@NTA said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

@Mr-Fish said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

Waratahs offered very little on attack

Dominated possession and scoreboard in first 20 minutes, but sure.

Well, yes... Because...

"They were kept in the game early when the Chiefs made some silly decisions on defence, getting unnecessarily overzealous at the ruck after only a couple of phases of defence."

Those poor unforced errors from the Chiefs (they were never under pressure or stretched, they just overplayed their hand at the breakdown instead of waiting for opportunities) gave the Waratahs penalties, leading to endless possession and field position. 12 points from 95% possession and 96% territory over 20 minutes (10 of which was played against 14 men) is not a great return, with both their scores coming from 5-metre set-pieces (again, thanks to the Chiefs' poor decision making and discipline).

So yes, the Waratahs offered very little on attack.

@Mr-Fish said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

Those poor unforced errors from the Chiefs (they were never under pressure or stretched, they just overplayed their hand at the breakdown instead of waiting for opportunities) gave the Waratahs penalties, leading to endless possession and field position. 12 points from 95% possession and 96% territory over 20 minutes (10 of which was played against 14 men) is not a great return, with both their scores coming from 5-metre set-pieces (again, thanks to the Chiefs' poor decision making and discipline).

So yes, the Waratahs offered very little on attack.

Ah the old "You weren't good bro, we were just shut" clause. How could I forget?

@NTA so did you actually see lots of examples of the Waratahs attacking well in the opening 20 minutes or are you just being deliberately obtuse?

@Mr-Fish yeah I wouldn't be taking the Tahs lightly at all, they have plenty of threats. I do know where we need to attack them though and that's up front. Almost have to employ Crusaders tactics against them and dominate the set piece, scrummage for penalties and yellow cards so to speak.

@Mr-Fish said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

@NTA so did you actually see lots of examples of the Waratahs attacking well in the opening 20 minutes or are you just being deliberately obtuse?

My advice: don't take up any job as a rugby analyst.

@NTA said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

@Mr-Fish said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

@NTA so did you actually see lots of examples of the Waratahs attacking well in the opening 20 minutes or are you just being deliberately obtuse?

My advice: don't take up any job as a rugby analyst.

Ah deliberately obtuse, gotcha

1 Pouri Rakete-Stones
2 Kianu Kereru-Symes
3 Tyrel Lomax 
4 Caleb Delany 
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere 
6 Devan Flanders
7 Peter Lakai
8 Brayden Iose 
9 Richard Judd
10 Brett Cameron 
11 Bailyn Sullivan
12 Riley Higgins 
13 Billy Proctor (C)
14 Josh Moorby
15 Ruben Love

16 Raymond Tuputupu 
17 Xavier Numia
18 Pasilio Tosi 
19 Justin Sangster
20 Du’Plessis Kirifi
21 TJ Perenara
22 Jordie Barrett 
23 Salesi Rayasi

Unavailable for selection:  Asafo Aumua, Jacob Devery, Cam Roigard, James Tucker, James O’Reilly

Solid team, kind of what I expected. Shields and Naholo taking a rest this week. Shame Godfrey isn’t on the bench.

Good to see Higgins get the start over Umaga-Jensen.

Hayden Thompson-Stringer, Julian Heaven, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Hugh Sinclair, Fergus Lee-Warner, Lachlan Swinton, Hunter Ward, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon (c), Will Harrison, Dylan Pietsch, Lalakai Foketi, Joey Walton, Triston Reilly, Mark Nawaqanitawase

Reserves: Jay Fonokalafi, Lewis Ponini, Brad Amituanai, Miles Amatosero, Charlie Gamble, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Vuate Karawalevu

Noted that Billy Proctor will captain the Hurricanes for the first time.

Hah, is Jordie covering ten? Or Love? Or Perenara?

@Bones said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

Hah, is Jordie covering ten? Or Love? Or Perenara?

Pretty sure it will be Love.

@Bones Love covers 10. Has been doing so most of the season.

@Duluth said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

Hayden Thompson-Stringer, Julian Heaven, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Hugh Sinclair, Fergus Lee-Warner, Lachlan Swinton, Hunter Ward, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon (c), Will Harrison, Dylan Pietsch, Lalakai Foketi, Joey Walton, Triston Reilly, Mark Nawaqanitawase

Reserves: Jay Fonokalafi, Lewis Ponini, Brad Amituanai, Miles Amatosero, Charlie Gamble, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Vuate Karawalevu

Probably the best they could do under the circumstances. Not sure that second row is going to thrive against the Canes scrum tho... Scrum penalties ahoy!

@NTA Will the Tahs have an attack this week?

@Duluth said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

@NTA Will the Tahs have an attack this week?

Guess not if last week's doesn't count.

Good to see Harrison at 10. Edmed has a game or two a year (often against the Crusaders) where he will play really well but otherwise he simply doesn't offer enough. Harrison has looked good in his cameos from the bench in the last month or so (especially considering he was out for 2 years with injuries).

@Duluth said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

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1 Pouri Rakete-Stones
2 Kianu Kereru-Symes
3 Tyrel Lomax 
4 Caleb Delany 
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere 
6 Devan Flanders
7 Peter Lakai
8 Brayden Iose 
9 Richard Judd
10 Brett Cameron 
11 Bailyn Sullivan
12 Riley Higgins 
13 Billy Proctor (C)
14 Josh Moorby
15 Ruben Love

16 Raymond Tuputupu 
17 Xavier Numia
18 Pasilio Tosi 
19 Justin Sangster
20 Du’Plessis Kirifi
21 TJ Perenara
22 Jordie Barrett 
23 Salesi Rayasi

Unavailable for selection:  Asafo Aumua, Jacob Devery, Cam Roigard, James Tucker, James O’Reilly

Good to finally see an 'Unavailable for selection' list. This should be a set requirement along with publishing the team on Wednesday. One of a number of simple requirements so that the fans aren't kept in the dark. And this should just be the beginning. To start involving the fans more and more

I thought the team selections last week were disappointing. It was followed by a deserved loss. And these older players like TJ and Brad need rest. Shields never was great if he played too many games week after week and it seems the same now. As for TJ he had by far his worst game last week so good to also see him not starting. Maybe after the Blues he can have a total week off. Weve still got 2 quality HBs so rest TJ as much as possible.

So, this week they seem to have got it almost right. PUJ can't pass or defend even at centre so he out. Replaced by, from what Ive seen, the much better Higgins (but at 2nd). And at Lakai is starting as he should. Esp as Kirifi seems to have lost his initial spark. Team have found another hooker who hopefully knows how to throw into a lineout. But it's a concern that RT is still in the reserves but for understandable reason

Almost right because i would like to see someone else tried at first. Cameron is a bit average and has yet to have a great game as he did a few games last year. And why Rayasi in the reserves instead of giving Godfrey some game time

edit. And 4 HB linked starting forwards

Referee: Dan Waenga

Assistant Referees: Paul Williams, Mike Winter