NZ Domestic Rugby Competitions 2016

[Dan54]

So after 11 days subsisting on the crumbs of Olympic 7's & actively watching NRL (for research purposes only, of course ) real rugby is back tonight!

North Harbour v Counties Manukau at Albany (predicted crowd: <1,000). Yay! There's a reason games like this are played on Thursdays but for Round 1 could they not have dished up something a little better? Say Northland v Manawatu or Tasman v Waikato (not sure if Blenheim's lights are up to TV standard but if not play it at Trafalgar Park instead).

Can't wait WOB, the real proper rugby!!!! I will put up with NH/Counties and as Counties where my bones from and my Dad always supported them I will be supporting them tonight!!

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Just finished watching a breakdown of the new law variations. I remember reading that there was some level of anxiety around them or somewhat. They don't seem too revolutionary. Might speed the game up a bit.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

They're calling the game Harbour 20-17 Counties but surely it's 20-18? Two tries, two conversions & two penalties v two, two & one?

Only caught the last 20min (will watch the replay on my day off tomorrow) but it didn't look as dire as I feared it might be. CM had 12/23 on debut & it showed: plenty of endeavour but too many basic errors. Harbour barely getting home suggests they'll struggle again this year.

Also, when did the two-ref system announced in March go back to one ref only? Not that I mind, I think two wouldn't really work in our game the way it does (or doesn't, depending on who's talking) in five kick, but I can't find anything on the M10Cup site announcing the change. Odd.

EDIT: multiple sites going with the 20-17 score line so apparently they ditched the six point tries & two point kicks as well. TJ did mention the new breakdown laws a coupla times so at least they stuck to that

 

[Dan54]

Yep was scoring as normal WOB, hope the 2 ref system has been ditched as well as change in scoring systems. As for the new breakdown rules, it only first game so I wouldn't knock them anyway, but I quite like the look of them, seems to be more use of the feet at ruck time, and also seems to encourage counter rucking, clears up the "I tackled the player hence I am not offside", because now you are if you try and grab the ball without going back past the midpoint of breakdown. I think (or hope) we have got rid of the come in through the gate, you can hit rucks from anywhere behind mid line (I think).
I'm a grizzly old bugger who has never been to comfortable with reaching into rucks with hands, and this seems to stop a lot of that, maybe a different style will be required from flankers who specialise in the steal, but will wait unti I see a lot more !

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Yes, Dan, there's no more gate as such. My only concern with the ELV's is that the refs might get sick of pinging guys & allow it to become a free-for-all. Refs gotta hang tough on this one so players & coaches adapt to them rather than the other way round (history suggests it'll be the refs who "adapt", sadly).

Northland v Manawatu tonight, should be a cracker!

 

[Dan54]

Northland v Manawatu tonight, should be a cracker!

I await the manawatu game with relish, Mrs Dan54 asks me how many different teams i can support in the mitre 10, I just tell her lots, it's rugby they I have always loved. I can have lots of favourite teams as the Mighty Nua who we all know would win without doubt is cruelly kept in the minnows comp!!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

A half of two halves: Manawatu out to 17-0 then get a man binned, Taniwha go bang-bang, incl. what will surely be one of the tries of the year to Warren Dunn, to lead 19-17 at HT. Kara Pryor having a blinder, too.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Manawatu retake the lead inside the last 10min & take it out 34-27. Northland's losing streak is now 12 matches.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Vid of Dunn's stunner is on YouTube already:

 

[Dan54]

By geez I enjoyed that game!! Northland are going to be interesting to watch when both Pryor boys are operating in tandem!!

 

[Dan54]

Looking forward to Wellington/Hawkes Bay tomorrow a former Logan City boy coming off the bench for Hawkes Bay (yep and I know he played for Jeeps too)

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Gonna be quite the day tomorrow: BOP v Naki, HBay v Wellys, Cantabs v Aucks & Bledisloe 1 to finish, a four-course feast if ever there was one!

Looking forward to Wellington/Hawkes Bay tomorrow a former Logan City boy coming off the bench for Hawkes Bay (yep and I know he played for Jeeps too)

Who would that be?

 

[Dan54]

Gonna be quite the day tomorrow: BOP v Naki, HBay v Wellys, Cantabs v Aucks & Bledisloe 1 to finish, a four-course feast if ever there was one!



Who would that be?

Matt Garland WOB, he played at Logan as junior, went to GPS to play prem rugby, came back to Logan to play with his mates and then went home to have a crack in the Hawkes Bay.

 

[Dan54]

They're calling the game Harbour 20-17 Counties but surely it's 20-18? Two tries, two conversions & two penalties v two, two &

WOB, apparently they trialling new points system in the Heartland championship

 

[Steve Doublesteve]

There was also a Souths old boy playing for Northland off the bench last night - Howard Siloto and former GPS player Phil Kite who started at prop too.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

They've also retained the "4+ win or lose" try bonus point, was hoping they'd go with the "+3" as per Super Rugby. Northland deserve a point for getting close last night but two BP isn't right IMO.

Anyhoo, got some chores to do then bung something in the slow cooker before the rugby fest kicks off at 12:30

 

[Highlander35]

Naki v BOP is an interesting one for mine, based on players.

Culum Retallick, Shug Blake, Lalakai Foketi, Ryan Cocker, Ben Matwijow and Leon Power are all names I recognise not from NZ Super teams!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Retallick's a Bay boy originally but I'm surprised Mateijow doesn't have an NRC gig.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

'naki 14-0 BOP as the HT hooter goes.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Floodgates creaking at 21-0 then BofP got their shit together & actually won the second half. McKenzie's penalty in the 75th (he kicked 6/6 overall) got them home 30-22 & denied Bay the BP they probably deserved. Thought Tamanivalu went OK & will have to be in the frame in Fekitoa has a 'mare tonight.