NZ Domestic Rugby Competitions 2016

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^ Israel Folau got yellow carded for batting the ball dead like the NH halfback did at scrum at the death.

Interesting call from TMO and Sir.

Yes but in this case his was one of several hands going for the ball, I wouldn't class it as deliberately playing it dead.

 

[Brumby Runner]

He actually looked to ave a fair bit of promise as I remember. That would be advice worth heeding @Lindo.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Buller, by most measures New Zealand's smallest Union, have a history of punching above their weight and have done it again, knocking over South Canterbury 16-6 in Timaru to make the Meads Cup final. They'll travel to Whanganui to take on the defending champions who beat Wairarapa Bush 58-26 in the other semi.

South Canterbury 6 (Kalavini Leatigaga try ) Buller 16 (Setefano Sauqaqa, Peni Nabainivalu tries; James Lason 2 con). HT: 6-8

Wanganui 58 (Malakai Volau, Michael Nabuliwaqe, Blake Hohaia 2, Ace Malo, Te Rangitira Waitokia, Craig Clare tries; Clare 6 con, pen; Dane Whale con) Wairarapa Bush 26 (Eddie Cranston 2, Glen Walters, Zac Guildford tries; Andy Humberston con). HT: 32-6

The Lochore Cup final will be a repeat of last year, defending champions and top seed King Country beating Poverty Bay 48-26 and North Otago beating Mid Canterbury 36-24.

King Country 48 (James Hemara 2, John Koko, Anthony Wise, Rob Sherson, Alex Thrupp, Dean Church tries; Zayn Tipping con, 2 pen) Poverty Bay 26 (Ratu Daurua, Dan McIntyre, Everard Reid tries; Isaia Vuki con). HT: 22-12

Mid Canterbury 24 (Jarred Percival, Brendon Rigden tries; Jarred Percival 3 con) North Otago 36 (Lemi Masoe, Marene Mapusage 2, Matthew Vocea, Robbie Smith tries; Craig Smith 2 con; Tyron Davies pen). HT: 8-20

HEARTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP: MEADS CUP FINAL

29 Oct (1) Wanganui v (3) Buller, Whanganui 16:35 NZDT
Round robin result: Wanganui won 28-0 in Westport

Wanganui won the old Division Three three times (1989, 1996, 2003) and are four-time Meads Cup winners (2008, 2009, 2011, 2015) as well as having won the Lochore Cup in 2014. Buller won the 2012 Lochore Cup but have never held the Meads Cup.

HEARTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP: LOCHORE CUP FINAL
29 Oct (5) King Country v (7) North Otago, Te Kuiti 13:35 NZDT
Round robin result: 4-all draw in Te Kuiti

King Country were once a Division One side and won Division Two in 1991. Since then their only title is the Lochore Cup last year. North Otago won Division Two in 2002, and the Meads Cup in 2010.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Normal Premiership service resumed, Canterbury 22-7 Counties Manukau so will host the GF next Saturday night.

Championship final (winner promoted to Premiership) Otago v North Harbour on Friday night, 17:35 local time. I'm sure they'll be calling it the "Party at Cory Brown's" in tribute to the "Party at Tony Brown's" which I'm sure is what the locals were calling the 1998 NPC Final when I down there for it, as well as the more famous 1999 Super 12 final.

EDIT: Cory Brown being the current Otago coach, Tony Brown being the Otago & Highlanders 5/8 in 1998 & '99.

For the benefit of younger and/ or Strayan readers, the "Party at....." thing started with a Telecom commercial for (I think) text messaging back when it was a bit of a novelty: someone texts "Party at Kelly Brown's" & nek minnit hundreds or possibly thousands show up.

 

[zer0]

I have a sneaky suspicion that Canterbury threw that final round game against Counties to knock Auckland out of the competition. It's exactly what I would've done, were the shoe on the other foot.

