NZ North vs South Game Thread

[mrbrownstone]

Gotta feel a little for those players who made the squad but not the game day line up. Must be difficult making a squad for a one off game and being surplus to requirements.


North: Eklund, Fidow, Boshier, TTT, Telea

South: Makalio, Hodgman, Prinsep, Drummond, and Tompkinson

Personally, I'd have thought Boshier would offer more impact than Papalii, and I rate Hodgman higher than Bower. Otherwise the selections look about right.

[Ted.]

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.

All I can think of is to help BB settle back into the 1st 5 role more quickly by pairing a a more established combination. They may also want TJ's more robust running and defensive game, though Sneaky was sniping of old in the SRA.

That, or Sneaky has been up to his old tricks.

[Carter's Choice]

Two great looking squads.

I'm surprised that Mitch Drummond has been left out altogether from the SI team. Weber's form was scratchy all season and Christie was mainly used off the bench. I'm very surprised that Tom Christie was preferred to Dillon Hunt at 7. I thought that Hunt was close to the best 76 in SRA.

For the NI team, Tupou Vaa'i's selection is the big shock. That effectively means he's in the top 4 locks in NZ and would make an AB squad if it was being picked. Based on what? TJ Perenara starting over Aaron Smith is also very surprsing, s Smith has been the form 9 all season.

Overall, two great teams and I'm really looking forward to this clash. SI by 6.

[FujiKiwi]

Gotta feel a little for those players who made the squad but not the game day line up. Must be difficult making a squad for a one off game and being surplus to requirements.


North: Eklund, Fidow, Boshier, TTT, Telea

South: Makalio, Hodgman, Prinsep, Drummond, and Tompkinson

Personally, I'd have thought Boshier would offer more impact than Papalii, and I rate Hodgman higher than Bower. Otherwise the selections look about right.

In what sense? As a Pocock-style turnover merchant maybe (Papalii isn’t bad at that anyway). In every other sense, Papalii is a more impactful player.

[mrbrownstone]

Gotta feel a little for those players who made the squad but not the game day line up. Must be difficult making a squad for a one off game and being surplus to requirements.


North: Eklund, Fidow, Boshier, TTT, Telea

South: Makalio, Hodgman, Prinsep, Drummond, and Tompkinson

Personally, I'd have thought Boshier would offer more impact than Papalii, and I rate Hodgman higher than Bower. Otherwise the selections look about right.

In what sense? As a Pocock-style turnover merchant maybe (Papalii isn’t bad at that anyway). In every other sense, Papalii is a more impactful player.

Yes, that would have been my thinking. Both are excellent players, so it's a tough choice. I see Papalii as a better starter FWIW.

[Certain Navigator]

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.

Very strange indeed — the selectors must have a few dollars on the South at the TAB. Then again, it's somewhat evened up by the South going for Christie ahead of Drummond on the bench.

Vaa'i is another odd-looking one for the North, but there at least the other options weren't great either.

As a pure loosehead, I'd prefer Hodgman to Bower, but I guess the latter has the advantage of being able to play both sides — a poor man's Ben Franks.

[Monkey Magic]

Gotta feel a little for those players who made the squad but not the game day line up. Must be difficult making a squad for a one off game and being surplus to requirements.


North: Eklund, Fidow, Boshier, TTT, Telea

South: Makalio, Hodgman, Prinsep, Drummond, and Tompkinson

Personally, I'd have thought Boshier would offer more impact than Papalii, and I rate Hodgman higher than Bower. Otherwise the selections look about right.

In what sense? As a Pocock-style turnover merchant maybe (Papalii isn’t bad at that anyway). In every other sense, Papalii is a more impactful player.

In terms of pecking order they like Papalii and he's been in the squad, really don't see where Boshier would fit in if frizell, cane, savea and Papalii all fit

[Gumboot]

Bit surprised that Boshier missed the cut. Also thought Lomax might get the start - he's been very good this year.

