@Duluth said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

@KiwiMurph said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

Whoever wins will have to defend the Shield on Sunday

Auckland v BOP
or
Ta$man v Taranaki

Tough at the end of storm week

Ranfurly Shield game at Auckland Grammar?

I know Auckland isn't playing well, but jeepers

@Chris-B said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

In the backs - Big Levi is missing, which is a huge loss.

Not injured, partner expecting.

@nzzp Looks like madness!

We're likely going to have a dysfunctional lineout and the wet won't help our running game.

Probably very slight favourites due to home advantage, but this is NPC - favourites get beaten by 30 points!

@Chris-B my mate whipped past the TAB at lunchtime. I don't think we'll win, but I doubt we are $4 outsiders.

Time for loss insurance @Chris-B

As someone who hopes Auckland wins by a lot but is so bruised that they have to start their B team come end of the week, Im all in on those 4's

@nzzp Yeah - those are stupid odds.

Auckland has five good Super players in their pack and we have one.

@Chris-B said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

@nzzp Yeah - those are stupid odds.

Auckland has five good Super players in their pack and we have one.

great chance for Plummer to show what he's got

@nzzp said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

I don't think we'll win, but I doubt we are $4 outsiders.

Yeah Ta$man comfortable favourites but not as much as those odds suggest

Individually there's plenty of guys playing well, the team hasn't functioned though

Thinking about the main issues this year:

• Huge team error rate. That was more of a problem in the first 4 weeks. It seems better recently
• Problems at 10. Harford was poor, the old Aussie even worse, Simpson has shown promise. We have Plummer back for this one
• Injuries at prop. The scrum has been uneven because of multiple prop injuries
• Drifting out of games. Looking comfy and then trying low percentage plays etc. Surely the shield keeps them focused. Plummer might help here too.
• Halfback. This is the biggest issue. We don't have a replacement for Funaki.

Weather might assist Auckland? The connection between forwards and backs has been poor. Simplifying the game plan might be a good thing

@nzzp said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

@Chris-B said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

@nzzp Yeah - those are stupid odds.

Auckland has five good Super players in their pack and we have one.

great chance for Plummer to show what he's got

Worst night ever for Plummer to show what he's got!

@Duluth said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

Weather might assist Auckland? The connection between forwards and backs has been poor. Simplifying the game plan might be a good thing

Plan: get out and smash people. Loosies to wreck the Ta$man rucks, secure ours and carry hard. Just keep smashing it up front.
Don't do stupid shit. Just get stuck in. Wash, rinse, repeat. Low error rate, good goal kicking, don't overplay your hand.

What we'll get:
miracle balls!
The shimmy into contact before being turned over
glory plays
X factor brilliance to pass the ball to the opposition

...

I'm up for this, let's go!

Auckland hit by a bug apparently, illness through the squad

ah yes, the auckland mistakes. Here we go.

Updated Auckland side

1 Josh Fusitua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 3 Angus Taavao, 4 Josh Beehre, 5 Tuaina Tualima, 6 Adrian Choat, 7 Anton Segner, 8 Akira Ioane, 9 Kemara Hauiti Parapara, 10 Harry Plummer, 11 Xavier Tito Harris, 12 AJ Lam, 13 Xavi Taele, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 15 Zarn Sullivan

Reserves: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Tito Tuipulotu, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Che Clark, 21 Sam Howling, 22 Rico Simpson, 23 Tanielu Telea

Zarn!

@Duluth said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

Zarn!

quality!

He should not score that, but we'll take it.

Shame he’s not as good as Fihaki haha

@Duluth said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

Shame he’s not as good as Fihaki haha

about to say that! Short kicking game, etc ...

Great distance on his kicks

@Duluth said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

Great distance on his kicks

not as good as Fihaki amiright?

Plummer a little untidy there

@Duluth said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

Plummer a little untidy there

Zarn has a slow windup. Why he's not a 10.

Going to be a tough watch. Loads of errors from both sides

Christie a pest on defence

@Duluth said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

Christie a pest on defence

showing his quality

jesus, Zarn off. In with the shoulder apparnetly.

@nzzp said in Ta$man v Auckland (RS):

jesus, Zarn off. In with the shoulder apparnetly.

ooof just saw the replay. Ta$man player on the Auckland side ... I get it, I don't lov it

Lineout was formed?

Just checked, there was two Ta$man players there

Auckland doing well getting back on their feet.

We're going to lose, but we should make a game of htis

12-10 Ta$man at HT

Auckland had the wind but not much ball

Into the sheds.

It's not actually raining that hard, but it's been drizzling all day - and there's a decent breeze blowing that will help us in the second half - when we're playing towards our favoured Post Office end.

Think we looked the better team in that half. Poor effort from QuinMac on Zarn probably kept the Auks closer than they should be.

Willi's cross kick for Taumoefolau wasn't a good option either.

Lineout surviving well and scrum going OK.

Fin Christie having a whale of a game so far.

Tele’a should be in the midfield

4mins for the replacement halfback.. how can we find out if he’s any good if he keeps getting token minutes

Ta$man retain for another few days at least. Christie, Shalfoon, Havili & Tavatavanawai influential

Not much ball in the first half and even less in the second half.

A lot of self inflicted stuff... a very disorganised side apart from defence. Pressure must be building on McGrath/Bates

@Grooter Yeah - if we were going to win that one, I thought those four plus Sione Havili needed to have big games - I think Sione did as well.

Actually, pretty much everyone for Ta$man played well. Looked well drilled.

I've said a couple of times this year how well Willie Havili is playing - really has a nice left boot on him. A bit of a loss for NZ and the Crusaders in particular.