ITM Cup - Round 8

[Darwin]

Round 8 Fixtures

Tuesday 18th September:

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin. 7.35pm.​

Wednesday 19th September:

Eden Park, Auckland. 7.35pm.​

 

[Kiwiwomble]

once again ensor plays well...and gets dropped to the bench

 

[Darwin]

once again ensor plays well...and gets dropped to the bench

At least he coaching panel are consistent

Otago: 15. Ben Smith, 14. Marshall Suckling, 13. Tamati Ellison, 12. Glenn Dickson, 11. Buxton Popoali'i, 10. Hayden Parker, 9. Fumiaki Tanaka, 8. Paul Grant (captain), 7. Lee Allan, 6. Gareth Evans, 5. Rob Verbakel, 4. Tom Franklin, 3. Liam Coltman, 2. Sam Anderson-Heather, 1. Tama Tuirirangi.
Reserves: 16. Shota Horie, 17. Aki Seuli, 18. Adam Hill, 19. TJ Ioane, 20. Brad Weber, 21. Peter Breen, 22. Tony Ensor.

North Harbour: 1. Salesi Manu, 2. James Parsons, 3. Ben Afeaki (capt), 4. Chris Smith, 5. Api Ratuniyarawa, 6. Irwin Finau, 7. Malakai Ravulo, 8. Viliame Fihaki, 9. Bryn Hall, 10. James Semple, 11. Nafi Tuitavake, 12. Francis Saili, 13. Cory Aporo, 14. David Raikuna, 15. Rudi Wulf.
Reserves: 16. Manu Leiataua, 17. Alex Woonton, 18. Glenn Preston, 19. Sam Hayes-Stevenson, 20. Brenton Helleur, 21. Pita Ahki, 22. Luke Devcich.

Reasonably happy with the Otago team, though am slightly worried about our front row (again). Coltman has been solid at prop, but he is a much better hooker, and I'm not sure why Heather-Anderson continues to start over Horie. I like the fact we have two genuine locks starting again (rather than Grant at lock), and happy to see Ioane dropped to the bench. I do wonder where Hugh Blake is though? I would have preferred Ensor on the wing over Suckling (who has been solid, but not much of a threat), and Spence at 12 over Dickson, but overall it is not too bad. Good to have a Smith at 15 too

I think we should win this game given North Harbours form this season, and I expect it will be quite a high scoring game (as it was last year if I remember correctly). North Harbour do have some serious talent in the backline in the form of Hall, Saili, Raikuna, Tuitavake, and Wulf, I just hope this isn't the match that they finally click!

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I think we could win this game given North Harbours form this season, and I expect it will be quite a high scoring game (as it was last year if I remember correctly). North Harbour do have some serious talent in the backline in the form of Hall, Saili, Raikuna, Tuitavake, and Wulf, I just hope this isn't the match that they finally click!

fixed

 

[Darwin]

fixed

Have a little faith Jabby!
One thing we have going for us is we have one of the few goal-kickers who can actually kick the ball between the posts at Forsyth Barr Stadium....

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Interesting that Thomson hasn't been released...

 

[Kiwiwomble]

i was wondering what the deal with that was too...

 

[Darwin]

Otago play again on Sunday - maybe (hopefully!) Thomson will be released for that match. I would have thought giving him as much game-time as possible given how little he has played in recent months would have been a good option though!

Interestingly Beauden Barrett hasn't been released for the Auckland vs Taranaki match tomorrow, which suggests that there are still big question marks over Dan Carters fitness....

 

[Kiwiwomble]

RESULT! Didn't watch but have it recorded to watch later!

 

[Darwin]

RESULT! Didn't watch but have it recorded to watch later!

Just got back from the Stadium - a pretty disappointing crowd, but a great result for Otago. Enjoy watching it Jabby!

 

[Kiwiwomble]

[video]http://www.skysport.co.nz/video/rugby-union/itm-cup-2012/itm-cup-otago-v-north-harbour-62604/[/video]

at about 3:05 i'm sure the ref calls advantage Otago for the knock on and then a second later gives them a penalty...does the penalty over rule the knock on? as we got no advantage!

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Only if it's foul play, I think?

 

[Darwin]

Only if it's foul play, I think?

Yep, spot on.

I remember the incident Jabby is referring to while I was watching the game live, as the ref received a huge amount of abuse for this, and for the rest of the match (not from me off course). I think the key point is that the ref didn't actually rule a knock-on - I think he ruled that the Otago player knocked it backwards (it is hard to see on replay whether this was the case or not), therefore he was never playing advantage for Otago.