SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) 2022 - NZ & Drua matches with no match thread

[Dan54]

Chiefs team named, for Battle of Bombay, interesting but not surprising to see Vaií getting a run at 6, they got a good group of locks , so having one trying at 6 was always on the cards, actually think Foster and co will be real interested in watching how he goes to.

Chiefs: Chase Tiatia, Shaun Stevenson, Alex Nankivell, Quinn Tupaea, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Josh Ioane, Brad Weber (cc), Pita Gus Sowakula, Sam Cane (cc), Tupou Vaa’i, Brodie Retallick, Josh Lord, Sione Mafileo, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross. Reserves: Bradley Slater, Ollie Norris, Angus Ta’avao, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kaylum Boshier, Xavier Roe, Bryn Gatland, Anton Lienert-Brown.

 

[zer0]

Blues team.

Alex Hodgman
Kurt Eklund
Nepo Laulala
Luke Romano
Josh Goodhue
Tom Robinson
Dalton Papalii (C)
Hoskins Sotutu
Finlay Christie
Harry Plummer
Caleb Clarke
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Rieko Ioane
Mark Telea
Stephen Perofeta

Ricky Riccitelli
Ofa Tuungafasi
Marcel Renata
Sam Darry
Adrian Choat
Sam Nock
Beauden Barrett/Zarn Sullivan
AJ Lam

At least this time we won't have a midfielder defending on the wing for the final 10 minutes...

 

[Dan54]

Man this is a mothwatering clash!! I really can't decide who will win, or even who I want to win. I would suspect the Blues will have edge in backs and maybe Chiefs a slight on in forwards, but there's only a gnats dogler in it!
I also loving the battle between the 9s, Christie and Weber I think are fighting it out to be No3 half in NZ behind Smith and fakatava (if he keeps going like I think he will)

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Week 3:
7:05 Saturday Hurricanes v Highlanders - Sky Stadium*

* literally a coupla hundred metres from the protest at/ occupation of Parliament & surrounds. Gunna be some issues there, I feel...

No longer any issues

 

[Wilson]

15 minutes in and Moana Pasifika are the first to score - lead the Crusaders 5-0

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ normal service has been resumed

 

[Wilson]

yeah, 14-5 to the crusaders at half time. Crusaders looking a bit rusty and Moana holding on, but it looks like it could get ugly in the second half.

 

[Dan54]

Yep definitely scrappy game, looks basically like a couple of teams playing their first game of season. Crusaders got about 11 players staring their first game, and poor buggers MP (Moana Pasifika) first game after and only one preseason game about 3-4 weeks back. As you say Wilson could get ugly they looked buggered.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

MP (Moana Pasifika) halves look slick as expected based on their NPC form, midfield & outsides solid but really struggling up front: coupla nice individual touches from e.g. Stowers & Slade but no real cohesion which is gunna hurt them big time if they don't get that sorted pronto. Telling that both CruSadists' tries have been scored by forwards.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

* dons kevlar vest & helmet *

George Bridge is playing rather well.

 

[Dan54]

* dons kevlar vest & helmet *

George Bridge is playing rather well.

Yep I was sitting here thinking Bridge was best Crusader's back tonight.

All in all was quite pleased MP (Moana Pasifika) didn't throw in towell, I think they will only get better with time together, as you said in other postWOB Enari and McLutchie showed they had played together in Hawkeyes, as did Moala at 12. Thought their back 3 looked like they may struggle, as willl their tighties. All in all I would think they will be quietly happy.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

* dons kevlar vest & helmet *

George Bridge is playing rather well.

You are high on the fire of all the fires. Knock ons galore, zero impact, he basically plays down to any level in front of him. If you didnt know he was an all Black you'd never guess it from any of his performances in any rugby football match ever.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ 16 carries for 66m but coughed it up twice. Not bad for a guy mostly running it back into traffic & getting belted by a very solid midfield pairing. Also eight tackles made & none missed. Not world-beating but a pretty decent shift.

Clearly there are "better" AB wing options out there but I've seen worse in the 11 or 14 jersey & there's always a place for a non-flashy but reliable bloke in a bigish squad if not always the 23 or XV.

Anyhoo...

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Brad Weber with one of the great solo tries (OK, second part was a touch fortuitous, but still...) to mark his 100th.

 

[Marce]

What a try, Brad!

 

[zer0]

So why was Retallick allowed to strip Romano when he has a knee on the ground (tackle completed) for Weber's try but Telea can't strip Tupea once his knee is on the ground?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ dunno but I'm sure TJ is ultimately to blame

Two more crackers from EN-S & CClarke. Entertaining game, this.

 

[Dan54]

It's ok isn't it? One thing being perhaps shown is why Josh Ioane shouldn't of gone north to get more gametime. He went ok last game, but is showing why he not an AB 10 in this game.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Both sides a bit bumbly.

Rieko is not going to learn how to play centre with RTS (Roger Tuivasa-Sheck) inside him

CClarke and Telea impressive repossessing bombs. CC can do everything George Bridge can do but 85% better

Perofuture realising The Prophecy.

 

[zer0]

Don't think Barrett will be too far away from taking over at first-five for the Blues.

Perofuture realising The Prophecy.

If he can maintain it for the season then should be in with a good chance of noodling into the Mckenzie 10/15 utility spot. Can't really think who the alternatives would be? Certainly not J.Ioane at this rate...