Delighted for Tupou Vaa'i, he's a special young talent.

[Kiwias]

Advantage South, for the far more settled combinations. That has to be the thinking behind TJP starting. We get a delayed broadcast at about 8PM.

[FujiKiwi]

Agree that it could be advantage South based on combinations. However, to me the South loose forwards look a bit ho-hum compared to the North, especially with Hunt sitting on the bench.

[stemoc]

Advantage South, for the far more settled combinations. That has to be the thinking behind TJP starting. We get a delayed broadcast at about 8PM.

yeha noticed, was hoping to catch it live on jsports1, advantage wise, backs advantage south, forwards north.

[FujiKiwi]

Didn’t realize you were also in Japan, comets?

[stemoc]

Didn’t realize you were also in Japan, comets?

i don't need to be in japan to watch that :P, just finding options, games like these rarely get televised by all major rugby broadcasters like sky uk or btsport..as of now only fox australia and jsport (delayed) confirmed outside of sky nz

[FujiKiwi]

Didn’t realize you were also in Japan, comets?

i don't need to be in japan to watch that :P, just finding options, games like these rarely get televised by all major rugby broadcasters like sky uk or btsport..as of now only fox australia and jsortt (delayed) confirmed outside of sky nz

How dare you? I pay 2000 yen a month for my JSport subscription. I am DMing you my bank account details so that you can contribute.

[stemoc]

hehe, noticed the ALL Blacks announcement will be made at 11am on Sunday (live on prime), the north/south delayed game will follow it....not sure why they need an AB team this year, the saffers have a better chance of playing tests this year than NZ..

[JPNZ]

Didn’t realize you were also in Japan, comets?

i don't need to be in japan to watch that :P, just finding options, games like these rarely get televised by all major rugby broadcasters like sky uk or btsport..as of now only fox australia and jsport (delayed) confirmed outside of sky nz

I'm in NZ but don't have sky anymore. I watch on UK channels and use wheresthematch.com

FYI this North vs South is live on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Main Event in the UK

[Gumboot]

Agree that it could be advantage South based on combinations. However, to me the South loose forwards look a bit ho-hum compared to the North, especially with Hunt sitting on the bench.

A rugby reporter on the newshub site reckons Tom Christie is our next great openside.

[Kiwias]

Agree that it could be advantage South based on combinations. However, to me the South loose forwards look a bit ho-hum compared to the North, especially with Hunt sitting on the bench.

A rugby reporter on the newshub site reckons Tom Christie is our next great openside.

[Enzedder]

Bit surprised that Boshier missed the cut. Also thought Lomax might get the start - he's been very good this year.

Delighted for Tupou Vaa'i, he's a special young talent.

Agree with those - Vaa'i has got there on sheer bloody determination. He puts in a lot of effort. Maybe he's the project player as, at just 20 years, he is still very much a work-in-progress

[mrbrownstone]

Bit surprised that Boshier missed the cut. Also thought Lomax might get the start - he's been very good this year.

Delighted for Tupou Vaa'i, he's a special young talent.

Agree with those - Vaa'i has got there on sheer bloody determination. He puts in a lot of effort. Maybe he's the project player as, at just 20 years, he is still very much a work-in-progress

Chiefs website lists him as 1.98m and 118kgs (for reference Scott Barrett is 1.97m and 111kgs). I didn't watch him particularly closely during SRA, but he clearly has all the physical attributes. Will keep a close eye on him on Saturday.

[Gumboot]

That is one fine looking cup. Love the thorny handles.

[stemoc]

That is one fine looking cup. Love the thorny handles.

making it harder for pricks to break the trophy

[Monkey Magic]

Bit surprised that Boshier missed the cut. Also thought Lomax might get the start - he's been very good this year.

Delighted for Tupou Vaa'i, he's a special young talent.

