Apparently this is rd 10 and 11 with most of teams having played just 6 games and a few 7.
allblacks.com - (24/09/2012) - 
4 Comments
A top of the table inter-clash between ITM Cup
Premiership leaders Auckland and Championship leaders Counties-Manukau
and a Ranfurly Shield Challenge await, while Otago and Tasman will have a
chance to push claims when visiting Premiership teams. 4 Comments
4
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A bumper Round Eleven commences with Waikato hosting Tasman, and if the Makos can spring an ambush in Hamilton, it will keep pressure on the Steelers while potentially pushing their Premiership rivals to the bottom of their table.
Friday night will see the top of the two tables clash, with Tana Umaga's Counties making the trip to Eden Park, in a match that could potentially not only give the team distance at the summit - but should convince all and sundry that the Steelers are the real deal.
Saturday afternoon will see Taranaki welcome their second to last Ranfurly Shield challenger to Yarrow Stadium in Manawatu, and if they can hold off the Turbos - then just one more challenge against Waikato awaits before locking the Log o'Wood in the cabinet for the summer.
Wellington and Hawke's Bay host North Harbour and Otago respectively to round out Saturday's matches.
Canterbury hosts Southland on Sunday afternoon, while the round concludes with Bay of Plenty hosting Northland.
All times Houston
Round 10 |
||||
| 25 Sep | Bay of Plenty v Wellington | Mt Maunganui | 2:35am | 0-0 |
| 26 Sep | Southland v Northland | Invercargill | 2:35am | 0-0 |
Round 11 |
||||
| 27 Sep | Waikato v Tasman | Hamilton | 2.35am | 0-0 |
| 28 Sep | Auckland v Counties Man | Auckland | 2:35am | 0-0 |
| 29 Sep | Taranaki v Manawatu | NPlymouth | 9:35 pm | 0-0 |
| 29 Sep | Wellington v N Harbour | Wellington | 11:35 pm | 0-0 |
| 29 Sep | Hawke's Bay v Otago | Napier | 2:35am | 0-0 |
| 30 Sep | Canterbury v Southland | Christchurch | 9:35 pm | 0-0 |
| 30 Sep | Bay of Plenty v Northland | Mt Maunganui | 11:35 pm | 0-0 |
Preview: BOP v Wellington
Sportal.co.nz - (25/09/2012) - 0 Comments
0 Comments
No doubt there will be memories of last
year's battle in both camps - Bay of Plenty will want to play as well as
that again while Wellington will be more than keen to hit 'delete all'
and remove any reference to that match for ever more.
VENUE & TIME: BayPark Stadium, Mt Maunganui, Tuesday September 25 @ 1935
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 34; Bay of Plenty 5, Wellington 27, drawn 2.
LAST TIME: July 31, 2011 (Mt Maunganui) - Bay of Plenty 32-0 Wellington.
WALKING WOUNDED: Bay of Plenty has lost two of its better players this season, Josh hall and Dan Perrin, who both suffered broken hands in the loss at Napier. Neither will be back this season. On the plus side, injured wingers Jack Wilson and Ben Smith were available although neither made the starting side. Wellington has made a number of changes from its last match, although most involve swapping guys between the bench and the run-on XV. One that doesn't is in the front row, where Eric Sione was ruled out with concussion and has been replaced by Solomona Sakalia.
FORM:
Bay of Plenty:
Round 2: beat Otago 31-19 (h)
Round 3: lost to Counties-Manukau 13-47 (a)
Round 4: lost to Waikato 6-15 (a)
Round 5: beat Auckland 37-16 (h)
Round 6: lost to Hawke's Bay 41-42 (a)
Wellington:
Round 2: beat Hawke's Bay 30-15 (h)
Round 3: beat Southland 40-8 (h)
Round 4: lost to Canterbury 12-20 (a)
Round 5: beat Waikato 29-13 (h)
Round 6: lost to Auckland 30-43 (a)
Bay of Plenty had every chance to win at Napier despite not playing overly well and making a ton of errors. For 80 minutes and a few seconds the Magpies played the same way and Bay of Plenty did, at least, capitalise on almost every scoring chance that came their way. But one last Hawke's Bay attack opened the defence again and nobody could catch Ihaia West as he headed for the posts to score the winning try. The Steamers got two points from the match, but it should have been five.
Wellington had a chance to claim a rare win on Eden Park last week, but then forgot how to do the things that had been serving them well this season. Auckland pushed the Wellington forwards around, forced a lot of mistakes and too many penalty chances proved costly as Gareth Anscombe kicked the Lions off the park. Wellington did score four tries and therefore claimed one point, but they never really looked like potential winners at any stage.
WHO'S HOT: Two guys who haven't played much this season have big roles for Bay of Plenty this week. John Pareanga takes over at hooker from Dan Perrin and will be looking to fulfil the same busy role, while maintaining the Bay's lineout efficiency - he's normally good in this area. He can also be a strong contributor around the field, and that will be needed. Chris Noakes steps into first-five and will be asked to direct the team around the field; at Mt Maunganui, that also means using the wind cleverly. His goal-kicking will be another important feature. Lelia Masaga was outstanding on attack at Napier, either threatening or actually busting the line, but some of his defensive work was not of the same standard. No doubt the Bay will want more of the attack and more on defence; if that happens Masaga may well be a key player.
Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen has already had a big season and his form remains good; at Auckland he was one of Wellington's best forwards and certainly one of the strongest ball-carriers. He is already a good scrummaging prop, so the round-the-field stuff only increases his value to the side. Scott Fuglistaller has not received many headlines this season but he has collected a lot of bangs and bruises in the team's cause, not to mention pinching a few turnovers and displaying good timing with his link play. His battle with the Bay loosies will be a good one. Lima Sopoaga is another first-five whose season has been curtailed by injury, but there were signs at Auckland that he can still produce the magic touches despite limited game time. If he gets it right, he can spark plenty of dangerous movements and he's already established as a good goal-kicker.
WE THINK: If table standings are anything to go by, Wellington should get this done reasonably comfortably, but Bay of Plenty is an opponent they often have real trouble with. You suspect last year's scoreline will get a mention in the Wellington build-up, and it should hurt. The Bay has shown some brilliance at times this year but, on Friday, defensive frailties really cost them. It's a hard one to pick, but Wellington might have a slight edge; we'll give it to the visitors by five.
TEAMS:
Bay of Plenty: 1. Tristan Moran, 2. John Pareanga, 3. Josh Hohneck, 4. Culum Retallick, 5. Leon Power, 6. Dan Goodwin, 7. Tanerau Latimer (capt), 8. Luke Braid, 9. Lewis Hancock, 10. Chris Noakes, 11. Mafi Kefu, 12. Phil Burleigh, 13. Kendrick Lynn, 14. Lelia Masaga, 15. Lance MacDonald.
Reserves: 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Greg Pleasants-Tate, 18. Carl Axtens, 19. Jesse Acton, 20. Nick McCashin, 21. Simon Rolleston, 22. Jack Wilson or Maru Henry.
Wellington: 1. Solomon Sakalia, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, 4. Jeremy Thrush (capt), 5. Ross Filipo, 6. Lua Lokotui, 7. Scott Fuglistaller, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Kayne Hammington, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 11. Matt Proctor, 12. Shaun Treeby, 13. Tim Bateman, 14. Alipate Leiua, 15. Charlie Ngatai.
Reserves: 16. Motu Matu'u, 17. Whetu Henry, 18. Mark Reddish, 19. Genesis Mamea, 20. Frae Wilson, 21. Ope Peleseuma, 22. Jason Woodward.
REFEREE: Keith Brown
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HEAD TO HEAD: Played 34; Bay of Plenty 5, Wellington 27, drawn 2.
LAST TIME: July 31, 2011 (Mt Maunganui) - Bay of Plenty 32-0 Wellington.
WALKING WOUNDED: Bay of Plenty has lost two of its better players this season, Josh hall and Dan Perrin, who both suffered broken hands in the loss at Napier. Neither will be back this season. On the plus side, injured wingers Jack Wilson and Ben Smith were available although neither made the starting side. Wellington has made a number of changes from its last match, although most involve swapping guys between the bench and the run-on XV. One that doesn't is in the front row, where Eric Sione was ruled out with concussion and has been replaced by Solomona Sakalia.
FORM:
Bay of Plenty:
Round 2: beat Otago 31-19 (h)
Round 3: lost to Counties-Manukau 13-47 (a)
Round 4: lost to Waikato 6-15 (a)
Round 5: beat Auckland 37-16 (h)
Round 6: lost to Hawke's Bay 41-42 (a)
Wellington:
Round 2: beat Hawke's Bay 30-15 (h)
Round 3: beat Southland 40-8 (h)
Round 4: lost to Canterbury 12-20 (a)
Round 5: beat Waikato 29-13 (h)
Round 6: lost to Auckland 30-43 (a)
Bay of Plenty had every chance to win at Napier despite not playing overly well and making a ton of errors. For 80 minutes and a few seconds the Magpies played the same way and Bay of Plenty did, at least, capitalise on almost every scoring chance that came their way. But one last Hawke's Bay attack opened the defence again and nobody could catch Ihaia West as he headed for the posts to score the winning try. The Steamers got two points from the match, but it should have been five.
Wellington had a chance to claim a rare win on Eden Park last week, but then forgot how to do the things that had been serving them well this season. Auckland pushed the Wellington forwards around, forced a lot of mistakes and too many penalty chances proved costly as Gareth Anscombe kicked the Lions off the park. Wellington did score four tries and therefore claimed one point, but they never really looked like potential winners at any stage.
WHO'S HOT: Two guys who haven't played much this season have big roles for Bay of Plenty this week. John Pareanga takes over at hooker from Dan Perrin and will be looking to fulfil the same busy role, while maintaining the Bay's lineout efficiency - he's normally good in this area. He can also be a strong contributor around the field, and that will be needed. Chris Noakes steps into first-five and will be asked to direct the team around the field; at Mt Maunganui, that also means using the wind cleverly. His goal-kicking will be another important feature. Lelia Masaga was outstanding on attack at Napier, either threatening or actually busting the line, but some of his defensive work was not of the same standard. No doubt the Bay will want more of the attack and more on defence; if that happens Masaga may well be a key player.
Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen has already had a big season and his form remains good; at Auckland he was one of Wellington's best forwards and certainly one of the strongest ball-carriers. He is already a good scrummaging prop, so the round-the-field stuff only increases his value to the side. Scott Fuglistaller has not received many headlines this season but he has collected a lot of bangs and bruises in the team's cause, not to mention pinching a few turnovers and displaying good timing with his link play. His battle with the Bay loosies will be a good one. Lima Sopoaga is another first-five whose season has been curtailed by injury, but there were signs at Auckland that he can still produce the magic touches despite limited game time. If he gets it right, he can spark plenty of dangerous movements and he's already established as a good goal-kicker.
WE THINK: If table standings are anything to go by, Wellington should get this done reasonably comfortably, but Bay of Plenty is an opponent they often have real trouble with. You suspect last year's scoreline will get a mention in the Wellington build-up, and it should hurt. The Bay has shown some brilliance at times this year but, on Friday, defensive frailties really cost them. It's a hard one to pick, but Wellington might have a slight edge; we'll give it to the visitors by five.
TEAMS:
Bay of Plenty: 1. Tristan Moran, 2. John Pareanga, 3. Josh Hohneck, 4. Culum Retallick, 5. Leon Power, 6. Dan Goodwin, 7. Tanerau Latimer (capt), 8. Luke Braid, 9. Lewis Hancock, 10. Chris Noakes, 11. Mafi Kefu, 12. Phil Burleigh, 13. Kendrick Lynn, 14. Lelia Masaga, 15. Lance MacDonald.
Reserves: 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Greg Pleasants-Tate, 18. Carl Axtens, 19. Jesse Acton, 20. Nick McCashin, 21. Simon Rolleston, 22. Jack Wilson or Maru Henry.
Wellington: 1. Solomon Sakalia, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, 4. Jeremy Thrush (capt), 5. Ross Filipo, 6. Lua Lokotui, 7. Scott Fuglistaller, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Kayne Hammington, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 11. Matt Proctor, 12. Shaun Treeby, 13. Tim Bateman, 14. Alipate Leiua, 15. Charlie Ngatai.
Reserves: 16. Motu Matu'u, 17. Whetu Henry, 18. Mark Reddish, 19. Genesis Mamea, 20. Frae Wilson, 21. Ope Peleseuma, 22. Jason Woodward.
REFEREE: Keith Brown
Pete says.
I've been let down too many times by BOP. The last time against Hawkes bay at the death in extra injury time.
I thought Wellington Lions could take Auckland last time, only to be beaten by the team that IMO will win the championship.
I think Lions will win easy here. Their backs are top class and their forwards should be able to give them plenty of ball in decent conditions.
LIONS by 12
Lions won by 10
Preview: Southland v Northland
Sportal.co.nz - (25/09/2012) - 0 Comments
0 Comments
Southland are traditionally associated with
hard forward play and Northland with a physical, high-speed game, so
this clash of north and south and the contrasting styles promises an
interesting match at Invercargill.
VENUE & TIME: Rugby Park, Invercargill, Wednesday September 26 @ 1935
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 33; Southland 15, Northland 17, drawn 1.
LAST TIME: October 1, 2010 (Whangarei) – Southland 22-33 Northland.
WALKING WOUNDED: Robbie Robinson will be a big loss for the Stags, after he broke a bone in his foot in the first half at Albany. It was obvious something was wrong when he was seen hobbling back after a long kick, but that might well be the last thing he does in rugby boots this season. Northland made a few changes, but these were more juggling than anything else. Ash Moeke has been named to start after missing last Saturday's match, which has to make the Cambridge Blues feel better about life.
FORM:
Southland:
Round 2: lost to Wellington 8-40 (a)
Round 3: lost to Otago 10-15 (h)
Round 4: lost to Tasman 10-13 (a)
Round 5: beat Hawke's Bay 35-7 (h)
Round 6: beat North Harbour 27-17 (a)
Northland:
Round 2: beat Waikato 29-27 (a)
Round 3: lost to Manawatu 20-33 (h)
Round 4: beat North Harbour 18-17 (h)
Round 5: beat Tasman 20-17 (a)
Round 6: lost to Taranaki 31-32 (h)
Southland got off to a lousy start, dropping their first four matches and not playing well in any of them, even if things did start to improve in the Tasman match. But the last two have been a lot better, and that's mainly due to the forwards playing like the Southland pack that we all know from the last couple of years. For whatever reason, the big men were slow getting started but now they're firing a lot of other things are falling into place for the Stags.
Northland is having one of those inconsistent seasons, but they're only just falling short of having a very good one. Although they only lost by one point to Taranaki, it's fair to point out they were eight behind with a minute to play so a victory was highly unlikely, but for the most part Northland has been in with a shout in every game it has played, and this year they have shown the ability to get over the line in those tight ones – which is why they're right in the playoff mix.
WHO'S HOT: Southland got home against North Harbour on the back of some sterling work up front, especially at the breakdown and on the tackle. Tim Boys had an outstanding game – and was showing the scars of battle by the end of it – but he did a great deal of good work over the ball and forced several turnovers. Sure, he made an early error that cost points but got those back with a try of his own, and overall he was mighty. Jason Rutledge was another who proved a real menace at the breakdown and late in the game pinched several turnovers when Harbour was threatening, while his lineout work was also good. Scott Eade provided the bulk of the points, kicking for goal well in a tricky breeze and his 17 points were enough to get his side home. He has been accurate off the tee all year, and his boot may well play a big role on Wednesday night.
Northland's real strength against Taranaki was its backline, and as well as scoring four tries the Cambridge Blues looked dangerous on many other occasions. Both halfbacks, Samisoni Fisilau and Rhyan Caine, were good when they were on the park and both sparked a lot of the attacking play with some clever running, good clearances and nicely balanced option-taking. Although both are more than happy to take the line on, they bring different skills to the game and replacing one with the other means defences have to adjust quickly. Cam Goodhue was often prominent with ball in hand, and was never afraid to smash up into the heart of the defence. He normally presented the ball well when he did that, so play moved on quickly from the initial breakdown and the Taranaki defence was often scrambling to cover the next play.
WE THINK: The two sides play completely different styles, so the issue here is whether Southland can control the tempo as in the last couple of games. That doesn't necessarily mean the game will be slow – in fact, the Stags do things quickly when they're firing – but Northland definitely has the more dangerous backline and if they're allowed room to run they'll do damage. We think the home side will be able to control the pace, and therefore we will pick Southland by one score.
TEAMS:
Southland: 1. Jamie Mackintosh (capt), 2. Jason Rutledge, 3. Nick Barrett, 4. Josh Bekhuis, 5. Alex Ryan, 6. Dion Bates, 7. Tim Boys, 8. Elliot Dixon, 9. Jimmy Cowan, 10. Scott Eade, 11. Tim Cornforth, 12. Cardiff Vaega, 13. Nathan Hohaia, 14. Junior Ngaluafe, 15. Marty McKenzie.
Reserves: 16. Brayden Mitchell, 17. Tukiterangi Raimona, 18. Hoani MacDonald, 19. Scott McKee, 20. Tayler Adams, 21. Matt Saunders, 22. Mark Wells.
Northland: 1. Ross Wright, 2. David Hall, 3. Justin Davies, 4. Jack Whetton, 5. Bryce Williams (capt), 6. Hale T-Pole, 7. Jack Ram, 8. Cam Goodhue, 9. Samisoni Fisilau, 10. Ash Moeke, 11. Tau Fa'asisila, 12. Derek Carpenter, 13. Rene Ranger, 14. Dan Caprice, 15. Fa'atoina Autagavaia.
Reserves: 16. Tone Kopelani, 17. Scott Vessey, 18. Daniel Faleafa, 19. Dan Pryor, 20. Tane Takalua, 21. Eddie Paea, 22. Mateo Malupo.
REFEREE: Richard Kelly
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HEAD TO HEAD: Played 33; Southland 15, Northland 17, drawn 1.
LAST TIME: October 1, 2010 (Whangarei) – Southland 22-33 Northland.
WALKING WOUNDED: Robbie Robinson will be a big loss for the Stags, after he broke a bone in his foot in the first half at Albany. It was obvious something was wrong when he was seen hobbling back after a long kick, but that might well be the last thing he does in rugby boots this season. Northland made a few changes, but these were more juggling than anything else. Ash Moeke has been named to start after missing last Saturday's match, which has to make the Cambridge Blues feel better about life.
FORM:
Southland:
Round 2: lost to Wellington 8-40 (a)
Round 3: lost to Otago 10-15 (h)
Round 4: lost to Tasman 10-13 (a)
Round 5: beat Hawke's Bay 35-7 (h)
Round 6: beat North Harbour 27-17 (a)
Northland:
Round 2: beat Waikato 29-27 (a)
Round 3: lost to Manawatu 20-33 (h)
Round 4: beat North Harbour 18-17 (h)
Round 5: beat Tasman 20-17 (a)
Round 6: lost to Taranaki 31-32 (h)
Southland got off to a lousy start, dropping their first four matches and not playing well in any of them, even if things did start to improve in the Tasman match. But the last two have been a lot better, and that's mainly due to the forwards playing like the Southland pack that we all know from the last couple of years. For whatever reason, the big men were slow getting started but now they're firing a lot of other things are falling into place for the Stags.
Northland is having one of those inconsistent seasons, but they're only just falling short of having a very good one. Although they only lost by one point to Taranaki, it's fair to point out they were eight behind with a minute to play so a victory was highly unlikely, but for the most part Northland has been in with a shout in every game it has played, and this year they have shown the ability to get over the line in those tight ones – which is why they're right in the playoff mix.
WHO'S HOT: Southland got home against North Harbour on the back of some sterling work up front, especially at the breakdown and on the tackle. Tim Boys had an outstanding game – and was showing the scars of battle by the end of it – but he did a great deal of good work over the ball and forced several turnovers. Sure, he made an early error that cost points but got those back with a try of his own, and overall he was mighty. Jason Rutledge was another who proved a real menace at the breakdown and late in the game pinched several turnovers when Harbour was threatening, while his lineout work was also good. Scott Eade provided the bulk of the points, kicking for goal well in a tricky breeze and his 17 points were enough to get his side home. He has been accurate off the tee all year, and his boot may well play a big role on Wednesday night.
