2012 – ITM CUP - NZ's 3rd Tier Competition

[ACR]

ACR, Brown may of made a couple of mistakes, but Counties were much better team , especially in 2nd half.

Was interesting to hear the interview with Adongo at end of game, what did you learn during your season in ITM cup, his answer was to play for your teammates, not for yourself, a good lesson in rugby.

Actually would like to add, I really enjoy the commentary of Sumo Stevenson & Willie Lose.

Now you say Counties were much stronger, just like you did last week, but again I have to disagree. Southland led for 70 minutes of their game last week, I think you've been influenced by Counties scoring a few freebies at the end of these games. They were not dominant in either of these matches. Credit to them for having a bit of attacking flair but to say they were MUCH BETTER is generous. They got out muscled at scrum time, their line out was holding on. They were just very good on attack which is how they've been all season.

This week, for the first 60 minutes the teams were on even footing. Counties were the better team from there on out I concede, helped considerably off the back of these said mistakes, coincidentally all around this time. At 20-16 Counties scored their great 'team try', glaring forward pass in the middle. Nanai Williams flicked another forward pass for his try, after Keith Brown decided to make up his own rules about what constitutes 10 metres. Even the stuff like penalising Tamati Ellison for not giving up the ball over the sideline. He barely even hindered them and that situation happens EVERY TIME. Why blow that one up? It was just rub of the green stuff which rubs on my nerves.

Credit to Counties, they put the points on the board and deserve it but I'm not giving them MUCH BETTER.

To continue the sad sack ways, Adongo, while being a man mountain, has a long way to go towards Super Rugby IMO (I know he has 18 appearances). He might put himself about but he doesn't quite have the technique yet, ruck time, scrum time, ball carry. He has the potential for sure but maybe needs to bend his knees a bit more.. Sharks - Bulls - Counties, I'm not sure what he's doing next year but might be deserving of a development spot in an extended squad.

 

[Dan54]

I certainly agree about Adongo ACR, I thought he was one of Counties big problems in a few of the scrums, his body height was awful. And you maybe right, first 50 minutes or so were quite even, and Counties really only powered home in last 20, but that what I meant by being better, in I think they were fitter, I may have also seen a little of what I wanted(like most rugby fans), as I was going for Counties, just for the reason my Dad was a Counties man when he was alive, soI had to cheer for them for him. I also got to say I was real stoked Otago made final, after their probs early in year, and certainly got a few good young uns amonst them, and I usually like them to win these ones.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Hoani Macdonald on the improve, but I suspect with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implanted in his chest that his rugby career may be over.

An ICD is a small battery-powered electrical impulse generator that is implanted in the chest of at risk patients programmed to detect and correct cardiac arrhythmia.




More here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/7869717/Surgery-and-implant-for-Hoani-Macdonald

 

[Bairdy]

Hoani Macdonald on the improve, but I suspect with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implanted in his chest that his rugby career may be over.

An ICD is a small battery-powered electrical impulse generator that is implanted in the chest of at risk patients programmed to detect and correct cardiac arrhythmia.




More here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/7869717/Surgery-and-implant-for-Hoani-Macdonald

His rugby career was over after that semi final whether or not he suffered a heart attack.
I heard he was going to be lineout coach for Southland.

 

[ACR]

Some good rugby in the final here. Finding it hard to support either side considering they consist of one Auckland and one Canter of the bury. Finding myself willing Auckland to win, Canterbury has had it enough and their crowd gives me the shits, they boo everything. I'm sure my uncle is in that crowd, he's as one eyed as I am so that's reason enough.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

What game is glenn jackson watching

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2

 

[ACR]

What game is glenn jackson watching

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2

Home of the invisibility cloak. Credit to Canterbury, they are just a machine, more decepticon than auto bot but still a machine nonetheless. They just keep making a mess of the rucks, forcing turnovers, kick out of their own half then wait for a mistake. I think the dagger went in after 3 or 4 of their own scrums got demolished yet somehow retained the ball then landed a drop goal. Gained 3 points when they deserved none. Jackson telling Ellis to leave the ball alone then letting him go ahead with it was just ridiculous, these commentators give Jackson such plaudits when he's just as human as any other ref.

The only thing that annoys me about Canterbury winning is their unsporting crowd, led on by the choir boys Ellis and Whitelock constantly telling the ref how to do his job. Aside from that, you can't argue that they have the strongest side. They're like the Bulls in S15 but more effective with a bit more skill.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

The crowd at the Counties vs Otago was awesome. Apparently only about 10000 but they sure made a lot of noise towards the end, when it was obvious that the home team would win.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I get the feeling that Canterbury vs Auckland is very much like Manly vs Melbourne in mungoball. You hate both teams and want to see a zero all draw.

How is it that Canterbury (the sportwear brand) sponsors Saffers and others, but doesn't sponsor Canterbury (the rugby brand)?

