Shalfoon should not be playing this match
Tasman
Match thread
Canterbury (QF)
I'm a bit pessimistic about this game off the back of storm week and losing the Shield.
That Canterbury pack looks very strong, though our backs look a bit better.
Sione Havili is missing, so that's a big loss up front - offset by getting Big Levi back in the centres. QMac back at hooker, as well.
No Tavatavanawai - no surprise. Also no surprise that he was named Mako Player of the Year.
@Chris-B said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
I'm a bit pessimistic about this game off the back of storm week and losing the Shield.
That Canterbury pack looks very strong, though our backs look a bit better.
Sione Havili is missing, so that's a big loss up front - offset by getting Big Levi back in the centres.
No Tavatavanawai - no surprise. Also no surprise that he was named Mako Player of the Year.
This is exactly what happened to Wellington last year, lost the Shield and off the back off some tough games they bowed out against Hawkes Bay after looking like the front runners for most of the comp. I hope you knock out Canterbury though, never like seeing the Red and Blacks in finals footy.
Neil Barnes, the Taranaki coach has some interesting and harsh comments about storm week pointing out Wellington had the same problem last year. 3.30 in.
Nice to see someone who's won making these comments.
@Chris-B yeah he spoke on it and other stuff earlier in the week
Can I just point out:
Auckland hadn't had a challenge in slightly more than 9 years.
Taranaki hadn't had a challenge in slightly more than 4 years.
They were currently the two longest "waiters" (Canterbury effectively equal with Taranaki).
Ta$man fixed this in five days!
I'd change some water to wine for you fuckers, but I know you'd just complain about the vintage! 
@Chris-B said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
Can I just point out:
Auckland hadn't had a challenge in slightly more than 9 years.
Taranaki hadn't had a challenge in slightly more than 4 years.
They were currently the two longest "waiters" (Canterbury effectively equal with Taranaki).
Ta$man fixed this in five days!
I'd change some water to wine for you fuckers, but I know you'd just complain about the vintage!
No, the Pies did it by helpfully losing a game we should have won by being silly in the last minute.
Also, long times between challenges is historically accurate for the Shield. Your southern friends Otago and Southland conspired to keep the bloody thing freezing at the bottom of the SI for a decade.
Also also, why the fuck are we still talking about the Shield in Ta$man threads like you still own it.
@Chris-B said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
@Nepia Because of the massive contribution bringing it south to a nice, wholesome union made to rehabilitating its heavily tarnished image?
Wholesome aye, Pies players drop Shield's, Ta$man players assault women and their partners, and threaten their friends.
@KiwiMurph said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
Ethan Blackadder no longer playing due to injury
Colour me shocked
Completely unforeseeable.
Updated Ta$man side:
1 Ryan Coxon, 2 Quentin MacDonald, 3 Samuel Matenga, 4 Tim Sail, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 6 Tim Sail, 7 Johnny Lee, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 9 Finlay Christie (c), 10 William Havili, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 12 David Havili, 13 Levi Aumua, 14 Jack Gray, 15 Macca Springer
Reserves: 16 Sam Moli, 17 Monu Moli, 18 Jone Tiko, 19 Tayne Hemopo, 20 Braden Stewart, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 William Butler, 23 Nic Sauira
@KiwiMurph said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
Ethan Blackadder no longer playing due to injury
Colour me shocked
I heard he twisted his ankle getting out of bed.
@KiwiMurph said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
Ethan Blackadder no longer playing due to injury
Colour me shocked
Ethan is eaual parts breakable and equal parts Razor's irresistible drug. We should nickname him crystal meth
@Canes4life said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
I heard he twisted his ankle getting out of bed.
Too easy. Maybe add an extra flourish?
I heard he twisted his ankle getting out of Jason Ryan's bed.
@Duluth said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
@Canes4life said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
I heard he twisted his ankle getting out of bed.
Too easy. Maybe add an extra flourish?
I heard he twisted his ankle getting out of Jason Ryan's bed.
You’ve definitely improved this post.
Tackle stats are getting high already
Lee has made 20 and missed 5. That's 25 attempts by one player in 31mins??
@KiwiMurph said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
Davis Havili has sucked today
How is his brother David playing?
@KiwiMurph said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
Davis Havili has sucked today
I was just going to say the same. Was that his pass for the intercept too?
@canefan said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
@KiwiMurph said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
Davis Havili has sucked today
How is his brother David playing?
Playing like Heath Davis....
@Bovidae said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
@KiwiMurph said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
Davis Havili has sucked today
I was just going to say the same. Was that his pass for the intercept too?
Went back and checked. Yes. He threw a no look pass which went to Fihaki
@Bovidae said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
The RS hangover is striking again.
Yeah - compounded by Ta$man missing three quarters of our best pack, while Canterbury are reinforced with plenty of All Blacks in their tight five.
Strong first half from Harmon,Bell,and Kellow in the forward pack
McLeod ,Ennor and Drummond all showing out with. strong games.
@KiwiMurph said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
McLeod having a blinder
Another one better than David Havili.
Bit of an unfortunate end to the season, but unfortunately pretty predictable.
Completely outgunned in the forwards - once Ethan was ruled out and Anderson hobbled off, I don't think any of the other Ta$man forwards would even have made the Canterbury bench. Maybe Shalfoon for Cahill?
No ball. No territory. No win!
Tim Sail tried hard as did Fin Christie. Jonny Lee looks like he'll be a good player.
Having a storm week in the last week of the regular season also didn't help. That shouldn't happen.
@Bovidae said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):
Having a storm week in the last week of the regular season also didn't help. That shouldn't happen.
The decline of Ta$man after holding the Shield was pretty much a carbon copy of what happened to Wellington last year. I think the storm week needs to be binned.