The bastards.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^ Aucklander, eh? I really can't imagine any team Razor's coaching doing a Kyrgios & CM were freakin' awesome last week. Remember, too, Cant'y lost to Manawatu as well & they're a middle of the Championship team. They had a coupla bad days is all.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Highlights from Wellywood:

Again, there's a 20-minute version available.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Highlights from Cheechee:

No extended highlights yet but I'm sure there'll be some soon enough.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Tasman 41-29 Taranaki, Makos into their second final (lost to 'naki in the 2014 Premiership decider), Saturday 17:35 local at AMI Christchurch. Cantabs will be after their 13th title incl three of four under the two-tier format. Only the Godless Auks have more titles, 16 incl two runs of four in 1987-90 & 1993-96.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Highlights from 'naki v Makos:

 

[galumay]

Just finished watching the Makos victory on replay, had friends pop over at the start of the game and instead of telling them to sod off I graciously pressed record and turned the telly off!

I was nervous for most of the first half, thought 'Naki were going to get a roll on, but Makos held their nerve and built a good lead before sealing it right at the death.

Huge ask against the Canterburians at home next week, but they are in the final so thats the only place you can win it from!

 

[Highlander35]

Brian Alainu'uese of Waikato has signed with Glasgow till the end of the Season as injury cover.

Beyond the fact that he's a big bastard lock (at 202cm and 130kg) can anybody tell me much about him.

Doesn't really matter as any lock will do (3 of 5 full timers injured, two till the end of January at best) but it'd be nice to know more.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Andrew Hore hasn't played in ~2 years but he's been called in as injury cover for Otago as NZRU won't release Liam Coltman & Sam Anderson-Heather has a calf injury:

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/williams-out-of-australia-test/

Scott Barrett's not being released either so Dave McDuling will probably get a run:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...from-canterbury-team-for-final-against-tasman

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Teams for tonight's Mitre 10 Cup Championship final.

Otago: Michael Collins, Mitchell Scott, Matt Faddes, Teihorangi Walden, Fa'asiu Fuatai, Fletcher Smith, Jonathan Ruru, Paul Grant (c), James Lentjes, Naulia Dawai, Tom Franklin, Blair Tweed, Donald Brighouse, Sam Anderson-Heather, Craig Millar;
Reserves: Seko Pole, Aki Seiuli, Josh Hohneck, Josh Dickson, Adam Knight, Josh Walden, Scott Eade, Sio Tomkinson

North Harbour: Matt McGahan, Matt Duffie, Matt Vaega, Michael Little, Tevita Li, Bryn Gatland, Bryn Hall, Murphy Taramai, Connor Collett, Glenn Preston, Chris Vui (c), Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Sione Mafileo, Adrian Smith, Nic Mayhew;
Reserves: Ray Niuia/Vyron Smith, Jody Allen, Jethro Felemi, Brandon Nansen, Kane Jacobson, Chris Smylie, Daniel Hilton-Jones, Afa Fa'atau

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Big weekend in M10 & Heartland so the blog had to be split in two:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/mitre-10-cup-premiership-semi-finals/#disqus_thread

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/mitre-10-cup-heartland-championship-semii-finals/

Give them a click!

 

[2bluesfan]

Otago by 10
Canterbury by 12 but I wouldn't discount the possibility of the Makos starving possession from the boys from Christchurch. This should be a beauty.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Teams for tomorrow night's Premiership final:

Canterbury: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Nathan Earle, 13 Jordie Barrett, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Ere Enari, 8 Luke Whitelock (c), 7 Tom Sanders, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 David McDuling, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown. Replacements: 16 Nathan Vella, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Jed Brown, 20 Billy Harmon, 21 Jack Stratton, 22 Inga Finau, 23 Ben Volavola

Tasman: 15 Mitchell Hunt, 14 Viliami Lolohea, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 James Lowe, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Billy Guyton, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Shane Christie (c), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Quentin Strange, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Tim Perry. Replacements: 16 Jesse MacDonald, 17 Kane Hames, 18 Siua Halanukonuka, 19 Pari Pari Parkinson, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 David Havili, 23 Caleb Makene

 

[ACR]

Both otago and north harbour need to be banned from kicking.

Woeful refereeing, calls a knock on that clearly came off the head. HIs response was he "couldn't tell what it came off", SO DON'T BLOODY STOP PLAY!

 

[ACR]

Almost the worst decision making for kicks I've ever seen.

Michael Little is absolute quality, and supposedly doesn't have a super contract yet. Nab him up Aussies!

 

[swingpass]

Can anyone tell me what gives with the white tape behind the right ear of the Otago players ? Have they all had a tat !