Northland's real strength against Taranaki was its backline, and as well as scoring four tries the Cambridge Blues looked dangerous on many other occasions. Both halfbacks, Samisoni Fisilau and Rhyan Caine, were good when they were on the park and both sparked a lot of the attacking play with some clever running, good clearances and nicely balanced option-taking. Although both are more than happy to take the line on, they bring different skills to the game and replacing one with the other means defences have to adjust quickly. Cam Goodhue was often prominent with ball in hand, and was never afraid to smash up into the heart of the defence. He normally presented the ball well when he did that, so play moved on quickly from the initial breakdown and the Taranaki defence was often scrambling to cover the next play.
WE THINK: The two sides play completely different styles, so the issue here is whether Southland can control the tempo as in the last couple of games. That doesn't necessarily mean the game will be slow – in fact, the Stags do things quickly when they're firing – but Northland definitely has the more dangerous backline and if they're allowed room to run they'll do damage. We think the home side will be able to control the pace, and therefore we will pick Southland by one score.
TEAMS:
Southland: 1. Jamie Mackintosh (capt), 2. Jason Rutledge, 3. Nick Barrett, 4. Josh Bekhuis, 5. Alex Ryan, 6. Dion Bates, 7. Tim Boys, 8. Elliot Dixon, 9. Jimmy Cowan, 10. Scott Eade, 11. Tim Cornforth, 12. Cardiff Vaega, 13. Nathan Hohaia, 14. Junior Ngaluafe, 15. Marty McKenzie.
Reserves: 16. Brayden Mitchell, 17. Tukiterangi Raimona, 18. Hoani MacDonald, 19. Scott McKee, 20. Tayler Adams, 21. Matt Saunders, 22. Mark Wells.
Northland: 1. Ross Wright, 2. David Hall, 3. Justin Davies, 4. Jack Whetton, 5. Bryce Williams (capt), 6. Hale T-Pole, 7. Jack Ram, 8. Cam Goodhue, 9. Samisoni Fisilau, 10. Ash Moeke, 11. Tau Fa'asisila, 12. Derek Carpenter, 13. Rene Ranger, 14. Dan Caprice, 15. Fa'atoina Autagavaia.
Reserves: 16. Tone Kopelani, 17. Scott Vessey, 18. Daniel Faleafa, 19. Dan Pryor, 20. Tane Takalua, 21. Eddie Paea, 22. Mateo Malupo.
REFEREE: Richard Kelly
Pete thinks stags will win by a bit more. Both have accurate penalty kickers which will be needed if it rains as anticipated. Come on Jimmy Cowan, finally show us why you were just recently an All Black
Stags by 12.
Game over and stags win 16-12.
Not impressive
Preview: Waikato v Tasman
Sportal.co.nz - (27/09/2012) - 0 Comments
In three of their five previous meetings
Tasman has given Waikato all it can handle and, on two occasions, more
than that. With both sides stuttering in the playoff race, this match
takes on extra importance and the loser may find the road to the four
getting a little too steep. 0 Comments|
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HEAD TO HEAD: Played 5; Waikato 3, Tasman 2.
LAST TIME: July 29, 2011 (Hamilton) - Waikato 35-6 Tasman.
WALKING WOUNDED: Toby Smith and Declan O'Donnell were on day-to-day watch after both suffered ankle damage in the Canterbury game; O'Donnell will start against Tasman but Smith misses out. Waikato also made two optional changes, with Rory Grice and Joe Webber starting ahead of Matt Vant Leven and Trent Renata. Tasman has named an unchanged 22 for the match.
FORM:
Waikato:
Round 2: lost to Northland 27-29 (h)
Round 3: lost to Auckland 22-32 (a)
Round 4: beat Bay of Plenty 15-6 (h)
Round 5: lost to Wellington 13-29 (a)
Round 6: lost to Canterbury 27-52 (h)
Tasman:
Round 2: lost to Taranaki 40-49 (a, RS)
Round 3: beat Manawatu 27-3 (a)
Round 4: beat Southland 13-10 (h)
Round 5: lost to Northland 17-20 (h)
Round 6: lost to Otago 13-39 (a)
Waikato has not been in the best of nick this season and last week was probably their toughest outing to date. Down 3-22 inside 12 minutes and then 10-29 not long afterwards, it took a big effort just to get back into the match at halftime. That was achieved and another penalty soon afterwards narrowed the gap to two points, but from there on it was all Canterbury and the final score was an accurate reflection of a match Waikato was always struggling with.
Tasman started at a hundred miles an hour in Dunedin, posting the first try inside 30 seconds, but the torrid pace took its toll and Otago was back in it by halftime. From there, the Otago forwards took over and controlled the tempo and possession, often forcing mistakes and winning most of the breakdowns. Tasman still threatened but Otago was good enough to defuse each attack, and in the end skipper Andrew Goodman was clearly unhappy with his side's performance.
WHO'S HOT: Ben May was a willing worker for Waikato last week, doing his tight work well and often popping up around the field to make a contribution in broken play. A rare try capped a strong game from the big bloke. Alex Bradley took a real battering in the cause last week, often charging into the thickest defence and just as often getting his team on the front foot. Ball security wasn't an issue for the Waikato forwards, and Bradley played a big part in that. The Waikato backline hasn't fired this season, although one bright spot was the performance of Piers Francis at first-five. He recovered from a head clash early on to spark a lot of his side's best play, showing fine hands and good imagination to create opportunities without taking rash chances. If the rest of the backline can get on the same page, Waikato will be more dangerous in this game.
Tasman dominated territory and possession at Dunedin, and the pack generally did a lot of things well. Joe Wheeler was to the fore, winning his lineout ball and making plenty of hard yards with ball in hand. He has enjoyed a good season and is a key man in the Makos pack. Campbell Johnstone has been playing some really good football this year and he has never been bested by any opponent; when he left the field early a vital part of the Tasman scrum was removed. His all-round game is also integral to Tasman's performance, as he knows what to do and how to control a game. Robbie Malneek continues to threaten on attack and he made several dangerous runs through the Otago backline, but it was one of those days when Tasman couldn't make all of them pay. He will, however, give the Waikato defence plenty of headaches in this game.
WE THINK: Neither side is travelling especially well at the moment, but both have the potential to turn in a big game - you just don't know when it might happen. Given that both turned in their poorest efforts of the year in their most recent outings, you have to suspect things will be better this time out but that still doesn't make it easier to pick the winner with any confidence. We'll go for Waikato, but they might have to do it a bit ugly and the score may not be too high.
TEAMS:
Waikato: 1. Latu Talakai, 2. Vance Elliott, 3. Ben May, 4. Chris Middleton, 5. Sam Kilgour, 6. Rory Grice, 7. Zak Hohneck, 8. Alex Bradley (capt), 9. Brendon Leonard, 10. Piers Francis, 11. Joe Webber, 12. Jackson Willison, 13. Save Tokula, 14. Declan O'Donnell, 15. Tim Mikkelson.
Reserves: 16. Kalem Chan Boon, 17. Ted Tauroa, 18. Anthony Wise, 19. Jono Armstrong, 20. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21. Sam Christie, 22. Trent Renata.
Tasman: 1. Tim Perry, 2. Quentin MacDonald, 3. Campbell Johnstone, 4. Filipo Levi, 5. Joe Wheeler, 6. Tevita Kolomatangi, 7. Shane Christie, 8. Jordan Taufua, 9. Jeremy Su'a, 10. Hayden Cripps, 11. Robbie Malneek, 12. Andrew Goodman (capt), 13. Kieron Fonotia, 14. Peter Betham, 15. Tom Marshall.
Reserves: 16. Francis Smith, 17. Sam Prattley, 18. Riki Hoeata, 19. Vernon Fredricks, 20. Gary Redmond, 21. Steve Alfeld, 22. Albert Nikoro.
Pete says Waikato easily by 15.
Game over and Waikato nearly lose but held on to win 20-19.
Tasman backs were good. Betham was excellent.
Pete says. Definitely the game of the round.
I was a huge fan of Counties' coach Tana Umaga as a player and now as the man who has turned around the fortunes of Counties. Surely he deserves a S15 contract as head coach?
The way Auckland controlled every aspect of the game against Wellington last time out, tells me they should win this fairly easily. At least by as much as the Lions victory which was 13. I had previously thought the Lions would be the main contender for Premiership honors. Now I think it is Auckland.
The weather says rain in the area, so I hope it stays away and allows Orks to play their game.
Auckland by 14
game over and Auckland just won 22-18. I was very disappointed. Counties will easily win their division and their odds must be odds on
Game over and Waikato nearly lose but held on to win 20-19.
Tasman backs were good. Betham was excellent.
Preview: Auckland v Counties Manukau
Sportal.co.nz - (28/09/2012) - 0 Comments
0 Comments
Auckland and Counties-Manukau come into
this game on top of their respective divisions and, with both playing a
similar sort of fast-paced, aggressive game, an entertaining and
probably high scoring clash is in prospect.
VENUE & TIME: Eden Park, Auckland, Friday September 28 @ 1935
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 54; Auckland 42, Counties-Manukau 11, drawn 1.
LAST TIME: August 11, 2011 (Auckland) - Auckland 25-22 Counties-Manukau.
WALKING WOUNDED: Auckland made only one change from the team that played Wellington, returning Ofa Tu'ungafasi to the starting lineup and giving Pauliasi Manu the bench seat. Counties lost Frank Halai to a hand injury, but apart from that and a middle-row shuffle Tana Umaga has stayed with the team that started at Palmerston North.
FORM:
Auckland:
Round 3: beat Manawatu 59-16 (h)
Round 4: beat Waikato 32-22 (h)
Round 5: lost to Bay of Plenty 16-37 (a)
Round 6: beat Taranaki 43-32 (h)
Round 7: beat Wellington 43-30 (h)
Counties-Manukau:
Round 2: lost to Hawke's Bay 30-37 (a)
Round 3: beat North Harbour 27-15 (a)
Round 4: beat Bay of Plenty 47-13 (h)
Round 5: beat Otago 43-12 (h)
Round 6: beat Manawatu 31-28 (a)
Auckland played well to complete two good wins over fellow top of the table sides in the last week or so, beating both Taranaki and Wellington by similar scores if in different fashions. The forwards played a lot better against Wellington, bossing the breakdown and often making good ground with hard running and clever offloading. The backs, as ever, thrived on front-foot ball and some nice tries were scored to set up the victory that was completed with fine goal-kicking.