Agree with those - Vaa'i has got there on sheer bloody determination. He puts in a lot of effort. Maybe he's the project player as, at just 20 years, he is still very much a work-in-progress

Chiefs website lists him as 1.98m and 118kgs (for reference Scott Barrett is 1.97m and 111kgs). I didn't watch him particularly closely during SRA, but he clearly has all the physical attributes. Will keep a close eye on him on Saturday.

Heard interview with Grant Fox, they are bringing him in to see how he goes in the environment. They want big locks and hope he will be it down the line, unlikely to be in the squad on Sunday.

Also TJ vs Smith was down to workload more than anything else.

Interestingly they had the starting 15/23 for both sides locked in when they named the squads, and 99% of the AB squad is already done. Think that someone coming in would have to have been hugely impressive in camp and have a carter vs lions like performance to get in.

[ASMO]

Didn’t realize you were also in Japan, comets?

i don't need to be in japan to watch that :P, just finding options, games like these rarely get televised by all major rugby broadcasters like sky uk or btsport..as of now only fox australia and jsortt (delayed) confirmed outside of sky nz

How dare you? I pay 2000 yen a month for my JSport subscription. I am DMing you my bank account details so that you can contribute.

It will be here i can guarantee it, i can see the link already

https://www.vipbox.lc/rugby-live

[stemoc]

Live on free-2-air in fiji lol, odd..

[mrbrownstone]

Heard interview with Grant Fox, they are bringing him in to see how he goes in the environment. They want big locks and hope he will be it down the line, unlikely to be in the squad on Sunday.

Also TJ vs Smith was down to workload more than anything else.

Interestingly they had the starting 15/23 for both sides locked in when they named the squads, and 99% of the AB squad is already done. Think that someone coming in would have to have been hugely impressive in camp and have a carter vs lions like performance to get in.

Makes a bit of a mockery of the 'All Black trial' tag.

[JPNZ]

A little input from the inhouse tipster at NZ TAB

With the 23s now confirmed, it looks like we have a fairly well-balanced matchup on paper. The South have the benefit of relative familiarity, with 11 Crusaders in the starting XV, while the North’s most well-represented team is the Blues with eight starters. You’d have to imagine that gives the South the significant upper-hand in a game with such short build-up for the game.

The main advantage looks to be in the backs, with five of the seven starters being Crusaders. In the forwards, I would say the North have a slight talent edge, particularly in the loosies, but I wouldn’t say the North have a game-breaking edge on that front.

While the bookies give the North slight favouritism, I’m giving the South a narrow edge in this matchup. The familiarity across their backline can’t be undervalued and they may well have the advantage at set piece too.

[Carter's Choice]

Canterbury vs Tasman pre-season game live-stream if anyone else is keen?

[Jb1981]

Thanks, that sorts my evening viewing

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

The apparent shitfight between the NZRU and Rugby AU is not reflected in the scheduling.

The two Super Rugby AU games are scheduled at 3pm and 7pm local time, giving a bus sized gap for the North v South match to exploit at 5pm.

#ANZAC

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

I just demoed Jamie Wall's Heroics and Heartbreaks in one sitting so despite the good read I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see certain assumptions given there seems to be no confidence in the coaching staff:

- A NI bias particularly to anyone from Wellington
- Bridge a "lucky" player
- Barrett the natural number 10

Discuss.

[stemoc]

both are true, bridge is the jack maddocks of nz rugby, he is there cause he is 'lucky' and BB plays 10x better at 10

[Carter's Choice]

both are true, bridge is the jack maddocks of nz rugby, he is there cause he is 'lucky' and BB plays 10x better at 10

How is George Bridge lucky? Because he's extremely good looking and is built like an Adonis? His form over the past two seasons has been exceptional as was his form last year for the AB's.

[Monkey Magic]

both are true, bridge is the jack maddocks of nz rugby, he is there cause he is 'lucky' and BB plays 10x better at 10

How is George Bridge lucky? Because he's extremely good looking and is built like an Adonis? His form over the past two seasons has been exceptional as was his form last year for the AB's.

