NZ North vs South Game Thread

[JPNZ]

The North v South game scheduled for September 5 remains in doubt after the government announced that Auckland will stay at Covid-19 alert 3 until Sunday night, while the rest of New Zealand will remain at alert level 2 until September 6.

New Zealand Rugby postponed the game last week after it was unable to get exemptions for 14 Auckland-based players in the North squad, as well as five support staff, to leave the city to prepare for a game that was originally scheduled for August 29. However, NZ Rugby didn’t receive the news it was looking for on Monday after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the extension in alert levels for both Auckland and the rest of the country.

NZ Rugby will now have to apply again for exemptions for the players to leave Auckland to prepare for a game that will, at best, be played behind closed doors.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

The North v South game scheduled for September 5 remains in doubt after the government announced that Auckland will stay at Covid-19 alert 3 until Sunday night, while the rest of New Zealand will remain at alert level 2 until September 6.

New Zealand Rugby postponed the game last week after it was unable to get exemptions for 14 Auckland-based players in the North squad, as well as five support staff, to leave the city to prepare for a game that was originally scheduled for August 29. However, NZ Rugby didn’t receive the news it was looking for on Monday after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the extension in alert levels for both Auckland and the rest of the country.

NZ Rugby will now have to apply again for exemptions for the players to leave Auckland to prepare for a game that will, at best, be played behind closed doors.

Looks like the NZRU may need to eat a large sized shit sandwich served on rye with this one.

[Enzedder]

Try again after Mitre10 Cup?

[Carter's Choice]

Does NZR have a plan in case the situation in Auckland stays the same? The NRL put all their players in quarantine bubbles which allowed them to start playing when the rest of Australia was still under harsh lock-downs. What is NZR doing? Because it looks like the situation in Auckland isn't necessarily going to improve. So does the Mitre 10 Cup get cancelled as well because three Auckland based teams are stuck in Auckland and NZR never bothered to come up with a plan B?

[JPNZ]

NZR is making a call on this game today.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was canned tbh

[Gumboot]

NZR is making a call on this game today.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was canned tbh

Yeah, I think you're right The decision's been delayed again till tomorrow.

[stemoc]

french rugby is pulling its card outs to prevent fiji from fielding a team at the upcoming 8N, if that happens, a slot might open and maybe NZ can get in the competition ..as it stands, nz have a boring schedule this year ....so if NZRU has this in mind, the North vs south derby needs to go soon..

[JPNZ]

Yea looking unlikely now which is sad as they just found the loving cup, the original North vs South Trophy

One of New Zealand’s oldest rugby mysteries has been solved after a nearly century-old trophy was found deep in the bowels of Eden Park.

The Loving Cup was traditionally awarded to the winner of the annual North v South game, a longstanding rugby union fixture between the North Island and South Island teams. The trophy had been lost in the archives since 1932.

Following publication of a Stuff article about amateur historian Ian St George’s search for the cup, Eden Park facilities assistant Michael Brown found the trophy in storage.

“It was always there but I didn’t click how important it was until I saw the article,” Brown said. “We knew it was an object of significance, but we’ve got the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby World Cups and the Ranfurly Shield, and it has just slipped through the cracks.

“Eden Park is a rabbit warren. I’ve been here for four years and yesterday I found a new room. There are probably others I still don’t know about.”

Part of the reason the trophy hadn’t been recognised was that staff assumed the cup and base did not belong together.

[JPNZ]

[JPNZ]

Its decided, Wellington with no fans next Saturday.

The North v South match has been switched to Wellington on September 5, and will be played in front of no spectators.

The news follows the Government's announcement this week on Covid-19 alert levels, with Auckland remaining at level 3 until this Sunday night and Wellington and the rest of the country to remain at level 2 until September 6.

[Carter's Choice]

Will Auckland based players be able to travel?

[Guy Smiley]

Will Auckland based players be able to travel?