Counties-Manukau played like a side that expected to win without doing the hard yards at Palmerston North, an idea Manawatu was quick to throw back in their faces. In fact the Steelers were well behind (3-16) at halftime but recovered to post four tries on the way to a narrow victory. When Counties started concentrating and playing properly, they were good enough to create several excellent team tries and, like Auckland, profited from some accurate kicking for goal.
WHO'S HOT: Everywhere you look there are interesting match-ups in this game and very few have a clear favourite. One of the best will come in the front row, where impressive Auckland youngster Ofa Tu'ungafasi squares off against the Counties veteran Simon Lemalu and it won't just be at scrum time that these two will butt heads. Both do a lot of work in broken play - you often see them acting as link men in running play - and they're not scared to make a tackle or several. Another Auckland youngster who squares off against a seasoned player is No 8 Joe Edwards, who has looked good in his time on the field so far. He carries the ball well and does his share in the trenches, while he's also a good lineout option. His opposite number, Adam Cathcart, has put in a big season on both sides of the ball and is one of the Steelers hard men at the breakdown, often forcing turnovers due to sheer aggression over the ball. In the backs, there will be few better battles than the one between Hadleigh Parkes, Auckland's steady man in a rearguard who like to attack at every opportunity, and Bundee Aki, whose all-round game has just been rewarded with a Chiefs contract. They're different players; Aki is a more in-your-face type and more likely to break a defensive line open, but underestimating the contribution Parkes makes will leave any team vulnerable to being hurt as he is quick to grasp an opportunity. There are plenty more one-on-ones to savour, and concentrating on the individual battles may give a few clues as to who is getting on top as the match progresses.
WE THINK: Easily the match of the round, this one could go either way without the result being an upset. Auckland would earn points on home ground and their standing as Premiership leaders, but Counties is the most dangerous attacking team in the competition at present and really walloped Bay of Plenty a couple of weeks back. The TAB gives Auckland a 6.5-point handicap, which most would agree is about right, but if there's going to be an upset in the round it could well be in this game. We'll stick our necks out and say Counties by one score - but that score could be 35-30.
TEAMS:
Auckland: 1. Angus Ta'avao, 2. Tom McCartney, 3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 4. Liaki Moli, 5. Andrew van der Heijden, 6. Steven Luatua, 7. Sean Polwart, 8. Joe Edwards, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 11. Dave Thomas, 12. Hadleigh Parkes (capt), 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 14. Ben Lam, 15.Charles Piutau.
Reserves: 16. Nathan Vella, 17. Pauliasi Manu, 18. Sean Brookman, 19. Daniel Braid, 20. Scott Patterson, 21. Simon Hickey, 22. Lolagi Visinia.
Counties-Manukau: 1. Simon Lemalu, 2. Mahonri Schwalger, 3. Matt Talaese, 4. Jimmy Tupou, 5. Daniel Adongo, 6. Ma'ama Vaipulu, 7. DJ Forbes (capt), 8. Adam Cathcart, 9. August Pulu, 10. Baden Kerr, 11. Sherwin Stowers, 12. Bundee Aki, 13. Reynold Lee-Lo, 14. Tony Pulu, 15. Tim Nanai-Williams.
Reserves: 16. Suliasi Taufalele, 17. Maka Tatafu, 18. Jamie Chipman, 19. Sikeli Nabou, 20. David Bason, 21. Ray Laulala, 22. Tyrone Lefau.
REFEREE: Nick Briant
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HEAD TO HEAD: Played 54; Auckland 42, Counties-Manukau 11, drawn 1.
LAST TIME: August 11, 2011 (Auckland) - Auckland 25-22 Counties-Manukau.
WALKING WOUNDED: Auckland made only one change from the team that played Wellington, returning Ofa Tu'ungafasi to the starting lineup and giving Pauliasi Manu the bench seat. Counties lost Frank Halai to a hand injury, but apart from that and a middle-row shuffle Tana Umaga has stayed with the team that started at Palmerston North.
FORM:
Auckland:
Round 3: beat Manawatu 59-16 (h)
Round 4: beat Waikato 32-22 (h)
Round 5: lost to Bay of Plenty 16-37 (a)
Round 6: beat Taranaki 43-32 (h)
Round 7: beat Wellington 43-30 (h)
Counties-Manukau:
Round 2: lost to Hawke's Bay 30-37 (a)
Round 3: beat North Harbour 27-15 (a)
Round 4: beat Bay of Plenty 47-13 (h)
Round 5: beat Otago 43-12 (h)
Round 6: beat Manawatu 31-28 (a)
Auckland played well to complete two good wins over fellow top of the table sides in the last week or so, beating both Taranaki and Wellington by similar scores if in different fashions. The forwards played a lot better against Wellington, bossing the breakdown and often making good ground with hard running and clever offloading. The backs, as ever, thrived on front-foot ball and some nice tries were scored to set up the victory that was completed with fine goal-kicking.
Counties-Manukau played like a side that expected to win without doing the hard yards at Palmerston North, an idea Manawatu was quick to throw back in their faces. In fact the Steelers were well behind (3-16) at halftime but recovered to post four tries on the way to a narrow victory. When Counties started concentrating and playing properly, they were good enough to create several excellent team tries and, like Auckland, profited from some accurate kicking for goal.
WHO'S HOT: Everywhere you look there are interesting match-ups in this game and very few have a clear favourite. One of the best will come in the front row, where impressive Auckland youngster Ofa Tu'ungafasi squares off against the Counties veteran Simon Lemalu and it won't just be at scrum time that these two will butt heads. Both do a lot of work in broken play - you often see them acting as link men in running play - and they're not scared to make a tackle or several. Another Auckland youngster who squares off against a seasoned player is No 8 Joe Edwards, who has looked good in his time on the field so far. He carries the ball well and does his share in the trenches, while he's also a good lineout option. His opposite number, Adam Cathcart, has put in a big season on both sides of the ball and is one of the Steelers hard men at the breakdown, often forcing turnovers due to sheer aggression over the ball. In the backs, there will be few better battles than the one between Hadleigh Parkes, Auckland's steady man in a rearguard who like to attack at every opportunity, and Bundee Aki, whose all-round game has just been rewarded with a Chiefs contract. They're different players; Aki is a more in-your-face type and more likely to break a defensive line open, but underestimating the contribution Parkes makes will leave any team vulnerable to being hurt as he is quick to grasp an opportunity. There are plenty more one-on-ones to savour, and concentrating on the individual battles may give a few clues as to who is getting on top as the match progresses.
WE THINK: Easily the match of the round, this one could go either way without the result being an upset. Auckland would earn points on home ground and their standing as Premiership leaders, but Counties is the most dangerous attacking team in the competition at present and really walloped Bay of Plenty a couple of weeks back. The TAB gives Auckland a 6.5-point handicap, which most would agree is about right, but if there's going to be an upset in the round it could well be in this game. We'll stick our necks out and say Counties by one score - but that score could be 35-30.
TEAMS:
Auckland: 1. Angus Ta'avao, 2. Tom McCartney, 3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 4. Liaki Moli, 5. Andrew van der Heijden, 6. Steven Luatua, 7. Sean Polwart, 8. Joe Edwards, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 11. Dave Thomas, 12. Hadleigh Parkes (capt), 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 14. Ben Lam, 15.Charles Piutau.
Reserves: 16. Nathan Vella, 17. Pauliasi Manu, 18. Sean Brookman, 19. Daniel Braid, 20. Scott Patterson, 21. Simon Hickey, 22. Lolagi Visinia.
Counties-Manukau: 1. Simon Lemalu, 2. Mahonri Schwalger, 3. Matt Talaese, 4. Jimmy Tupou, 5. Daniel Adongo, 6. Ma'ama Vaipulu, 7. DJ Forbes (capt), 8. Adam Cathcart, 9. August Pulu, 10. Baden Kerr, 11. Sherwin Stowers, 12. Bundee Aki, 13. Reynold Lee-Lo, 14. Tony Pulu, 15. Tim Nanai-Williams.
Reserves: 16. Suliasi Taufalele, 17. Maka Tatafu, 18. Jamie Chipman, 19. Sikeli Nabou, 20. David Bason, 21. Ray Laulala, 22. Tyrone Lefau.
REFEREE: Nick Briant
Pete says. Definitely the game of the round.
I was a huge fan of Counties' coach Tana Umaga as a player and now as the man who has turned around the fortunes of Counties. Surely he deserves a S15 contract as head coach?
The way Auckland controlled every aspect of the game against Wellington last time out, tells me they should win this fairly easily. At least by as much as the Lions victory which was 13. I had previously thought the Lions would be the main contender for Premiership honors. Now I think it is Auckland.
The weather says rain in the area, so I hope it stays away and allows Orks to play their game.
Auckland by 14
game over and Auckland just won 22-18. I was very disappointed. Counties will easily win their division and their odds must be odds on
Preview: Taranaki v Manawatu (RS)
Sportal.co.nz - (28/09/2012) - 0 Comments
0 Comments
Taranaki and Manawatu have a history of
rugged encounters that goes back well over 100 years. This isn't the
first time the Ranfurly Shield has been at stake either, and those
matches are normally twice as hard but, so far, invariably won by the
holder.
VENUE & TIME: Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, Saturday September 29 @ 1435
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 84; Taranaki 54, Manawatu 23, drawn 7.
LAST TIME: August 6, 2011 (Palmerston North) - Manawatu 15-10 Taranaki.
WALKING WOUNDED: Scott Waldrom's season is over after he suffered a broken arm at Whangarei last week, while Chris Smylie damaged knee ligaments in the same match and was on day-to-day watch before being ruled out. There was better news with a couple of long-term injuries, as Laurence Corlett's leg infection has cleared, while Andre Taylor's broken finger was sufficiently healed for him to be chosen; these were two of Colin Cooper's five voluntary changes. James Oliver (groin) was the only player not available to Jason O'Halloran this week.
