Horror-canes - The Fever Union thread

bopman it looks like BoP are struggling a bit in pre-season, bit of a surprise because they have quite a strong squad on paper...

They got a bit of a thrashing at home to Hawkes Bay today

Hopefully they improve (in round 2 )

Fixed.

bopman2009-07-24 17:33:08

Off to watch Canterbury smash Harbour on the weekend.

Should be good. Any ideas on best area to sit for atmosphere?

It's at Albany isn't it?? You only really sit in the main stand, I don't think they open up the rest of the ground because their is rarely enough spectator's to warrant it. I went to the Northland Vs North Harbour game last year and their wasn't much of an atmosphere at all, most of the noise was created by Northland fan's and that was right in the middle of our 'Save the Taniwha' campaign.

It will be an interesting game, Harbour have a reasonable looking team on paper, but then they did last year as well and look how that turned out!! Canterbury have a younger looking squad but should have too much class for Harbour...

Ah ok, cheers Cheify - Hope there is at least some friendly banter, nothing better than digging into the home fans.

On a side note, I'm really hoping the Taniwha stay up although tbh I think I want them all to stay up lol... I think it should be solely performance based but that isn't going to happen..

Didn't want to put a dampener on it for you, but I have found Harbour rugby fans prefer to sit in their seats and read their programmes or check their phone or something.

If you want banter friendly sometimes but more often unfriendly, go to a Waikato/Chiefs game, they can be nutters.

On your sidenote, looking at the criteria that has been set down Northland have a very good chance of staying up. It all depends on how the NZRU interprets the data, last year's effort was a joke. Looking at the criteria, a good season this year like I'm execting, should push Northland up the criteria a bit, at the moment they are in around the 8,9,10,11 area with a few other provinces.

Northland more than likely will stay up, why? Wayne Peters now on the board at NZRU

Otago paying $5 allegedly against WL. Haven't checked at the TAB though to confirm. Seems a bit overpriced even if I don't really think they will do it.

I think it's $3.30 head to head

Read what I wrote. I said have a good chance of staying up, not more than likely staying up.

Check the criteria, then do some research. Actually I will help you out a little bit...

The criteria involve population (10 per cent), community rugby (25 per cent), playing history (20 per cent), player development (15 per cent) and financial position and performance (30 per cent).

2007 Total Players (in order)
Auckland 19,406
Canterbury 13,747
Wellington 10,701
Waikato 9,151
North Harbour 8,918
Bay of Plenty 8,692
Otago 6,829
Counties Manukau 6,416
Northland 6,321
Hawke�s Bay 6,243
Tasman 4,702
Southland 4,621
Manawatu 4,532
Taranaki 4,033

Their you go, that's community rugby, not much between the 4 middle unions that are in bold. Now that is a quarter of the criteria and it puts Northland at 8th. Financial position and performance which is worth 30%, Northland have made a loss in one season (2007/2008 financial year) but have made profits every other year. Most other Unions have recorded losses, including some of the big 5, and some of the unions have lost over one million dollars in one year!! So would be very surprised if they don't make the top 10 for that criteria.

General population Northland have a very similar population to HB 5,000 less I think. A better population than Southland, Taranaki, Tasman and Manawatu I think...That's another 10%. Player development is on the improve, but Northland will rank in the bottom 4 for that unfortunately. A good season this year will see Northland break into the top 10 for playing history (currently sitting 10th)

I wouldn't mind betting you are the victim of the lazy media who don't do any research and are fooled by the 3 pathetic years where Northland didn't win a game in 04-06. And just because the NZRU went on an unjust crusade to kick Northland out last year with a smear campaign, doesn't make them right, evidenced by their embarassing backdown. Northland are not guarenteed to survive, but their chances are better than what the greater public presumes!!

No Northland will stay up, I was saying that. Your chances however are greatly increased by having Wayne Peters on the board. If Wayne wasn't on the board your chances would be significantly reduced. You can meet all the criteria you like but it will be round the board table the decision is made and having a figure like Peters there can only do good things.

From what I hear it's not so much a matter of us sacking him so early, but a matter of him not being up to the job and the players forcing him out. That's what the BOP Times seems to be suggesting anyway

Morons. Went to the pre RWC tactics sessions clearly. Stupidest play I've seen in a while.

Oh and Stephen Brett clearly went to the Ma'a Nonu school of "passing" (where you actually run at the defender, get isolated and turn the ball over..)

