NZ Provincial Rugby - ITM Cup

[en_force_er]

WTF does Hosea Gear have to do to get in the NZ squad?

Bring his Provincial form to Super rugby level. He just hasn't managed to do that yet.

 

[Lee Grant]

Loved the Ranfurly Shield game Southland v Auckland. Saw my first Shield game at the ground over 50 years ago and nothing much has changed.

Shield games can be old school games especially if the weather is dodgy but they are nearly always full of drama.

How about hooker Rutledge? Dad Lester would be proud.

 

[ChargerWA]

Mike Delaney had a good game for BOP yesterday (despite BOP getting touched up by second bottom side Otago), I wonder why he didn't get a look in at the 10 jersey when Dan Carter was out. They took him on the EOYT in 2009, with Donald injured he would have been a reasonable stand in.

 

[Lance Free]

Mike Delaney had a good game for BOP yesterday (despite BOP getting touched up by second bottom side Otago), I wonder why he didn't get a look in at the 10 jersey when Dan Carter was out. They took him on the EOYT in 2009, with Donald injured he would have been a reasonable stand in.

He was injured and has only just returned.

 

[Lee Grant]

There were some terrific skills on show in the Canterbury v Wellington game and was in sharp contrast to what was delivered across the ditch at the Woollhara cabbage patch in the Shute Shield semi final, as exciting as the game was.

There wouldn't have been too many players in the Randwick and Eastwood teams who would have got a gig in the Kiwi game based on the skill shown on one day - Turner and Beale for sure, but not too many others.

For comments on SBW see his thread. Last years NZ Schoolboys first flve-eight Lima Sopoaga continues to impress for Wellington. It's unusual for a Kiwi NPC or Super team to bring forward a player of his age but he is playing as if to the manor born. Watch this space.

 

[Ruggo]

It was a good game Lee. The bloke who impresses me over there is Colin Slade. I think he is going to be somthing very special in the comming years.

The other good game was Hawkes Bay vs Tarinaki. The Bay were on fire in that first half.

 

[Epi]

posted this in the SBW thread but just as relevant here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3_UW3knKh8

Cant v Wellington Highlights

 

[Lee Grant]

Ruggo

Yeah. I was glad (up to a point being an Aussie) that he got a run with the All Blacks and played well when he came on for Cruden.

He has been cursed by versatility and even by speed. When the Crusaders had the choice of playing him or Brett at 10 when Carter wasn't available they moved Slade to fullback because he's fast. He must have been spitting chips, but now he has a chance to play in his preferred position.

I wish him well (up to a point).

 

[ChargerWA]

Canterbury just knicked the Ranfurlie Shield from Southland in a ripper of a game, the even more surprising thing is they did it with about 30% possession.

 

[Ruggo]

Good game. I am still not convinced about Money Bill though. The one that does impress me is Robbie Fruen.

Toeava had a great game from the Bench for Auckland. Tana Umaga looking old but shit he still goes great.

Cruden had a great game for Manawatu and was also quite solid in defence.

Admitingly, the first time I had seen him but Pat O'Connor for Northland looked like a pot plant. Maybe he just had an off night but if that is what he brings to the table, the Tahs have bought a lemon.

Thats my thoughts for the ITM Cup for this week.

 

[#1?]

Watching Hawkes Bay vs North Harbour at Napier. Gee the ovals in ITM cup all look in pristine condition.

Good sign for RWC11. There are a couple of games scheduled at Napier.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

The ovals are green 'cause it rains all the time over there.

That is why so many of them are over here.

However when backwater NZ can present an oval in pristine condition, and when (arguably) the premier rugby club competition in one of the Worlds Greatest cities is played on a patchy goat paddock, there is something wrong in the state of Denmark.

 

[DPK]

...there is something rotten in the state of Denmark.

Fixed.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Thanks Konze. Should have paid more attention to Mr Lister in Yr 11 English, or googled it before posting.:-[

 

[DPK]

No worries. Fact checking and grammatical correctness are more honoured in the breach than the observance anyway.

 

[en_force_er]

I think the fields in built up areas are worse because of demand from rugger in the winter and cricket in the summer.

Rural NZ would have very little demand placed on the fields because not many people need to hold major sporting events in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Bottom line is those bloody Kiwis keep beating us at things that matter to them:

Rugby XV (not in RWC's) , and 7's.
Netball (only when it really counts).
Uses of Sheep for personal entertainment purposes.

There is only 300,000 people left over there (and most of them can't afford it) to pay to watch ITM rugby games on the Foxtel, and they do a better job than us of calling the game, and presenting an oval that looks world class.

Is there no justice?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

.... And if we were to enter two teams in the ITM cup of our semi pros, who would be in those teams (no current Wallabies allowed) and who would coach?

I am hypothetically basing one team in Brisvegas/Gold Coast and one in Sydney/Canberra?

How do you reckon they would go, and would this knock the bejesus out of the Shute Shield and Brissie Premier competition?

This is a purely hypothetical fishing expedition because I'm pretty sure that the Lords of Darkness would never agree to this.

 

[en_force_er]

.... And if we were to enter two teams in the ITM cup of our semi pros, who would be in those teams (no current Wallabies allowed) and who would coach?

I am hypothetically basing one team in Brisvegas/Gold Coast and one in Sydney/Canberra?

How do you reckon they would go, and would this knock the bejesus out of the Shute Shield and Brissie Premier competition?

This is a purely hypothetical fishing expedition because I'm pretty sure that the Lords of Darkness would never agree to this.

I think you should take this tangent to it's own thread.

 

[#1?]

There is only 300,000 people left over there

It is all OK as long as there are a couple of electricians left to turn the lights off.