The Silver Fern

@Nepia Geez all we seem to hear about is players leaving, and no one coming. I assume there will be and no names have as yet been released. It's bloody good the business is taken care of off the paddock, but to do the new facilities justice, we have to do the buisness on the paddock otherwise it becomes a bloody big white elephant.

@Stargazer Hikare Forbes was dam good value when he was here. Would only be 30 so he'd be worth while. And let us not forget Hika, he'd jump at the chance. But can Mike Bishop swallow his stupid pride and ask.

@Stargazer I agree with most of what you say. I personally wouldn't mind if Ben May came back. The other prop you mentioned from Wellington is in my opinion a useful player when fit. Kean im not sure about. Edmonds hopefully can play again. Buckman may be back. (Here's hoping). Kaka would be very welcome. McNicholl if he shrugs off injury and concussion problems would also be an asset. Definitely need a midfielder. We seen to be ok at lock with 3 super rugby players. Filipo please don't come back..Hooker assuming Riccitelli has gone to Taranaki is another area. I'm not at all sold on our back up. All in all the wallet needs the moths shaken off it. Oh and please Chris Eaton ( great servant that you've been) please retire. Ellery Wilson is a much better option.

@Stargazer Yeah this is good news. Both Lowe and Emmerson are very good players. I personally like Lowe on the wing. Great to see the young talent from the Schools being contracted as well. Hastings boys, what a year they had. I just hope we do sign some experienced players to not only help these guys come through but also after last year it's badly needed.. Gareth Evans please don't get hurt your badly needed. That No 8 last season in my opinion showed he was a converted sevens player. Good ball skills but at the breakdown and defensively sadly lacking. However hopefully fingers crossed lessons learnt.

@Stargazer Maybe the lack of a camp and season ending injuries . But they knew about that and did bugger all. The new laws? Whos fault is it that Hawkes Bay didnt adapt them for club rugby. Um Hawkes Bays!. Who the hell in the premiership has a big 9 and 10. What a load of bloody dribble. Pull the other one it might play jingle bloody bells. The whole season was poorly planned and recruitment piss poor.

@Stargazer Any whispers rumours who may be signed, or going other than those we know about.

@billsy11 Nepia. Very interested in what you may have to say.

@Magpie_in_aus Mate I think your spot on. I don't like coaches coming and going but in this case I agree. In 2012 we lost a shit load of players and what happened? . Relegated. In 2016 the same thing. Now 1 of 3 things has happened. Either Phillpot and Lee were naive enough to believe what we had was good enough, or Bishop refused to part with the money to bolster the side or the Union simply didn't have the money to do so. I don't believe for a minute the funding wasn't there. So if that's the case were left with 1of the first 2. Either way it's simply unacceptable that this has happened again. It's a shame for all the great players who have worn the Jersey, a shame for all the die hard fans, and a shame that yet again we find ourselves out of the top echolon. Something has to be done and quick . Peter Russell please accept our apologies . Bishop and co swallow your pride and rehire this man at any price.

@Stargazer Waikato. Never easy to beat at Waikato stadium. After there performance against Northland or lack of they will be pumped and ready to go. They may lack some big names but make no mistake when they gain momentum there hard to stop. However there's 2 things I think in Hawkes Bays favour. Firstly they have been playing under the pressure of relegation for sometime Waikato have just come under it. Secondly Hawkes Bay showed last week they can shut teams down and apply continuous pressure. Losing the Shield can also take a little bit to recover from. This game could very well be a contest of wills and who wants it the most. Desperation can be a huge motivator and here's hoping we are the more desperate.

I can remember going to the Showgrounds in 1992 and watching a then first division Hawkes Bay lose 54/10 to 2nd division Manawatu. Whilst that was a while ago there are comparisions. Firstly were premier division and there not. Secondly like 1992 this Bay team on paper should be performing a lot better. What i saw in that first 15 minutes last week was appalling. No midfield defence and gaps so wide you could have driven 2 buses through them. You would hope serious work has been done to rectify this. If not Laumape can and will expose it yet again. What i want to see is the urgency in that last 10 minutes of the Ta$man game replicated for 80.. If and only if we can do that will we be a chance of tipping these guys up.

