NPR

Gumboot wrote: Sun Sep 15, 2024 3:54 am Strong finish by Tasman. Bloody good win considering their lineout was a shambles after Strange went off early.

They lost their two most senior forwards, one of them the skipper, in the first 20 minutes and still came through. The other lock, Shalfoon, had a monster game

Kiwias wrote: Sun Sep 15, 2024 4:04 amThey lost their two most senior forwards, one of them the skipper, in the first 20 minutes and still came through. The other lock, Shalfoon, had a monster game

Yep.

FM, Auckland are w*nk this year. Probably going to get away with this one.

Well that's a get out of jail. Clear high tackle at the death to prevent a try.

Auckland just manage to hold on for the win.

Good to see Tuipulotu back on the field, but tbh I've seen enough from Vaa'i and Darry to suggest it's time for the ABs to move on from him.

Gumboot wrote: Sun Sep 15, 2024 6:25 am Auckland just manage to hold on for the win.

Good to see Tuipulotu back on the field, but tbh I've seen enough from Vaa'i and Darry to suggest it's time for the ABs to move on from him.

Tuipulotu is in that group of former ABs still capable of playing excellent rugby maybe at Super level but definitely at NPC level, and they all contribute as mentors to the next generation. This group includes players like Moody and Crotty at Canterbury, and David Havili at Tasman.

But none of them belong in the ABs anymore

Manawatu notch their first win of the season, 26 - 21 over Southland. The Ref was hopeless in this one to be honest, but it went both ways, so nothing really to complain about except standards. Vocal albeit small crowd in Palmy.

Round 7

Friday

Hawke's Bay vs Taranaki - can the Bay stop their slide, or have the wheels really come off. The Magpies out for revenge for last year's final, picking the home side.

Saturday

Northland vs North Harbour - should be a decent game here, picking Harbour to narrowly win it

Canterbury vs Counties - both teams notching some decent results recently, however Cantabs to run rough shod on this one, all about discipline.

Wellington vs Bay of Plenty - could well be match of the round for mine, picking the Lions to return to their winning ways.

Sunday

Waikato vs Tasman - The Makos might have a hangover, but are yet to lose one, still Waikato on a high, lets go the home side in an upset

Manawatu vs Otago - are the Razorbacks not traveling well this year, should still have too much for Manawatu who already have their win of the season

Auckland vs Southland - the Stags are having one of those seasons, but then so too are the Aucks. In a tight call going Auckland - just vomited in my mouth a little

Wednesday

Taranaki vs North Harbour - going with the bell ringers on this one, have a sneaking suspicion the Naki are boxing clever, or have had a couple of hiccups.

Losing the shield has ripped the heart from the Magpies this season, as Taranaki are smashing them. 56 - 12 with 10m to go

Kiwias wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 8:40 am Losing the shield has ripped the heart from the Magpies this season, as Taranaki are smashing them. 56 - 12 with 10m to go

The wheels have really come off and it's getting embarrassing for the Magpies, Final Score Naki 63 -19

Northland stretching away from N Harbour, 35 - 12 with just over 20m left, while Canterbury 7 - 0 up against Counties after 13mins.

Canterbury up 31 - 0 after 35mins. Really ruthless stuff

Moody starting at THP again this week. Must be injury related.

Counties staging a bit of a comeback here, down 21 - 36 with 10 to go

Canterbury went 36 - 0 in the first half and Counties went 26 - 0 in the second half. Good enough for a bp win to the good guys.

I was reminded of a Bledisloe test in Dunedin at Carisbrook when the same happened -- all the points were scored at the same end, ABs with a lot in the first half and Wobblies with not quite as many in the second half

Wellington defence keeping them in the lead. BoP have had heaps of possession and territory but just can't make the last break.

Lions leading 12 - 8 at HT

Wgn vs BoP 25 - 25 at full time, going into golden point

EDIT: Lions score a try with their first attack

Lions score a great try to win it.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Sep 21, 2024 5:24 am Lions score a great try to win it.

They had missed a similar try with only a couple of minutes of regular time left.

