Waratahs v Highlanders

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="565488" data-time="1458293577">Tahs need Foley back in the worst way. Beale aint up to it at 10 - even as a stopgap. They never gave Heggarty a proper crack and he's crook for the season now.</blockquote>
 
Guy blows his knee out in round 2. Not much chance. 
Holloway. Not bad. 23.

pukunui

Watched this game by fast forwarding all the stoppages because I can't stand the Aussie comm's or the Waratahs for that matter.
Man the Highlanders are a pleasure to watch at times.
I was yelling at the ref at times particularly in the second half but hopefully the focus won't all be on him.
Tongia looked the goods and faddes had another decent game.
Wouldn't be surprised to see E. Dixon in the ABs squad this year if he keeps it up.
I must have fast forwarded the bit where it happened so may be off the mark but why the hell do they keep dragging Sopoanga? That 11 year old replacement offers no impact what so ever and they have turned to shit a few times this season when it has happened (not necessarily as a direct result mind you).
 
p.s I still hate the new BP system. If you are trying to reward attacking play and the Highlanders don't get a reward for THAT. Then scrap the whole fucking thing.

Bones

I guess Parker is all we've got until Banks is back, I assume he's injured? Got to give Parker game time and to be fair while I cringe when he comes on, he's often performed above expectations and can be fairly handy kicking at goal.

pukunui

Yeah he is an adequate replacement. But I don't see the need to drag Lima every week, especially with the game in the balance.
Think i read somewhere that Banks is on the injured list.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="565579" data-time="1458300787">
p.s I still hate the new BP system. If you are trying to reward attacking play and the Highlanders don't get a reward for THAT. Then scrap the whole fucking thing.</blockquote>
 
Yeah, but it's not all about attack. They scored a heap of points then let a heap in. They get 4 points, the Tahs get 1. They get the win they deserved, away from home, which is nothing to sniff at.

ACT Crusader

I actually like the BP system. Landers needed to keep playing if they really wanted that BP. Agree with Nick, 4 points in Sydney is very good to walk away with.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="565616" data-time="1458303595">
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Yeah he is an adequate replacement. But I don't see the need to drag Lima every week, especially with the game in the balance.
Think i read somewhere that Banks is on the injured list.
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And then what happens when Sopoaga gets injured? Especially as up until last season he was pretty injury prone. We'd have an 11 year old out there without any experience at all, let alone the experience he's getting trying to still steer the team around the handle the pressure when under the kosh in the last few minutes.

pukunui

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="565674" data-time="1458305809">
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And then what happens when Sopoaga gets injured? Especially as up until last season he was pretty injury prone. We'd have an 11 year old out there without any experience at all, let alone the experience he's getting trying to still steer the team around the handle the pressure when under the kosh in the last few minutes.
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 Every week though? why aren't they doing this in other positions? Why not drag A Smith to give the 3rd choice 9 a run to get experience while Tanaka is injured? If it's really about experience why not give him a start against the weaker sides rather than risking it in tight situations when Lima has been playing well?
 
Still don't like the new BP system no matter how you dress it. It's always been about promoting attacking play. Now it doesn't to the same extent.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="565681" data-time="1458308845">
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 Every week though? why aren't they doing this in other positions? Why not drag A Smith to give the 3rd choice 9 a run to get experience while Tanaka is injured? If it's really about experience why not give him a start against the weaker sides rather than risking it in tight situations when Lima has been playing well?
 
Still don't like the new BP system no matter how you dress it. It's always been about promoting attacking play. Now it doesn't to the same extent.
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Well Smith can go a whole game for one, and two, he doesn't break as easy as Lima.

pukunui

So Lima can't go the 80?

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="565684" data-time="1458310390">
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So Lima can't go the 80?
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Who knows - but he's not been injured out of a side yet huh. I'd prefer him there for 60-70 than not at all.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="565681" data-time="1458308845">
Still don't like the new BP system no matter how you dress it. It's always been about promoting attacking play. Now it doesn't to the same extent.</blockquote>
 
I like it. Stops teams with great attack but poor defence picking up lots of BP in defeat and getting into the playoffs ahead of teams that won more games.

taniwharugby

Lucky I learnt how to take a %multi on my all favourites bet yesterday....

kiwiinmelb

I like the new bonus system , like has been said in the old days , you could have scores like 38 - 35 , both teams walking away with a bonus point , was it good attack or shit defense or a bit of both ? 
 
The new system reminds teams to stay accountable with their defense , which is what 50 % of the game is about , 
 
It rewards teams who get both areas of their game right , not just one

Bones

Just watched the game. What that fuck was that last try to the tahs? How on earth did the TMO see a try there? And why was the ref rushing the Highlanders on the last couple of penalties?
 
Anyway, great to watch, Highlanders just so technically accurate for the most part. Sopoaga just keeps getting better and better, really impressive tonight - especially in defence. Put in quite a few important tackles and got into good positions.
 
Thompson looked handy, did a very good job, as did Tongia.
 
Bloody handy loosies this year too, not missing Nasty or Hardie at all.

Crash

Whilst I agree the officiating wasn't the best in that last 2o mins, I think the Landers pretty much shut up shop after scoring that 4th try.
Looking at the stats, the Landers were were on the wrong end of nearly all of them, it is amazing they actually walked away with the victory. 
Think some of the more amazing stats were Tahs 220 passes to Landers 99, Tahs 24 offloads to Landers 8, Tahs 157 Carries to Landers 86 and in defence
Tahs 18 Missed Tackles to Landers 30, Tahs 56 Tackles Made to Landers 140. Those are some head-scratching stats. . 
Thought the big winners were the Landers back row of Elliott, Squire and Christie - bloody hard-working or what. Out-played the much-vaunted Tahs back row by some margin. Landers just need to keep the focus for the entire 80.
But bloody well done - as said earlier coming away from Sydney with a win and 4 points in the bag, is huge and certainly not to be underestimated.

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="565707" data-time="1458332132">
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Just watched the game. What that fuck was that last try to the tahs? How on earth did the TMO see a try there? And why was the ref rushing the Highlanders on the last couple of penalties?
 
Anyway, great to watch, Highlanders just so technically accurate for the most part. Sopoaga just keeps getting better and better, really impressive tonight - especially in defence. Put in quite a few important tackles and got into good positions.
 
Thompson looked handy, did a very good job, as did Tongia.
 
Bloody handy loosies this year too, not missing Nasty or Hardie at all.
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Highlanders were clearly time wasting. I think they were lucky to get a warning.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="565710" data-time="1458334491">Highlanders were clearly time wasting. I think they were lucky to get a warning.</blockquote>
Yeah...nah. Compare that to any other penalty throughout the match. Clearly not time time wasting.

Siam

Yep.The ref seemed to be influenced by the crowd and match situation. 
Threatening to reverse penalties is bollocks. Far better to stop the clock. Fundamentally you can't referee the last 5 minutes differently to the first 5. Similarly when Landers shut up shop and had advantage one of the tahs commited a most blatant professional foul to force the penaltywith sole intention of getting a lineout. Apparently according to laws professional fouls are cardable 
Blaming a ref for a loss might be not on but critiquing his performance is a must.

Frank

I wonder if the Highlanders were to win the title again would Joseph go ahead of Rennie in the pecking order.
 
Regardless, it would be great to see him in the AB set-up .
Role - Hard-Ass Forwards Coach.

The Silver Fern

Waratahs v Highlanders