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

[Dan54]

Agree completely ARC, noticed the turnovers and support lines he ran, and it will be hard to replicate, but it a bloody good base to start as young player.

 

[WesternKiwi]

2012 Heartland Championship - Just another "Tier" New Zealand can gloat about. Come on David Nucifora, Pull ya bloody finger out or piss off for the good of Aussie Rugby.....

2012 Heartland Teams:
Wai Bush (Former Log O' Wood Holders - Wins: 3 Defences: 10)
North Otago
Wanganui
West Coast
South Cant (Former Log o' Wood Holders - Wins: 2 Defences: 1)
Buller
Poverty Bay
East Coast
Thames Valley
King Country
Mid Cant
Horowhen Kapi (Former Log o' Wood Holders - Wins: 1 Defences: 2)

Only the Blues are not represented here.

 

[ACR]

Just thought I'd let everyone know in case they missed it (not that anyone would miss this match, pffff), that Otago beat Southland 15 - 10.

Ranfurley Shield on tonight, Taranaki v Hawke's Bay. It's an early game as well.

Oh and Otago beat Southland.

 

[Dam0]

Otago beat Southland.

First time since 2008 I believe.


On a related note; how good did Tanaka look? What chances of him getting picked up by a franchise next year?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Apparently Otago beat Southland.

The weather in that game is a good reminder of one of the reasons why the exodus from the Shaky Isles to Australia continues unabated.

I thought Southland played the more enterprising game but just could not finish off their opportunities. Top marks to the Scarfies for shutting them down.

Despite there being plenty of non-Southern born players there was plenty of passion in that local derby.

Top effort by the spectators, although there were only the really really brave ones not under cover as the game progressed.

 

[FrankLind]

Ardie Savea (Julian Savea's younger brother) is going to be an absolute star.

He plays a young Michael Jones.

 

[ACR]

On a related note; how good did Tanaka look? What chances of him getting picked up by a franchise next year?

Yeah, a great pick up for the ITM Cup. Not sure who the Highlanders have to line up behind Aaron Smith next year but he would be a good addition to the squad.

Apparently Otago beat Southland.

The weather in that game is a good reminder of one of the reasons why the exodus from the Shaky Isles to Australia continues unabated.

I thought Southland played the more enterprising game but just could not finish off their opportunities. Top marks to the Scarfies for shutting them down.

Despite there being plenty of non-Southern born players there was plenty of passion in that local derby.

Top effort by the spectators, although there were only the really really brave ones not under cover as the game progressed.

The Stags were plagued by the usual culprits making multiple errors, Jamie Mackintosh and Josh Bekhuis. God I hope the Highlanders pick up Ben Franks for next year, any scrum collapse you can bet Mackintosh has slipped his bind. The Highlanders were very resolute on the line as well thankfully.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Piddling down with rain in New Plymouth and blowing like buggery.

Gotta love the ITM Cup games. The most precious "log of wood" in New Zealand rugby is left out in the rain on display for the entire game.

Pity my adopted team didn't win, but if that had played for another 2 days they wouldn't have won, even though they managed to keep the scoreboard attendant unemployed for the first half.

In the end the Naki were too good, too determined, and made less mistakes and were the deserving winners.

 

[ACR]

Piddling down with rain in New Plymouth and blowing like buggery.

Gotta love the ITM Cup games. The most precious "log of wood" in New Zealand rugby is left out in the rain on display for the entire game.

Pity my adopted team didn't win, but if that had played for another 2 days they wouldn't have won, even though they managed to keep the scoreboard attendant unemployed for the first half.

In the end the Naki were too good, too determined, and made less mistakes and were the deserving winners.

Hawke's Bay deserved a negative score for that performance. Taranaki were marginally better and finally put them to the sword in the second.

Thus ending Otago's hopes of taking the shield, screw you hawke's bay.

 

[Scorz]

Gotta love the ITM Cup games. The most precious "log of wood" in New Zealand rugby is left out in the rain on display for the entire game.

Rain is nothing compared to what it's been through!

 

[ACR]

12:30pm Auckland vs Waikato
2:30pm Canterbury vs Wellington
5:30pm The Darkness vs los Pumas
8:30pm Criminal Element vs Meat Eaters

The game played in heaven because we're already there.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

,,,snip,,,
8:30pm Criminal Element vs Meat Eaters

snip....

I thought we were the Shackle Draggers.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

How good is this time of year?

Two ITM Cup Games, Two Tests, One Shute Shield Game per day on the FoxTel with Wheelchair rugby from Paralympics on top of all that.

Lucky Sydney Juniors finished last week, and Schools footy is now over. Thank heavens for FoxTel IQ to record and replay at our leisure.

Saturation Rugby has meant that there has been no time for the pretend codes. Apparently Swans won, and don't care about not seeing any mungonball.

Very happy, specially when the Shackle Draggers have served it up to the Meat Eaters.

 

[Dam0]

The real meat eaters are to come this week! If you've ever had an asado in Argentina you'll know what I mean.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Manawatu vs Tasman. Good performance from Peter Betham. He made the post match interview. Spoke well.

Manawatu had a reserve prop from a Las Vegas or Los Angeles Club who is studying at Uni in NZ. Pretty sure the commentators said he was with the Eagles at RWC 11.

Otago has a couple of Japanese players.

With the loose smattering of Australians and the above, the ITM cup is becoming rather internationalised.

IIRC this is not unusual, Martin Johnson played in King Country a while back, one of the Scottish Hastings brothers played in Auckland and Peter Winterbottom from England played in Hawkes Bay, but these were isolated cases.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Manawatu vs Tasman. Good performance from Peter Betham. He made the post match interview. Spoke well.

Manawatu had a reserve prop from a Las Vegas or Los Angeles Club who is studying at Uni in NZ. Pretty sure the commentators said he was with the Eagles at RWC 11.

Otago has a couple of Japanese players.

With the loose smattering of Australians and the above, the ITM cup is becoming rather internationalised.

IIRC this is not unusual, Martin Johnson played in King Couintry a while back, one of the Scottish Hastings brothers played in Auckland and Peter Winterbottom from England played in Hawkes Bay, but these were isolated cases.

Counties also has a Kenyan. Daniel Adongo.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

There's been quite a few canadians over the years plying their trade in the ITM/NPC, Ryan Smith played a few years for Bay of Plenty or HAwks Bay, ditto Brodie Henderson, Adam Kleeberger, and a couple others.

it is a superb competition. I absolutely love it.

 

[SuperGrover]

Dan Caprice (England 7s) with Northland too

 

[qwerty51]

Every time I watch Counties Manukau play I'm getting more and more respect for Umaga, he's put in excellent structures and patterns in their side. We should snap him up before the ABs do.

 

[si_rangi]

But what is happening with Auckland Rugby? Well done BOP