So Otago come to the end of thier storm week, while Northland will again try to back up an excellent performance...

I had heard we were struggling with injuries up front to Lemisio and Adams, so that alters things if they are unavailable.

Also heard that for whatever reason, Goodhues minutes are being managed by NZR (could understand if he was managing them himself given he has the big French contract in place) so I expect he will not start, meaning Blake Hohaia likely to come back, although if it were me I'd move Murray in or even start Ranger at 12 over Blake, but I know they wont.

Whispers that Craig might be fit again, so be a good man off the bench.

Assuming no injures, my team would be:
Adams, Moulds, Lemisio
Hallam-Eames, Caird
Rush, Mau'u, Woods (liked what he bought last week and gave a great balance)
Nock, Reihana
Goodhue*, Tua
Murray, Moorby, Anderson

Olsen, Cobb, Rebolo, Craig / Sweetman, Matich, Milo-Harris, Hawkins, Ranger*

*this is what I woudl like to see, but think Ranger will drop out completely.

Dance of the desperates.

@frugby said in Otago v Northland:

Dance of the desperates.

What? Northland are eighth. Counties and Southland are lower than Otago

@Machpants said in Otago v Northland:

@frugby said in Otago v Northland:

Dance of the desperates.

What? Northland are eighth. Counties and Southland are lower than Otago

Credit to Northland for picking up a couple of handy home victories, but they aren't particularly good. They drew with Southland and lost to Manawatu.

@frugby thrashing Ta$man suggests to me they have "something" in their bag, more than we do anyway

@frugby given relative table positions, I'd suggest those from BOP (7th on 15 to Counties 13th on 8 ) down are all 'desperate' and a shot at finishing in the top 8.

If Northland can replicate what they did v Ta$man and HB, then we should win this, especially with Otago at the back of storm week, if we bring the 1st half tripe served up v Southland and Manawatu, then we will get done.

@taniwharugby said in Otago v Northland:

@frugby given relative table positions, I'd suggest those from BOP (7th on 15 to Counties 13th on 8 ) down are all 'desperate' and a shot at finishing in the top 8.

If Northland can replicate what they did v Ta$man and HB, then we should win this, especially with Otago at the back of storm week, if we bring the 1st half tripe served up v Southland and Manawatu, then we will get done.

I think there are a lot of sides serving up rubbish in this year's NPC.

I'm discounting Southland, Otago, Manawatu and Counties from the finals already. I'd tip Harbour and Northland to be the other two sides to miss out, but it will be close, because I think Waikato and BOP have both been very underwhelming, as have Hawke's Bay, who have been lucky to get to 4-2. Wellington might be the only side in the NPC this season to have been good in honesty.

@frugby said in Otago v Northland:

Dance of the desperates.

Speak for yourself pal.. however, as per usual you may just be lucky this week, as usually after a great show we return to cabbage mode..

@taniwharugby looks about right to be , I have heard whispers that Goodhue who is still on the NZ Rugby payroll may have to play off the bench , I do wonder if he’s on standby should another midfielder in France go down

@Steven-Harris I know a lot of he said she said goes on at times and it annoys people, but someone very close to him told me down here that Goodhue has made himself unavailable for ABs duty due to his contract with Castres where if he did make himself available for the ABs and got injured, his contract with them would get torn up. He also apparently did receive a call up. Doesn't explain why he's still running around with Northand haha.

Again, it's just what I was told by a close mate of his so don't crucify me haha. I'm sure you could ask him yourself if you see him around haha.

@African-Monkey as i said above, to me, that makes more sense than NZR dictating his minutes, that said, I don't quite buy that he had been called up either, in place of who, Jacobson haha...guess plenty of Chinese whispers about?

But yeah is odd he is then playing for Northland where the risk of injury still exists, not to mention surely NZR has insurance for this and players arent left high and dry if they injure themselves while still employed/contracted, even if they are about to leave given we have several over in France in that same boat right now.

@taniwharugby said in Otago v Northland:

@African-Monkey as i said above, to me, that makes more sense than NZR dictating his minutes, that said, I don't quite buy that he had been called up either, in place of who, Jacobson haha...guess plenty of Chinese whispers about?

But yeah is odd he is then playing for Northland where the risk of injury still exists, not to mention surely NZR has insurance for this and players arent left high and dry if they injure themselves while still employed/contracted, even if they are about to leave given we have several over in France in that same boat right now.

Conceivably could have been when Ennor went down, but find it hard to believe he would turn down a RWC call-up. Above all else, surely the guy wants a winner's medal? Otherwise he'd have left for Japan two years ago.

Also, little side storyline, but hardly a good look for the ORFU if Northland win this. We'd be dropping to a record of 1-6, despite the hope we'd easily make the QFs. Three years of failure under Donnelly, capped off by losing to the best club coach from the region, who'd have applied had they advertised the job this year.

Would be a real egg on face moment for the board.

1 Jarred Adams
2 Bruce Kauika-Petersen
3 Remsy Lemisio
4 Sam Caird
5 Liam Hallam-Eames
6 Rory Woods
7 Jonah Mau'u
8 Rob Rush
9 Sam Nock
10 Rivez Reihana
11 Heremaia Murray
12 Blake Hohaia
13 Tamati Tua
14 Tama Anderson
15 Joshua Moorby

16 Jordan Olsen
17 Robert Cobb
18 Wilton Rebolo
19 Allan Craig
20 Matt Matich
21 Lisati Milo-Harris
22 Daniel Hawkins
23 Jack Goodhue

think this match is Blake Hohaia's 50th, which, despite what I think of him as a player is still something to celebrate, lets hope the lads put on a show to celebrate.

@African-Monkey No Problem , one thing is fact NZ Rugby is still paying him , from a Northland piece I’m wrapt that he’s giving a bit back to the Taniwha before he heads to France.
It’s a shame that he’s only ever played around 15 games for the union, he got the Blazer which is a good thing.
Corey Evans who tried to get a release from Auckland this year will be a very handy replacement for Jack in 2024 along with another current Auckland back.

@Duluth said in Otago v Northland:

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I'm very disappointed John isn't starting at 15, and J N Other ten.

What an absolutely dire crowd.

Marvelous try