2013 National Provincial Championship (ITM Cup) Thread

No.....Brad Shields. Hence the Hurricanes jersey.

I guess I can see the similarities.

 

Watching the replay now. 1st half comments:

1) Waaka is a great distributor with an excellent pass. Good tackler too.
General poor kicking from him. Penalties not finding touch, kick offs going out on the full etc.

2) Confused by all the Whitelocks. Especially when they play out of normal position.

3) Amazing penalty by Taylor.

 

Terrible game. Just too many mistakes to even enjoy it. Poor kicking as well made for a pretty disgraceful watch. Naki didn't do themselves any favours. I'm worried that the first round is just showcasing one team playing poorly. Hopefully some better games to come. Naki to sort their shit out. Cunterbury were just too good on defense which inevitably lead to turnovers, good ball position and thus tries.

Lol at the pitiful crowd.

 

Gibson Park looks budget in this game. Needs to be more aggressive to retrieve the ball amongst the mess of the rucks that his forwards are leaving him with. And needs more punch on his passes.

It was really a rarity when the naki made the advantage line. Cantabs defensive structure too good. By contrast New plymouth's was all over the shop. One try was created by one bugger running up out of sequence with his team mates and when he missed his tackle this created the osbourne try.

Blyendal does nothing wrong and executes the game plan. You get what you pay for with him.

Heinz is better than Gibson Park and has more experience than Smiley (Sp?) but he is no TKB. Heinz is a decent ITM player.

edit - Barret with hands of clay near the try line there.

The nakis 12 was the most budget player on the field.

 

Well HB vs Manawatu in just over an hour. You'd have to think it'll be a pretty free flowing game but the first couple of games haven't been quite as expected so who knows.

I've got my money on Hawke's Bay to win this one. I like the look of the HB backs (Mathewson, Guildford, Veainu and Kaka being the notables - Buckman is crud haha) but that being said, I'd probably jump towards Manawatu's forward pack. Not sure why Karl Lowe isn't starting but nevertheless he'll be a gun off the bench for the Magpies.

Alby Mathewson starting and Chris Eaton on the bench means HB have a decent halfback as cover. That being said Manawatu have picked up a couple of overseas players one being Nic Stirkazer at halfback.

Hawke's Bay:
1. Brendon Edmonds, 2. Ash Dixon, 3. Max Lahiff, 4. Michael Allardice, 5. Mark Abbott, 6. Michael Coman (c), 7. Brendon O'Connor, 8. Mark Atkins, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Ihaia West, 11. Zac Guildford, 12. Adam Bradley, 13. Richard Buckman, 14. Telusa Veainu, 15. Gillies Kaka.

Substitutes: 16. Ged Robinson/Jesse MacDonald, 17. Jody Allen, 18. Johan Schoonbee, 19. Karl Lowe, 20. Trent Boswell-Wakefield, 21. Chris Eaton, 22. Regis Lespinas.

Manawatu:
1. Hubert Buydens, 2. Rob Foreman, 3. Ma'afu Fia, 4. Fraser Stone, 5. Michael Fitzgerald, 6. Nick Crosswell, 7. Callum Gibbins, 8. Antonio Kirikiri, 9. Nic Stirkazer, 10. Jade Te Rure, 11. Tomasi Cama, 12. Tevita Taufu'i, 13. Jason Emery, 14. Nehe Milner-Skudder, 15. Lewis Marshall.

Substitutes: 16. Bryn Templeman, 17. Chris Eve, 18. Hamish Gosling, 19. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 20. Papa Wharewera, 21. Nate George, 22. Newton Tudreu.

 

I wonder if Fraser Stone is any relation?

I went looking for the famous Arthur stone try and dug up this instead. Might be meaningful for Fiery maybe and there was another fellow on here who guessed all of my 1980s trivia questions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrgAWE6Bqk8

edit found a pic on this page http://www.mooloo.co.nz/history/historical-timeline/1980-89/

 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/7662150/Fraser-Stones-eye-on-Super-Rugby-prize

Love that NZ idiom - he's a tough rooster.

 

Fraser Stone? yeah he's a pretty solid lock. Pretty sure he's played for the Hurricanes B squad (or whatever it's called)

 

Good tries from HB so far. Looking really good so far.

19-6

 

Ihaia West showing his awesome pace and running skill set. Hurricanes to grab him before anyone else does imo. Wasn't quite ready last year but reckon he could be good enough come next year for a few minutes here and there.

Would suit the Canes as well.

 

HB swept them off the park tbh.

Seems to be a reoccurring thing so far - one team shunting it.

 

Also good to see a decent crowd. 6800. Not bad at all.

 

C'mon Southland.

 

Stink. Gazza will be pleased though.