The Waikato team is finally named with a number of changes due to injury.

1. Latu Talakai (Fraser Tech)
2. Hame Faiva (University)
3. Sefo Kautai (Hamilton Marist)
4. Jacob Skeen (University)
5. Brian Alainu’uese (University)
6. Jordan Manihera (Hamilton Old Boys)
7. Murray Iti (Otorohanga)
8. Whetu Douglas (Captain) (University)
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Hautapu)
10. Sam Christie (Fraser Tech)
11. Sevu Reece (Melville)
12. Tevita Taufui (Melville)
13. Willis Halaholo
14. Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara (Hamilton Old Boys)
15. Tyler Campbell (University)

Reserves:
16. Steven Misa (Hamilton Marist)
17. Tau Koloamatangi (University)
18. Josh Iosefa-Scott (Melvillle)
19. Brad Tucker
20. Mitch Jacobson (Hautapu)
21. Isaac Boss (Southern United) / Harrison Levien (Hamilton Marist)
22. Jason Robertson (University)
23. Milford Keresoma

Loni Uhila - broken arm
Atu Moli - ankle injury
Jordan Trainor - ankle injury
Nathaniel Apa - facial injury
Shaun Stevenson - knee injury

I'm not expecting the Ranfurly Shield to be in Hamilton after tomorrow.

Isn't it going to be Taranaki's 3rd game in a week?

@KiwiMurph Yes, but their team still has Super players on the bench. And I'd rather lose to Naki than Canterbury.

Port Taranaki Bulls team to play Waikato:

Mitchell Graham (27)
Rhys Marshall (34)
Ryan Cocker (28)
Ben Matwijow (4)
Leighton Price (12)
Mitchell Brown (21)
Mitchell Crosswell (35)
Toa Halafihi (18)
Kylem O’Donnell (20)
Marty McKenzie (21)
Manasa Mataele (4)
Johnny Faauli (4)
Sean Wainui (17)
Beaudein Waaka (16)
Stephen Perofeta (5)        

Reserves:

Sione Lea (42)
Jared Proffit (4)
Reuben O’Neill (7)
Leon Power (27)
Lachlan Boshier (11)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (16)
Seta Tamanivalu (39) / Latu Vaeno (11)
Jackson Ormond (53)

We're underway..not a lot of Taranaki support at the game due to a large slip on SH3 blocking us off from the north

Halftime Taranaki up 8 - 5. Score reflecting of how close it is. Taranaki been disappointing and Waikato surprising considering the injury toll.

Waikato hold onto the Shield with a 20 all draw.

Wow!!! I'm feeling exhausted after watching that. I kind of feel we got a bit lucky with some of those calls but I'm happy to be the right side as a supporter.

Bloody disappointing. Dashed off to the toilet just as the try-that-wasn't was scored. Came back very confused by we weren't up by more.

Seta Tamanivalu the villain for Naki.

What a nail biter.
Next Shield challenge will be v Canterbury on 28 September. Really hope Waikato win that game too, so they can hand the Shield back to the Bay on 8 October. #dreamsarefree :slight_smile:

@Rembrandt said in Waikato vs Taranaki:

We're underway..not a lot of Taranaki support at the game due to a large slip on SH3 blocking us off from the north

A sign from nature it wasn't to be...

I'm thrilled for Waikato because I didn't think they had a shit show in hell with all the injuries etc, but damn, Naki. You choked big time.

Not saying he should be, but I wonder whether Tamanivalu will get cited. That shoulder charge looked bad (and late, too).

Pretty entertaining game.

Unfortunately, Shield folklore isn't what it was in the 1950s - or even the 1980s, but Seta's no arms tackle would have entered into the legend if it was.

Pretty dumb play - probably been punished enough.

@Stargazer said in Waikato vs Taranaki:

What a nail biter.
Next Shield challenge will be v Canterbury on 28 September. Really hope Waikato win that game too, so they can hand the Shield back to the Bay on 8 October. #dreamsarefree :slight_smile:

I swear the draw is always done to maximise the Cantabs chances of getting the Shield. However this game had gone (and it was the most likely challenge win) Canterbury would have likely had a crack yet other teams wait years for even one go.