FORM:
Taranaki:
Round 2: beat Tasman 49-40 (h, RS)
Round 3: beat Hawke's Bay 22-6 (h, RS)
Round 4: beat Canterbury 18-9 (h, RS)
Round 5: lost to Auckland 32-43 (a)
Round 6: beat Northland 32-31 (a)
Manawatu:
Round 2: lost to Auckland 16-59 (a)
Round 3: beat Northland 33-20 (a)
Round 4: lost to Tasman 3-27 (h)
Round 5: beat North Harbour 23-20 (a)
Round 6: lost to Counties-Manukau 28-31 (h)
Taranaki had to work hard against Northland but eventually got a narrow win, mainly thanks to Frazier Climo having a perfect day off the kicking tee. He landed all eight shots at goal and added one of the two tries for 27 points; without that contribution, Taranaki would have been well back. Errors at vital times didn't help in a fractured game that saw nearly 30 penalties awarded, but the Northland backs were a much more dangerous set on the day. Still, a win is a win, and the four points certainly don't hurt Taranaki's playoff chances.
Manawatu took advantage of some obvious complacency in the Counties team to run up a 16-3 halftime lead, but were not able to hang on for what would have been a real upset despite giving the game everything for 80 minutes. Manawatu fashioned some good tries of its own, and on many occasions stretched what has been a solid Counties defensive line. It may not have been Manawatu's best effort of the year, but it certainly was more consistent than either of the previous two.
WHO'S HOT: With both Scott Waldrom and Jarrad Hoeata missing this match, pressure will go on two of Taranaki's up-and-coming loosies in what promises to be a physical go against the Manawatu trio. Kane Barrett missed games with illness but turned in a good one last week, doing hard yards on either side of the ball. There were several occasions he took possession into contact while the team regrouped, which was often just the play needed. Blade Thomson has had moments both good and bad this season; he looks strong taking the ball up and often breaks the gain line, but he will also be asked to tidy up delivery from the scrum-base. He's a good young player; this stuff is just attention to detail. Frazier Climo had a fine game at Whangarei, scoring all but five of Taranaki's points and nearly adding another try to that. A dead-eye kicker has been high on Cooper's wish-list since Beauden Barrett left, and it looks as if he's found one just as a couple of Shield matches loom.
Manawatu knows that the forwards have to lead the way, as is the case in any Shield challenge. The Turbos also have a strong and experienced pack to do the job and you can be sure Grant Polson and Nick Crosswell will be to the fore. Polson provides a steady scrum anchor, a solid presence in the ground battle at lineout time and a non-stop commitment to the trench warfare. Crosswell shines at the breakdown where his aggression and strength over the ball help Manawatu win a lot of penalties, while he also does a great deal of the hard defensive work. He may not be the ball-runner a lot of other flankers are, but he is as valuable as any in the competition. Lewis Marshall gets the start at fullback and he'll be worth watching, as he brings a positive mindset, plenty of flair and no little skill to the job. Although he has been limited to cameo roles for much of the season, you will have seen him featuring prominently in a large number of Manawatu scoring plays already.
WE THINK: It may take 40 minutes or more, but we think Taranaki will eventually take control of this game through the forwards and drive on to the win. They have played very effective Shield rugby to date, coping with whatever the challenger throws at them early and closing well. Manawatu won't go quietly and any slackness from Taranaki will be costly, but Taranaki defending the Shield is a different team from the road version and they should be good enough here.
TEAMS:
Taranaki: 1. Chris King, 2. Laurence Corlett, 3. Michael Bent, 4. Craig Clarke (capt), 5. Jason Eaton, 6. Kane Barrett, 7. Chris Walker, 8. Blade Thomson, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 10. James Marshall, 11. Frazier Climo, 12. Jayden Hayward, 13. Willie Rickards, 14. Andre Taylor, 15. Kurt Baker.
Reserves: 16. Sione Lea, 17. Carl Carmichael, 18. James Broadhurst, 19. Berny Hall, 20. Brett Goodin, 21. Isaia Tuifua, 22. Jackson Ormond.
Manawatu: 1. Grant Polson, 2. Rob Foreman, 3. Ma'afu Fia, 4. Fraser Stone, 5. Michael Fitzgerald, 6. Nick Crosswell (capt), 7. Callum Gibbins, 8. Hamish Gosling, 9. Papa Wharewera, 10. Junior Tomasi Cama, 11. Nehe Milner-Skudder, 12. Matenga Baker, 13. Jason Emery, 14. Craig Clare, 15. Lewis Marshall.
Reserves: 16. Bryn Templeman, 17. David Te Moana, 18. Reece Robinson, 19. Antonio Kirikiri, 20. Karl Bryson, 21. Nathan George, 22. Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
REFEREE:Mike FraserPete says.
Agree with writer. Taranaki will do everything they can to keep ranfurly shield.The Naki are premier division with a played 6 won 5 record and pts for at 190 and pts against of 151 with a diff of + 39
Manawatu have played 6 and won 2 with a pts for of 114 and pts against of 187 and in the lower division.
Naki by 15
VENUE & TIME: Westpac Stadium, Wellington, Saturday September 29 @ 1735
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 25; Wellington 14, North Harbour 11.
LAST TIME: August 26, 2011 (Albany) – North Harbour 28-29 Wellington.
WALKING WOUNDED: Wellington has taken the chance to spell a few regulars, although most of them are on the bench. There has been a shuffle in the loose trio and the inside backs, while Dane Coles gets to wear No 16 this week. Harbour's only forward change is at No 8, which has been a trouble spot all season, but the inside backs have been shaken up this week. Bryn Hall returns at halfback while Codey Rei is the latest player to be handed Harbour's No 10 jersey; this position, like No 8, has never been satisfactorily filled.
FORM:
Wellington:
Round 3: beat Southland 40-8 (h)
Round 4: lost to Canterbury 12-20 (a)
Round 5: beat Waikato 29-13 (h)
Round 6: lost to Auckland 30-43 (a)
Round 7: beat Bay of Plenty 36-26 (a)
North Harbour:
Round 3: lost to Counties-Manukau 15-27 (h)
Round 4: lost to Northland 17-18 (a)
Round 5: lost to Manawatu 20-23 (h)
Round 6: lost to Otago 25-54 (a)
Round 7: lost to Southland 17-27 (h)
Wellington rebounded from a loss at Auckland to win a tough match at Mt Maunganui, doing a lot better through the forwards and playing some sensible and controlled rugby. The backs weren't slow to take a chance, but they weren't silly about taking risks. Having Lima Sopoaga back boosted the goal-kicking percentage, which had been no better than moderate until he banged over all eight shots. The Lions will be pleased with both the result and the way they played on Tuesday.
North Harbour is unlikely to be happy about much, except that there are only three games to go in what has been a miserable season. They had their chances against Southland but were really hurt by penalties – Scott Eade kicked all five penalty attempts – and then more basic errors at defensive set-pieces allowed Jimmy Cowan to nip in for a simple try. Harbour seems to be finding new ways to lose each week, and both coaches and players will be wondering how and where it will all stop.
WHO'S HOT: Ross Filipo had a big match for Wellington during the week, doing all his core tasks well and making a solid contribution around the park. He also brings a lot of experience, and that comes to the fore in tight situations. Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen is another whose form line this year has been almost dead level and set at a high level; he provides plenty of grunt in the tight stuff and is surprisingly mobile and agile for such a big man. He has come an awfully long way in his first season of first-class rugby. Charlie Ngatai has moved from the three-quarters to fullback and looked quite at home in his schoolboy position, showing good positional sense and a thumping booth that often gained 40m or more from defensive situations. Although he has played every game this season, Tuesday's outing was one of his best.
North Harbour's season-long struggles mean that hardly anyone stands out consistently. One who does is Chris Smith, whose sure-handed catching is a lineout anchor and something the team can rely on. He is also getting around the park and doing his share in the trenches. James Parsons is a non-stop trier, who has maintained his standards even when things are going badly. He also seems to be an indestructible sort whose head never drops. Francis Saili has been the best of the Harbour backs, even in unfamiliar positions. He can break the line nicely, and his left boot is often a ground-gainer. Normally if good things are going to happen in the Harbour backline, Saili will be at the heart of the movement.
WE THINK: Wellington resisted the urge to throw all the reserves into this match and the important combinations have been retained, so now the players need to guard against complacency. With Wellington on top of the Premiership and Harbour last in the championship, it will be a test of the side's mental strength but, if they get it right, the Lions should take this game easily. Harbour simply makes too many mistakes, and far too many costly ones, to rate a chance here.
TEAMS:
Wellington: 1. Solomon Sakalia, 2. Motu Matu'u, 3. Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, 4. Jeremy Thrush (capt), 5. Ross Filipo, 6. Mark Reddish, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Genesis Mamea, 9. Frae Wilson, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 11. Jason Woodward, 12. Ope Peleseuma, 13. Tim Bateman, 14. Alipate Leiua, 15. Charlie Ngatai.
Reserves: 16. Dane Coles, 17. Whetu Henry, 18. Kaipati Gaualofa, 19. Pau Halafihi, 20. Kayne Hammington, 21. Shaun Treeby, 22. Matt Proctor.
North Harbour: 1. Alex Woonton, 2. James Parsons, 3. Ben Afeaki (capt), 4. Chris Smith, 5. Filo Paulo, 6. Irwin Finau, 7. Sam Hayes-Stevenson, 8. Jim Tuivaiti, 9. Bryn Hall, 10. Codey Rei, 11. Rudi Wulf, 12. Francis Saili, 13. Cory Aporo, 14. Nafi Tuitavake, 15. Luke Devcich.
Reserves: 16. Manu Leiataua, 17. Salesi Manu, 18. Api Ratuniyarawa, 19. Malakai Ravulo, 20. Brenton Helleur, 21. Pita Ahki, 22. David Raikuna.
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HEAD TO HEAD: Played 84; Taranaki 54, Manawatu 23, drawn 7.
LAST TIME: August 6, 2011 (Palmerston North) - Manawatu 15-10 Taranaki.
WALKING WOUNDED: Scott Waldrom's season is over after he suffered a broken arm at Whangarei last week, while Chris Smylie damaged knee ligaments in the same match and was on day-to-day watch before being ruled out. There was better news with a couple of long-term injuries, as Laurence Corlett's leg infection has cleared, while Andre Taylor's broken finger was sufficiently healed for him to be chosen; these were two of Colin Cooper's five voluntary changes. James Oliver (groin) was the only player not available to Jason O'Halloran this week.