Excellent game coming up today, Waikato vs Tasman

Jethro wrote: Sat Sep 21, 2024 11:49 pm Excellent game coming up today, Waikato vs Tasman

Waikato looking very good while Tasman seem strangely unsettled. Mooloos leading 22 - 10 with 20+ to play

Harum-scarum last 15 with the lead changing 3 times but Tasman sneak it with a last-minute penalty, staying unbeaten for the season

Kiwias wrote: Sun Sep 15, 2024 6:50 am

Gumboot wrote: Sun Sep 15, 2024 6:25 am Auckland just manage to hold on for the win.

Good to see Tuipulotu back on the field, but tbh I've seen enough from Vaa'i and Darry to suggest it's time for the ABs to move on from him.

Tuipulotu is in that group of former ABs still capable of playing excellent rugby maybe at Super level but definitely at NPC level, and they all contribute as mentors to the next generation. This group includes players like Moody and Crotty at Canterbury, and David Havili at Tasman.

But none of them belong in the ABs anymore

That's true of Moody and Crotty; Havili and Tuipulotu are in a different league altogether. If anything, they're in their prime.

Certain Navigator wrote: Sun Sep 22, 2024 8:13 am

Kiwias wrote: Sun Sep 15, 2024 6:50 am

Gumboot wrote: Sun Sep 15, 2024 6:25 am Auckland just manage to hold on for the win.

Good to see Tuipulotu back on the field, but tbh I've seen enough from Vaa'i and Darry to suggest it's time for the ABs to move on from him.

Tuipulotu is in that group of former ABs still capable of playing excellent rugby maybe at Super level but definitely at NPC level, and they all contribute as mentors to the next generation. This group includes players like Moody and Crotty at Canterbury, and David Havili at Tasman.

But none of them belong in the ABs anymore

That's true of Moody and Crotty; Havili and Tuipulotu are in a different league altogether. If anything, they're in their prime.

Have to agree to disagree. I am very happy that Tuipulotu in particular is not in the ABs right now. In the mid-field, I would take ALB and Proctor over Havili, as much as I like Havili.

WTF is happening with Counties vs Wgn??


Counties leading 48 - 0 with 17mins to go.

Steelers humiliating the Lions tonight.

Lions comeback underway.

Kiwias wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 8:40 am Lions comeback underway.

If only there had of been another half an hour so. Final improbable score Counties 51 - 12 Wellington

Half time in two matches saturday

Bay of Plenty 27 - 3 Northland

Hawke's Bay 10 - 18 Auckland - the Big looking toward no points for a month, something fundamentally wrong in Magpie land.

2 JAFAs getting a 10 minute rest. Did a BOD to a Hawkes Bay flanker.

Enzedder wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 3:07 am 2 JAFAs getting a 10 minute rest. Did a BOD to a Hawkes Bay flanker.

All match Enz, they shouldn't have fired them up on lattes prior to the match. The Bay might be able to not shipped any points for ten minutes.

Jethro wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 3:11 am

Enzedder wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 3:07 am 2 JAFAs getting a 10 minute rest. Did a BOD to a Hawkes Bay flanker.

All match Enz, they shouldn't have fired them up on lattes prior to the match. The Bay might be able to not shipped any points for ten minutes.

Normality returns when they come back.

33-22 with a kick to come. 11 minutes to go

Hawkes Bay score and then again at the death. 1 point behind with a kick from wide out to win.

He got it - the Magpies win. 36-35

What a bottle job!

Ah well - back-to-back clutch conversions. Have to be happy for the kid!

Bay of Plenty 53 - 13 Northland

Hawkes Bay 36 - 35 Auckland

Could not find a good feed for the Magpies match. Sounds like I missed a cracker.

Tasman v Otago just underway

Otago leading 21 - 10 early in 2H

Tasman flicked the switch and now lead 31 - 21 with 22 mins left

Otago have gone completely off script and now lead 40 - 31 with only a couple of minutes left.

Kiwias wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 6:11 am Otago have gone completely off script and now lead 40 - 31 with only a couple of minutes left.

Second major upset of the weekend with Otago running out 47-31, Makos first loss of the season, probably needed with finals football looming.

Jethro wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 6:44 am

Kiwias wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 6:11 am Otago have gone completely off script and now lead 40 - 31 with only a couple of minutes left.

Second major upset of the weekend with Otago running out 47-31, Makos first loss of the season, probably needed with finals football looming.

A major surprise both here and with Wellington.