NPR

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:57 am**

That was a very good first half to watch. Ref has them being very very careful and that is opening it up a bit

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:01 am**

Excellent game so far with Canes deservedly leading 22-14

Preston looks good at this level. Jordan is class and needs to be watched closely

Fatafehi Fineanganofo looks like a potential future AB. Long way to go but he's class so far. Harkins is good too considering he's had almost no game time at even NPC level. Godfrey is doing well enough and looks a keeper. Devery is VG so the Canes new starters all have produced the goods so far

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:20 am**

TMO found a knock on earlier. I wonder if he’ll find that dog roll…

And that try was incredible

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:21 am**

That was a very nice try to the Cru, Preston getting his second on debut

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:21 am**

Nice try.

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:24 am**

The imminent return of Jimmy O’Beiber to the Big Screen

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:29 am**

That looked forward

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:34 am**

Third time lucky for Reece

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:44 am**

Quite like the look of this new half back, whatsisname

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:45 am**

Preston gets his hattrick and Cru stretch lead to 33 - 25 with less than five to go

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:50 am**

A great start to the new season. Thanks guys.

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:50 am**

Good game first up.

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:51 am**

That's a very satisfying first hit up after last season.

I am thinking about getting into Jabba the Hutt mode.

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:53 am**

Shalfoon put in a pretty decent shift there.

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:54 am**

Kiwias wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:45 am Preston gets his hattrick and Cru stretch lead to 33 - 25 with less than five to go

Preston was class for Wellington. Keep this up and he will be number 1 for the Crusaders soon

he was class the year before too (2022) when he got limited time but Ellison preferred a very limited alternative.

Canes need a different midfield. And Godfrey needs to work on his clearing kicks.

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 8:19 am**

Wheeler is just too painful. I like watching the after match stuff but switched it off

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 10:21 am**

Tahs sneak home 37-36 in a cracker.

Posted: **Fri Feb 14, 2025 10:28 am**

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 10:21 am Tahs sneak home 37-36 in a cracker.

I lost count of the lead changes in the second half

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 2:32 am**

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:54 am
Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:49 am Lots to like in that first half. New guys everywhere going well and making solid contributions.
Yep, very impressed with Kemara so far. And Harkin's playing well for the Canes. Think it's the first I've seen of him.

Hope Hotham's OK.

I agree on Kemara, but not really on Harkin, he looked out of depth. Mind you I never seen him play 15 before, but he looked a bit uncertain, and well out of position a few times.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 2:39 am**

Firewater wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 3:47 am
Dan54 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 6:39 pm Yep in my picking comp for first game of year I went heart over head (and put them in before teams named have got
Cru-Canes- Canes by 9
Tahs-Clan Clan by 6
Drua-Brums Drua 15
Blues-Chiefs (think I got) Chiefs 9
Force-MP MP by 6
Chiefs to beat the Blues? Based on the teams my view is the mightly? Blues will have an easy enough win. Im keen though to see how the first 5s go as Ive seen nothing from Jacob to see why he's so hyped. But haven't seen too much of him do maybe I'll be surprised. But was impressed with Plummer last year but maybe his limit is super rugby. I will watch for this match-up alone.

Canes by 9. It will be a surprising achivement if the Canes win away from home. As it must eb the weakest starting 15 Ive seen for them in a key match for quite some time. The forwards are OKish but why are both Tosi and Lakai not starting. And Plummer in the reserves (an injury add in) in preference to original teams selections like Tucker or Allen.

And the backs are fairly average except at HB. Godfrey is an exciting selection but failed to keep his starting position for Hawkes Bay so lacks game time here even at NPC level. Midfield is ordinary with a can't or won't pass 2nd 5. Wingers who know. Naholo is inconsistent and the other is a starter at this level. And strangly an injury add-in (Harkin) who mostly playes 1st 5 but couldn'y keep his position against JGB at NPC level is preferred at FB in preference to Banks and Clarke. And a limited Enari over a very promising Jordi.

Do the selectors, esp the new backs coach, know what they are doing? We will find out soon. They could win though against a team who have lots of overrated ABs (Reece Havilli Backadder Newell) but all can look good or better against weaker teams at thsi level

Yep firewater, did picks early, before I saw teams, but regardless basically went with heart for first weekend.
So far I looking like getting a zero for weekend.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 3:01 am**

Dan54 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 2:32 am
Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:54 am
Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:49 am Lots to like in that first half. New guys everywhere going well and making solid contributions.
Yep, very impressed with Kemara so far. And Harkin's playing well for the Canes. Think it's the first I've seen of him.

