NZ Domestic comps

[waiopehu oldboy]

Mako keeping their powder dry ahead of the Shield Challenge?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

How can a guy with 30 AB & 142 Super Rugby caps not know that the ball isn’t dead when it hits the corner flag ~1/3 of the way up? Gifted Chapman the try ffs.

LOL then his bro kicks the restart dead.

Edit: kinda redeems himself by getting a hand to one the Cantab thought was going dead.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Faaaaark, beaten in the 84th minute, took Cantabs 25 phases to advance ~8m but Bell eventually got over. The fuckers.

 

[KiwiM]

Another pleasing outing by Auckland's youngsters. Funaki and Rico Simpson pulled the strings well in the second half in the halves.

Credit to Segner - feels like captaincy suits him. Che Clark backs up last week with another strong outing.

 

[zer0]

Given the turnover in the Blues backs going into next season, surely Simpson and Tito-Harris will join Lam and Taele.

Simpson has a good punting range. Just needs to learn some of those shallow slicing kicks from Zarn Sullivan. Good to see the Papali'i Punisher (park the openside on the sideline and hoist a high kick for him to go flatten the winger fielding the kick) continue to yield success for the final try.

Norrie also went well, especially for a guy who apparently wasn't even originally supposed to play. He had the right idea going for a few 50-22's, just under-cooked the kicks. Might not have the athleticism for Super Rugby though.

Still very much looking forward to seeing the Lam-Taele midfield.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

West Coast have been caught fielding an ineligible player for a third time in 15 years & have been stripped of 15 comp points plus fined $5K.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

They'll drop from fourth to eleventh-equal on the points table, definitely won't make the Meads Cup (top four) SF & will struggle to make the Lochore (next four).

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Actually @waiopehu oldboy the way the comp is going, I can see Otago upsetting Canterbury if they got the shield.

It is, as they say, on like Donkey Kong.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

North Harbour get the last Challenge of the year. Given they're dead, motherless last I'd say the Shield will be spending the summer in Dunners.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

LOL someone's already updated the Wiki page...

Ranfurly Shield 2020–2029 - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Someone really needs to get David Latta's reaction even if they have to fake it...

 

[Dan54]

Geez what a bloody game! The shield just keeps giving us these games. It doesn't matter who is meant to win etc, teams just come out and go crazy! Love it.
Actually the NPC is like that this year. I was up at Naki game last night (obviously) and it was bloodyhard out, looked like the Bay would do it for a while, and then Naki just went up a step, hit everything a bit quicker and harder, and won it!
I know I bore people when I keep saying this is favourite comp bar none.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

First time it's changed hands four times in a season since 1950: Otago > Cantabs > Wairarapa > South Cantabs > North Auckland.

 

[KiwiM]

Given the turnover in the Blues backs going into next season, surely Simpson and Tito-Harris will join Lam and Taele.

Tito Harris has signed a 2 year deal with the Highlanders is the word.

I have no idea how these Super Rugby teams operate - Blues need wings - Tito Harris look a like a star - comes through the Blues system - goes to the Highlanders. What exactly are the Blues doing?

Blues have lost Tangitau and Tito Harris to the Highlanders in back to back years in addition to no M Telea next year.

Would be really interesting to peel back the curtain and find out how these Super Rugby teams go about their recruitment.

 

[zer0]

I could understand JRK and Tangitau leaving as the Blues had Ioane, Telea, and Lam at the time while they would walk into the Highlanders starting positions. Surely now it would be the inverse for Tito-Harris.

Go all in on stealing Dylan Pledger and Luke Casey as recompense.

 

[Dan54]

Tito Harris has signed a 2 year deal with the Highlanders is the word.

I have no idea how these Super Rugby teams operate - Blues need wings - Tito Harris look a like a star - comes through the Blues system - goes to the Highlanders. What exactly are the Blues doing?

Blues have lost Tangitau and Tito Harris to the Highlanders in back to back years in addition to no M Telea next year.

Would be really interesting to peel back the curtain and find out how these Super Rugby teams go about their recruitment.

I think Tito-Harris going to the Clan is a big plus for Jamie Joseph who seems to be very proactive in recruiting young talent to future proof them.

 

[KiwiM]

I think Tito-Harris going to the Clan is a big plus for Jamie Joseph who seems to be very proactive in recruiting young talent to future proof them.

I get that part. What I don't get is how these other teams operate. For example, how does promising young hooker Ioane Moananu end up at the Waratahs after being in and around Super Rugby environment for multiple years?

 

[KiwiM]

Luke Casey

Lucas Casey. What a breakthrough season for him. Looks to have good size too.

 

[Dan54]

I get that part. What I don't get is how these other teams operate. For example, how does promising young hooker Ioane Moananu end up at the Waratahs after being in and around Super Rugby environment for multiple years?

Not sure how it works, it's what they can pay players under the cap I guess, like you I was stunned that Moananu wasn't snapped up, but not sure of how long other hookers were are contracted for with Super teams, I would of thought he a handy 3rd hooker for perhaps Canes or Blues.
And sometimes getting to be 1st or 2nd hooker in squad maybe tempting for a player?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Moananu went to 'tahs because "[NZ] Teams offered me that fourth [hooker] role as injury cover. Having had a little bit of a bigger role out there [at the Crusaders] this year and seeing how much growth I got, it just made me hungry to play more.”

‘A few tears’: Crusaders hooker on reasons behind move to Waratahs

Ioane Moananu is leaving the Crusaders for more playing time with the Waratahs.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Surprises me that no-one saw him as a third- or better option, maybe because (afaik) he hasn't come through the age-grade pathway?

 

[KiwiM]

Moananu went to 'tahs because "[NZ] Teams offered me that fourth [hooker] role as injury cover. Having had a little bit of a bigger role out there [at the Crusaders] this year and seeing how much growth I got, it just made me hungry to play more.”

‘A few tears’: Crusaders hooker on reasons behind move to Waratahs

Ioane Moananu is leaving the Crusaders for more playing time with the Waratahs.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Surprises me that no-one saw him as a third- or better option, maybe because (afaik) he hasn't come through the age-grade pathway?

I remember seeing Moananu play for the Crusaders 2-3 years ago in a Super Round in Melbourne and he looked the goods then.

I seriously question the talent scouting ability of franchises.