Highlanders versus Blues MATCH THREAD Sunday, August 2

[FujiKiwi]

After DMac’s dismal efforts yesterday I was going to post that kick passing’s day was over. But that worked well.

[Zig]

Is there a glass roof on this stadium?

[the cursed]

After DMac’s dismal efforts yesterday I was going to post that kick passing’s day was over. But that worked well.

thought BB read it and executed it well

[FujiKiwi]

I think it’s some sort of Perspex-like covering?

[Ymx]

I think it’s some sort of Perspex-like covering?

Quite a few seagulls enclosed it would seem

[FujiKiwi]

I think it’s some sort of Perspex-like covering?

Quite a few seagulls enclosed it would seem

Yes. The missus is asking why there are birds inside the stadium.

EDIT: Clan try. Bugger.

[Ymx]

Good game for the neutral.

Though no one’s really neutral.

Win us the trophy

[Zig]

Oh actual seagulls

I thought that might be a euphemism for something.

Fuck me this game is end to end.

[FujiKiwi]

Ash Dixon ballsed up a fierce Clan onslaught. But the Landers are hugely fired up.

[Enzedder]

Well milked ya cheating yappy shit

[FujiKiwi]

Fair enough. Snecky dived though.

[Ymx]

[Ymx]

That was a 10 point swing.

[the cursed]

great reply

[FujiKiwi]

Sweet revenge. Caleb Clarke so powerful.

[Ymx]

Wow!!! Great response

[Ymx]

We are not even half way. Tough game.

Subs will be critical here.

[Zig]

Well deserved.

[FujiKiwi]

The Blues winning the battle of the loosies, I reckon, although Frizzell has had some great moments.

[Ymx]

The blues seem to score at will

[Gumboot]

Ash Dixon ballsed up a fierce Clan onslaught. But the Landers are hugely fired up.

Almost as bad as Nareki's mistake a few weeks ago. When there's an overlap you pass the fucking ball. Simple.

[Kiwias]

Ash Dixon ballsed up a fierce Clan onslaught. But the Landers are hugely fired up.

Almost as bad as Nareki's mistake a few weeks ago. When there's an overlap you pass the fucking ball. Simple.

Draw and pass is one of the first things our junior players learn, at the age of 7 or so.

[the cursed]

great try again.. Clarke having a good game

[Ymx]

[Ymx]

That’s likely the game right there.

FujiKiwi looks like you’ve a mega match thread for next week to start.

Edit: the following week.

[FujiKiwi]

It’s not over yet.

[FujiKiwi]

Great game. Hard luck, Clan. Never backed down.

[Monkey Magic]

I’ve got an outstanding record in predicting these game results. No one can match me at consistently getting it wrong.

Blues by 7.

That means in reality the blues win by 10 right?

Fujikiwinostradamus

[Auckman]

5-2 (really should be 6-2) tries bonus point win is what was required. Still nowhere as clinical as the you-know-whos but the best performance of the season for them. Hopefully the win still puts the Blues in with a chance in the final round. Very happy with the defensive work at the end.

[Gumboot]

Another terrific weekend of Supe footy. Ofa was excellent again and has to be the frontrunner for the ABs starting tighthead spot. I'd have Frizell at 6, too. He's also gone up a level this year.

[Ymx]

Another terrific weekend of Supe footy. Ofa was excellent again and has to be the frontrunner for the ABs starting tighthead spot. I'd have Frizell at 6, too. He's also gone up a level this year.

He’s a beast alright.

[FujiKiwi]

Another terrific weekend of Supe footy. Ofa was excellent again and has to be the frontrunner for the ABs starting tighthead spot. I'd have Frizell at 6, too. He's also gone up a level this year.

It depends if you want a brutal, X Factor 6 like Frizell, or a turnover wizard like Boshier. Horses for courses, maybe.

[Gumboot]

Another terrific weekend of Supe footy. Ofa was excellent again and has to be the frontrunner for the ABs starting tighthead spot. I'd have Frizell at 6, too. He's also gone up a level this year.

It depends if you want a brutal, X Factor 6 like Frizell, or a turnover wizard like Boshier. Horses for courses, maybe.

I'd take Frizell most days if it was just between the two of them. Boshier's having another great season but is he more a 7 playing at 6?

[FujiKiwi]

Another terrific weekend of Supe footy. Ofa was excellent again and has to be the frontrunner for the ABs starting tighthead spot. I'd have Frizell at 6, too. He's also gone up a level this year.

It depends if you want a brutal, X Factor 6 like Frizell, or a turnover wizard like Boshier. Horses for courses, maybe.

I'd take Frizell most days if it was just between the two of them. Boshier's having another great season but is he more a 7 playing at 6?

I guess Frizell has more strings to his bow.

[ScarfaceClaw]

We need to talk about that Snecky dive. That blues intercept try should never have been overturned.

[FujiKiwi]

I thought it was fair enough. Big Karl was in the way and Snecky's theatrics drew attention to it. Karl was in the wrong place, and Snecky gets the Oscar.

[ScarfaceClaw]

I thought it was fair enough. Big Karl was in the way and Snecky's theatrics drew attention to it. Karl was in the wrong place, and Snecky gets the Oscar.

Nah. Snecky started going even before any contact was made. He’s a brilliant player but he needs to cut out that milking penalty shite.

[FujiKiwi]

I know Snecky dived, but the penalty was for Tu'inukuafe being where he was, which was offside.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

I know Snecky dived, but the penalty was for Tu'inukuafe being where he was, which was offside.

I thought Dalton was miles offside too.

[JM2K6]

Players are allowed to be offside if they're making an effort not to interfere with play, otherwise you'd be screwed at every ruck. Smith dived and threw the ball away, he saw the player (who immediately hit the deck to not intefere with play) and tried to run over him to get deliberately tripped but even then just dived first. It was really disappointing seeing him benefit from that, it's not something that referees should be encouraging. Tu'inukuafe did the right thing and got punished by a cheating opponent.

Another good game, Barrett's pretty showbiz at 10, some great decision making and reactions to defensive positioning makes a real difference. Glad Clarke had a good game, but it's weird just how quiet Telea's been since the end of SR proper. Blues look a well rounded team, good scrum, good lock pairing, lethal breakdown experts in the backrow, some heavy carrying, good captaincy, and a dangerous backline. Christie's so much better than the other 9s they have, too.

It is odd how bad lineouts can be in this competition, though. Never seen so many big screwups, and today's game was probably one of the better recent matches for throwing.