FORM:
Taranaki:
Round 2: beat Tasman 49-40 (h, RS)
Round 3: beat Hawke's Bay 22-6 (h, RS)
Round 4: beat Canterbury 18-9 (h, RS)
Round 5: lost to Auckland 32-43 (a)
Round 6: beat Northland 32-31 (a)
Manawatu:
Round 2: lost to Auckland 16-59 (a)
Round 3: beat Northland 33-20 (a)
Round 4: lost to Tasman 3-27 (h)
Round 5: beat North Harbour 23-20 (a)
Round 6: lost to Counties-Manukau 28-31 (h)
Taranaki had to work hard against Northland but eventually got a narrow win, mainly thanks to Frazier Climo having a perfect day off the kicking tee. He landed all eight shots at goal and added one of the two tries for 27 points; without that contribution, Taranaki would have been well back. Errors at vital times didn't help in a fractured game that saw nearly 30 penalties awarded, but the Northland backs were a much more dangerous set on the day. Still, a win is a win, and the four points certainly don't hurt Taranaki's playoff chances.
Manawatu took advantage of some obvious complacency in the Counties team to run up a 16-3 halftime lead, but were not able to hang on for what would have been a real upset despite giving the game everything for 80 minutes. Manawatu fashioned some good tries of its own, and on many occasions stretched what has been a solid Counties defensive line. It may not have been Manawatu's best effort of the year, but it certainly was more consistent than either of the previous two.
WHO'S HOT: With both Scott Waldrom and Jarrad Hoeata missing this match, pressure will go on two of Taranaki's up-and-coming loosies in what promises to be a physical go against the Manawatu trio. Kane Barrett missed games with illness but turned in a good one last week, doing hard yards on either side of the ball. There were several occasions he took possession into contact while the team regrouped, which was often just the play needed. Blade Thomson has had moments both good and bad this season; he looks strong taking the ball up and often breaks the gain line, but he will also be asked to tidy up delivery from the scrum-base. He's a good young player; this stuff is just attention to detail. Frazier Climo had a fine game at Whangarei, scoring all but five of Taranaki's points and nearly adding another try to that. A dead-eye kicker has been high on Cooper's wish-list since Beauden Barrett left, and it looks as if he's found one just as a couple of Shield matches loom.
Manawatu knows that the forwards have to lead the way, as is the case in any Shield challenge. The Turbos also have a strong and experienced pack to do the job and you can be sure Grant Polson and Nick Crosswell will be to the fore. Polson provides a steady scrum anchor, a solid presence in the ground battle at lineout time and a non-stop commitment to the trench warfare. Crosswell shines at the breakdown where his aggression and strength over the ball help Manawatu win a lot of penalties, while he also does a great deal of the hard defensive work. He may not be the ball-runner a lot of other flankers are, but he is as valuable as any in the competition. Lewis Marshall gets the start at fullback and he'll be worth watching, as he brings a positive mindset, plenty of flair and no little skill to the job. Although he has been limited to cameo roles for much of the season, you will have seen him featuring prominently in a large number of Manawatu scoring plays already.
WE THINK: It may take 40 minutes or more, but we think Taranaki will eventually take control of this game through the forwards and drive on to the win. They have played very effective Shield rugby to date, coping with whatever the challenger throws at them early and closing well. Manawatu won't go quietly and any slackness from Taranaki will be costly, but Taranaki defending the Shield is a different team from the road version and they should be good enough here.
TEAMS:
Taranaki: 1. Chris King, 2. Laurence Corlett, 3. Michael Bent, 4. Craig Clarke (capt), 5. Jason Eaton, 6. Kane Barrett, 7. Chris Walker, 8. Blade Thomson, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 10. James Marshall, 11. Frazier Climo, 12. Jayden Hayward, 13. Willie Rickards, 14. Andre Taylor, 15. Kurt Baker.
Reserves: 16. Sione Lea, 17. Carl Carmichael, 18. James Broadhurst, 19. Berny Hall, 20. Brett Goodin, 21. Isaia Tuifua, 22. Jackson Ormond.
Manawatu: 1. Grant Polson, 2. Rob Foreman, 3. Ma'afu Fia, 4. Fraser Stone, 5. Michael Fitzgerald, 6. Nick Crosswell (capt), 7. Callum Gibbins, 8. Hamish Gosling, 9. Papa Wharewera, 10. Junior Tomasi Cama, 11. Nehe Milner-Skudder, 12. Matenga Baker, 13. Jason Emery, 14. Craig Clare, 15. Lewis Marshall.
Reserves: 16. Bryn Templeman, 17. David Te Moana, 18. Reece Robinson, 19. Antonio Kirikiri, 20. Karl Bryson, 21. Nathan George, 22. Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
REFEREE:Mike FraserPete says.
Agree with writer. Taranaki will do everything they can to keep ranfurly shield.The Naki are premier division with a played 6 won 5 record and pts for at 190 and pts against of 151 with a diff of + 39
Manawatu have played 6 and won 2 with a pts for of 114 and pts against of 187 and in the lower division.
Naki by 15
Preview: Wellington v North Harbour
Sportal.co.nz - (28/09/2012) - 0 Comments
Wellington and North Harbour have had some
interesting matches and the overall results are fairly close. The winner
is not necessarily the team the form-book suggests will take it either,
but if there's an upset this week the whole lot from both teams will be
off to the vet for swabbing. 0 Comments|
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HEAD TO HEAD: Played 25; Wellington 14, North Harbour 11.
LAST TIME: August 26, 2011 (Albany) – North Harbour 28-29 Wellington.
WALKING WOUNDED: Wellington has taken the chance to spell a few regulars, although most of them are on the bench. There has been a shuffle in the loose trio and the inside backs, while Dane Coles gets to wear No 16 this week. Harbour's only forward change is at No 8, which has been a trouble spot all season, but the inside backs have been shaken up this week. Bryn Hall returns at halfback while Codey Rei is the latest player to be handed Harbour's No 10 jersey; this position, like No 8, has never been satisfactorily filled.
FORM:
Wellington:
Round 3: beat Southland 40-8 (h)
Round 4: lost to Canterbury 12-20 (a)
Round 5: beat Waikato 29-13 (h)
Round 6: lost to Auckland 30-43 (a)
Round 7: beat Bay of Plenty 36-26 (a)
North Harbour:
Round 3: lost to Counties-Manukau 15-27 (h)
Round 4: lost to Northland 17-18 (a)
Round 5: lost to Manawatu 20-23 (h)
Round 6: lost to Otago 25-54 (a)
Round 7: lost to Southland 17-27 (h)
Wellington rebounded from a loss at Auckland to win a tough match at Mt Maunganui, doing a lot better through the forwards and playing some sensible and controlled rugby. The backs weren't slow to take a chance, but they weren't silly about taking risks. Having Lima Sopoaga back boosted the goal-kicking percentage, which had been no better than moderate until he banged over all eight shots. The Lions will be pleased with both the result and the way they played on Tuesday.
North Harbour is unlikely to be happy about much, except that there are only three games to go in what has been a miserable season. They had their chances against Southland but were really hurt by penalties – Scott Eade kicked all five penalty attempts – and then more basic errors at defensive set-pieces allowed Jimmy Cowan to nip in for a simple try. Harbour seems to be finding new ways to lose each week, and both coaches and players will be wondering how and where it will all stop.
WHO'S HOT: Ross Filipo had a big match for Wellington during the week, doing all his core tasks well and making a solid contribution around the park. He also brings a lot of experience, and that comes to the fore in tight situations. Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen is another whose form line this year has been almost dead level and set at a high level; he provides plenty of grunt in the tight stuff and is surprisingly mobile and agile for such a big man. He has come an awfully long way in his first season of first-class rugby. Charlie Ngatai has moved from the three-quarters to fullback and looked quite at home in his schoolboy position, showing good positional sense and a thumping booth that often gained 40m or more from defensive situations. Although he has played every game this season, Tuesday's outing was one of his best.
North Harbour's season-long struggles mean that hardly anyone stands out consistently. One who does is Chris Smith, whose sure-handed catching is a lineout anchor and something the team can rely on. He is also getting around the park and doing his share in the trenches. James Parsons is a non-stop trier, who has maintained his standards even when things are going badly. He also seems to be an indestructible sort whose head never drops. Francis Saili has been the best of the Harbour backs, even in unfamiliar positions. He can break the line nicely, and his left boot is often a ground-gainer. Normally if good things are going to happen in the Harbour backline, Saili will be at the heart of the movement.
WE THINK: Wellington resisted the urge to throw all the reserves into this match and the important combinations have been retained, so now the players need to guard against complacency. With Wellington on top of the Premiership and Harbour last in the championship, it will be a test of the side's mental strength but, if they get it right, the Lions should take this game easily. Harbour simply makes too many mistakes, and far too many costly ones, to rate a chance here.
TEAMS:
Wellington: 1. Solomon Sakalia, 2. Motu Matu'u, 3. Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, 4. Jeremy Thrush (capt), 5. Ross Filipo, 6. Mark Reddish, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Genesis Mamea, 9. Frae Wilson, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 11. Jason Woodward, 12. Ope Peleseuma, 13. Tim Bateman, 14. Alipate Leiua, 15. Charlie Ngatai.
Reserves: 16. Dane Coles, 17. Whetu Henry, 18. Kaipati Gaualofa, 19. Pau Halafihi, 20. Kayne Hammington, 21. Shaun Treeby, 22. Matt Proctor.
North Harbour: 1. Alex Woonton, 2. James Parsons, 3. Ben Afeaki (capt), 4. Chris Smith, 5. Filo Paulo, 6. Irwin Finau, 7. Sam Hayes-Stevenson, 8. Jim Tuivaiti, 9. Bryn Hall, 10. Codey Rei, 11. Rudi Wulf, 12. Francis Saili, 13. Cory Aporo, 14. Nafi Tuitavake, 15. Luke Devcich.
Reserves: 16. Manu Leiataua, 17. Salesi Manu, 18. Api Ratuniyarawa, 19. Malakai Ravulo, 20. Brenton Helleur, 21. Pita Ahki, 22. David Raikuna.
Pete says
I've said it before....I don't understand how Harbour have not yet won a game with the quality of the backs
Wellington was at one tiome my fav to win premiership until they got taken to cleaners by Auckland.
The Lions need to take maximum pts plus bonus if they are to secure home advantage in finals.
