Northland v Manawatu
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Solid win, got the job done, hope no other injuries, and we can select from a full squad
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@Chiefy07 said in Northland v Manawatu:
Hopefully the scrum says dominant with the forward changes. Not a fan of Konia but think it's a good thing we've cleared the bench given how weak Manawatu have been and we have played 3 games in 8 days.
Manawatu only this close thanks to a poor decision from officials. Other than that they've looked like a team that is still winless
Yes - bench players did well. Ranger so good over the ball.
Their scrum a lot better in 2nd half but, so not a weapon for us.
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MOTM poll v Manawatu
https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/topic/5617/northland-motm-v-manawatu
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What to say about that?
Well, we got the job done.
Aside from maybe 15 mins in the 2nd spell, we were in control of that game and never really looked like losing.
Excuse the pun, but throwing to lineouts is still Moulds' achilles heel! Fantastic player elsewhere, strong scrummager, good defender, good runner, but gee his throwing has always held the big fella back!
Bit of a shit way to bow out of the season too, hope it isnt as bad as it sounded...
Our scrum, goes from dominant, to not, to dominant, to parity, surely something not quite right with us, IMO it comes back to fitness issues, affecting concentration.
Man I am loving Rob Rush this year, and to think, if Tom had been fit, we'd barely have seen him! All aggression and energy, pretty accurate with it too, great lineout option as well, have to think a couple of super teams have thier eye on him.
Matt Matich, unashamed fanboy here, this guy has been one of our best for the past 5+? years (although not last year...) huge motor, makes his tackles, gets around the park, pressures the breakdown and largely makes the right decisions, Northland have been lucky to have his services for so long.
Well done to Tua on his 50 (speaking of fiddy, @fidz71 spotted you on camera there) Mau'u on his blazer game.
I wont go on too much, given we have another game next week, which is gonna be a MASSIVE step up, hopefully we will get Ofa for it too, as I assume Canterbury will have thier ABs back as well.
We need to go back to those early rounds where our game was built on defence, sure we didnt score much, but the opposition were scoring less, we were well in the game v Canterbury at halftime, and TBH it was the 2nd half of that game that triggered our mid-season collapse.
Anyway you slice it, this seaosn is a massive step up on 2021.
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@taniwharugby Rob Rush has signed a 2 year deal with the Blues, turned down a 3 year deal with the Highlanders
Sam Nock signed a 2 year extension with the Blues. -
@Steven-Harris great news for Rush, very surprised on Nock.
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@Steven-Harris said in Northland v Manawatu:
@taniwharugby Rob Rush has signed a 2 year deal with the Blues, turned down a 3 year deal with the Highlanders
Sam Nock signed a 2 year extension with the Blues.Who has been let go from the Blues? or moved somewhere else from the 2022 squad.
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@Chris good question ,i do wonder if either Cameron Suafua or Taine Plumtree have moved on
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@Steven-Harris said in Northland v Manawatu:
good question ,i do wonder if either Cameron Suafua or Taine Plumtree have moved on
The Blues have a few lock/loosies and two locks are leaving. If someone like Robinson, Tucker, Suafoa is primarily seen as a lock next year then there’s room for Rush
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Excellent news for Rush, thoroughly deserved. Very surprised with Nocks extension. Hopefully he has a reset over the off-season and comes back afresh and plays like we know he can.
I’d say the Blues will be quite concerned with Tom Robinsons continued absence from what I’m assuming are concussion symptoms.. got to be only a knock away from calling it quits?
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@Duluth jot to mention there has to be concern for Tom to be able to keep playing.
I assume (hope) they have just written this season off for him and let him stay away from contact to give him every chance to be right for super rugby...
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@Duluth said in Northland v Manawatu:
@Steven-Harris said in Northland v Manawatu:
good question ,i do wonder if either Cameron Suafua or Taine Plumtree have moved on
The Blues have a few lock/loosies and two locks are leaving. If someone like Robinson, Tucker, Suafoa is primarily seen as a lock next year then there’s room for Rush
Is Tucker not already classed as a lock? if Robinson or Suafua are seen as lock cover I see the room for Rush.
Seems top heavy in the Lf's and a bit light at lock for me. -
From a game time point of view Rush might've been better going to the Highlanders. Hard to go past a successful franchise and being only 2.5 hours drive down the road though...
Good on him.
Good for Nock too. Been out of form this year but still a very talented player.
Would think Jared Adams would be another one that is on the Super Rugby teams radar and possibly even Coree TeWhata Colley.
His time has probably been and gone at that level but still think Macilai would be a good option at that level if he could stay injury free
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These were the locks and loose forwards initially named with full squad positions:
Sam Darry
Josh Goodhue
Taine Plumtree
Luke Romano
Cameron Suafoa
James TuckerAdrian Choat
Akira Ioane
Dalton Papalii
Tom Robinson
Anton Segner
Hoskins SotutuGoodhue and Romano are gone, so Rob Rush and Patrick Tuipulotu could be the replacements, with Robinson reclassified as a lock.
I'd prefer them to, and would have thought they would, sign another specialist lock. So maybe Plumtree or Suafoa are moving on?
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@Tim said in Northland v Manawatu:
These were the locks and loose forwards initially named with full squad positions:
Sam Darry
Josh Goodhue
Taine Plumtree
Luke Romano
Cameron Suafoa
James TuckerAdrian Choat
Akira Ioane
Dalton Papalii
Tom Robinson
Anton Segner
Hoskins SotutuGoodhue and Romano are gone, so Rob Rush and Patrick Tuipulotu could be the replacements, with Robinson reclassified as a lock.
I'd prefer them to, and would have thought they would, sign another specialist lock. So maybe Plumtree or Suafoa are moving on?
Signing another Lock looks safer to me, Robinson has concussion issues Patty T has a neck injury which must be a worry.
If Tucker or Darry went down then you could get exposed.
Makes more sense that Plumtree or Suafoa are moving on.
