NPR

Just caught the last few minutes of this match, but very happy that we finished the season with wins against Tasman and Auckland. I'm not too fussed that we stayed up in the Premiership, but I'm very happy that we have finished with two good wins and that we have some very positive momentum going into the off-season.

Nice that Canterbury could avoid relegation, but a shame we saved our best performaces of the season to the end. As it turns out 1 more point and we sneak into the semis.

mrbrownstone wrote: Sun Nov 15, 2020 11:55 pm Nice that Canterbury could avoid relegation, but a shame we saved our best performaces of the season to the end. As it turns out 1 more point and we sneak into the semis.

Same for Wellington. Not that they would have deserved it, they were generally shite.

Ted. wrote: Mon Nov 16, 2020 1:13 am

mrbrownstone wrote: Sun Nov 15, 2020 11:55 pm Nice that Canterbury could avoid relegation, but a shame we saved our best performaces of the season to the end. As it turns out 1 more point and we sneak into the semis.

Same for Wellington. Not that they would have deserved it, they were generally shite.

Bound together in our humility. I like it.

And yet Waikato made it thru on the back of losses to Akld, BOP and Northland. I fear that we will get our arses handed to us this weekend.

TBH I'm glad Canterbury didn't make the semi finals. Change and improvement only happens as a result of pain. Falling into the finals would only have papered over the massive cracks in this Canterbury team.

When you consider it was basically top against bottom team in the division, it was one hell of a game.
Can't think of many other competitions where that level of competition exists.

Magpie26 wrote: Mon Nov 16, 2020 8:14 am When you consider it was basically top against bottom team in the division, it was one hell of a game.
Can't think of many other competitions where that level of competition exists.

Agree on this 100%, this years premiership has been the closest I can ever remember. Considering the top teams had a 7-3 W/L ratio and the bottom team had a 5/5 ratio and only 9 points between first and last goes to show the evenness of the competition.

Teams for tonight:

Otago: Michael Collins, Vilimoni Koroi, Josh Timu, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Josh Ioane, Kayne Hammington, Dylan Nel, Slade McDowall, Sam Fischli, Josh Dickson, Jack Regan, Josh Hohneck, Ricky Jackson, Jamie Mackintosh.

Reserves: Henry Bell, Sef Fa’agase, Hisa Sasagi, Will Tucker, Nasi Manu, James Arscott, Thomas Umaga-Jensen. Matt Whaanga

Northland: Matt Wright, Jordan Hyland, Rene Ranger, Tamati Tua, Jone Macilai, Johnney Cooper, Sam Nock, Sam McNamara, Kara Pryor, Tom Robinson, Sam Caird, Josh Goodhue, Coree Te Whata-Colley, Jordan Olsen, Luatangi Li.

Reserves: Paddy Atkins, Ross Wright, Kalola Tuiloma, Kane Jacobson, Matt Matich, Will Grant, Wiseguy Fiane, Scott Gregory

Will be keeping a close eye on Josh Ioane. If he's serious about being an All Black, these are the kinds of games he should be dominating at this level.

nice little taster before tomorrow's 8hr orgy of Rugby...

Beautiful Dummy...

Rene Ranger's defence in both the Otago tries was woeful.

Gumboot wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 6:54 am Rene Ranger's defence in both the Otago tries was woeful.

He has been too late to give the pass on attack several times.

Great passage of play there the last 10 mins or so. but the lineout call was soooo wrong and the AR was right there to see it bounce off the guys head.

Insane_Homer wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:18 am Great passage of play there the last 10 mins or so. but the lineout call was soooo wrong and the AR was right there to see it bounce off the guys head.

It was weird that he let Otago take the throw-in.

Kiwias wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:17 am

Gumboot wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 6:54 am Rene Ranger's defence in both the Otago tries was woeful.

He has been too late to give the pass on attack several times.

Yep, he's been well off the pace so far.

Comedy of errors. Kara Pryor

poor choice to kick that attack away.

wow, great try.

About time Ioane made an impact on attack.

equally good try in response.

Nock blows a hammy scoring the try. shame he was having a great game.

and another one. that should be the game.

The two locks for Northland are my MotM, Caird and Goodhue.

Where's JTB? He must be delighted.

Kiwias wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:47 am The two locks for Northland are my MotM, Caird and Goodhue.

Agreed. Nock was good value too before his injury - shame he'll miss the final.

Gumboot wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:50 am

Kiwias wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:47 am The two locks for Northland are my MotM, Caird and Goodhue.

Agreed. Nock was good value too before his injury - shame he'll miss the final.

Damned shame for the lad.

Kiwias wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:47 am The two locks for Northland are my MotM, Caird and Goodhue.

Yes both put in huge shifts. Real shame for Nock, but huge for Northland.

I thought Otago were fairly disappointing. They have a test standard 10 and a very experienced 9, but were unable to impose themselves on the game.

alright, strap yourselves in for 8hrs of relentless Rugby action!

Mooloos score first

mrbrownstone wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:56 am

Kiwias wrote: Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:47 am The two locks for Northland are my MotM, Caird and Goodhue.

Yes both put in huge shifts. Real shame for Nock, but huge for Northland.

I thought Otago were fairly disappointing. They have a test standard 10 and a very experienced 9, but were unable to impose themselves on the game.

Yep, disappointing end to the season. Otago had a great run through the middle with wins over premiereship sides Canterbury and Wellington. They lost their way against a determined Southland a couple of weeks ago and never found their form again. Too impatient, too many mistakes on attack and their defence, which had been such a strength, fell away.

Ioane seemed to lose form/confidence both as an attacker and a goal kicker after he came back from injury.

On the bright side they are putting together a good squad (assuming they can keep most of them there for next year) and it is Donnelly's first year in charge. Definitely scope for improvement.

Wishing the taniwha the best of luck for next week.

38 year old Adam Thomson looking sharp

good to see Thommo keeping the Cena love 18 years on...

Thomo still has decent wheels for a 38 year-old.

... and ...

Auckland grinding their way to a 23 - 15 lead with 26 mins left

Kiwias wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 2:16 am Auckland grinding their way to a 23 - 15 lead with 26 mins left

With my biased eyes, I can definitely see the Jafas getting the rub of the green from the ref; especially the Ta'avao "collapse"

But we are our own worst enemies with missed opportunities like that

Human missile, straight off his feet...

Taranaki Snapper wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 2:30 am Human missile, straight off his feet...

That should be a penalty.

Enzedder wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 2:19 am

Kiwias wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 2:16 am Auckland grinding their way to a 23 - 15 lead with 26 mins left

With my biased eyes, I can definitely see the Jafas getting the rub of the green from the ref; especially the Ta'avao "collapse"

The scrum where he slipped?

Yeah, we were penalised for that