| |
|
MAFIA TEES
Just $20 a shirt, a steal!
Not often you steal from the Mafia and live to tell the tale...
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Five Weeks on the Moral High Ground |
|
Written by Varsity15
|
|
Thursday, 03 September 2009 |
|
Well, shucks. What a start, folks. What a rip-roaring beginning to what was shaping as a monumentally crucial season for rugby supporters, players and yes, even administrators. Hell, we've been teetering on a knife-edge for a few seaons now as fans, knowing not what our boys will bring to the table each week to barter our support with. Would it be efficient, stylish, running rugby - resplendent with forward Aggression, domination of the break downs and cohesive set pieces? Or would it be dire confusion, lack of Menace in and around the ruck, poor handling and that sick feeling in the pit of your gut when the quotes in the paper on Monday mirror those of any losing (or winning, often-times) captain from around the country?
Now don't get me wrong. Understand, I may be a first time contributor to these hallowed pages; I may have spent the last few years away in the South, pulling on a different Blue and Gold jersey, and sculling cheap piss from home made funnels, but I am no Band Wagon Jumper. Christ, perish the thought! I was born and bred in the Bay. I am dedicated to Steamers success whether they take the field and play like a pack of lost souls, or like a bunch of well drilled, cohesive soldiers. I am one of you.
And anyway, we need as many vocal supporters as we can muster. With the blokes at NZRFU headquarters intent on going through with the end-of-season cuts, the wailing and gnashing of teeth by rabid fans is perhaps our only way of helping to ensure that the Bay of Plenty remains in the top echelon of provincial footy next year. As with any successful revolution, the voices of the masses will be heard if we yell long and hard enough.
So, with my credentials as a fan out of the way, let's have a look at the state of things thus far.
Four out of five, third on the table. A very, very good start. Yes, we can all puff our chests out a little more than we imagined we would be able to, especially given our dismal pre-season form and the brouhaha with Greg Smith. But should we be getting carried away? When you look at the rest of the draw, are you one hundred percent convinced we'll be figuring in the Grand Scheme of things come semi-final time?
As far as I'm concerned, we'll be there or there-abouts. If we can avoid a string of injuries, keep our heads from swelling up too much, and maintain an under-the-radar trajectory, we'll be alright. That, of course, will be a lot easier said than done given our recent form.
And isn't it nice to be looked up to every once in a while?
But let's not get carried away. We've our share of problems, no doubt. Call me a cynic, but I can't shake the nerves when it comes to the Steamers this year. This flying start has allayed a few, but not all of 'em. Let us take a look at a few contentious issues, for the sake of filling time if nothing else.
In my opinion, our back three will be a deciding factor if we don't kick on to a semi-final. Zar Lawrence is a superb sevens player, and a good fifteens exponent. His work under the high ball is questionable, however. Against Auckland his ability to defuse an attacking up-and-under was shown up. So, what to do? Many are calling for Toby Arnold to be given a crack. He's reasonably quick, outstanding at club level, and continues to perfrom well for the B's. But is he big enough to cut it at ANZC level? Thus far in his career - while admittedly out of position on the wing - he's failed to produce anything close to the form he shows at lower levels. Maybe he's incapable of making the step up. I certainly hope not, and with Zar's form, you'd have to say he might go close to getting a shot in his preferred position.
Another option is to move Nick McCashin back there. In my opinion, this is a bad move. Mccashin is a handy player with a good boot, but I for one am tired of seeing guys played out of position at this level. I would rather Arnold was given a go, or even Whaka's Trent Vatselias, ahead of McCashin. Vatselias is no big-rig either, but he has shown an ability to step up each time he has risen a level. Maybe a shot at ANZC level wouldn't be a bad idea if injuries creep in later in the season.
As for the wingers - Ben Smith is far and away the classiest outside we have in the squad. Not a big unit, but an intelligent, sniping sort of a bloke who backs his ability. The turnover he forced in the last minute against Northland was all class, and his wink to teammates afterward showed that he has the right temperament. His Super 14 experience is invaluable. With Lance MacDonald injured, Smith must start in my opinion. Nigel Hunt has operated well on the wing, and can cover any number of positions, so he should start, too.
Jason Hona still hasn't convinced me. It still seems odd that they've tried to convert a New Zealand Secondary Schools blindside flanker to a winger purely because the guy is reasonably quick. He doesn't appear to have the instincts of an outside back. The guy is a good footy player, no doubt, but a winger? Imagine how much deeper our already impressive loose forward stocks would be with Hona still packing on the side of the scrum. Just a thought.
The midfield is operating well. Phill Burleigh must stay at second five. Cory Aporo seems to have found a little more form, though a few more performances like the one against Wellington would be handy.
Nothing to say about Delaney. Superlatives have been bandied about in the media and on this site, and thus far they're all warranted. Magic.
Halfback is a tricky one, though we're fortunate to have Hunt in the squad. Without him there I'd be worried. Can't understand the Josh Hall selection considering his injuries. The kid is young, he'll be there next year. Sure, the experience of being there is valuable, but if he gets injured again and can't play at all, surely it would have been better to have had a guy like Craig Donovan in the squad. Heard rumours that an unkown but handy halfback might be coming home to the region next year. Will keep an ear to the ground and see what plays out there.
Our biggest problem in the forwards - and this doesn't include the loosies - is a lack of depth. If we can stay injury free, we'll do fine. If we are struck down by injuries in the tight five, we will struggle to fill the gaps. Josh Hohneck has proved a good replacement for Joe Savage - and has a hot missus, especially for a prop. The rest of the engine room are performing well, though Jerome Kaino's size and physicality (as well as Rodney So'oialo in the Wellington game) showed the level that our big fullas should be trying to get to. That mightn't make perfect sense because the two AB's I mentioned are loosies, but they showed how a big, strong bastard can dominate at ruck and maul time.
All in all, I think that sums things up thus far. We're in great shape, the union seems to be making a bigger effort to update the website and be accomodating to supporters etc. If we can knock over the Cantabs this week then who knows what we can achieve. It will be a tough ask, but get down to that crap-shack, Baypark, and support the boys.
C'mon the Bay!!!
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Steamers 2011 |
| : ITM Cup |
| Position: 4 |
| 17 July: Counties, W 20-13 |
| 23 July: Harbour, W 38-17 |
| 26 July: Waikato, W 36-8 |
| 31 July: Wellington, W 32-0 |
| 4 Aug: Northland L 23-30 |
| 9 Aug: Taranaki L 33-39 |
| 13 Aug: Hawke's Bay L 13-32 |
| 20 Aug: Auckland L 16-25 |
| 23 Aug: Canterbury W 35-31 |
| 28 Aug: Southland W 29-17 |
|
|
|
|
