Tahs need to play Harvey more
Waratahs
Match thread
Hurricanes
Very happy with that performance and no new injuries.
Should get Lomax, Naholo, Higgins and Delany back next week as well.
Harkin, Lakai and Proctor (aside from the interception) were all very good.
Roigard hasn’t even done anything yet which shows the Canes are in a good space.
Of course, he has played only one game at 1st Five but Harkin looks like he's the best in NZ in this position. Speed, good hands, safe under the high balls and very long kicking from hand. He seems to have all the attributes. I don't know much about his goalkicking though.
A few dumb actions aside (as usual), IWL was outstanding IMO. His physicality is a big asset for the Canes front five. Flanders was also very good.
@cgrant said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
Of course, he has played only one game at 1st Five but Harkin looks like he's the best in NZ in this position. Speed, good hands, safe under the high balls and very long kicking from hand. He seems to have all the attributes. I don't know much about his goalkicking though.
A few dumb actions aside (as usual), IWL was outstanding IMO. His physicality is a big asset for the Canes front five. Flanders was also very good.
Well his kick won Wellington the NPC in 2024. Not a bad kicker at all.
I kind of hope we don’t move Harkin out of 10 now but I’m sure Laidlaw will once Love comes back.
I've been busy all day and have just seen the score. Fantastic. That's a spanking!
Looking forward to catching up with a replay.
Go the mighty Hurricanes!
@Bones said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
@sparky as long as it doesn't interfere with Glasgow Vs Bulls. That will be a game for all ages.
From kids to grandparents, will be riveting stuff.
@Canes4life said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
@cgrant said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
Of course, he has played only one game at 1st Five but Harkin looks like he's the best in NZ in this position. Speed, good hands, safe under the high balls and very long kicking from hand. He seems to have all the attributes. I don't know much about his goalkicking though.
A few dumb actions aside (as usual), IWL was outstanding IMO. His physicality is a big asset for the Canes front five. Flanders was also very good.Well his kick won Wellington the NPC in 2024. Not a bad kicker at all.
I kind of hope we don’t move Harkin out of 10 now but I’m sure Laidlaw will once Love comes back.
I'm not sure he believes in leaving a guy in when he's hot
Did the Waratahs forget to send out another back when Sualili went down in the warm up?
Cant tell much about the Canes attack when there are gaps in the midfield you can literally drive a truck through.
However, Harkin does appear to have plenty of time on the ball. On the Sullivan try, I really liked the way he re-assessed the pass option, saw the kick option, and executed, all with plenty of time. Has a good pass but also nice doff hands and squared up when coming around on the loop. Much to like there.
I didn't watch the whole game, but Cam looks to be playing within himself at the moment. He looks very controlled and is making good decisions. I did notice his box kicks from our own half were actually contestable. His general play kicking was excellent
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. I had expected the Tahs to be a bit more competitive tbh, and was surprised they struggled more than the Canes with the humidity and pace.
@allblacksfan2 said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. I had expected the Tahs to be a bit more competitive tbh, and was surprised they struggled more than the Canes with the humidity and pace.
I guess compared to Lautoka the conditions were perfect 
@canefan said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
@allblacksfan2 said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. I had expected the Tahs to be a bit more competitive tbh, and was surprised they struggled more than the Canes with the humidity and pace.
I guess compared to Lautoka the conditions were perfect
Yep and good to hear how well the Canes prepared for this " Multiple turnovers, poor defence and aimless attacking options, with the ball and off the boot, were feasted upon by the Hurricanes, who said they’d studied the Waratahs and built a gameplan to frustrate them, turn ball over and attack on the counter.
And that’s exactly how it turned out. Though they had more possession, the Waratahs gave up 18 turnovers and ended up missing 28 of their 128 tackles, with the Canes making 12 clean breaks.. From Iain Peyton in the SMH " https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/super-rugby-live-updates-suaalii-injured-in-warm-up-ahead-of-waratahs-hurricanes-20260306-p5o87c.html
Great effort Canes - too many individual gamebreakers which the Tahs couldn't handle.
Interesting to see the Tahs with an SA style rush defense but without the personnel or fitness to do it properly. It was ok early but second half just opened up gaps everywhere with some players blitzing and some just holding back. Cut out balls and chip kick started working.
They'll need to work on that but I wonder how effective it will be with the pace of Super games.
@gt12 said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
Did the Waratahs forget to send out another back when Sualili went down in the warm up?
Cant tell much about the Canes attack when there are gaps in the midfield you can literally drive a truck through.
However, Harkin does appear to have plenty of time on the ball. On the Sullivan try, I really liked the way he re-assessed the pass option, saw the kick option, and executed, all with plenty of time. Has a good pass but also nice doff hands and squared up when coming around on the loop. Much to like there.
He’s definitely got a bit of class about him aye. Seems to have plenty of time on the ball. Will be interesting to see if he goes back to 15 when Love comes back, or whether Love comes in at 15.
On the Canes, it’s pretty evident that they’ll be very hard to contain on a dry track this year, seem to have all bases covered and there’s plenty of experience littered throughout that team not to be there towards the end of the season.
Laidlaw has alluded to a raft of changes for Friday’s game against the Force. To keep the team fresh I’d say guys like Numia, Aumua, Lauaki, Lakai, Dearns, Fineanganofo and Moorby might take a seat, especially with Lomax, Naholo, Higgins and Delany now available again.
I think we might see something like the below with a quick turnaround.
- Mafileo
- Devery
- Tosi
- Plummer
- Walker-Leawere
- Flanders
- Kirifi (C)
- Iose
- Roigard
- Harmon
- Naholo
- Higgins
- Proctor
- Sullivan
- Barrett
- Bason
- Rakete-Stones
- Lomax
- Delany
- Shields
- Vijoen
- Cashmore
- Rova
@Canes4life said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
Harmon
Miracle return for the ex Landers skipper, picked up some game play skills in his time away.
@Bones said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
@Canes4life said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
Harmon
Miracle return for the ex Landers skipper, picked up some game play skills in his time away.
Haha good catch.
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but having just watched the game now I have noticed the Tahs 9 deliberately roll the ball forward before picking up at the base of the scrum. He has done it ar least a couple of times. It seems to happen when he reaches for the ball at the side of the ruck. Surely that would have to be a knock on, even a deliberate knock on?
@Crazy-Horse 9's are still given far too much time to fuck around with the ball, particularly rolling it back, they used to at least get it back with thier foot and then adjust its position with thier hands, now they are blatant in rolling it back with hands....the rules here are akin to hookers back in the day having to stand behind the line when throwing, now though...
@taniwharugby said in Waratahs vs Hurricanes:
@Crazy-Horse 9's are still given far too much time to fuck around with the ball, particularly rolling it back, they used to at least get it back with thier foot and then adjust its position with thier hands, now they are blatant in rolling it back with hands....the rules here are akin to hookers back in the day having to stand behind the line when throwing, now though...
Agree. This example was particularly bad, especially the one at around the 17 minute mark. The nine went to the side of the ruck and got in front of the ball. He ended up with his back to the the Canes' goal line and rolled the ball towards his feet to pick it up. It happened right in front of the ref and one of the Canes put his arms up in protest, but the ref either ignored it or didn't see it.