I guess so. Auckland will move from Level III to Level II in line with the rest of the country at midnight on Sunday.

[JPNZ]

Will Auckland based players be able to travel?

Yes, squads assembling after auckland moves to level 2

[Gumboot]

Its decided, Wellington with no fans next Saturday.

The North v South match has been switched to Wellington on September 5, and will be played in front of no spectators.

The news follows the Government's announcement this week on Covid-19 alert levels, with Auckland remaining at level 3 until this Sunday night and Wellington and the rest of the country to remain at level 2 until September 6.

Well that's a nice surprise. Shame there won't be a crowd, but tbh I thought this game was toast.

[Monkey Magic]

Glad it still being played - read Nzr miss out on about 1 million bucks with no crowd.

Should we be trying to drum up some sort of spite towards the backward southerners... like Goodhue and Read...

[stemoc]

is it this weekend and so, what day and time?

[Gumboot]

is it this weekend and so, what day and time?

The Steinlager North v South match will be played behind closed doors at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday the 5th of September. Kick off is at 7:10pm and the match will be played live on Sky Sport.

https://www.allblacks.com/news/steinlag ... th-update/

[Ymx]

Can the OP or a mod update the first post to have match date and time ?

Cheers

[JPNZ]

Can the OP or a mod update the first post to have match date and time ?

Cheers

Done, I'll update again when teams are named Thursday

NZ TAB
North = $1.64 - South $2.17

[Ymx]

Can the OP or a mod update the first post to have match date and time ?

Cheers

Done, I'll update again when teams are named Thursday

NZ TAB
North = $1.64 - South $2.17

[Carter's Choice]

On paper South shouldn't be close to North. Would Tom Sanders be anywhere near the North starting XV? In saying that their improved combinations and understanding should help, as they're generally from Crusaders or Highlanders. As B&I Lions fans have told us for decades, combinations are far more important than raw talent, hence why the Lions have generally struggled against SH opposition despite being drawn from the best players of four tier 1 Rugby nations.

[Jb1981]

The South will be fielding the top two attacking talents (based solely on defenders beaten) from Super Rugby Aotearoa.



Laumape’s numbers are of course inflated by the game he repeatedly had his way with Beauden Barrett.

[JPNZ]

I'm picking South in this, 5 days of training and as AC said most of the Crusaders will be playing. TAB has it wrong imho

[Ted.]

The South will be fielding the top two attacking talents (based solely on defenders beaten) from Super Rugby Aotearoa.



Laumape’s numbers are of course inflated by the game he repeatedly had his way with Beauden Barrett.

Playing behind a rolls royce pack, innit.

[stemoc]

Rugby will never be the same now .... #RIP :(

[stemoc]

can't wait!! :)

[Jb1981]

The South will be fielding the top two attacking talents (based solely on defenders beaten) from Super Rugby Aotearoa.



Laumape’s numbers are of course inflated by the game he repeatedly had his way with Beauden Barrett.

Playing behind a rolls royce pack, innit.

But even F1 cars crash if the driver is no good.

[Carter's Choice]

Would love NZR to name the match day XXIII's so we can start to get some pre-match hype happening. Why wouldn't they have named the teams earlier in the week given they've had literally weeks to prepare for this and no other pro-level Rugby has been played in NZ for weeks?

[Guy Smiley]

Who’s coaching?

[Jb1981]

Plumtree and McLeod are coaching the North and Brad Mooar and Greg Feek the South.

[Carter's Choice]

Who’s coaching?

Ian Foster's minions. John Plumtree is coaching the North and Brad Mooar the South. Apparently Ian Foster is overseeing them both.

[Jb1981]

Who’s coaching?

Ian Foster's minions. John Plumtree is coaching the North and Brad Mooar the South. Apparently Ian Foster is overseeing them both.

He’s an ideas man. Bad ideas probably, but an ideas man nonetheless.

[Guy Smiley]

Who’s coaching?

