Hey, hey; it's Friday. HB Proud is in the midst of university exams, so you'll have less to read this week, but hopefully plenty to comment on.
Rugby is the sport of the week. We'll preview the All Black match in Honkers tomorrow, but we're really looking forward to it. Both sides are at full strength, and it should be an excellent match. First-up though, there are the semi-finals of the ITM Cup over the next two evenings. We're picking an upset tonight in Christchurch. Canterbury looked lethargic last week against Waikato, whilst Wellington has run into form at the right time of the season. A month ago, there was the prospect that Wellington might even finish outside the top seven, but the team has finished the season strongly.
And tomorrow night, we'll tip Waikato to upset Auckland. The Waikato forwards ripped in to the Cantabs last week, and they like nothing more than smashing Aucklanders! If Waikato can control the ball as they did last week, the Mooloos will get up tomorrow night.
But the match of the weekend isn't any of those three. Tomorrow afternoon, the mighty Butcher Boys from Wanganui line up against North Otago seeking a third consecutive Meads Cup title. Although they haven't quite hit the heights of the last two seasons, we have every confidence that the Wanganui lads will do enough to see off the Oamaru pretenders tomorrow. Ele from Homepaddock is likely to have a different view, of course!
What else is ahppening this weekend? With all the palaver over The Hobbit, and with catching up after a weekend away and a short week, we must confess that haven't paid much attention to sport. The Kiwis should thrash Papua New Guinea in Rotorua, and the clash between the Brits and the Ockers is always fiery. The big match in the Four Nations is next week, at the revamped Eden Park. And the Breakers have made the best possible start to the Aussie NBL with a 3 and 0 record putting them at the top of the table.
Now, what have we forgotten? Ah yes, the World Rowing Championships. Whoever organised this event in mid-spring in New Zealand was taking a big punt, but it looks as though the weather will cooperate; the forecast is for settled weather for most of the next week. There should be some rich pickings for the New Zealand rowers on their home waters; we wish all the competitors the very best for a great week of rowing.
That's it from us today; it's time for you to tell us what YOU think!
12 comments:
I wouldn't presume to contradict your sporting knowledge, but I will or course be backing the Old Golds.
North Otago has to resotre some of the pride that Otago lost this season.
hp - I think you will be right. North Otago have been the class team in the lower divisions for a number of seasons.
INV2 - when did Wellington last beat Canterbury in a game that mattered like a semi final or final - and eith NPC or Super rugby? I don't think it will happen this weekend either.
However I think you might be right with Waikato beating Auckland.
Well pdm, there is no Weepu and no Nonu in the Wellington side, so using reverse logic ...
As for the Meads Cup; pdm, you're forgetting that Wanganui has been a finalist in each of the four years of the competition, winning it in the last two years. North Otago had to content itself with the Lochore Cup last year; the lower division. Parochialism aside, it's hard to argue that any of the non-ITM Cup sides has a better record than Wanganui since the inception of the new competition.
I will take your word for it re Wanganui Inv2 I don't really follow that level too closely and it is almost impossible over here to keep up.
I do have King Country sort of covered because our nephew is Board chaiman and our son in law has some sort of role with Benneydale. Plus 3 grandsons based there are fanatical rugby foloowers and Saturday morning players. We even had a call from the almost 5 year old to report that KC had lost their semi.
Too busy with exams to write too much this week but I agree with you that Waikato will upset the Auckland boys and while both Canterbury and Wellington are missing their ABs I think Canterbury will hold on for the victory by the closest of margins.
The ABs look strong again and will continue their success over the Wallabies...and another Bay boy should make his test debut :)
Wanganui should beat North Otago going on previous years experience at this end of the season.
Twigg will push hard in the rowing and should get a podium and Mahe may only be ranked 3rd but we all know he will push and hopefully another victory is his.
We should medal in mens doubles and the lightweights so some good results to come from the lake over the next week.
The south stand opens for business tomorrow with cheap rates for spectators.
I might wander along with my oldest son so he can see the spectacle and sit in a stand that we wouldn't otherwise be able to afford.
and if he gets bored (he is five after all) it's only five minutes to walk home.
I'm not hot or bothered about who wins although I do favour the Mooloos as they are the better side on paper.
Go the Old Golds. As HP says they need to redeem Otago honour.
I rest my case - another win to Canterbury in a game that matters.
But was it netball they were playing or `ripper rugby - as that score resembles the results my 4 and 6 year old grandsons report.
It was rugby as it was intended when Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran sooooo long ago, 97 points in a semifinal, it wasn't frail defence so much as all out attack and it sure as hell was not BORING.
Waikato to beat The Auks and bring it on next weekend.
Slade was pretty functional and the back three/four for Canterbury were the difference. Great Rugby and the game was the winner, cliche yes, entertainment certainly, as a died in the wool, one eyed Cantabrian the result was of little consequence with the difference two points late in the second half, never thought that it could be able to enter my Psyche.
As to the Wanganui/ Nth Otago game, my only regret was that if one of them had prevailed in their shield challenge we could have witnessed a scramble as the big boys tried to find a way to get the bloody shield out of the heartland, it was troublesome enough that those provincials had taken it so close to the border.
GD - thanks for the review. I only folowed the game on the Herald scoring up dates.
You men
tion the Canterbury back three - I have thought Maitland a very good player and possible the best right wing in the country. Crotty has had good reviews for some time and of course to put the boot in Umaga-Marshall and Fruen (sp) are Wellington reject.
Those Canterbury guys know how to get the best from players.
Commiserations I2 as I watch your heroic losers receive their losing finalists medals.
They were still a chance until around 69 minutes when a great wingers try seemed to seal it then a freakish try by the N Otago capt in I think what could have been his 100th put Wanganui to the sword.
I suggested on Homepaddock that perhaps we could see the N Otago team replace the hapless South Otago team in the second pool of the NPC next year.
North Otago 39 Wanganui 18 - The Oamaru "pretenders" did the job well! As one of the Wanganui supporters at the game said to me - they can score well against the weaker teams but even then they leak points. Against a well-drilled team like ours, they would struggle. The Meads Cup looks great on our shelf!
Cheers Gary, and well done North Otago; a thoroughly deserved victory. Enjoy the Meads Cup; you earned it.
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