Excited for this game.

Does anyone know what happened to Pole? I’m having a mind blank on him getting injured. A shame about Gilbert being injured though, was starting to look bloody good and playing with confidence, hopefully nothing serious and just a precaution with some big games coming up before storm week.

Great to finally see Whaanga get a chance at 13, him and TUG in the midfield is exciting on paper, here’s hoping they can combine and look sharp. Bloody big midfield. Add in Nareki being back and it’s all pretty dangerous.

I was of the idea Wingham was a tighthead so it’s interesting to see him get a start at loosehead, will be watching that closely. Stodart obviously on a rest/rotation so Lio-Willie is straight back at 8 which is huge along with Tucker being back from injury on the bench. Nice bit of depth building all of a sudden.

As an Otago fan I’m bloody happy to see Jacomb isn’t running the show at 10 and JRK being moved to the wing. Odd choices but I’m not complaining about that at all.

Interesting to note Lui is named at 23 making it a 6/2 split on the bench.

Text version off the teams.. easier to read for the people on phones:

1 Mitch O'Neill, 2 Bradley Slater, 3 Michael Bent, 4 Fiti Sa, 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Arese Poliko, 7 Michael Loft, 8 Kaylum Boshier (c), 9 Leone Nawai, 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Josh Setu, 12 Daniel Rona, 13 Meihana Grindlay, 14 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 15 Josh Jacomb

Reserves: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Perry Lawrence, 18 Toby Burkett, 19 Jackson Morgan, 20 Scott Jury, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Vereniki Tikoisolomone, 23 Obey Samate

1 Rohan Wingham, 2 Henry Bell, 3 Saula Ma'u, 4 Sam Fischli, 5 Fabian Holland, 6 Oliver Haig, 7 Harry Taylor, 8 Christian Lio-Willie (c), 9 James Arscott, 10 Cameron Millar, 11 Jona Nareki, 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13 Josh Whaanga, 14 Hudson Creighton, 15 Finn Hurley

Reserves: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Benjamin Lopas, 18 Moana Takataka, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Will Stodart, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Kyan Banginitua, 23 Lui Naefta

@Duluth i find the wall of text so much harder to read on my phone than a pic

@Landers92 from the Taranaki socials it read like the changes were made to allow Potroz to start at 10 for his 50th game for the province. Seems strange to move your best 10 and fullback to make it happen. Could alao be to strengthen the back three with Naholo out. For player warching development perspective, I'm a bit gutted Millar doesn't get a go against Jacomb.
Weird that Fischli keeps his spot at lock over Tucker and Stodart. With both Stodart and Naeata on the bench, it seems an odd make-up with two very similar players, position wise.
From losing to Southland in round 1, to playing they team that beat them by 15 points last week, this is a great gauge to see where pur season is at. No Naholo is a massive loss for the Naki.

Weird Otago bench. Who would play on the open side if Taylor is injured ?

@cgrant said in Taranaki v Otago:

Weird Otago bench. Who would play on the open side if Taylor is injured ?

Probably a very unconventional openside in either Lio-Willie or Stodart. Lio-Willie isn't a huge 8, so is probably more suitable.

Looks like we are just going to try smash them up front - and honestly I don't hate it. Tucker will eventually take over from Fischli at lock, so I guess they see want to keep Stodart working on being a loose forward. Taylor has been handy, but I think if we can keep the majority fit, Lio-Willie will probably shift to 7, as Stodart, Naeta and Fischli are probably all superior players.

Potroz at 10 is a massive plus for us, Naki fell apart when they brought him on v Wellington.

Fiti Sa out for the Naki. Jackson Morgan to start and Jesse Parete now on the bench.

Good performance so far, especially with both Holland and Hurley off injured.

Close but no cigar the champions Taranaki get the better of us today, think Faleafaga should be tried at fb next weekend if Hurley is unavailable

Generally a good performance. Was a bit tough with the two yellows, a couple of unfortunate injuries and some missed opportunities. Certainly shows the team is at the right level to compete with the best teams.

Just got home from game a little while ago. Was enjoyable game. pretty scratchy in first half by Naki boys, but came home with a combination of good fortune and good play.
I am somewhat doubtful if we would of won if Holland hadn't been injured, he was huge in lineouts and really just works his arse off around field.
The good guys certainly looked better when Jacomb was back at 10 (got the makings of an AB in future years), and also Kneepkens went to 15. Also think Lennox made differece at 9.
Otago is a genuinely good team sp happy we got that result.

Riccitelli's try should not have been allowed as he lost contact with the players in front of him when the maul split in two.

right, a question, i noticed in the second half that hastie would several times move the ball to the back of a ruck with his hands, once even picked it up to put it on the other side of someone legs....as soon as he plays it with his hands its out is it not...definitely when he picks it up

@Kiwiwomble No idea what he’s doing there. Probably a bit of comfort knowing halfbacks can’t be touched having something to do with it.

While on the topic, he has been terrible coming off the bench the last 2 games. Slow getting the ball out, premeditated and inaccurate box kicks, 2 weeks in a row they have gone out on the of full in important moments. A strange technique too, very slow at doing it. I have no doubt he’s on thin ice this weekend before Pledger is given a shot. Wouldn’t be surprised if that’s already the case. Young fella needs to step up, he’s been around long enough.

@Landers92 i need to find out a bit ore about the halfback protection, i get it before the ball is players, cant drag the half back in or drive past and take them out.....but if theyre playing the ball....they should be fair game