 

[Antony]

Five on the trot, and a four year drought at super level (can't see us breaking that next year either). That's a kind of frustrating conversion rate.

Still, good on them. My man-crush on Andy Ellis continues apace.

 

[Dan54]

Yep Ellis is surely form 9 in ITM Antony, he right on top of his game.

 

[Lee Grant]

Yet he will probably miss out on All Black selection for the EOYT unless Hansen and Co look at the Suncorp test recording a few more times.

Was a bit bemused about the set pieces of Kiwi teams being so problematic - and disappointed at the performance of referee Jackson.

But I still get jealous of the very existence of the ITM Cup (and the Currie Cup) though I would have to give the award yesterday to the SAffers for the level of rugby played and the atmosphere (as far as one can judge from the TV).

Sometimes I wonder: what if we had the same rugby population as we do now, yet only the same geographical area as the RSA (about the same as the NT) - or NZ. Could we not do things better in Oz rugby without the tyranny of distance?
.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Lee Grant, I have been hearing titbits of the Otago teams issues this year as part of the Foxtel commentary team banter.

Apparently they were nearly bankrupt at the start of this season. To keep their costs down, in Napier (Hawkes Bay) and Manawatu (Palmerston North) the team stayed in Boarding School hostels to keep costs down (and probably at some other venues). They have travelled by bus rather than fly to keep costs down.

There was some sort of public appeal to raise money for the kitty for the Championship final in Counties. They started the season with no sponsor, and deeply indebted to the Lords of Darkness. This hardship and privation has drawn the team together and seems to have made them stronger. They were deeply emotional that they couldn't win the championship for the people of Otago.

The sort of stuff that drew us all to Heavensgame in the first instance.

Turning to our shores, if we can be frugal and realistic with our expectations and expenditure, a third tier competition can be achieved, even if some of the clubs involved are nearly bankrupt, with little sponsorship income. Otago has shown that it can be done.

 

[teach]

The union was in huge debt at the start of the year. Something like $2million. Things are very frugal. Hence the back to basics approach of hostels etc, which has had a great bonding effect on the team apparently. I do believe the NZRU has a degree of financial oversight over the union.
They have also exceeded all expectations by making the final. Tony Brown has done immensely well with his squad, particularly as the Counties team had been 4 years in making (according to commentary), whereas the Otago team very nearly did not happen.

There very nearly wasn't an Otago woman's team. Adam Thomson is one of the unsung heroes helping ensure they went ahead. Even down to the age group teams, the U16's were issued left over kit from previous years.

It has been a couple of rough years for the province, but it is on the up and up. The new stadium has a lot to do with it. I do believe I will be booking my tickets well in advance.

 

[teach]

I get the feeling that Canterbury vs Auckland is very much like Manly vs Melbourne in mungoball. You hate both teams and want to see a zero all draw.
quote]

There are several options to choose who you support.
1. Heard the phrase JAFA? Just Another F........ Aucklander.
2. Then there is the old North V South rivalry.

My money would be on support being Auckland v the rest of the country.

 

[hawktrain]

Canterbury - what a team. Auckland gave them a real shake but Cantabs were definitely the better side. Not sure if nerves got the better of Jackson, probably the worst game I've seen him have, he's usually a very good ref.

How about Ryan Crotty? Only confirmed a spot in the side the night before the game, and had a great game + set up the crucial try on half time. Great effort from Tom Taylor as well, most points ever in a first division final.

Shout out to East Coast - came back from 27-3 down to beat Wanganui 29-27 in the Meads Cup final yesterday.

 

[crangs81]

Shout out to East Coast - came back from 27-3 down to beat Wanganui 29-27 in the Meads Cup final yesterday.

Of all the results this weekend that one really was the best for me. What a way to finish a game

 

[ACT Crusader]

Five on the trot, and a four year drought at super level (can't see us breaking that next year either). That's a kind of frustrating conversion rate.

Still, good on them. My man-crush on Andy Ellis continues apace.

I don't think the two are that intrinsically linked given the personnel that play ITM and Super rugby are fairly different over the last few years.

 

[Dan54]

hawktrain said:Shout out to East Coast - came back from 27-3 down to beat Wanganui 29-27 in the Meads Cup final yesterday.

Couldn't agree more Hawk, wonder if they still have a huge hangi for visting team-the night before game- like they did in 70s, geez I bet Ruatoria went off on saturday. Always loved the fact that East Coast could play on a field where everyone just parked their utes/trucks/tractors on the sideline and sat there and watched game, many were still coming to rugby on horses in 70s (probably still are), and they were used as transport by a lot of the young fellas.

 

[Antony]

I don't think the two are that intrinsically linked given the personnel that play ITM and Super rugby are fairly different over the last few years.

I think it speaks to squad depth, if not quality of starting XV. And we're constantly hearing that depth wins super premierships these days.

I guess, justified or otherwise, I've had high hopes the last few years.