Our first match this weekend sees a New Zealand derby match between the Highlanders and the Blues, a game that in the past one would have expected the Blues to win quite comfortably. But the tables have turned.
The Highlanders are second on the New Zealand conference, only behind the Chiefs, and are sitting pretty in the play-off zone, with their biggest concern being the distinct lack of consistency at flyhalf. Mike Delany has been called up as cover, and will start his first match of the campaign.
The Blues are at the opposite side of the log, currently last in the New Zealand conference, and second from last on the overall log, with the Lions due to overtake them with their four bye points, if the Blues do not manage a win here today. The Blues outfit is Keven Mealamu-less and will be led by Luke Braid in his absence.
Highlanders: 1. Jamie Mackintosh (c), 2. Andrew Hore, 3. Chris King, 4. Josh Bekhuis, 5. Jarrad Hoeata, 6. Adam Thomson, 7. James Haskell, 8. Nasi Manu, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Mike Delany, 11. Hosea Gear, 12. Shaun Treeby, 13. Phil Burleigh, 14. Kade Poki, 15. Tamati Ellison.
Reserves: 16. Jason Rutledge, 17. Ma’afu Fia, 18. Doug Tietjens, 19. Culum Retallick, 20. Jimmy Cowan, 21. Chris Noakes, 22. Kurt Baker.
Blues : 1. Tony Woodcock ,2. Tom McCartney ,3. Charlie Faumuina ,4. Ali Williams ,5. Filo Paulo ,6. Chris Lowrey ,7. Luke Braid (c) ,8. Peter Saili ,9. Alby Mathewson ,10. Gareth Anscombe ,11. Benson Stanley ,12. Ma’a Nonu ,13. Rene Ranger ,14. George Moala ,15. Hadleigh Parkes
Replacements :16 James Parsons ,17 Tevita Mailau ,18 Liaki Moli ,19 Dan Braid ,20 Piri Weepu ,21 Michael Hobbs ,22 David Raikuna
Referee: Bryce Lawrence
Assistant Ref 1:Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 2:Kane McBride
TMO:Vinny Munro
Tweet
The Blues should win sooner or later so why not today? Go Blues!! 😛
LMS PICKS ROUND 9:
Waratahs 14
Bulls 10
H’landers 3
Chiefs 1
Crusaders 1
Byes 12 🙄 😈
There are zero Non-picks for this round 😯
Go Waratahs!
Go Brumbies!
Go Blues!
Go Sharks!
Go H’canes!
Go Tah’s
Go Brumbies
Go Sharks
Go Canes
Go Blues!
@Pokkel (Comment 4) :
L I O N S !!!!!
Woohoo 4 log points coming up 😀 a winning weekend 😆
Blues to win this one today.
@csb (Comment 6) : 😆
@JarsonX (Comment 2) :
12 byes hahaha ..getting to nervous times now .. Damn that Thurday match !! 👿
@csb (Comment 9) : Yeah, if I make it through this round (go Tahs) I’ll use my 2nd bye for round 10 😈
Anyone doing updates?
Blues try! Parkes
Conversion missed.
Landers 0 – 5 Blues
5mins
Nonu looking very strong in contact.
Very well worked try by Treeby from set piece ball. Delaney set it up with a slick pass to Gear leaving him to pull 2 defenders and free Treeby.
Converted.
Lander 7 – 5 Blues
14 mins
Landers penalty right in front. Ranger having a brain fart again. Over!
Landers 10 – 5 Blues
16mins
Got Landers by 3.
Blues penalised for obstruction right in front of their poles. Over it goes.
Landers 13 – 5 Blues
24 mins
Blues get a penalty in front now. Ova!
Landers 13 – 8 Blues
25 mins
Another Blues penalty.
Landers 13 – 11 Blues
29 mins
@JarsonX (Comment 2) : only serious people left.
Hi Rich, Is it possible to inlcude kick-off times on these threads. pretty please 😛
@rekinek (Comment 22) : I second that 😈
Another Blues penalty from in front. No problems.
