ROUND 5 - Manawatu v Tasman - highlights

Well deserved win by Northland over Auck.

ROUND 5 - Southland v Wgtn - highlights

ROUND 5 - Northland v Auck - highlights

ROUND 5 - Naki v Waikato - highlights

Shock in so far as Northland edged Auckland. Canterbury struggled against Hawkes Bay (which is probably reasonable given 3 matches in a week!). They looked a lot better once the bench came on, it was a come back and a half. 

Canterbury finish their storm week on a high, turning around with the wind at their backs and came home strong. Good to see them top of the table and they must have a really good shot at winning the comp this year.

JPNZ:

 

Canterbury finish their storm week on a high, turning around with the wind at their backs and came home strong. Good to see them top of the table and they must have a really good shot at winning the comp this year.

 

Yeah, I have to say, it was a pretty decent comeback.I'd lost hope if I am honest. There has been some great rugby played in the NPC, and after a lackluster year last year, they seem to be really firing. 3 games in a week is a really tough ask. A lot of players played a lot of minutes and took a lot of contact. Luke Romano really is quite an extraordinary player. Look at the difference he contributed to the Blues this year. He isn't flashy, just really hard-working and doesn't mind the grind.

ROUND 5 - Harbour v Counties - highlights

ROUND 5 - Cant v Hawkes Bay - highlights

ROUND 5 - Otago v BOP - highlights

ROUND 6.

FRI 9th SEPT :

Waikato v Auck - 7.05pm

SAT 10th SEPT :

Hawkes Bay v Southland - 2.05pm

Harbour v BOP - 4.35pm

Counties v Manawatu - 7.05pm

SUN 11th SEPT :

Tasman v Naki - 2.05pm

Wgtn v Otago - 2.05pm

Cant v Northland - 4.35pm

ROUND 6. {cont}

WED 14th SEPT :

Waikato v Southland - 7.05pm 

Great to see Wgtn finally win the Shield.

Canterbury looks like the team to beat for the title at this stage. They had a slip-up against Taranaki and haven't been perfect, but they have put some big score lines on some good teams this year. 

After a pretty disappointing 2021, they look right back to where they were a couple of years ago.  The coaches have done a good job in correcting the early issues. 

Manawatu have lost all their games this year but seem to be improving each week. Injuries to key players have not helped their cause either. Attack looks good in patches but their defence seems to let them down. I wonder what the TAB odds are for them being able to get a win this year and break this losing streak?

ROUND 8.

FRI 23rd SEPT :

Cant v Auck - 7.05pm

SAT 24th SEPT :

BOP v Hawkes Bay - 2.05pm

Tasman v Northland - 2.05pm

Wgtn v Waikato - 4.35pm

SUN 25th SEPT :

Manawatu v Otago - 2.05pm

Harbour v Naki - 2.05pm

Southland v Counties - 4.35pm

WED 28th SEPT :

BOP v Northland - 4.05pm

My mob have an awful record defending the Shield... going to be be a very tough first up game against one of the best sides.

SHIELD CHALLENGE

Sat 24th Sept {Wgtn} - 4.35pm

WGTN : Ruben Love, Julian Savea, Billy Proctor, Riley Higgins, Pepesana Patafilo, Aidan Morgan, TJ Perenara, Peter Lakai, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Caleb Delaney, Dominic Bird, James Blackwell, Pekahou Cowan, Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia. 

Reserves : James O’Reilly, Solomona Sakalia, PJ Sheck, Taine Plumtree, Keelan Whitman, Richard Judd, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Connor Garden-Bachop.

WAIKATO : Tepaea Cook-Savage, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Bailyn Sullivan, D’Angelo Leuila, Daniel Sinkinson, Damian McKenzie, Xavier Roe, Samipeni Finau, Mitch Jacobson (cc), Hamilton Burr, Laghlan McWhannell, James Tucker, Sefo Kautai, Rhys Marshall, Ayden Johnstone (cc). 

Reserves: Pita Anae Ah-Sue, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Patrick McCurran, Jack Lam, Cortez Ratima, Tana Tuhakaraina, Mosese Dawai.

Wow ! didn't think Wgtn would thrash Waikato, great win for us... was impressed with our set pieces, taking the ball up & cleaning at the breakdown.