Manawatu v Otago
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@SouthernMann said in Manawatu v Otago:
If the weather goes to what is forecasted this is going to be an absolute shitter of a game. Plenty of rain and wind. Potential thunder. Great game for 10 man rugby, Millar kicking to the corner and Umaga-Jensen hitting it up two off the ruck. Good amounts of high ball kicks towards both Wild and Hurley
Thank fuck because we suck in open games... thinking about your comments about our last decent back three, perhaps rose tinted glasses but I remember quite enjoying the Nareki, Koroi and Vahaakolo back three. Not perfect but three guys who were elusive an knew their way to the tryline... unfortunately the latter two had a few other issues.
@frugby those three certainly had their moments. It is just a lot of the other top provinces have had players or back threes that were the pick of the litter. Ta$man, Wellington, BoP, Taranaki, Canterbury, Hawkes's Bay have all periods where their back threes have been starting super rugby quality/emerging internationals. Even at their best only Nareki was a starting Super quality player.
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@frugby those three certainly had their moments. It is just a lot of the other top provinces have had players or back threes that were the pick of the litter. Ta$man, Wellington, BoP, Taranaki, Canterbury, Hawkes's Bay have all periods where their back threes have been starting super rugby quality/emerging internationals. Even at their best only Nareki was a starting Super quality player.
@SouthernMann said in Manawatu v Otago:
@frugby those three certainly had their moments. It is just a lot of the other top provinces have had players or back threes that were the pick of the litter. Ta$man, Wellington, BoP, Taranaki, Canterbury, Hawkes's Bay have all periods where their back threes have been starting super rugby quality/emerging internationals. Even at their best only Nareki was a starting Super quality player.
Probably doesn't help, that as you have pointed out we don't really produce backs (particularly outside backs) so are relying on imports.
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Millar has played some rugby during the NPC I didn't think he was capable of. Jeez conditions in Palmy are rubbish.
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Lopas I think also looks a better bet than DLB and Johnstone. Wonder if the Highlanders selectors will be trying to keep him around for pre-season. He has been strong both today and all season.
@frugby said in Manawatu v Otago:
Lopas I think also looks a better bet than DLB and Johnstone. Wonder if the Highlanders selectors will be trying to keep him around for pre-season. He has been strong both today and all season.
He is still only 23, turning 24 shortly. Through the Canterbury, NZ Schools and NZ U20s. Is bloody strong. I'd give him a nudge. I'm a bit bemused at how long we have kept DLB around for. Such a battler and is one of our most capped Highlanders players.
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Also have to take the conditions into account. Players just slipping over. The ball is hard to keep hold of.
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Poor Harry Taylor lookedlike he was in gumboots chasing the Manawatu player down the outside.
@SouthernMann said in Manawatu v Otago:
Poor Harry Taylor lookedlike he was in gumboots chasing the Manawatu player down the outside.
Haha yup, that was 1 very tired boy.
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@SouthernMann said in Manawatu v Otago:
Poor Harry Taylor lookedlike he was in gumboots chasing the Manawatu player down the outside.
Haha yup, that was 1 very tired boy.
@Landers92 said in Manawatu v Otago:
@SouthernMann said in Manawatu v Otago:
Poor Harry Taylor lookedlike he was in gumboots chasing the Manawatu player down the outside.
Haha yup, that was 1 very tired boy.
Saw the replay and thought, he needs to be subbed. Should have happened 10 minutes earlier.
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@Grooter said in Manawatu v Otago:
Serviceable win. Millar motm
Did the job. All you can ask in shitty conditions like that. All of the forwards were quite tidy. Hurley is getting better every week. Perfect game for Millar and he dominated. His running game is surprising me.
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Good win for Otago. I think realistically if we are to slip in, we're relying on Southland beating Waikato, because Auckland are coming like a freight train... and of course we have to take down the unbeaten Ta$man.
I believe that if we are withing striking distance of Waikato in that last round, then we'll get the job done to sneak into 8th... which doesn't say much for the rest of the competition considering how poor we have been this year!
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Injuries have really done a job on us this year. On the plus side, the right players have been making strides. Hurley, Millar and Haig in particular. Lopas has been strong of late. Arscott had his best game of the season. Umaga-Jensen has been injury free. What a shock. Whaanga on the wing just doesn't really work. I would have preferred Creighton get pushed put there. In terms of the player perspective. The biggest disappointment has been Henry Bell. Gone from a Super starter to an NPC bench player.
