NZ Domestic Rugby 2021

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ that would depend entirely on what you tested positive for

Farah Palmer Cup Championship Final highlights:

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

In case anyone's wondering, the 17 Unions to have held the Shield are: North Auckland (Northland these days), North Harbour, Auckland, Counties-Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Manawhenua (combined Manawatu & Horowhenua who were no doubt the dominant partner ), Manawatu, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa (prior to absorbing Bush), Wellington, Marlborough, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago, Southland.

More detail here:

Ranfurly Shield - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Well that was dubious AF: knee on the ground & defo had a second dig.

 

[Dan54]

By geez , this Shield game is bloody fun to watch.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

That's a Red, I feel. Geez, not even a Yellow, that's incredibly lucky.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Farah Palmer Cup Premiership Final highlights:

Thumbnail possibly gives away the outcome.....

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Commented a few pages back that the Bay had a huge advantage wrt knowing what Shield footy is all about whereas only one current Mako player had played in a challenge before today. Hopefully this is the loss that teaches them how to win next time (assuming it doesn't take nine years to get another crack, of course ).

Oh, well done Magpies btw .

 

[Dan54]

Now that is what I call a game of rugby!! Shit it was proper Shield rugby!

I know you Aussie boys probably missed it, but if you watch, the Hawkes Bay coach is coming over to the Force, I think he a great buy!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Assuming Covid doesn't totally fuck the season (case just announced in Katikati BofP) I think we have to start regarding Magpies as genuine title contenders. Just tell them they're playing for the Shield every week & as long as Ash Dixon doesn't completely disintegrate it's a sure-fire thing.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

All eyes on Taupo this arvo....

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[Dan54]

Assuming Covid doesn't totally fuck the season (case just announced in Katikati BofP) I think we have to start regarding Magpies as genuine title contenders. Just tell them they're playing for the Shield every week & as long as Ash Dixon doesn't completely disintegrate it's a sure-fire thing.

Dixon surely is a follow me leader isn't he WOB? Ienjoyed Enari's game at 9 too was impressive, I was pretty keen on him a couple of years back, but he seemed to not step up as much as I thought he would!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ Enari had that awful injury while at CruSadists a while back, dislocated fracture to the lower leg I think? As you've noted before it takes a while to come back from that, if you ever actually do. AshD is just a superb player, never realistically in the AB frame but totally suited to the levels he's at & obviously has the mana that lets you get away with things that others wouldn't. An invisibility korowai if you will .

Edit: just want to add, how does Lincoln McClutchie not warrant a Super Rugby contract? Really hope those Moana Pasifika rumours are true, kid deserves it & he'd be an asset to them for sure.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Highlights

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Heartland Championship Week 4:

Buller 12-27 Horowhenua-Kapiti
East Coast 12-34 South Canty
King Country 13-48 Whanganui

North Otago 12-10 Poverty Bay
West Coat 8-27 Thames Valley
Wairarapa Bush 18-28 Mid Canty

Sam Cane appears for King Country in round four of the Bunnings Heartland Championship

South Canterbury, Thames Valley and Horowhenua Kapiti retained their unbeaten records in Bunnings Heartland rugby at the weekend but South Canterbury have the competition lead due to superior bonus points.

www.provincial.rugby

 

[Dan54]

I'll have to ,be sure I watch Rugby Nation this arv ,just to see the Mighty Nua machine rolling on!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Taranaki keep rolling on & over anyone in their way:

One of the Comms in the Shield game implied that the top two Championship sides would join the six remaining in the Premiership for an eight-team playoff series which would be a pretty good Plan B: I roughed out my idea of the 11 playing out a round-robin but there's just not enough time to get it done by 27/11 without some poor pricks having to play three or in some cases four games in 10-12 days.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

I'll have to ,ale sure I watch Rugby Nation this arv ,just to see the Mighty Nua machine rolling on!!

Mainfreight Grassroots is on YouTube now if you happen to miss it on Sky & Prime.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Premiership Standings​

Pos.		P	W	D	L	PF	PA	TF	TA	TB	LB	+/-	BP	Pts	Form
1	Hawkes Bay	5	4	0	1	154	126	20	13	3	0	28	3	19	LWWWW
2	Tasman	6	4	0	2	186	141	23	20	2	0	45	2	18	WWWLWL
3	Waikato	5	3	0	2	157	132	22	18	4	1	25	5	17	WWLWL
4	Wellington	6	2	0	4	212	176	29	23	4	4	36	8	16	WLLLLW
5	Canterbury	5	3	0	2	118	127	15	15	2	1	-9	3	15	LWWWL
6	Bay Of Plenty	5	2	0	3	139	161	20	20	4	1	-22	5	13	LWLLW
7	Auckland	2	1	0	1	46	40	5	4	1	1	6	2	6	WL

Taranaki (22) well clear in the Championship from Manawatu currently on 13 & playing Southland in Invers today which could be a close one the way the Stags have been going.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Southland's run of late fades continues:

Daylight between 'naki, 'tu & the rest of the Championship now.

1. Taranaki 22
2. Manawatu 18
3. Northland 6
4. Otago 5
5. North Harbour 4
6. Southland 2
7. Counties-Manukau 0

 

[Dan54]

Gee all North Island teams won this weekend huh?