Ranfurly Shield, ITM Cup & Heartland Championship: NZ domestic comps 2015

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Come on the Bay, Come on the Bay
Black, White, Alright!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^ The residents of Chez Jarse also barrack for The Gimblett Gravellers (Hawkes Bay), on the basis of the quality Food and Beverage options available locally.

 

[2bluesfan]

I'll be supporting the BOP this year.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Bay of Plenty Steamers Squad:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11479680

Is the Lalakai Foketi selected at Centre, the same bloke that went from Rams NRC and Rebels to Bayonne last year?

<snip>

Seems it is according to this from the Rebels 2016 thread.

Former rebel Lalakai Foketi has left bayonne and is now playing for Bay of Plenty in the ITM cup. Can't believe no Australian club wanted him

Maybe wants to play for the country of birth?

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

^^^ The residents of Chez Jarse also barrack for The Gimblett Gravellers (Hawkes Bay), on the basis of the quality Food and Beverage options available locally.

Yep, part of my reasoning too. Napier is also one of the nicest places I've ever been to as well.

I have a bit of a soft spot for BoP too, given that some very good friends live in Tauranga, which is also a great town.

 

[2bluesfan]

I have a bit of a soft spot for BoP too, given that some very good friends live in Tauranga, which is also a great town.

I'm supporting the BOP as I'll be based near Tauranga for the duration of the ITM (and I'm a strong believer that you should support your local team).

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^^ It looks all Sydney University to me. Can you bring yourself to do it @2bluesfan?

 

[2bluesfan]

^^^^ It looks all Sydney University to me. Can you bring yourself to do it @2bluesfan?

You've forced my hand HJ!
A few, and I mean a few, Two Blues know that I had a season with The Corporation in the mid-70s. In my defence, I was young and foolish and The Corporation were pretty crap at the time (and I was studying [in theory] at the uni at the time). I prefer to have selective amnesia about that time of my life.

I can only hope for understanding from those Two Blues on GAGR and trust they will respect and forgive my dark past.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^ The mid 70's was all mullets, skin tight pastel body shirts with Donny Osmond collars, long stubbies, flares and platform shoes, John Denver, Disco and The Carpenters.

Everyone alive now who lived through that must surely be forgiven for their sins of that period.

 

[Dan54]

Well kick off tonight in the deep south!! My favourite rugby comp, though I suspect it will be rough for first couple of weeks until teams get combos going, especially with weather over home at moment. As always have to support the Manawatu, close to home, and always have a soft spot for the Makos. Also very interested to see how the Lions go in getting back into top part of the comp.

And of course 'Go The Mighty Nua' in the heartland comp!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

I'll likely watch every game this week then cherry-pick thereafter: Cantabs v whoever, maybe two others.

Games this week are Thursday Southland v Auckland, 5:35 Eastern. Friday it's Waikato v Tasman then Bay of Plenty v North Harbour; Saturday Taranaki v Wellington & Otago v Canterbury; and Sunday Counties-Manukau v Manawatu & lastly Hawkes Bay v Northland which will also be a Ranfurly Shield challenge.

@Dan looks like Sky TV's Heartland Rugby has a YouTube channel, will keep an eye on it to see how 'nua are getting on.

 

[ACT Crusader]

Should be an interesting game tonight. I like the loose trio for the Orcs. I like that young openside Blake Gibson that played for the U20s and for the Baabaas team vs the Maori.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

HT D'Aucks 16-10 Stags, coupla good tries & Stags really should be in front, plenty of possession & field position but just haven't finished well enough.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

FT 23-23. Best opening-night game I've seen in years, hopefully it continues.

 

[Dan54]

I agree WOB, that will do me for an opening game.

 

[ACT Crusader]

Yeah I enjoyed that one. Moala was a real standout and a class above.

Some good play from both sides. Loved that try saving strip on Visinia. Thought Eade played well as did Boys.

 

[Dan54]

Auckland seem to have some pretty good young loosies I thought. Be interesting to see how they progress with afew more games under their belts. Thought it was a typical Southland effort, everyone getting stuck in without too many standouts, bit like Highlanders in S15.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

candidate for best try-saver EVER:

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Impressive effort, but didn't the number 22 force the ball for a 22 metre restart?

Most referees would have awarded a try to him if this had occurred at the other end of the field.

 

[Hawko]

Caught the second half and thought it was a good entertaining match. But I do not understand why refs have all-of-a-sudden gone weak at the knees over not protecting the jumper from pushing and shoving while he is in the air. The one where Southland scored a try was absolutely blatant.