@Higgins show me a better prop and 2nd 5 in the Hurricanes zone than those two?
They also had a good 6, winger and fullback. Not saying they were better than Napiers but in the small sample we saw they looked outstanding. Lets not forget this team also beat Fielding and held them to 12 points i think
What a great final. Yes, might be a bit old now seeing Hamilton in the final and winning but they are so good to watch. Napier, unlucky. Some absolute guns in that team but i think Hamilton have much better depth and it showed.
Also feel for St Pats Silverstream who drew and lost on tries to Napier only 2 weeks earlier. That one team alone shows that the Wellington comp could be coming back from extinction. They should have a number of boys pushing for higher honors, starting with the prop and big 2nd 5.
@Stargazer St Bedes with a huge win. Awesome.
Watched the WC vs St Pats game. For a small team WC can hold their own. Stream forwards dominant again whilst their backs look rudderless without a capable 1st 5. Wingers were awful. WC played hard and could have won if not for kicking away the pill.
Watched the two wellington games - St Pats vs NP Boys and Mana vs St Bernards.
Stream will rue missed chances, mistakes and poor play from the starting 1st 5. The 2nd 5 and lock for NP Boys were quite impressive and will go a long way to helping this team succeed. Streams front row and outside backs looked good. Once again, 10 for stream was woeful. At one stage attempted a chip 5m out from the opposition try line. When subs were made stream looked even better. Reserve halfback was solid and moving the 15 to 1st 5 paid dividends. Reserve prop was awesome.
Bernards were too clinical for a lackluster Mana. The 7 and 15 for Bernards were terrific in poor conditions. Manas tackled everything but otherwise the team played poorly. Really missing the 9, 10 and 15 they had last year
@Bovidae has he been injured?
@Stargazer give Lindisfarne my best wishes but theyre in for a long day. Silverstream had last weekend off so should be fresh and seemingly healthy.
@Stargazer not alot to get excited about. Maybe the Marlborough V Nelson or St Pats V NP Boys. I expect Nelson to get up comfortably but might take awhile to break down Marlborough. Stream could continue to cement their place as Wellingtons only hope. NP Boys will come out firing after losing in 2021
@Stargazer St Peters making a mockery of Kings, who arguably have the best player in the country. Is this a sign of things to come for both teams?
@Higgins i watched that Hastings game on Sideline. Stream had all the ball and territory in 2nd half too. Considering what Hastings then went on to do the next week vs Scots and what theyd do to alot of the better schools in NZ, id say Stream are on the up. Still lacking in the halves but Emmanuel at 2nd 5 is super talented. Their outside backs looked different to a week ago vs GBHS, missing the jinky fullback and winger. Their forwards are rock solid on defence. I expect them to see off stiff competiton from Scots and maybe Rongotai this year
@Stargazer well well well....
That Rotorua game was awesome. At Johns looked the better side at times. Good free flowing footy from both teams.
St Pats tripping up Palmy Boys, what an upset. Is this the year wellington finally has a decent team?
I hear you both. I too read his articles but often am left scratching my head. Example, his teams of the week. There were some hugle impressive scores and individual players last weekend and then i see some of his picks for team of the week and i just laugh. Picking players from Wellington College and St Pats Town, both of whom got thumped and looked awful (i watched both games) stinks of favouritism.
Does anyone use the hs top 200 page as a means to see who the best players are?
Personally i think its average and to big a job for one guy. Dont get me wrong, he does well for someone who just wants to help the boys but the rankings are all over the show
@Higgins Hastings look like men theyre that big. Not just big, skillful and quick right across the park. Watched the game yesterday and last week in Wellington. Front row is outstanding and the inside backs look calm and composed.
St Pats Stream look like they could push a couple of these better teams. They blew a number of chances yesterday and still put 39 on GBHS. They have a prop whose on the verge of pulling on a NZ schools jersey i believe and their 2nd 5 looks very useful. Their halfbacks and 10 look to be letting this side down with some poor passing and lack of control. The outside backs looked deadly in the 2nd half, scoring all their tries i believe - will watch the replay.
@Stargazer i expect Napier to put 30+ on Scots. Hard to see any Wellington team competing with them, Hastings or Palmy
@Stargazer st Johns Hastings and Tauranaga boys dark horses this year?
Good to see a wellington get up finally. Watched all 4 games. St Pats town and Wellington Coll look out of their depth. Scots were down a few injuries so i take that score with a grain of salt. Stream played average and still won easy
@Higgins that video shows his attack is awesome but his defence is awful. 10s these days need to do both
@Higgins theres a few 1st 5s in Wellington showing out at the moment. Rongotai have a good year 13 at 10. Bernards have a league kid playing 1st 5 who goes well. Scots bought a kid in from up north or Aussie i hear. Mana college might have the best of the bunch, the young kid with the step and crisp pass. Pats have a good left footer running the cutter. So many options
@Stargazer
Town look weak and in a rebuild. Have good size but lack cohesion. Napier will be one of the best in the country and dont really see any team in Wellington pushing them.
WC look to be building slowly but maybe a year past their best. Rongotai are on the rise and will trip up one of these top 4 this season. Stream look strong again with a hefty looking forward pack and skillful backs. Scots are Scots. Recruit. Recruit. Recruit.
Scots V Palmy Boys
Stream V Hastings
These are two bangers to kick off the weekend. Hopefully Scots have all their players healthy and should push Palmy boys. Stream look to be a game or two away from being in tip top shape but could scare Hastings
Games this weekend?