NPR

Gumboot wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 5:26 am

Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 5:16 am Southland have had lots of attacking opportunities but have lacked accuracy at crucial moments. Could easily be leading this match but instead trail North Harbour 0-7.

Yeah, they just keep fluffing their chances, a bit like Waikato in the first half against Tasman.

This game is not great viewing so far.

Kiwias wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 7:19 am Just switched this on in time to see Mataele and Drummond totally fuck up a 2-1 5m from the Bay line

stemoc wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 7:46 am SHIT LIENSMAN, TAHT WASA GOOD ONE BY MANASA

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 7:49 am

stemoc wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 7:46 am SHIT LIENSMAN, TAHT WASA GOOD ONE BY MANASA

WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT WASA GOOD?

stemoc wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 8:07 am is mckay even playing haven;t head his name all game

stemoc wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 8:07 am is mckay even playing haven;t head his name all game

Turbster wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:59 am Great work by Southland... and that's what it was all about, and while it's unkind to pick out some ahead of others, Lambourn was excellent (so I hope the Highlanders grab him), but I thought the 7, Matt James was outstanding, with turnovers, tackles, clean-outs galore.
The other thing to like was that unlike past Southland teams (in the last 10 years), the backs appeared more eager, or maybe just more confident about running the ball with Nicole, Moorby, Eade, even TeTamaki making telling runs late in the game. Good on ya Stags, putting the pride back in Southland rugby.

Mr Bungle wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 8:43 am

Turbster wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:59 am Great work by Southland... and that's what it was all about, and while it's unkind to pick out some ahead of others, Lambourn was excellent (so I hope the Highlanders grab him), but I thought the 7, Matt James was outstanding, with turnovers, tackles, clean-outs galore.
The other thing to like was that unlike past Southland teams (in the last 10 years), the backs appeared more eager, or maybe just more confident about running the ball with Nicole, Moorby, Eade, even TeTamaki making telling runs late in the game. Good on ya Stags, putting the pride back in Southland rugby.

There's your "10 years" timeframe again. We won the shield less than 10 years ago. We've been shithouse for 3-4 seasons.

Turbster wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 11:26 am

Mr Bungle wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 8:43 am

Turbster wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:59 am Great work by Southland... and that's what it was all about, and while it's unkind to pick out some ahead of others, Lambourn was excellent (so I hope the Highlanders grab him), but I thought the 7, Matt James was outstanding, with turnovers, tackles, clean-outs galore.
The other thing to like was that unlike past Southland teams (in the last 10 years), the backs appeared more eager, or maybe just more confident about running the ball with Nicole, Moorby, Eade, even TeTamaki making telling runs late in the game. Good on ya Stags, putting the pride back in Southland rugby.

There's your "10 years" timeframe again. We won the shield less than 10 years ago. We've been shithouse for 3-4 seasons.

Only the most one-eyed would say it's not been a miserable last ten years, and even winning the shield twice (I think) during that time didn't paper over the cracks. Southland, and I hate to say it, has been used alternately as a doormat, and a nursery by the bigger unions actually ever since the game went pro, but I'll not whinge about it. As I tried to get across in what I wrote, and obviously missed my target, the best thing was seeing the backs 'with the confidence to run' late in the game... and that is something that only comes with belief.

mrbrownstone wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 11:32 am That was close to the worst half of rugby I've seen from a Canterbury side, and even then we still should have held on to win. It's hard to be too disappointed after dominating this competition so much in recent years. Realistically this is an average Canterbury side, who might scrape into the semis, but won't threaten the title.

I've said enough about Brett 'miss from in front' Cameron over the years, but suffice to say we'll never be close to a title with him at the helm. Josh McKay should have been playing 10 for the last few years.

It doesn't exactly paint Reuben Thorne (Reuben Thorne, Reuben Thooooorne) in a great light as a coach either, and makes Scott Robertson look all the better. Last week he was handed something close to a Crusaders team (certainly from 1-11) and they produced a similarly error riddled display. As mentioned, there have been some strange selection calls so far - Josh McKay is better at fullback than on the wing, Tom Christie is our best openside, and Reed Prinsep isn't one of our three best loose forwards, and shouldn't be captain. Taking Drummond off early was an error too.

On the bright side, Sam Darry was impressive in his debut and has a huge future, Fletcher Newell looks like another in a long line of quality Canterbury tight forwards, and Manasa Mataele would be an asset to any Super side - he's good enough to start if not for the Crusaders' logjam.