@Stargazer You aren't the only one mate. I thought we were a chance in this one, but as usual this team has the ability to rip your heart out.

Saturday night's game shapes as a contest that could very produce a spectacle well worth watching. On the one hand Ta$man will bring a pack that likes to bully opposition and provide time and space for Banks Fonotia and Havili to punch holes. They rely a lot on there set pieces especially there scrum and rolling maul. There work at the breakdown is dubious but they exploit it well. Hawkes Bay have a pack more than capable of standing up to this (they showed that against Auckland). The backline if at full strength can create try scoring opportunities, but these opportunities have to be taken. The whole mindset has to be one of being the bully not the bullied. Northland showed the way by forgetting about reputations and getting in there head by tackling hard and constantly. Forget all about bogey teams, the points ladder or any other bullshit, and rip into these guys. As I said Northland showed it and so did Manawatu. Now it's up to us. Stand up be counted and show pride in that Jersey.

@Damo That's why I put it out there. To me teams like Otago Manawatu Wellington Bay of Plenty and on form you'd say North Harbour would and this year have proven themselves against the so called "big boys". I'm hoping someone may have an idea on doing away with the 2 divisions.

Isn't it about time the Mitre10 Cup had a revamp. The idea of a Premiership/Championship to me is dumb. These teams generally play each other anyway in cross ovrer games, so why not just have the 1 division. Some disagree saying because of the length of the season they won't get to play each other, but they don't have too. Anyone got any thoughts ideas on this?

@Steven-Harris Hope they kick them clear over the grandstand. It just doesn't provide a contest at the breakdown and players being smart exploid the law interpretation.

@Steven-Harris Yes I did notice that and I'm with you with the new breakdown laws. For me it takes away the contest and allows more forwards to be standing off thus removing good 1/1 opportunities for the backs. I admired Northlands approach last night and they very well may have given the blue print on how to beat Ta$man. In fact had they not been behind as much at halftime they could have won.

@Stargazer Don't think I agree with Shane Hurndell when he said we've turned a corner. But after watching Northland play Ta$man it showed that they can, with the right tactics be beaten at McLean Park next weekend. Northland showed that Ta$man did not respond well to the pick and go up the middle. If the Bay can replicate that with more intensity Brad Webber and Ihia West may feed of it. They also showed that Fonotia and Havili don't like a defence that is in their face cutting down time and space. Marty Banks showed class as usual but he too showed flaws under pressure. Ta$man are a team used to getting their own way, deny them that constantly and they can crack. I also noticed towards the end a bit of dissension in there ranks.The gestures between Banks and Christie didn't look that assuring. A good break for the Bay and next weekend come out and rip shit and bust.

@Stargazer You are spot on.

@Higgins I totally agree with you in regards to what is happening in the age grades of Bay rugby. We use to be one of countries best in terms of results and quality players produced. Don't get me wrong I'm not anti Mike Bishop. I wouldnt want his job and generally I admire the job he's done. I just don't understand why we haven't bought in players to fill key positions, and let's face it we are being exposed by most sides. Is the relationship between the coaches and CEO strained? There must be something surely that we haven't been privy to. I just don't get it.

@Higgins Mate here's the way I see it. At the start of the season it was clear we were going to lose a truckload of experience in key positions. That was clear very early. In answer to your question NO we do not have players in club rugby that I've seen capable of filling those spots. The only player in club rugby who possibly could is Sam Giddens who played a few years back. To not buy in experience is dumbfounding. Finance I refuse to believe is the issue (Ranfurly Shield era and good crowds last year) make a mockery of that. So what does it come down to? Either very poor planning and recruitment or a CEO who wouldn't release the finance to buy what was needed. Either way it's unacceptable. Simply put to play with the big boys have a big boys mentality not that of a whitebait.