Is this like when people used jeep saying that Howlett was lucky, he just luckily kept being there to score tries but didnt create anything himself... its amazing how he was able to be lucky for so long.

While I'm not a huge Bridge fan, I think he fulfills a role - he doesn't fuck up (including kicking and catching high balls), and finishes his chances. And he does this very well. I would much rather him starting for ABs than Clarke at this point despite the mad media fluffing if Clarke.

[Carter's Choice]

both are true, bridge is the jack maddocks of nz rugby, he is there cause he is 'lucky' and BB plays 10x better at 10

How is George Bridge lucky? Because he's extremely good looking and is built like an Adonis? His form over the past two seasons has been exceptional as was his form last year for the AB's.

Is this like when people used jeep saying that Howlett was lucky, he just luckily kept being there to score tries but didnt create anything himself... its amazing how he was able to be lucky for so long.

While I'm not a huge Bridge fan, I think he fulfills a role - he doesn't fuck up (including kicking and catching high balls), and finishes his chances. And he does this very well. I would much rather him starting for ABs than Clarke at this point despite the mad media fluffing if Clarke.

Clarke is very promising. But he's carrying too much weight and I'm yet to see that he has the all-round skillset needed to be an elite, international winger. If scoring flashy, long range tries against SR opposition was a guaranteed pathway to test caps, then Ben Lam would have 50 All Black caps by now.

[Monkey Magic]

How is George Bridge lucky? Because he's extremely good looking and is built like an Adonis? His form over the past two seasons has been exceptional as was his form last year for the AB's.

Is this like when people used jeep saying that Howlett was lucky, he just luckily kept being there to score tries but didnt create anything himself... its amazing how he was able to be lucky for so long.

While I'm not a huge Bridge fan, I think he fulfills a role - he doesn't fuck up (including kicking and catching high balls), and finishes his chances. And he does this very well. I would much rather him starting for ABs than Clarke at this point despite the mad media fluffing if Clarke.

Clarke is very promising. But he's carrying too much weight and I'm yet to see that he has the all-round skillset needed to be an elite, international winger. If scoring flashy, long range tries against SR opposition was a guaranteed pathway to test caps, then Ben Lam would have 50 All Black caps by now.

Think that's one thing about Reece, his skills are probably a lot better than people give him credit for. Hopefully all the wingers tonight get to show their skills in different situations

[Ted.]

Mark Geenty puts his spin on it. Where is he from?

Mind you, he has some valid points. For instance, there's no getting away from the fact that the South has been propped up by 8 players from the North and without them, they'd be down trouw'd and spanked. It would be none if Read hadn't effectively retired from this sort of event.

I also take his point that this fixture is redundant, not just for the above but for Fozzy's idiotic admission that the AB's have al;ready been selected, rendering the game as a total non event. Well not quite a total non event, it's rugby after all and we've had comparatively precious little of that, but with the players and the punters knowing that nothing rides on it, apart from the chance of a season ending injury, it does detract from the occasion to some extent. Fuck you Fozzy.

Anyway, I C&P'd Geenty's piece for the shiftless among you.

North v South: Not an All Blacks trial, weird selection criteria, no crowd, what is the point?
Mark Geenty 05:00, Sep 05 2020

Dane Coles scuttled across the road outside the South Island team hotel in central Wellington on Friday, his All Blacks hooking rival Codie Taylor about to conduct a press conference inside.

Both proud Horowhenua-Kapiti products - Coles from Paraparaumu and Taylor from Levin - they oddly would have been in opposing teams in this revived North v South match, at 7.10pm on Saturday in an empty Sky Stadium.

Except Coles was ruled out with a calf injury suffered during the Hurricanes’ final Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Highlanders on August 15 - also in an empty Dunedin stadium as Covid-19 alert level 2 returned.

