It's hard to know what to make of this game. First time (since the pre-NPC era?) that a Shield game will have happened between two top tier sides after no matches for either team for several weeks. Plus the big unknown of how all squads in the NPC have handled lockdowns.
Agreed with @bayimports that the odds seem right.
Goddam it, the Bay finally get a Shield challenge, and look, it's an away game
This is an orchestrated NZR stitch up to keep the log out of Tauranga
@donsteppa said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
It's hard to know what to make of this game. First time (since the pre-NPC era?) that a Shield game will have happened between two top tier sides after no matches for either team for several weeks. Plus the big unknown of how all squads in the NPC have handled lockdowns.
Agreed with @bayimports that the odds seem right.
Watching our social media feed it looked like a few our players namely Chase Tiatia had a few pies during the break, so not overly excited just yet ha ha
Yep, it's certainly somewhat of a lottery as there are so many unknowns. The three week delay between games will have given both teams time to mend niggling injuries. THE BAY could potentially have Ah Khuoi, Mafileo and Black available for selection (I'm not sure what the situation is with Cane and Ekland), Webber is back from sevens and possibly Garland back also. Its a nice selection problem to have if so many of the team are available.
Arguably Hawkes will lose something with the lack of local crowds. It will definitely be an intriguing contest and , like everyone is saying, its to close to call.
Typical NZR doing their usual tactic of trying to bring down Hawkes Bay. Deliberately restarting with a Battle if the Bays shield match so that the crowd boost is removed.
The Magpies could have done with that when coming up against the might of the North Island's version of the Ta$man Chequebook Invitational XV.
@snollygoster As posted in the BOP 2021 thread, Eklund has done his MCL, so will probably still need a few more weeks of rehab (if he doesn't need surgery; otherwise it will be more).
@stargazer said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
@snollygoster As posted in the BOP 2021 thread, Eklund has done his MCL, so will probably still need a few more weeks of rehab (if he doesn't need surgery; otherwise it will be more).
luckily Vella and Nathan Harris should be available, neither have the mana of Ash but not our worst area of depth
@nepia Seeing as though there are no crowds allowed for all intents and purposes the HBRFU should consider holding the fixture at some place like the White Domain in Porongahau or the ground where YMP play in Raupunga. Lets make it as difficult as possible for the opposition to firstly find the ground and secondly make them fell as uncomfortable and as unwelcome as possible. Get them back for making us play at the tinpot Tauranga Domain, not forgetting Whakatane about thirty years ago either!!!! Come to think about it somewhere in the country south of Dannevirke would probably be even better. Maybe Aotea or Rangitane have a nice rural ground they train at that could fit the bill????!!! There must by somewhere in the environs beyond Norsewood that could also be suitable, particularly if there are only hot showers available to the home team!
@higgins said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
@nepia Seeing as though there are no crowds allowed for all intents and purposes the HBRFU should consider holding the fixture at some place like the White Domain in Porongahau or the ground where YMP play in Raupunga. Lets make it as difficult as possible fore the opposition to firstly find the ground and secondly make them fell as uncomfortable and as unwelcome as possible. Get them back for making us play at the tinpot Tauranga Domain, not forgetting Whakatane about thirty years ago either!!!! Come to think about it somewhere in the country south of Dannevirke would probably be even better. Maybe Aotea or Rangitane have a nice rural ground they train at that could fit the bill????!!! There must by somewhere in the environs beyond Norsewood that could also be suitable, particularly if there are only hot showers available to the home team!
lol, nothing wrong with the domain, but Whakatane would have been fun, jeez that was a stitch up. If I was the home team though, I would be looking to do something like you suggest as well since no crowds, shield challenges should be tough and you obviously are worried enough you need help 
@snollygoster said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
Yep, it's certainly somewhat of a lottery as there are so many unknowns. The three week delay between games will have given both teams time to mend niggling injuries. THE BAY could potentially have Ah Khuoi, Mafileo and Black available for selection (I'm not sure what the situation is with Cane and Ekland), Webber is back from sevens and possibly Garland back also. Its a nice selection problem to have if so many of the team are available.
Arguably Hawkes will lose something with the lack of local crowds. It will definitely be an intriguing contest and , like everyone is saying, its to close to call.
Cane said about a month ago he was about 2 months away from playing... so I would imagine a few weeks still
@bayimports It should not even be a Shield Defence as Waikato have the right to be the next challengers thus no other Shield games should be played until that obligation has been fulfilled!
@higgins said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
@bayimports It should not even be a Shield Defence as Waikato have the right to be the next challengers thus no other Shield games should be played until that obligation has been fulfilled!
Even God is getting sick of the injustice!
Invoking Ezekiel 25-17.
