I can't remember the Magpies fielding the same team, this season. Injuries have had a lot to do with that - Godfrey and (I think) Ili are the next in the injury ward - but I don't think Flanders and Fakatava are injured. Why would you even rotatate them? I doubt they need a rest. And why would you even consider giving Sam Smith another start? Do we even get to see Cooper Flanders making his debut, this season? What a waste.

The Hurricanes Heartland U20 team will play the Chiefs Heartland U20 team in the curtain raiser, which kicks off at 4.50pm.

Nicely sunny and warm in Napier this morning but not expected to last much longer with the forecast predicting strong wins and heavy rain in HB later this morning with the winds to swing round to the south this afternoon and the rain showers to clear tonight. Sometimes that means the rains will occur in the inland hilly areas and the coastal areas will not be hit so bad (unless a cricket match is on the menu!) so fingers crossed that is the situation tonight but don't count on it this time.
If you are coming up from the Palmy area for the game you should chuck in a bit or wet weather gear just in case but certainly some warm jackets to combat the southerly. Parking close to the ground is generally not too hard to come by with a less than a ten minute walk at the worst if you don't arrive until close to kickoff.
@Stockcar86 and myself are going to have to come up with a slightly different supporters game plan this week after last week's one let us down massively when the referee decided that the penalty advantage he appeared to justifiably signal for in the last play of the game suddenly became advantage over for just a knock on much to our chagrin. Hopefully @Stargazer will be along soon to comfort us with the news that Mr. Pickerell won't be adjudicating the game tonight.

So to be clear, no injuries to Flanders and Fakatava?

Haha what a terrible start

Cridge made that more difficult than it should’ve been

Bit of a harsh yellow on first viewing.

Edit: Looks fair on second viewing.

Is Cameron injured or rested??

Weber in for the Pies 3rd try, 24 - 0.

In other years I'd feel comfortable, but not this year.

Weber in again, 31 - 0.

@Nepia said in Hawkes v Manawatu:

In other years I'd feel comfortable, but not this year.

I think you’ll be ok

Just turned the TV on. Has Manawatu got off the bus yet, or is this going to be 100 runs in the opening session from Hawkes?

@Duluth said in Hawkes v Manawatu:

@Nepia said in Hawkes v Manawatu:

In other years I'd feel comfortable, but not this year.

I think you’ll be ok

I'm not comfortable, Tiatia is on the field.

That was good. Made Lowe look slow

The comeback is on?

The Poo in for a try, Waaka with some individual brilliance, Lowe with some average defence.

@Stargazer said in Hawkes v Manawatu:

The comeback is on?

Yep, if we have the ball then we're all good, when we don't have the ball we're keystone cops. They haven't listened to me when I've said they should just be training defence each week.