Sorry I misunderstood what you were saying. I'm not Wayne Peters biggest fan but he was the type of guy we needed in charge last season. The NRU seem to have made great strides since he left though.

I don't think I could really accurately guess who the 4th team is that goes down, I think Tasman, Manawatu and C-M are definite's but their are a number of provinces that will be sweating on how it goes...

The Northland - BoP game didn't finish how I thought it would at half time!! Our lineout was a shambles and BoP took full advantage, Delany in particular really impressed. His kicking in the 2nd half kept Northland out of the game. It was a cool ground to watch from, BoP got in behind their team and it was good to see a decent Cambridge Blue contingent their, no doubt fuelled by numerous Lion Red's haha. I like the fact they let spectator's go meet the players on the field afterwards as well.

Gangsta! It looks like the atmosphere was a lot better than what you would normally expect at Albany, I only saw some of the 2nd half but their appeared to be a decent crowd and making a bit of noise by their standards.

There was a group of what I think the announcer said were school boys who were actually making a bit of noise, good to hear. Was sitting near some Harbour fans who I had a bit of a conversation with not so much banter but still gave it too each other at tries (and forward passes and muppet stupid turnovers (Brett...) and even more muppet stupid penalties ).

Good night, even if we did play with the intelligence of the CBHS U14 C's.

The Bay game was helped by a bunch of Northern Irishmen who pulled out a few footy chants every now and then, they made the most noticeable noise there IMO. Still a much better atmosphere than Lions games I've been to.

Great to see BOP dominating early in the season, win over Auckland this weeked would do nicely. Got the Cantabs in TGA nxt week so it will have been a tough month but if we came away with 3 wins out of 4 I would take it.

Worst thing that could have happened for the Shield, Otago need to win it in a couple of weeks. And yes I am bitter. I'd gotten used to seeing it every day.

What amazed me was how empty Westpac was considering it was a sheild challenge against the strongest team. Sorry to harp on but Rugby is in serious trouble if with that prospect, the stadium had plenty of empty seats. 5 years ago, you would have not seen 1 empty seat.

20thou plus, don't think that is such a bad crowd considering what else has been seen around

it didn't look that big, but i guess it could have been.

I know that on Friday lunctime they had sold 19thousand, so I'm just gonna assume they would have got a semi decent walk up

i would say it was 20k if that is true then because when we arrived late with our tickets, the queues were pretty long

If only Wellingtons forwards would get out of the backline and do the  hard yards we might have put up a better fight, but it was more of the same.

According to Stuff today the crowd was only 17,500 or so. I thought it looked a bit more than that to be fair.

I didn't find it too boring

couple of great results for me tonight, had $10 on the naki/counties double, returned $200

Jeez what a crazy competition to predict. My Northland team has severely under performed and are not doing their survival chances any favours. I think it has been awesome to see BoP and Southland top the table and Tasman performing so well. Surprising to see Hawkes Bay and North Harbour struggling a little considering the players they have.

The table is still close so their is still a bit of room to move. Hopefully the upsets continue.

25-13 to the Lions now, looks like that lucky punter has won his $150,000 bet at the TAB! Bugger

8000 against Manawatu ---- You Gotta Be Kidding !!!! Skaman2009-10-05 13:38:50

 

I reckon that would count all season ticket holders and free tickets who don't turn up because there was not that many people there.

Just watched Hawkes Bay get beaten by a piss poor substandard biased frigging referee. The best thing about the game was that biased prick getting bowled by a Cantab player. I am not from the Bay but holy crap, that ref did everything he could to help Cantabs. Lonegunmen2009-10-16 12:17:32

It's quite funny cause myself and LG have substantially different views of the game.

True, I watched one where the referee might as well have worn a Canterbury jersey.

LG I agree he was rubbish. I'm sure it wouldn't cost that much for the 4th official to take a quick look at the sideline monitor...Yet another weird decision by the NZRU...

How much will it cost Hawkes Bay rugby if they miss out on a home semi because of a ruling that should have been avoided...

Bad weekend for officials, the Australian refereeing the Waikato Vs Northland game was so bad he didn't even know the rules and 3 of the 5 tries scored in the game shouldn't have been allowed (including Northland's before anyone accuses me of being biased).

Really Loved tonights shield match, Thats the kind of game i like to watch where i can get excited. Bring on the semis