to impress in a rare start, we kick for points?
Seriously, WTF.
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@taniwharugby said in Hawke's Bay v Northland:
Didn't watch...yep, that's where I'm at.
Watched the highlights, and glad I didn't.
So most of the season we kick for the corner when we should have taken points, in a game that means Jack shit with players wanting to impress in a rare start, we kick for points?
Seriously, WTF.
The worst thing was when we were 2 metres out from the line, to the right of the post. Nock takes a quick tap and then throws a looped pass over a bunch of guys just standing there to the left where we have only 1 player standing. Trouble is he throws it behind him and they have 3 players on defence. We rushed for no reason.
The penalty options were fine for me. Ben Tou couldn’t hit the side of a barn with his throwing. Twice we kicked for sideline first half - once he threw a big not straight, the other time he threw way over the top. The rest of the time HB picked it off. The first half scrums were the same with Ben being popped. They were terrible. The penalties kept us in the game.
In the second half we had every opportunity to win the game with new front row. But his team despite having some good players, just doesn’t know how to win. You see it in the frustration of players taking poor options. The bones of a good team are there we just need fitness, coaching, on field leadership.
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@kev we knew Tou couldn't hit the side of a barn before yesterday...and TBF Hohaia struggled at Kamo too, still think shit options in a game that means nothing...take a scrum try some moves...assuming they had some.
I said earlier, Atkins from Wellsford looked much fitter this year than previously, good ball runner, nice soft skills and can throw...inthink Robinson from the Sharks is another who gets the key role right.
Sadly that call re Nock sums up so much for this team, no one seems to have a clue what anyone else is doing, not even reading the same book let alone on same page...lack of awareness, confidence in themselves and those around them...starts off the park.
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@taniwharugby said in Hawke's Bay v Northland:
@kev we knew Tou couldn't hit the side of a barn before yesterday...and TBF Hohaia struggled at Kamo too, still think shit options in a game that means nothing...take a scrum try some moves...assuming they had some.
I said earlier, Atkins from Wellsford looked much fitter this year than previously, good ball runner, nice soft skills and can throw...inthink Robinson from the Sharks is another who gets the key role right.
Sadly that call re Nock sums up so much for this team, no one seems to have a clue what anyone else is doing, not even reading the same book let alone on same page...lack of confidence in themselves and those around them...starts off the park.
Mason Hohaia was just so much better. Looked very good when he came on. Why did they start with Tou? Frankly anything that involved our lineout first half was a disaster. Kicks were the right option in that circumstance. But understand what you are saying.
Generally, what I want from the team too is take the right options. Take the penalties if lineout is not working, stay in the grind. Win tough. Too often we take low % plays. I thought Johnny Cooper controlled game well ( goal kicking was very good ) but then fell away a little at the end. Low % kick pass play when we had advantage once, and then didn’t quite get territory towards the end with kicking but backline has momentum when he plays.
Te Nana was very good, Brady Rush was mixed. Dropped a beautiful cutout pass from Blake Hohaia and looked like a 7s player with his option taking. That is just about time on the park for him.
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@taniwharugby our scrum was demolished first half. Really bad.
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@kev conditioning plays a big factor in decision making, particularly as the game goes on.
I like Uluilakepa and what he brings, but look at the size of the guy, sure he needs to manage himself but the fact our coaches let that happen is a joke, look at Tou, barely any better.
So many of our guys look unfit.
Davies looks OK given at the start of the year he wasn't even looking to play rugby, he made a good fist of it...but what does this say for our development?
Basically a shambles, a decent 40 mins v Waikato, rest of the season pretty shit, again.
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@taniwharugby this year has been so bad. For the supporters like us who went 3 long seasons without a win, we saw through last years luck and new nothing had changed. The CEO and Board need to look very closely at what we are doing. Northland Rugby will have many long term ambitions - around keeping rugby alive in our communities and developing age grade and women’s rugby. The shop front though is still the men’s side and they have failed badly again. There is no reason with the number of young players we have now and our closeness to Auckand that we shouldn’t be building a competitive side and competing / winning the large % of games. Turning up with so many players unfit and below standard is just unacceptable. Were we so excited about this new facility that we forgot what it was being built for?
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@taniwharugby said in Hawke's Bay v Northland:
@kev conditioning plays a big factor in decision making, particularly as the game goes on.
So many of our guys look unfit.
Basically a shambles, a decent 40 mins v Waikato, rest of the season pretty shit, again.
This.
