Nz domestic rugby 2020

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ with TJP heading o/s he's surely the 'canes first-pick 9 next year & if he goes ok there then has to come into AB reckoning (assuming next year's the year they start building towards RWC).

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Da fuck? Taumalolo just gave Goosen three jabs in the face & he's not even been penalised.

Ash Dixon gets a well-deserved standing O as he finishes his 250th first-class shift. Absolute legend down those ways & in Dunners plus for NZ Maori. No way his guys were gunna let him down today.

 

[Dan54]

Yep, that will do me, great game of shield rugby!

 

[Dan54]

^ with TJP heading o/s he's surely the 'canes first-pick 9 next year & if he goes ok there then has to come into AB reckoning (assuming next year's the year they start building towards RWC).

he in the Clan squad!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ wow, that's a major screw-up by 'canes recruitment team even if TJP weren't heading o/s & Booth hadn't broken his leg.

 

[Dan54]

^ wow, that's a major screw-up by 'canes recruitment team even if TJP weren't heading o/s & Booth hadn't broken his leg.

Yep the Clan got him straight out of Hastings college, he been there a couple of years.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ ok, that's a lot less of a screw-up given how flush with 9's 'canes were back then.

BofP 33-30 Waikato puts Wellys last equal with Cantabs but with Manawatu next week whereas Cantabs have Aux. Cantabs be going dowwwwwwn (falling emoji goes here ).

 

[Dan54]

Was going to keep am=n eye on Waikato game, but got tied up watching Shield game. As I thinking maybe could be where we look at living, thought I better practice supporting the boys.
Such a shme if Canterbury goes down isn't it?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ I actually thought Bay v Mooloos was last up so didn't bother switching over at any point during what was a great Shield defence. And, yeah, as a Mako supporter it's gunna be tough watching our junior CruSadist partner taking the drop given all they've done for us over the years........

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

And just like that next week's Bay v Harbour goes from being a potential relegation decider to almost a quarter final. Shit I think even the Cantabs can make the SF *if* they knock over the Aux *and* other results go their way.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Shield highlights - first try is a screamer:

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Come on the Bay, Come on the Bay
Black, White - Alright

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

M10 CUP SEMI FINAL & RELEGATION PREDICTIONS

PREMIERSHIP

Only Auckland (34 points, last match v Canterbury) are guaranteed, any of the other six can still qualify & there are four teams in the relegation zone.

Semi Finals

Tasman (29, Otago) & Waikato (29, Northland) will both qualify. Any of winner of Bay of Plenty (26) v North Harbour (25), Canterbury (24, Auckland) or Wellington (24, Manawatu) can join them. Predictions: Tasman, Waikato & Bay of Plenty (just) to win & qualify, Wellington to win but miss out.

1. Auckland v 4. Bay of Plenty
2. Tasman v 3. Waikato

Relegation

Wellington should beat Manawatu & be safe. Loser of BofP v Harbour (early game Sunday) will have a nervous few hours waiting on the late game Auckland v Canterbury result. Canterbury's demolition of Tasman means they can't be written off but you'd expect Auckland to win. Prediction: Canterbury (leaving Auckland as the only team to have never been in the Championship).

CHAMPIONSHIP

Hawkes Bay (31, Taranaki) Otago (29, Tasman) & Taranaki (22, Hawkes Bay) are guaranteed a place, the fourth will be either Northland (19, Waikato) or Southland (16, Counties Manukau). Predictions: Bay to beat Taranaki & finish top, Southland to sneak in.

1. Hawkes Bay v 4. Southland
2. Otago v 3. Taranaki

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Big changes on the horizon incl a name change (back to ITM, I've heard) & split into North & South rather than Premiership & Championship.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...-considering-major-revamp-of-the-mitre-10-cup

Current format probably unsustainable so more than likely to happen.

 

[KiwiM]

M10 CUP SEMI FINAL & RELEGATION PREDICTIONS

Relegation

Wellington should beat Manawatu & be safe. Loser of BofP v Harbour (early game Sunday) will have a nervous few hours waiting on the late game Auckland v Canterbury result. Canterbury's demolition of Tasman means they can't be written off but you'd expect Auckland to win. Prediction: Canterbury (leaving Auckland as the only team to have never been in the Championship).

Auckland have a huge injury toll at the moment and have already locked up first spot on the ladder so based on Canterbury's performance last week I actually expect Canterbury to win. I wouldn't be surprised to see Auckland send down a weakened team.

 

[zer0]

Canterbury facing relegation and NZR decide they've now removing relegation altogether. Smh. The mafia must've been working overtime to get that across the line before the good-guys-in-blue-and-white pushed them over the edge into the relegatory abyss.

.....the north pool, which could be made up of Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Counties Manukau, North Harbour, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki.

The Northern pool is basically the NFC East circa 2000-2019, so bring on a guaranteed Auckland semifinal just about every year.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ it now takes longer to travel Napier-Wellington than Napier-Hamilton so don't be surprised if Hawke's Bay end up in the Northern group & 'naki the Southern. But, yes, either way it looks a pretty sweet deal for Aux.

LOL re: "mafia" Sir JK had a dig on Breakdown re: Mako "happening" to have a stinker v Cantabs & managed to not mention them being equally crap v Aux.

 

[Dan54]

Geez we need decisions on all these things, a man is in last day of lockdown and now has to make final decisions we he going to live

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Da fuck? Taumalolo just gave Goosen three jabs in the face & he's not even been penalised....

He's now been suspended for three weeks:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...taumalolo-hit-with-threeweek-ban-for-striking

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NZ Maori to play Moana Pasifika in Hamilton on 5/12:

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/spo...ay-super-rugby-side-in-waiting-moana-pasifika