For a game with manufactured eligibility criteria and no tickets allowed to be sold, the All Blacks 35 already chosen for an uncertain schedule, some will legitimately ask, what is the point? Coles’ niggly presence clunking heads with Taylor would have added to the theatre, at least, and the decibel levels when every on-field whimper will be heard.

READ MORE:

* Teams for North v South clash revealed

* Who's got most to gain in rugby's North-South clash?

* The Jordie and Richie show: Barrett, Mo'unga in All Blacks preview

“I know he [Coles] was pretty keen to play this game, given the unfortunate events of his last Super game. He doesn’t get to play but he might try and sneak into the stadium somehow and watch it, and pump up those North boys and if there’s fisticuffs on the field he’ll probably run in as well. He doesn’t mind that,” Taylor said, with a grin.

Both sides did their best to talk up the North v South rivalry, as they snapped pictures with the two trophies up for grabs. But watching Jordie Barrett (of Taranaki) and Damian McKenzie (of Southland) on Thursday in their South and North polo shirts, respectively, didn’t seem quite right.

The criteria, to even up the sides, went away from island of origin and was instead first senior province represented, as the pulling power of Canterbury and the Crusaders helped bolster the South lineup.

Eight of the South starting XV were raised and schooled in the north: Taylor (Horowhenua College/Feilding High School), Nepo Laulala (Wesley), Sam Whitelock (Feilding HS), Brad Weber (Napier Boys’), George Bridge (Lindisfarne), Jack Goodhue (Mt Albert Grammar), Brayden Ennor (St Kentigern) and Barrett (Francis Douglas).

Taylor, who was lured south to Canterbury on leaving school, insisted he still found meaning in the South jersey.

“It’s a bit different. I’m from just up the road from Wellington initially… but I’ve got a good reason to play for the South, my wife’s from there and my kids were born in Christchurch,” Taylor said.

“That’s what I’m trying to connect to this week. I’ll never forget that I’m from Levin, just the opportunity to play in such a unique game is pretty special to me and I get to represent my family back in the south.”

A major issue with this game is the 34,500 empty yellow seats, even if Sky TV will gleefully beam it out with manufactured crowd noise. Given the chance to vote with their feet, and wallets, under alert level 1, Wellingtonians would likely have turned out in force and helped boost NZ Rugby’s coffers.

Viewers will still tune in for their rugby fix despite little riding on it. There’s some of the world’s best available talent tossing the ball around and riveting matchups like the Barrett brothers in separate sides, and no guarantees when the stars will assemble again.

North coach John Plumtree, also an All Blacks selector, was at pains to stress this closed doors match wasn’t an All Blacks trial. New coach Ian Foster told Sky TV a fortnight ago he had 35 names written down, and will front up with them at 11am on Sunday when he announces his first squad.

After Sunday’s announcement, the All Blacks will disperse to their Mitre 10 Cup sides and await news of mooted Bledisloe Cup fixtures in Australia next month. Taylor said that uncertainty was nothing new.

“We’re used to it now, given what’s happened this year. We’re just looking at the week we’ve been given where there’s no guarantees post this game, apart from Mitre 10 Cup.

“We obviously want an opportunity to put on the black jersey and whatever that looks like we’ll roll up our sleeves and do it.

“The uniqueness of this year has created a few headaches for a lot of people but as players all we can control is what we get given to us, and get out there and play the game that we love.”

[Monkey Magic]

Can only imagine that barring injury, the only consequence of this match would be that a fringe player showed they were a pillock and not suitable to take to Oz if we had tests there given the need to quarantine and the required extra injury cover they would need to take.

[stemoc]

LOL

[Carter's Choice]

Why does this match have to be an All Black trial? That's just ridiculous. It's worth watching simply because it's the best players in NZ on show. I'd be more critical of Foster if he did use this one-off match to select his team, as opposed to SR form and historical form with the AB's. The NRL's State of Origin series doesn't pretend to be a Kangaroos trial, yet people still enjoy watching it. Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I'm totally fine with it simply being entertainment. I'd love a three match series, I miss watching NZ rugby.