I'm starting this post early because we've finally been beaten. I don't think it's panic stations but the Hurricanes will be eager to hit straight back on Friday with a strong performance against the Tahs.

Assuming Moorby and Proctor come back into the fray I think we should be playing our best 23 possible. Anyone that needs a rest can wait until Moana Pasifika which is after the Blues game in a couple weeks.

The only ?? is O'Reilly, I assume he won't be available for the Tahs based on the fact he failed HIA protocols and didn't return to play, therefore he will have a week off.

I'm also going to go with a 6-2 split on the bench. The Tahs strength is their loose forward trio so I'd put plenty of resource into slowing them down there.

My 23 for the Tahs on Friday would be:

1. X Numia
2. R Tuputupu
3. T Lomax
4. C Delany
5. I Walker-Leawere
6. B Shields (C)
7. P Lakai
8. B Iose
9. T Perenara
10. B Cameron
11. K Naholo
12. J Barrett
13. B Proctor
14. J Moorby
15. R Love
16. H Press (started for the Hunters on Friday so I assume he's next man up). He had massive wraps on him in Wellington before he went down to Otago. He played for the Highlanders Under 20 side last year but now he's back in Wellington playing well for HOBM.
17. T Mafileo
18. P Tosi
19. J Sangster
20. D Flanders
21. D Kirifi
22. R Judd
23. B Sullivan/Riley Higgins

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

My 23 for the Tahs on Friday would be:

1. X Numia
2. R Tuputupu (anyone but) H Press or someone else
3. T Lomax
4. C Delany
5. I Walker-Leawere B Grant
6. B Shields (C) Flanders
7. P Lakai
8. B Iose (needs a much better performance though)
9. T Perenara
10. B Cameron Morgan
11. K Naholo
12. J Barrett
13. B Proctor
14. J Moorby
15. R Love
16. Harry Press (started for the Hunters on Friday so I assume he's next man up). He had massive wraps on him in Wellington before he went down to Otago. He played for the Highlanders Under 20 side last year but now he's back in Wellington playing well for HOBM.
17. T Mafileo
18. P Tosi
19. IWL (been too quiet the last 2 games)
20. D Kirifi
21. R Judd
22. Riley Higgins (good defender)
23. Godfrey (time to give Harry more game time)

My team is as above (it won't be selected but still)

The lineout was terrible after JO went off. We need a much better hooker if the hooker does the lineout throwing. Maybe Harry Press if he's good enough with his throwing esp but also general play.
Defense was awful. Changes reflect this including Grant (exc defense in his one start) at lock
Shields gets a rest
Trying to find a decent 1st after Cameron was poorish again

@Winger I get what you're saying but I'd start Sangster before Grant. Not sure what Sangster has done to be dropped but he was excellent coming off the bench for us in the first 8 rounds. You're probably right re Shields, I think he emptied the tank against the Drua and didn't have enough in the tank for the Brumbies. Flanders is a quality guy to come in there.

I really really hope Godfrey gets more opportunity. Maybe we start Love at 10 and Godfrey at 15?

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

Maybe we start Love at 10 and Godfrey at 15?

I wouldn't be anti this. I guess Barrett would do the goal kicking. What's Godfrey like?

@Winger he's probably better than Morgan to be fair. Not really sure though, haven't seen much place kicking from him. Jordie can pick that up anyway.

Love looks a shoe-in for the AB squad in Will Jordan's absence.

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

I'm starting this post early because we've finally been beaten. I don't think it's panic stations but the Hurricanes will be eager to hit straight back on Friday with a strong performance against the Tahs.

TBH if you don't win by 50 it'll be a shock.

Tahs have no front rows left, and while they aren't bad with the ball, the Canes will cut them to bits once they get possession.

Tip it now: biggest score biggest margin.

Yep Waratahs were useless against the Chiefs. They were kept in the game early when the Chiefs made some silly decisions on defence, getting unnecessarily overzealous at the ruck after only a couple of phases of defence. Waratahs offered very little on attack and faired even worse on defence so expect the Canes to post a big win.

A loss at this time should be the kick in the pants we need to switch on for the run home

@Mr-Fish said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

Waratahs offered very little on attack

Dominated possession and scoreboard in first 20 minutes, but sure.

Canes will eviscerate Tahs in scrums and with a hooker who can throw straight should rule the lineout. The usual backline and this could be nasty.

@pakman said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

Canes will eviscerate Tahs in scrums and with a hooker who can throw straight should rule the lineout. The usual backline and this could be nasty.

Have we got any hookers left?

@Frank said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

Love looks a shoe-in for the AB squad in Will Jordan's absence.

Even when not absent. A fullback that makes very minimal mistakes and still has the ability to spark, as well as actually uses his skills to work with his team mates is much more preferable.

@NTA said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

@Mr-Fish said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

Waratahs offered very little on attack

Dominated possession and scoreboard in first 20 minutes, but sure.

Well, yes... Because...

"They were kept in the game early when the Chiefs made some silly decisions on defence, getting unnecessarily overzealous at the ruck after only a couple of phases of defence."

Those poor unforced errors from the Chiefs (they were never under pressure or stretched, they just overplayed their hand at the breakdown instead of waiting for opportunities) gave the Waratahs penalties, leading to endless possession and field position. 12 points from 95% possession and 96% territory over 20 minutes (10 of which was played against 14 men) is not a great return, with both their scores coming from 5-metre set-pieces (again, thanks to the Chiefs' poor decision making and discipline).

So yes, the Waratahs offered very little on attack.

@Mr-Fish said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

Those poor unforced errors from the Chiefs (they were never under pressure or stretched, they just overplayed their hand at the breakdown instead of waiting for opportunities) gave the Waratahs penalties, leading to endless possession and field position. 12 points from 95% possession and 96% territory over 20 minutes (10 of which was played against 14 men) is not a great return, with both their scores coming from 5-metre set-pieces (again, thanks to the Chiefs' poor decision making and discipline).

So yes, the Waratahs offered very little on attack.

Ah the old "You weren't good bro, we were just shut" clause. How could I forget?

@NTA so did you actually see lots of examples of the Waratahs attacking well in the opening 20 minutes or are you just being deliberately obtuse?

@Mr-Fish yeah I wouldn't be taking the Tahs lightly at all, they have plenty of threats. I do know where we need to attack them though and that's up front. Almost have to employ Crusaders tactics against them and dominate the set piece, scrummage for penalties and yellow cards so to speak.

@Mr-Fish said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

@NTA so did you actually see lots of examples of the Waratahs attacking well in the opening 20 minutes or are you just being deliberately obtuse?

My advice: don't take up any job as a rugby analyst.

@NTA said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

@Mr-Fish said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

@NTA so did you actually see lots of examples of the Waratahs attacking well in the opening 20 minutes or are you just being deliberately obtuse?

My advice: don't take up any job as a rugby analyst.

Ah deliberately obtuse, gotcha