@mariner4life said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
Goddam it, the Bay finally get a Shield challenge, and look, it's an away game
This is an orchestrated NZR stitch up to keep the log out of Tauranga
Umm ...
What, are you Horowhenua expecting a home challenge?
Edit: or Did I just get wooshed ?
@booboo said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
@mariner4life said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
Goddam it, the Bay finally get a Shield challenge, and look, it's an away game
This is an orchestrated NZR stitch up to keep the log out of Tauranga
Umm ...
What, are you Horowhenua expecting a home challenge?
Edit: or Did I just get wooshed ?
Dammit!! I was supposed to quote it before your edit!!!
@snollygoster said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
FFS, don't freak me out, I thought he was playing when I saw the headline.
Well, this will be like a lolly scramble and given BOP's notorious lack of shield luck a lolly scramble doesn't bode well for us 
@snollygoster said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
Seriously whats the big deal about not naming who they are?, they have mentioned they were not at fault but would be useful for all those teams listed. I hate reporting like this.. grr grumpy old man
@bayimports How come they were in Auckland anyway?
Sounds a bit like...umm....Chequebook XVs!!! 
@chris-b said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
@bayimports How come they were in Auckland anyway?
Sounds a bit like...umm....Chequebook XVs!!!
lol .. trying to get RTS not to play the Bay more likely ha ha.. pot/kettle/black
@snollygoster said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
Why is there a prop in 15?
Should be a good match
@machpants said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
@snollygoster said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
Why is there a prop in 15?
Yeah, i saw a couple of pictures of him training on social media, reckon he smashed a few maketu pies during the break
1 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2. Ash Dixon (c), 3. Joe 'Apikotoa, 4. Geoff Cridge, 5. Tom Parsons, 6. Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 7. Solomone Funaki, 8. Devan Flanders, 9. Ereatara Enari, 10. Lincoln McClutchie, 11. Jonah Lowe, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Stacey Ili, 14. Neria Fomai, 15. Lolagi Visinia.
Reserves:
16 Jacob Devery, 17. Namatahi Waa, 18. Joel Hintz, 19. Josh Kaifa, 20. Gareth Evans, 21. Tiaan Falcon, 22. Ollie Sapsford, 23. Brendon O'Connor.
So a 6-2 split on the bench. You know your injuries worries are big if you have no reserve lock and no reserve halfback. I guess Flanders covers lock and either McClutchie or Falcon covers halfback.
@stargazer I know Solomone Funaki went OK against Otago but surely Gareth Evans would have the inside running over him when it comes to starting. Sounds possibly like shades of TBW's mysterious non selections.
I also like Josh Kaifa at openside but with Funaki's selection it looks like the selectors are trying to bulk up the forward pack. Incidentally apart from Waa (and to a lesser extent Sapsford) there is also an alarming lack of physical size amongst the reserves.
@snollygoster Is there any inside info on why so many leading players missing or benched for this one? e.g. Ah Kuoi, Mafileo, Webber, Broughton, Garland, Filipo. Tanimo all missing out on 23. I get that Eklund and Cane are injured. Surprised that Black, Harris and Van den Hoven in reserves, unless strategically there to close out. Is it around fitness levels/ability to train. Ah Kuoi far more active on social media than on the field.
@arhs I'm really not 100% sure. Apparently there is one player who is tied up in the Auckland border crossing thing but I'm not sure who that is. Ah Kuoi was carrying an injury but I saw him at the Ta$man game (6 weeks ago) and didn't look to incapacitated. I'm pretty sure he would be playing in the place of Sangster if available. I spoke to Mafilio at one of the games and he said he had a back injury. Webber has been seen training on Facebook and looked okay. Garland was unavailable early in the season because of family matters but I'm not sure of his availability now. Filipo and Broughton were only ever in the Wider training group. I think you're probably right about the strategic inclusion of Black, Harris and Van den Hoven and maybe the non-inclusion of several players is because of form. You also have to remember that Black hasn't played for a quite a while so I'm sure they will be easing him in a bit. Its still a pretty handy team given that two ex All Blacks can come on as reserves.
For me, the only real surprise is Sangster.
Matt Garland is stuck in Australia - his father is not well.
@snollygoster said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
Its still a pretty handy team given that two ex All Blacks can come on as reserves.
I'm hoping that one of those ex ABs comes on early ... unless of course Vella is worse at lineouts than him?
Would Garland even be a starter if he was available?
A bit surreal. First Shield challenge in years, but no plotting of road trips and no home crowd either.
Nevertheless, it’s underway!
Visinia is such a frustrating player. Sometimes he looks world class but then makes basic errors
How bad is the commentary - have twice called a player as McClutchie when it was Ili, and once when it was Visinia
@steven-harris said in Hawkes v Bay of Plenty - Shield Match!:
..gonna be one of these games
And sure enough, now about to be 14 - 12.