I say Lions by 25 on a night when there will be a good field ready for a fast game.
game over. Lions poor defence. Only won 34-28. were always in lead.
VENUE & TIME: AMI Stadium, Addington, Sunday September 30 @ 1435
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 100; Canterbury 70, Southland 27, drawn 3.
LAST TIME: July 23, 2011 (Addington, RS) -Canterbury 19-22 Southland.
WALKING WOUNDED: Wyatt Crockett injured his back at Hamilton and will miss this game, but Canterbury has made a further four personnel and two positional switches out of choice from the team that played a week ago. A bit of experience is missing from the Southland team this week, as Jimmy Cowan has gone off to his English contract and Jason Rutledge is not in the 22. Nathan Hohaia and Nemia Kenatale both failed late fitness tests which ruled them out.
FORM:
Canterbury:
Round 2: beat Auckland 33-11 (h)
Round 3: beat North Harbour 36-3 (h)
Round 4: beat Wellington 20-12 (h)
Round 5: lost to Taranaki 9-18 (a, RS)
Round 6: beat Waikato 52-27 (a)
Southland:
Round 3: lost to Otago 10-15 (h)
Round 4: lost to Tasman 10-13 (a)
Round 5: beat Hawke's Bay 35-7 (h)
Round 6: beat North Harbour 27-17 (a)
Round 7: beat Northland 16-12 (h)
Canterbury recovered quickly from its Shield defeat to give Waikato a real thumping, but the most impressive part of it was how fast the red-and-blacks were out of the blocks. They had three tries in 12 minutes and four before half an hour was up, and almost every foray into Waikato territory netted points. After letting Waikato get close at halftime, Canterbury closed the game down in the second spell but didn't forget to score themselves, and 50 was a fair reward for a good day out.
WHO'S HOT: Everyone who took the field in a Canterbury jersey last week did well, and the lineout work will have satisfied the coaches. Canterbury kept a clean sheet on its own ball and pinched a couple off the Waikato throw, and Luke Katene was right in the middle of it. He's had enough games to find his feet at this level and is starting to play well. It's an old song, but the loose trio impressed and Matt Todd was again responsible for several turnovers and a couple of tries -and occasionally, one followed the other fairly quickly. By the end of the match Waikato's phase play was in disarray, such was the Canterbury pressure. Robbie Fruean played one of his more dominant roles this year, getting go-forward ball and going forward with it. He made several line breaks and scored two tries; that was more like the guy everyone is a bit nervous about marking.
Southland had its work cut out against Northland and only sterling defence, aided by a bunch of Northland fumbles, got the Stags home. Nick Barrett is not a headline-grabber, but he turned in a solid performance both in the tight and close to the rucks; his defence was often vital. Alex Ryan was another who played very well, and his lineout work and all-purpose impact had a lot to do with Southland being able to clear several pressure situations. Although he is on the bench this week, his performance was a strong one. The Southland backs didn't really fire; part of that was due to the conditions and part to the fact they played an increasing amount of the game near their own 22. Scott Eade turned in another polished display, kicking accurately for goal and with vision from hand. There was a lot of wanton kicking in the match, but not too much from Eade's boot.
WE THINK: If Canterbury plays at 80% of what they delivered against Waikato, they'll take the game comfortably. Southland would have to turn a display at least the equal of the one against Hawke's Bay, and Canterbury would need to be pretty ordinary, for any result other than a comfortable home win to eventuate. It's getting close to the playoffs, and that's normally Canterbury time.
TEAMS:
Canterbury: 1. Paea Fa'anunu, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4.Luke Katene, 5. Joel Everson, 6. George Whitelock (capt), 7. Matt Todd, 8. Luke Whitelock, 9. Willi Heinz, 10. Tom Taylor, 11. Telusa Veainu, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Robbie Fruean, 14. Adam Whitelock, 15. Johnny McNicholl.
Reserves: 16. Ben Funnell, 17. Andrew Olorenshaw, 18. Dominic Bird, 19. Nasi Manu, 20. Andy Ellis, 21. Tyler Bleyendaal, 22. Stephen Gee.
Southland: 1. Jamie Mackintosh (capt), 2. Brayden Mitchell, 3. Nick Barrett, 4. Josh Bekhuis, 5. Michael Fatialofa, 6. Scott McKee, 7. Tim Boys, 8. Elliot Dixon, 9. Tayler Adams, 10. Scott Eade, 11. Tim Cornforth, 12. Matt Saunders, 13. Cardiff Vaega, 14. Junior Ngaluafe, 15. Marty McKenzie.
Reserves: 16. Talemaitoga Tuapati, 17. Tukiterangi Raimona, 18. Alex Ryan, 19. Dion Bates, 20. Matt Gandy, 21. Mark Wells, 23. Hoani MacDonald.
game over. Lions poor defence. Only won 34-28. were always in lead.
Preview: Hawke's Bay v Otago
game already started.
I picked Os by 2 . Could not find a HB team sheet until 20 mins before Ko as they had injury issues. Waenga out..their kicker so I chose Os by 2
Game on and Os playing into bays hands by kicking ball away and trying to run through bays bruisers in pack.
Horrell taking kicks for bay and he has already slotted 2 from half way...brilliant.
I do not think Os will win if they continue these tactics.
They didn't win. When they ran ball they were dangerous. sadly it was few and far between.
Bay won by 6.
Preview: Canterbury v Southland
Canterbury and Southland have almost invariably been playing for the Ranfurly Shield in recent seasons -it changed hands in each of the most recent three meetings -but this game doesn't have that added spur. Instead it's all about the four points and consolidating playoff runs.
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HEAD TO HEAD: Played 100; Canterbury 70, Southland 27, drawn 3.
LAST TIME: July 23, 2011 (Addington, RS) -Canterbury 19-22 Southland.
WALKING WOUNDED: Wyatt Crockett injured his back at Hamilton and will miss this game, but Canterbury has made a further four personnel and two positional switches out of choice from the team that played a week ago. A bit of experience is missing from the Southland team this week, as Jimmy Cowan has gone off to his English contract and Jason Rutledge is not in the 22. Nathan Hohaia and Nemia Kenatale both failed late fitness tests which ruled them out.
FORM:
Canterbury:
Round 2: beat Auckland 33-11 (h)
Round 3: beat North Harbour 36-3 (h)
Round 4: beat Wellington 20-12 (h)
Round 5: lost to Taranaki 9-18 (a, RS)
Round 6: beat Waikato 52-27 (a)
Southland:
Round 3: lost to Otago 10-15 (h)
Round 4: lost to Tasman 10-13 (a)
Round 5: beat Hawke's Bay 35-7 (h)
Round 6: beat North Harbour 27-17 (a)
Round 7: beat Northland 16-12 (h)
Canterbury recovered quickly from its Shield defeat to give Waikato a real thumping, but the most impressive part of it was how fast the red-and-blacks were out of the blocks. They had three tries in 12 minutes and four before half an hour was up, and almost every foray into Waikato territory netted points. After letting Waikato get close at halftime, Canterbury closed the game down in the second spell but didn't forget to score themselves, and 50 was a fair reward for a good day out.
WHO'S HOT: Everyone who took the field in a Canterbury jersey last week did well, and the lineout work will have satisfied the coaches. Canterbury kept a clean sheet on its own ball and pinched a couple off the Waikato throw, and Luke Katene was right in the middle of it. He's had enough games to find his feet at this level and is starting to play well. It's an old song, but the loose trio impressed and Matt Todd was again responsible for several turnovers and a couple of tries -and occasionally, one followed the other fairly quickly. By the end of the match Waikato's phase play was in disarray, such was the Canterbury pressure. Robbie Fruean played one of his more dominant roles this year, getting go-forward ball and going forward with it. He made several line breaks and scored two tries; that was more like the guy everyone is a bit nervous about marking.
Southland had its work cut out against Northland and only sterling defence, aided by a bunch of Northland fumbles, got the Stags home. Nick Barrett is not a headline-grabber, but he turned in a solid performance both in the tight and close to the rucks; his defence was often vital. Alex Ryan was another who played very well, and his lineout work and all-purpose impact had a lot to do with Southland being able to clear several pressure situations. Although he is on the bench this week, his performance was a strong one. The Southland backs didn't really fire; part of that was due to the conditions and part to the fact they played an increasing amount of the game near their own 22. Scott Eade turned in another polished display, kicking accurately for goal and with vision from hand. There was a lot of wanton kicking in the match, but not too much from Eade's boot.
WE THINK: If Canterbury plays at 80% of what they delivered against Waikato, they'll take the game comfortably. Southland would have to turn a display at least the equal of the one against Hawke's Bay, and Canterbury would need to be pretty ordinary, for any result other than a comfortable home win to eventuate. It's getting close to the playoffs, and that's normally Canterbury time.
TEAMS:
Canterbury: 1. Paea Fa'anunu, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4.Luke Katene, 5. Joel Everson, 6. George Whitelock (capt), 7. Matt Todd, 8. Luke Whitelock, 9. Willi Heinz, 10. Tom Taylor, 11. Telusa Veainu, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Robbie Fruean, 14. Adam Whitelock, 15. Johnny McNicholl.
Reserves: 16. Ben Funnell, 17. Andrew Olorenshaw, 18. Dominic Bird, 19. Nasi Manu, 20. Andy Ellis, 21. Tyler Bleyendaal, 22. Stephen Gee.
Southland: 1. Jamie Mackintosh (capt), 2. Brayden Mitchell, 3. Nick Barrett, 4. Josh Bekhuis, 5. Michael Fatialofa, 6. Scott McKee, 7. Tim Boys, 8. Elliot Dixon, 9. Tayler Adams, 10. Scott Eade, 11. Tim Cornforth, 12. Matt Saunders, 13. Cardiff Vaega, 14. Junior Ngaluafe, 15. Marty McKenzie.
Reserves: 16. Talemaitoga Tuapati, 17. Tukiterangi Raimona, 18. Alex Ryan, 19. Dion Bates, 20. Matt Gandy, 21. Mark Wells, 23. Hoani MacDonald.
Pete says canterbury by 35
VENUE & TIME: BayPark Stadium, Mt Maunganui, Sunday September 30 @ 1635
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 55; Bay of Plenty 21, Northland 33, drawn 1.