Hope Hotham's OK.
I agree on Kemara, but not really on Harkin, he looked out of depth. Mind you I never seen him play 15 before, but he looked a bit uncertain, and well out of position a few times.

I thought Harkin went alright... thinking back to the game I reckon maybe the Saders back line shaded the Canes with too much class and experience in Jordan, Reece and yes fans, Havili. Reece's workrate was exceptional.

Those three threw the balance in the Saders' favour, I think while for both teams the rest of the backlines played well and functioned as a unit. Godfrey and Kemara both steered their teams around smoothly and there were no major blemishes in a high tempo, first up showing for the season.

I read today that Hotham has a high ankle injury which will probably mean about 6 weeks out. Terrible luck for him but Preston seized his opportunity and absolutely feasted on it. Shaded for MOTM for my money by Moananu... played almost the full 80, threw flawlessly and had a serious presence all over the park. Really impressive showing for a guy who is maybe #3 in the pecking order at the Saders.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 3:32 am**

Yep, agree with pretty much all of that, Guy. Damn shame about Hotham, but yes, Preston had a great game... and Kemara was often involved in the best of the Saders' attack, and shaded Godfrey on the night imho.

Next up in a few minutes, the Drua hosting the Brumbies in sultry Suva...

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 4:26 am**

Drua cop 2 yellow cards but somehow manage to reach HT 20-17 ahead. Their last try was a ripper.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:01 am**

Loving the Drua v Brumbies match as a neutral. Drua now leading 25 - 24 and almost 23 mins to go.

From Guy

I read today that Hotham has a high ankle injury which will probably mean about 6 weeks out.

Buggery fuck.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:32 am**

Brumbies prevail 36-32 in an entertaining curtain raiser.

Next up in 30 minutes, a repeat of last year's Final between the champion Blues and the also-ran Chiefs at Eden Park.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:55 am**

I am impressed with the play in all 3 games so far. The ball seems to be in play so much more than last year. Long may it continue.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 6:08 am**

Nisbo just told us the ref is Matt Damon

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 6:58 am**

Blues are going to dick us. We are being too nice on defence and not cheating like fuck (like the Blooze). Fair fucks though, they are taking their opportunities and denying ours.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:19 am**

Bloody hell, there are some dog acts coming in from the Blooze. And they are getting clean away with them.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:34 am**

Finau is one lucky dumb bastard

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:52 am**

Chiefs really raised the tempo and intensity in the last 20mins and have this one.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:53 am**

I do like watching Auckland lose.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:58 am**

Chiefs win 25-14.

Never in doubt.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:58 am**

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 6:08 am Nisbo just told us the ref is Matt Damon

BTW, I realised later that it was TJ and decided that neither one of them deserved a correction and it was fitting to just muddle on regardless.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 8:27 am**

I hope Tele’a is made to run laps around Eden Park... What a tackle by Ratima - but by fark, Mark, you got to farking score that! Different game with the Blues up 19 (or possibly 21), to 11.

From there the Chiefs were well on top - not that I was overly shocked to see the Chiefs dominate the final 20 - after seeing the respective benches... The yellow card of course didn't help matters.

Anyway, well done Chiefs. D-Mac is my fantasy captain, so can't complain really. He was excellent, and remains a better rugby player than BB.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 9:59 am**

The ref in the Force v Pacifika game doesn’t seem too bothered by the Force flopping over the top of the rucks, releasing the tackled player or generally being off their feet stopping any hope of quick ball.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 10:38 am**

Fark.

Gutted for the Moana Pasifika guys.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 11:05 am**

Moral Dilemma wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 10:38 am Fark.

Gutted for the Moana Pasifika guys.

Both Drua and MP losing in the final play of the game.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 1:14 pm**

A bunch of cracking games to kick the season off.

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:12 pm**

Flockwitt wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 1:14 pm A bunch of cracking games to kick the season off.

best Round 1 evaaaaahhh...

highlight for me was the performances from new players. Absolute quality coming through and stepping up flawlessly.

NPR

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