Northland v Otago
Not sure what word describes how I felt after that.
Sad is probably it, sad for the likes of Matich, Robinson, Olsen, Pryor, Nock who have given their all week in week out, maintained their standards, but are let down by school boy errors from those around them.
A basic fundamental of holding onto the ball, we have been woeful with this, steadily getting worse the past few weeks, then there are the dumb decisions, also getting worse by the week.
As to the selections...where to start.
I had been liking what Leilua brings, but this week was terrible, 2 massive errors cost us massively.
Hawkins, well, cant say more than I haven't already, he simply isn't upt o it at this level driving a team forward, tough buggar on defence, but lacks anything going forward, and this has traditionally been a strength for Northland.
Why bench Nock in arguably the biggest game of the season? You wanna see if the young guy is up to it, ok, so what about Cooper?
Grant wasn't poor or the reason we lost, but he just wasn't what we needed from the outset.
Then there is Wiseguy, I mean he did well stepping in v Manawatu, was ok v Tasman, but supposedly gets told to go off and work on his kicking, apparently drops his lip, no where to be seen...while if he has a shit attitude, yep, he doesn't deserve to be there, but if he sees the way Hawkins kicks, particularly out of hand, then I'd be pissed too.
I said at the start of the season they needed to hand the reins to Wiseguy or Cooper, and back them, even if they struggle at times...instead of investing in the future, we are holding onto an ageing player who has always struggled at this level.
Ranger, jeez, having a shocker season, shows glimpses of his old self, but think he is struggling being that half a yard slower and his decision making is still thinking he isnt, cos he is making some howlers.
Gregory tries hard and his confidence seems to be returning, but he needs to be closer to the action, he is not a natural FB.
Looking at the games we have left, I actually think we will be lucky to get any more points on the ladder...we are struggling to score tries, and against NH, Auckland and Waikato, we will be lucky to score many.
A chance of a home semi is gone, we will be lucky to make the top 4 and head back to HB for a semi final.
We need to start looking at 2021, make as many changes as we can, which TBH is pretty limited.
Our pack remains unchanged, on one hand they did pretty well at set piece, and the only area we have quality to make changes (loosies) is the one area where the guys are maintaining their standards.
Backs: Goes without saying Nock has to start again Cooper has to be given a shot to start Going to start again, probably one of the better players in our 1st half I'd be inclined to move Gregory here, but it depends on other players fitness, that I will assume Macilai at 11 Hyland at 14 M Wright at 15
On the MacIntosh incident, any other day, that is a card, accidental or not, still a shoulder to the head, but for me, a minute or so earlier Ross Wright was on the side of a ruck, and an Otago player came in shoulder charged him from the side, looked like connection to the head, and Wright reeled backwards...that one was worse as it was a more deliberate act and right in front of the AR.
I thought we had turned a corner this season, and while I think there seems a good spirit there, there is still something missing.
Fuck, I just shake my head at how poor we were last night.
@Duluth said in Otago v Northland:
Robinson and Matich get through a massive amount of work
Gregory is a very busy player too. Seems to be always in the play.
Jeez, never felt too comfortable, a stretch In the second half it looked like northland were going to come back, the guys that got us out in front just seemed to disappear for big chunks of the second
Hickey surprising good, except the goal kicking
Whaaga had a great game for his first start
Impressed our 99year old front row did +65min!
@J77 he was great but halfback wasn’t the problem for me. To many players doing same thing. I need counselling after that effort.
In 2020 I don't know how Jamie Mackintosh stayed on the field for that pathetic cheap shot. If the ref AND TMO are going to treat the game like it's the old days then the Northland forwards should've meted out some old school justice of their own.
If Pisi Leilua plays next week after that massive brain fart we've got issues...
Execution and leaving Sam Nock on the bench cost us that game today
@taniwharugby I am so disappointed in the Coaches. This team looks like it has a great culture because when we have won in all of those games they have come from behind at some stage to win. Plus our defence has been great. But instead of building on that, fixing issues with some courageous selections and development of young players we have played the same team and patterns week after week. Then we have a few injuries, the team starts to lose and we have nowhere to go because we have no options. Man management is always difficult but we have repeat offenders in critical positions. We shouldn’t expect players to not make mistakes but with that we want players who can be coached and bring something to the game. As a team they need to find patience - I think the coaches have talked about this all season.
Forward pack - most part really good, though lineout has really fallen away.
Backs ( all over the place )
Hawkins - plays well behind the line which impacts on our attack, slow to kick, weak kick, option taking was really poor last night, courageous defender.
Rene - just needs to be more of a distributor, and reduce his risks.
Leilua - wasn’t his game last night but has played well for most part. But backline has not functioned and he must be frustrated on wing.
Macalai - game of 2 half’s. Mostly dreadful in first. See comments on Leilua.
Gregory - much better last night. Pleased for him. Still looks like he is jogging. Would like to see real intent with his play.
Nock is looking really good.
@kev agree on Ranger, he needs to simplify his game right down to the basics again. He’s trying miracle plays that may have come off when he was in his prime, but now he’s just looking stupid. He’s missed so many overlaps because he wanted to be a hungus and go for the glory himself.
Needs to pull his finger out of his ass. I still think he’s got a lot to offer, just needs re-tuning.
@kev yea was one play last night which was baffling, a 10m blindside, 2nd or 3rd phase, 2 forwards on the advantage line and Hawkins took it 6 or 7m behind them, on the short side. Not sure what the plan was but never looked like it was going anywhere.
Yeah I think that is the issue with Ranger, he is making decisions based on him at his peak. We got in some good positions and he hasn't trusted those outside him and the play broke down or we lost possession.
Reckon he could even slide in to 12, although I think he needs to come off the bench next week.
@Chiefy07 totally agree on MacIntosh what a thug , should have seen a card ..
@kev I think it is more clarity around the game plan, they really need to take it back to the basics.
It seems too much of our game is based around the miracle balls we throw all the time or one player doing something special (or players are just doing thier own thing) yet in reality, the strength of this team is that, the team!
They just need to cut out the bloody unforced errors and the rest will come.
ON paper I think this is one of the stronger squads we have been able to put together for many years, but we just arent gelling, the handling errors and poor decision making just knocks us back every week, often when we are in great field position.
The amount of times we win a great turnover, only to hand it back with poor handling or a silly kick/pass.
Not sure what happened to our defence last night either, particularly our maul defence, which for the most part, our defence has been solid (bar our wide defence - and look where at least 2 tries were scored) was a very poor night at the office.
@taniwharugby I think losing Josh Goodhue early had a big affect on the defence. He gets through a lot of work...
@Chiefy07 yea he does, particularly around the fringes.
Glad he passed his HIA and thought it was smart of the coaches to keep him off given his history.
After watching the AKL/NH game last night we are gonna have to step up our physicality a few notches too.
MOTM POLL
https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/compose?p=/topic/4257/northland-motm-v-otago/3
@taniwharugby said in Otago v Northland:
After watching the AKL/NH game last night we are gonna have to step up our physicality a few notches too.
That’s a tough last three rounds
Harbour/Auckland/Waikato
@Duluth yup, not gonna be easy, made tougher by the limp performance on Friday.
Otago have a tough run in too, Cant (A) SOuthland (A) Tasman (H)
Reckon Southland have probably the best run in, Manawatu (A) Otago (H), Counties (H)
Depending on naki's result today, they finish with Counties (H) Manawatu (A) HB (H)
Potentially be tight for 2nd-5th (although Otago in the box seat for 2nd) with HB pretty much sealed as top