SR2023 - NZ Derbies & v Drua/ Moana

[The Red Baron]

This is going to get worse for Moana before it gets better.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Been a pretty wet last coupla days here in The Tron & it's probably only going to get worse between now & kickoff. But at least that'll keep the dew & fog away. Will be interesting to see if the weather derails the Tribe Hypewagon at all attendance-wise - I believe it was pretty full for CruSadists but that was a clear night & not too cold.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Starting to get breezy now, Met says to expect 40-55k gusting to 65k so 'canes will feel right at home...

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Go the Chiefs.

- Bleus need to keep that home quarter-final slot ahead of the stupid showpony Canes.

- Home field advantage running through dead-of-winter tinpot Lancaster Park = black-hearted graveyard of shattered dreams + the end of all happiness as we humans now know it.

- Cantabs must be lured away from their dead-souled Death Star of stormtroopered malfeasance.

- I am starting to suspect that the Cantabs have a strident Anti-Blues agenda.

All hyperbole aside, these issues are more pressing for all humanity than even global warming.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ a fair & balanced analysis per usual...

 

[zer0]

The weather in the Tron looks as grim as it is up here in Auckland. To which I say: fuck playing in those conditions. The lashing horizontal rain is dis-gus-tin.

EDIT: It's like the inverse of the Drua in Fiji. Perhaps it's for the best that they miss out on the post-season. Just imagine the poor bastards having to go to Hamilton or Christchurch in June.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ funnily enough conditions ATM are probably the best they've been since Thursday arvo.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Coupla early handling errors from both teams, hopefully this doesn't degenerate into what we just saw in Dunners...

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Big squall just came through my place ~2k up the road from FMG so I think the weather will be turning fully to shit around about.... NOW.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Memo to 'canes: keep Moorby & Morgan as far apart as possible & you might just score some points...

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Round 14 - both on Saturday 27/05:

Drua v Moana 2:05 NZT

Blues v Hurricanes 7:05 - will likely determine the venue for their QF

 

[zer0]

Guess we'll get a better idea of what Halangahu said about the deliberately crippled attack is true. Surely wouldn't continue to hold back when, as you say, a win would almost certainly secure a home QF.

Indeed, the Blues could feasibly actually even noodle themselves up to finish third. So yeah. Go all in and properly spank the Hurricanes and Highlanders I say.

 

[zer0]

Well. At least Perofeta is on the bench to swoop in if/when things get too dire at #10. Good to see Heem finally making his way into the top starting team too.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Drua: TBC

Moana Pasifika: William Havili, Tima Fainga’anuku, Levi Aumua, Henry Taefu, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Christian Lealiifano, Jonathan Taumateine; Solomone Funaki (capt), Alamanda Motuga, Penitoa Finau, Mike McKee, Michael Curry, Sosefo ‘Apikotoa, Luteru Tolai, Ezekiel Lindenmuth. Reserves: Samiuela Moli, Abraham Pole, Chris Apoua, Mahonri Ngakuru, Miracle Faiilagi, Ereatara Enari, Fine Inisi. Jonah Mau’u.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Hurricanes: Josh Moorby, Julian Savea, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Kini Naholo, Aidan Morgan, Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea (capt), Du’Plessis Kirifi, Caleb Delany, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia. Reserves: Hame Faiva, Tevita Mafileo, Owen Franks, Justin Sangster, Brayden Iose, Jamie Booth, Brett Cameron, Salesi Rayasi.

 

[Dan54]

I pretty pleased to see Proctor is ok to play, shoulder was obviously just a stinger ,while hurt when happen and can leave arm a bit dead, is something that is usually over with fairly quickly. Also pleased to see Cameron coming back via the bench, and really Canes main loss is Flanders who really has been going well. And as it getting close to end of season I going with picking with heart only, and too bad about mocker gods etc.
Canes by a dozen or so points!

and no apologies to Zer0, DP etc!!

 

[zer0]

Thank god the Highlanders won their match against the Reds. Now I don't need to worry about feeling bad when the Blues dish out twenty fucken whacks to them in Smith's final match.

 

[kiap]

Round 14 - both on Saturday 27/05:

Drua v Moana 2:05 NZT

Moana putting in a fair shift first half.

Question as always is if they can stay in touch over 80 minutes...

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ they'll fade due to a combination of Lautoka's climate, the Lautoka crowd & the drop in quality from their starters to their subs. Drua by plenty.

 

[kiap]

^ probably right.

but y'never know