Nz domestic rugby 2020

[waiopehu oldboy]

Wellington BP winners v Manawatu, Waikato get nothing v Northland* so both on 29 points but Waikato 3rd by virtue of having won their round-robin match. Winner of BofP v Harbour could therefore overtake Wellington, as could Cantabs if they win big v what I'm told is an injury-ravaged Aux. Exciting last afternoon of matches!

*Northland now guaranteed a Championship SF.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Bay & Harbour turning on a hum-dinger at Tauranga Domain, four tries each with 24 to go.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Harbour come up short but take two BP's so Cantabs *only* need to beat Aux to stay in the Premiership, any margin will do.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Bay into 3rd, Waikato & Wellington equal 4th on points but Mooloos won h2h so would go through UNLESS Cantabs collect a BP v Aux in which case they'd also have 29 & PD would decide it: Wellington +41, Mooloos +27, Cantabs +26 c/- blotting Mako last week.

Edit: according to TJ just now Mooloos would still qualify 4th by virtue of having beaten both Wellys & Cantabs. Must be relatively new, a three-way tie has AFAIK always been sorted by PD.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Auckland have a huge injury toll at the moment and have already locked up first spot on the ladder so based on Canterbury's performance last week I actually expect Canterbury to win. I wouldn't be surprised to see Auckland send down a weakened team.

A few unfamiliar names on that Aux team sheet........

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Another classic Cantabs v Aux match, Brett Cameron will be hoping his missed regulation conversion doesn't come back to bite them on the arse.

Edit: it just has.

Edit: Fihaki puts Cantabs back in front with a monster goal.....

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Fihaki can seal it here, just on Cantab side of halfway but a lot straighter than the previous one which cleared the bar by a long way. Nah, it's away.

Edit: Hickey drops it cold 15m out & in front with time up. Cantabs win, Harbour relegated pending comp revamp. Huge comeback from Cantabs, down 5-19 at one point & put on 26 unanswered before late rally from Aux.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

SEMI-FINALS

Championship:
Friday 20 November
Otago v Northland 7.05pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium Dunedin
Saturday 21 November
Hawke’s Bay v Taranaki 4.35pm, McLean Park Napier

Premiership:
Saturday 21 November
Auckland v Waikato 2.05pm, Eden Park Auckland
Tasman v Bay of Plenty 7.05pm, Trafalgar Park Nelson

 

[KiwiM]

A few unfamiliar names on that Aux team sheet....

Yep Auckland's starting XV wasn't too bad but their bench was really weak. Kind of explained how the game went.

Fihaki certainly looks useful - hopefully gets some time for someone during Super Rugby.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

SF teams named:

https://www.provincial.rugby/news/mitre-10-cup-semi-finals-team-lists/

Clean sweep for the Home teams, I think.

 

[KiwiM]

Northland and Auckland into their respective finals.

Auckland bloody lucky to get a home final with how they have played this season but always enjoyable to listen to TJ in pain when Auckland win.

That Northland pack has some seriously hard workers. Unfortunately some blindside flankers in this country get a charmed run at AB honours whilst others get shafted.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Helluva game in Napier, lead has changed three times in ~30 mins.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

always enjoyable to listen to TJ in pain when Auckland win.

Some people say they can't hear it BUT WE CAN HEAR IT. WE'RE NOT IMAGINING IT U BASTARDS.

He tries manfully to keep it at bay but then every now and then lets his guard of objectivity slip and the disdainful tone will creep in. The rising pitch he has when discussing the other team and the almost sullen, crestfallen tone when commenting on Auckland.

I'M NOT IMAGINING THIS DAMNIT.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Helluva game in Napier, lead has changed three times in ~30 mins.

unlikely to change again, tho, Bay have gone up several gears & 'naki's have blown a head gasket trying to keep up. Skipper now getting told to stfu by ref so not much else can go wrong.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Unfortunately some blindside flankers in this country get a charmed run at AB honours whilst others get shafted.

They took one look at Crossword Frizzle's physique and decided they were going to work with that and mold him into The Answer at 6. Even as he languished on the pine for a whole year later at the Landers. It was pre-determined.

Oops, skinfold tests etc don't measure rugby instincts, heart and willpower.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Penalties absolutely killing Mako here.

Edit: fortunately Bay seem incapable of catching a box kick.....

 

[KiwiM]

Some people say they can't hear it BUT WE CAN HEAR IT. WE'RE NOT IMAGINING IT U BASTARDS.

He tries manfully to keep it at bay but then every now and then lets his guard of objectivity slip and the disdainful tone will creep in. The rising pitch he has when discussing the other team and the almost sullen, crestfallen tone when commenting on Auckland.

I'M NOT IMAGINING THIS DAMNIT.

He let it slip when whinging about the Ta'avao penalty.

Ta'avao got shouldered in the back a mile off the ball and he tries to claim it's not foul play - if that happened to a Tasman/Crusader/Cantab....

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Free admission to Eden Park for Saturday night's* Premiership Final:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...-open-the-gates-for-home-final-against-tasman

Worked a treat for them v Cantabs in 2018 & presumably they'll get a good turnout again this year. Obviously I'm hoping for a different result, tho .

* Had it been Sunday arvo I'd be there for sure but 'tron to Aux & back on a Saturday night is a bit too much of a mission, sadly.