Ian Foster's minions. John Plumtree is coaching the North and Brad Mooar the South. Apparently Ian Foster is overseeing them both.

So no matter which team wins, he’ll be responsible for a loss.

[stemoc]

its hilarious that Razor was not even considered for the south team coaching gig.. why the FUCK does NZRU hate him so much? he is the best coach not just in NZ but On the planet right now, any CLUB or international team will have him in their coaching team in a heartbeat.. the arrogance of NZ rugby fans is just mirrored by the stupidity of their rugby union body.

[Carter's Choice]

its hilarious that Razor was not even considered for the south team coaching gig.. why the FUCK does NZRU hate him so much? he is the best coach not just in NZ but On the planet right now, any CLUB or international team will have him in their coaching team in a heartbeat.. the arrogance of NZ rugby fans is just mirrored by the stupidity of their rugby union body.

I disagree. Whilst I badly wanted Roberston to get the AB coaching job, and I think he's clearly a better coach than Foste, I can see why Foster wants his assistants to coach the two teams in this game. It makes sense as an game marketed as an AB trial that the AB coaches are involved. And tbf it will be probably be the only game that the AB coaches are involved with in 2020.

[stemoc]

i hope razor comes to this sense and does what Joseph did, pick a shit team and make them great..

[murdoch]

My guesses

North:
Tu'inukuafe , Aumua, Tuungafasi
Tuipulotu, Scrafton
Boshier, Savea, Sotutu

Smith, Barrett
Anton LB, Ioane
Clarke, Reece, McKenzie

Eklund, Fidow, Ta'avao, Vaa'i, Papalii
Perenara, Hunt, Umaga-Jensen

South:
Moody, Taylor, Laulala
Whitelock , Dunshea
Frizell, Christie, Sanders

Weber, Mo'unga
Tomkinson , Goodhue
Bridge, Jordan, Barrett

Coltman, Hodgman, Lomax, MSR, Hunt
Drummond, Ioane, Ennor

[JPNZ]

Teams named OP updated

NORTH: Forwards: 1. Karl Tu'inukuafe 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Akira Ioane, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Hoskins Sotutu. Backs: 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Damian McKenzie.

Replacements: 16. Ash Dixon, 17. Ayden Johnstone, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Scott Scrafton, 20. Dalton Papalii, 21. Aaron Smith, 22. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23. Mitchell Hunt.

SOUTH: Forwards: 1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Samuel Whitelock (captain), 5. Mitchell Dunshea, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Tom Sanders. Backs: 9. Brad Weber, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Jack Goodhue, 13. Brayden Ennor, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Jordie Barrett.

Replacements: 16. Liam Coltman, 17. George Bower, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20. Dillon Hunt, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Josh Ioane, 23. Leicester Faingaanuku.

[JPNZ]

Man for man South is stronger IMHO. Should be a cracking match too. The weather forecast is mostly clear with strong NW winds

[mrbrownstone]

Teams named OP updated

NORTH: Forwards: 1. Karl Tu'inukuafe 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Akira Ioane, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Hoskins Sotutu. Backs: 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Damian McKenzie.

Replacements: 16. Ash Dixon, 17. Ayden Johnstone, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Scott Scrafton, 20. Dalton Papalii, 21. Aaron Smith, 22. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23. Mitchell Hunt.

SOUTH: Forwards: 1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Samuel Whitelock (captain), 5. Mitchell Dunshea, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Tom Sanders. Backs: 9. Brad Weber, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Jack Goodhue, 13. Brayden Ennor, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Jordie Barrett.

Replacements: 16. Liam Coltman, 17. George Bower, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20. Dillon Hunt, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Josh Ioane, 23. Leicester Faingaanuku.

Two very strong sides, but I think the South edges it. Essentially, that starting side is just the Crusaders + Laulala, Frizell, Weber, and Barrett.

Aaron Smith benched is a strange call by the North.