1 Elise Fono, 2 Jordan Hutchings, 3 Isileli Tu'ungafasi, 4 Bodene Davis, 5 Liam Hallam-Eames, 6 Rory Woods, 7 Matt Matich (c), 8 Rob Rush, 9 Lisati Milo-Harris, 10 Dan Hawkins, 11 Brady Rush, 12 Quinton Nichols, 13 Tevita Nabura, 14 Nathan Salmon, 15 Tama Anderson

Reserves: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 Jarred Adams, 18 Remsy Lemisio, 19 Terrell Peita, 20 Saimoni Uluinakauvaara, 21 Donald Boyd, 22 Ryan Nankivell, 23 Heremaia Murray

I'd be surprised if a younger loose forward trio has played in the NPC in a while. Two 21-yr olds and a 18 yr old.

Good to see Matich return. I thought Peita was disappointing in the last match

What is Nankivell's best position?

Nabura is an interesting addition. If he goes well it could allow them to move Evans in a position or two in the top team

Thats 12 changes from Friday.

Nabura has been playing for East Coast, but plays for Kerikeri, was disappointed he wasnt picked up last year, didnt see much of KK this year to know what his form had been like.

Nankivell is a 10, but he has played 12 and 15, is a good size and pace, with a good kick and not afraid to run it.

SOme experience sprinkled across the team, but plenty inexperienced, will be interesting.

@taniwharugby said in Waikato v Northland:

Nabura has been playing for East Coast, but plays for Kerikeri, was disappointed he wasnt picked up last year, didnt see much of KK this year to know what his form had been like.

I think a few people on here rated him when he was a winger years ago?

The only thing I recall about him is the red card for raising a leg taking a high ball

We last played Waikato in Waikato in 2018, going down 48-26 (Championship semi) and we have won only once in Waikato, back in 2012; 29-12, average scoreline has always been a comfortable win to Waikato 40-21, cant see tomorrow being any different.

Kicking off now

Haha well done Milo-Harris

Wow great solo try by Mathis

7-5 Waikato

@Duluth poor kick by Hawkins and then he missed the key tackle

Well that’s blown out quickly

21-5 now after 22mins

Classy play again by Mathis

@Duluth not that it impacted things, the try scorer looked marginally in front

LMH should be starting ahead of Nock.

Much better from Northland. Not the most accurate phases but better urgency.. Waikato dropping off a couple of tackles

then a poor lineout concedes 90m

did the AR have to call that not straight?

haha, shake hands and make up

I'd love to throw a few to #2 now and again

was Nichols in front of the kick? I'll take it

Feels like Waikato should have a big lead. Northland only two behind at HT

@taniwharugby said in Waikato v Northland:

was Nichols in front of the kick? I'll take it

He was good. Half a metre back

Think Salmon is making a good case to keep the 14 Jersey. Looks a good prospect. Would like to see Murray come on in place of Nabura, Nabura doesn't really look like a 13. Feel like we haven't really had the rub of the green with the ref - not that he has been bad. Considering the amount of changes it is not really a surprise the set piece is struggling but we do need to get it sorted.

@Chiefy07 if Salmon can cut the errors out, he should def start, that fumble that lead to a try was a poor error after doing so well to get there, but he offers alot with his accelaration and strength.

@taniwharugby said in Waikato v Northland:

if Salmon can cut the errors out, he should def start, that fumble that lead to a try was a poor error after doing so well to get there, but he offers alot with his accelaration and strength.

Good work rate and intent. He’ll get better with game time

@taniwharugby said in Waikato v Northland:

LMH should be starting ahead of Nock.

It shouldn’t even be a contest on current form

That was awful by Cook-Savage

The ref has been very inconsistent with not straight calls. The last two lineouts were obviously not straight and neither contested yet he only called one. It's not a difficult decision to get right

All over

34-19 Waikato

Set piece was the big difference between the teams today. Coaches need to get that sorted ASAP. Plenty of changes from last game but set piece shouldn't fall away that far

Also be keen to hear why the coach put Nankivell on for his debut for Hawkins and then subbed him off again. If he's injured fair enough but if that was tactical that's poor coaching

Oli Mathis is a future all black once he puts on some size he will be a handful

@Chiefy07 lineout was awful given we have Woods, LHE and Davis as genuine options and then Rush as well, probably cost us the game given we lost 2 attacking ones 5m out as well.

Def some positives to take from the game, but sadly, mostly same shit different year.

A good start from Waikato and then mistakes led to soft tries. Granted Northland helped Waikato too with their mistakes. It became a cripple fight in the 2nd half. Happy to get that last try.

No surprise to see Oli Mathis get the MOTM. His speed has always been his biggest asset as he has scored plenty of those type of tries at 1st XV level. He made some dominant tackles too (one on Brady Rush I think it was). Cook-Savage seemed determined to help out his Northland mates with some stupid passes.

@cliff said in Waikato v Northland:

Oli Mathis is a future all black once he puts on some size he will be a handful

As long as Waikato and the Chiefs have him signed first!

@taniwharugby

Yes

Bit of a shame really.
The squads we've had the past few seasons really look like they have had the potential to be at least 50/50 teams.
But same old crap.

And Mathis, that's how I wanted to play seven back in the day. Haha. Fuck that ball scavenging. Hang out in the backline!

Waikato young back row all look very impressive

@cliff said in Waikato v Northland:

Oli Mathis is a future all black once he puts on some size he will be a handful

He looked every bit that in this game. If the Chiefs haven't signed him....

Mathis is talented but his size could limit his aspirations. He should convert to 2nd five : he has speed to burn and good hands.

@cgrant said in Waikato v Northland:

Mathis is talented but his size could limit his aspirations.

Mathis isn't going to get any taller but said himself that he is slowly putting on mass by spending more time in the gym. Remember that he is only in his first year out of school.