@Crucial said in Waikato vs Taranaki:

I swear the draw is always done to maximise the Cantabs chances of getting the Shield. However this game had gone (and it was the most likely challenge win) Canterbury would have likely had a crack yet other teams wait years for even one go.

Not sure that's correct, but Tasman have certainly been fucked over royally with the Shield draw in the past two or three years (some simply bad luck) (and notwithstanding an appalling call by Bryce Lawrence - sending the Mighty Kahn to the bin when we were ahead of Wellington with fuck all time to play).

If we'd had a realistic chance of a Shield challenge this year maybe we would have retained Quentin McDonald and Joe Wheeler for one more tilt - but, the prospect of getting a challenge was highly remote once the draw was done.

Just to note - the Shield has NEVER come to Nelson. Despite that we invented rugby in this fucking country. In the past two or three seasons we have repeatedly beaten pretty much every Shield holder - and yet we couldn't get a challenge. And next season, when Banks, Ainley and Fonotia are gone, we'll be back to also-rans.

I am far beyond fucked off at this.

@Mokey

Saw most of the seconx gzlc and don't think Naki choked.

Re the try that wasn't: correct call. Except Seta should have been yellowed. Saved the blushes if ghat idiot Waikato hooker. Pass it man!

@Chris-B. said in Waikato vs Taranaki:

@Crucial said in Waikato vs Taranaki:

I swear the draw is always done to maximise the Cantabs chances of getting the Shield. However this game had gone (and it was the most likely challenge win) Canterbury would have likely had a crack yet other teams wait years for even one go.

Not sure that's correct, but Tasman have certainly been fucked over royally with the Shield draw in the past two or three years (some simply bad luck) (and notwithstanding an appalling call by Bryce Lawrence - sending the Mighty Kahn to the bin when we were ahead of Wellington with fuck all time to play).

If we'd had a realistic chance of a Shield challenge this year maybe we would have retained Quentin McDonald and Joe Wheeler for one more tilt - but, the prospect of getting a challenge was highly remote once the draw was done.

Just to note - the Shield has NEVER come to Nelson. Despite that we invented rugby in this fucking country. In the past two or three seasons we have repeatedly beaten pretty much every Shield holder - and yet we couldn't get a challenge. And next season, when Banks, Ainley and Fonotia are gone, we'll be back to also-rans.

I am far beyond fucked off at this.

I feel for you. It was only when the Shield went on walkabout among the 'lesser' unions that CM managed to break its duck. For years and years I would look at the permutations of my team having a shot at the Log and many a year there was no show of getting near it bar a couple of big upsets.
It is quite regular though that a few unions seem to get a few cracks a seasons or have draws that line them up with potential holders toward the end. My example was Canterbury and this year they were lined up as the second realistic challenger with a backup game if Naki managed to beat them to it (and held out against the mighty 'Poo)
Perhaps when they get hold of it again they could take it to show off to their little brother?

@Crucial said in Waikato vs Taranaki:

Perhaps when they get hold of it again they could take it to show off to their little brother?

Frankly, we won't even get a game in Christchurch next year unless perhaps if we get relegated. We won't have a team to beat Canterbury next year, anyway. Our "Golden Generation" are departing.

We already don't have the same forward firepower as last year due to defections and injuries and next year the backs will be weaker.

@Chris-B Marlborough have won it before and Tasman is Maelborough so same thing mate

@Hooroo said in Waikato vs Taranaki:

@Chris-B Marlborough have won it before and Tasman is Maelborough so same thing mate

Not to us poor fluffybunnies who live in Nelson!

Luckily, I was a Cantab in the early 1980s and specifically a Shield holder - a funny story for you.

I was working for the National Bank in Hereford Street (main Christchurch branch) and someone arranged for the Shield to be on display with us for a week. And, since I was working closest to the main door, I (at 19) was put in charge of not letting it get stolen.

During the week the Janitor came up to me and said, "Do you think I should drill a hole through it and bolt it to the desk to stop it getting stolen?"

I said, "Christ you can't do that - it's the Ranfurly Shield!"

I told my friends, "That fuckwit thought he should drill a hole through the Shield".

He doubtless told his friends, "That fuckwit thought I was going to drill a hole through the Shield".