LAST TIME: August 4, 2011 (Whangarei) – Northland 30-23 Bay of Plenty.
WALKING WOUNDED: Culum Retallick limped out of the Wellington game with what looked a major ankle problem and his season is probably over. Mafi Kefu has been playing with a broken thumb which is obviously still bothering him, and he is back on the bench for this match. There have been wholesale changes in the Northland side and many are injury-related; Bryce Williams did his Achilles at Invercargill and his year is done while Tone Kopelani, Cam Goodhue, Derek Carpenter and Tau Fa'asisila were others who were ruled out on medical grounds. The replacements tend to be on the speedy side and Northland has named two openside flankers to deal with the impressive Bay of plenty trio.
FORM:
Bay of Plenty:
Round 3: lost to Counties-Manukau 13-47 (a)
Round 4: lost to Waikato 6-15 (a)
Round 5: beat Auckland 37-16 (h)
Round 6: lost to Hawke's Bay 41-42 (a)
Round 7: lost to Wellington 26-36 (h)
Northland:
Round 3: lost to Manawatu 20-33 (h)
Round 4: beat North Harbour 18-17 (h)
Round 5: beat Tasman 20-17 (a)
Round 6: lost to Taranaki 31-32 (h)
Round 7: lost to Southland 12-16 (a)
Bay of Plenty took another tough loss midweek against Wellington, although in fairness it must be said the Steamers were almost always chasing the game and trying to get back within one score. The forwards did plenty of good work in close, but ball security and penalties really hurt; the Bay gave up five penalties in its own half and all five cost three points apiece. The result left the Steamers needing to win out to make the four, which is starting to look fairly hard.
Northland had its chances at Invercargill but a slow start and some terrible handling, especially when points were on offer, meant they couldn't make up the ground. When Northland got going it was dangerous and the backs gave Southland plenty to think about, but turnovers killed one promising situation after another. Northland will be grumpy about that; it's the second close loss in a few days and those errors are all that stands between the team and a four-match winning run.
WHO'S HOT: Dan Goodwin has been a good pickup for Bay of Plenty and the big man brings plenty of experience to his hard-nosed game. With Retallick gone he'll be back in his old locking role, but he has also impressed as a mobile No 6 who did plenty of the hard work. Chris Noakes got back into the swing of things on Tuesday and the run will only have sharpened him up. He did most things well and his goal-kicking was not too dusty for a man who has not played much in three months. Kendrick Lynn looks far more comfortable at centre and he is often threatening the line; his combination with Phil Burleigh has gelled nicely, and the Bay backs look a better unit on either side of the ball nowadays. The pair will have their hands full on Sunday, but they are good enough to deal with anything Northland can bring.
Nobody in the revamped Northland pack will be wearing the same jersey as on Wednesday, so they've all got a task in front of them. Leading the way will be Dan Pryor, who has been one of the better opensides going around this year whether it's on attack or defence. His race with the Steamers fetchers will be worth watching. Ash Moeke continues to play well and his tactical kicking at Invercargill was always inventive, especially in a game where so much of the kicking was aimless and ‘armless. On many occasions those little kicks were into space behind the defence line, and Rene Ranger was both reading the play and collecting the kicks. He was, once again, Northland's most dangerous player and his powerful running only complemented his ability to get free of the tacklers. It was hardly his fault that Northland came up a couple of points short.
WE THINK: With the pressure on both sides – and with both coming off midweek losses – this is one of those games that could swing either way. That said, it's hard to go past all the forced changes in the Northland lineup when making forecasts and that disruption is sure to tell at some stage. It will take something special for Northland to win this match but we prefer Bay of Plenty, although they probably won't have much in hand at the end.
TEAMS:
Bay of Plenty: 1. Greg Pleasants-Tate, 2. John Pareanga, 3. Tristan Moran, 4. Dan Goodwin, 5. Leon Power, 6. Tanerau Latimer (capt), 7. Luke Braid, 8. Carl Axtens, 9. Lewis Hancock, 10. Chris Noakes, 11. Jack Wilson, 12. Phil Burleigh, 13. Kendrick Lynn, 14. Lelia Masaga, 15. Lance MacDonald.
Reserves: 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Mike Kainga, 18. Keepa Mewett, 19. Jesse Acton, 20. Nick McCashin, 21. Simon Rolleston, 22. Mafi Kefu.
Northland: 1. Justin Davies, 2. Ross Wright, 3. Scott Vessey, 4. Hale T-Pole, 5. David Morgan, 6. Jack Ram, 7. Dan Pryor, 8. William Whetton, 9. Samisoni Fisilau, 10. Ash Moeke, 11. Mateo Malupo, 12. Rene Ranger (capt), 13. Fa'atoina Autagavaia, 14. Dan Caprice, 15. Eddie Paea.
Reserves: 16. David Hall, 17. Peni Kaufusi, 18. Jack Whetton, 19. Daniel Faleafa, 20. Rhyan Caine, 21. Orene Ai'i, 22. Matt Wright.
REFEREE: Richard Kelly
Preview: BOP v Northland
Bay of Plenty and Northland both tend to play a similar sort of physical, aggressive and fast game so this match will be decided by who does things better and more accurately on the day.
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HEAD TO HEAD: Played 55; Bay of Plenty 21, Northland 33, drawn 1.
LAST TIME: August 4, 2011 (Whangarei) – Northland 30-23 Bay of Plenty.
WALKING WOUNDED: Culum Retallick limped out of the Wellington game with what looked a major ankle problem and his season is probably over. Mafi Kefu has been playing with a broken thumb which is obviously still bothering him, and he is back on the bench for this match. There have been wholesale changes in the Northland side and many are injury-related; Bryce Williams did his Achilles at Invercargill and his year is done while Tone Kopelani, Cam Goodhue, Derek Carpenter and Tau Fa'asisila were others who were ruled out on medical grounds. The replacements tend to be on the speedy side and Northland has named two openside flankers to deal with the impressive Bay of plenty trio.
FORM:
Bay of Plenty:
Round 3: lost to Counties-Manukau 13-47 (a)
Round 4: lost to Waikato 6-15 (a)
Round 5: beat Auckland 37-16 (h)
Round 6: lost to Hawke's Bay 41-42 (a)
Round 7: lost to Wellington 26-36 (h)
Northland:
Round 3: lost to Manawatu 20-33 (h)
Round 4: beat North Harbour 18-17 (h)
Round 5: beat Tasman 20-17 (a)
Round 6: lost to Taranaki 31-32 (h)
Round 7: lost to Southland 12-16 (a)
Bay of Plenty took another tough loss midweek against Wellington, although in fairness it must be said the Steamers were almost always chasing the game and trying to get back within one score. The forwards did plenty of good work in close, but ball security and penalties really hurt; the Bay gave up five penalties in its own half and all five cost three points apiece. The result left the Steamers needing to win out to make the four, which is starting to look fairly hard.
Northland had its chances at Invercargill but a slow start and some terrible handling, especially when points were on offer, meant they couldn't make up the ground. When Northland got going it was dangerous and the backs gave Southland plenty to think about, but turnovers killed one promising situation after another. Northland will be grumpy about that; it's the second close loss in a few days and those errors are all that stands between the team and a four-match winning run.
WHO'S HOT: Dan Goodwin has been a good pickup for Bay of Plenty and the big man brings plenty of experience to his hard-nosed game. With Retallick gone he'll be back in his old locking role, but he has also impressed as a mobile No 6 who did plenty of the hard work. Chris Noakes got back into the swing of things on Tuesday and the run will only have sharpened him up. He did most things well and his goal-kicking was not too dusty for a man who has not played much in three months. Kendrick Lynn looks far more comfortable at centre and he is often threatening the line; his combination with Phil Burleigh has gelled nicely, and the Bay backs look a better unit on either side of the ball nowadays. The pair will have their hands full on Sunday, but they are good enough to deal with anything Northland can bring.
Nobody in the revamped Northland pack will be wearing the same jersey as on Wednesday, so they've all got a task in front of them. Leading the way will be Dan Pryor, who has been one of the better opensides going around this year whether it's on attack or defence. His race with the Steamers fetchers will be worth watching. Ash Moeke continues to play well and his tactical kicking at Invercargill was always inventive, especially in a game where so much of the kicking was aimless and ‘armless. On many occasions those little kicks were into space behind the defence line, and Rene Ranger was both reading the play and collecting the kicks. He was, once again, Northland's most dangerous player and his powerful running only complemented his ability to get free of the tacklers. It was hardly his fault that Northland came up a couple of points short.
WE THINK: With the pressure on both sides – and with both coming off midweek losses – this is one of those games that could swing either way. That said, it's hard to go past all the forced changes in the Northland lineup when making forecasts and that disruption is sure to tell at some stage. It will take something special for Northland to win this match but we prefer Bay of Plenty, although they probably won't have much in hand at the end.
TEAMS:
Bay of Plenty: 1. Greg Pleasants-Tate, 2. John Pareanga, 3. Tristan Moran, 4. Dan Goodwin, 5. Leon Power, 6. Tanerau Latimer (capt), 7. Luke Braid, 8. Carl Axtens, 9. Lewis Hancock, 10. Chris Noakes, 11. Jack Wilson, 12. Phil Burleigh, 13. Kendrick Lynn, 14. Lelia Masaga, 15. Lance MacDonald.
Reserves: 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Mike Kainga, 18. Keepa Mewett, 19. Jesse Acton, 20. Nick McCashin, 21. Simon Rolleston, 22. Mafi Kefu.
Northland: 1. Justin Davies, 2. Ross Wright, 3. Scott Vessey, 4. Hale T-Pole, 5. David Morgan, 6. Jack Ram, 7. Dan Pryor, 8. William Whetton, 9. Samisoni Fisilau, 10. Ash Moeke, 11. Mateo Malupo, 12. Rene Ranger (capt), 13. Fa'atoina Autagavaia, 14. Dan Caprice, 15. Eddie Paea.
Reserves: 16. David Hall, 17. Peni Kaufusi, 18. Jack Whetton, 19. Daniel Faleafa, 20. Rhyan Caine, 21. Orene Ai'i, 22. Matt Wright.
REFEREE: Richard Kelly
Pete says;
I don't think this will be close. The weather forecast says sunny so it will be running rugby conditions.
BOP have all the ammunition in the backs.
BOP by 21