Landers 13 – 14 Blues
34 mins
Go Blue! 😛
I need a pair of Oakleys!
Here we go again..
@JarsonX (Comment 25) : since some lady kick my ass last week that oakley’s looks far far away for me…
Landers knock a penalty over and take the lead back.
Landers 16 – 14 Blues
37 mins
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 26) : Who’d you pick? 😛
@JarsonX (Comment 3) : @Pokkel (Comment 4) : go Rebels- time for a surprise again 😈
Blues scrum destroys the Highlanders and wins a penalty. 45m out
@Franshark (Comment 27) : Dont worry I’m on thin ice too 😈
Misses it.
Half Time
Highlanders 16 – 14 Blues
@rekinek (Comment 30) : Go Brumbies!! If I’m going down I’m taking people with me 😛
@JarsonX (Comment 29) : you have to be in it to play it 😉
@Pokkel (Comment 4) : Didnt you pick the Landers? Pokkels Palookas?
@JarsonX (Comment 34) : hehe 😆
@JarsonX (Comment 29) :
I went Landers on SuperBru..
Had such a kak weekend last week, 1 from 6 😯
@JarsonX (Comment 36) :
Ja. I’m a bit deurmekaar.
Go Lander’s
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 38) : So glad I’m not playing SB this season!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 38) : Oh, thought you meant LMS. I had 5 from 6 last week 😛
@Franshark (Comment 37) : @Pokkel (Comment 39) : Those donkeys running today I see! 🙂
@Pokkel (Comment 39) :
2nd Half under way.
Blues penalty. Over.
Landers 16 – 17 Blues
44 mins
Penalties galore this one. Highlanders kick one.
Landers 19 – 17 Blues
46 mins
Jeez! Blues penalty right in front. Anscombe slots it. 🙄
Landers 19 – 20 Blues
47 mins
Come-on Bryce Lawrence you owe me one. Make sure the Highlanders win this game.
No surprise Bryce Lawrence is reffing this one. Still deciding who he wants to favour? 🙂
@JarsonX (Comment 41) :
My LMS died a quick, but still painful death!!
Landers slots a penalty.
Landers 22 – 20 Blues
51 mins
Best 9 in world rugby on the field now! 🙄
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 50) : So sorry buddy 😆
Blues try. Good patient build up. Rene Ranger over.
Converted.
Landers 22 – 27 Blues
54 mins
@JarsonX (Comment 52) :
Your sorrow is so heartfelt 🙂
@Ben (Comment 53) :
Can you believe, I traded him out yesterday 😕
I am losing it!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 55) : Can’t blame you. He’s pretty useless these days.
Not good news. Go Landers!!
Delaney hits the post with a penalty and Blues knock. Highlanders on attack 6m out.
Ranger goes off his feet at the breakdown and concedes a penalty.
Delaney nails it.
Landers 25 – 27 Blues
61 mins
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 55) : @Ben (Comment 56) : And he plays with his socks down! 🙄 🙂
@Ben (Comment 61) :
Hahaha…
Highlanders over. TMO. Looks good.
Try awarded. Kurt Baker scores. Conversion missed.
Landers 30 – 27 Blues
70 mins
@Ben (Comment 61) : nou soek jy vir haka…. 😆
@Ben (Comment 64) :
Yes!!!! 😀
@Franshark (Comment 65) : Blues have at least 4 players playing with their socks down. Seriously! You guys overreacted. 🙄 😉
Come Blues….
Go Blues!!! 😈
@Ben (Comment 67) : hey, I wasn’t one of them 😯 I stayed on the sideline to watch “that” game 😉
@Franshark (Comment 68) : They aren’t going anywhere. 6 mins left in the game still.
@Ben (Comment 67) : I just called Ice “old” 🙂
Hou uit Highlanders!!
@Franshark (Comment 70) : You’re part of the “older generation”. You said you don’t like it. 😆
Blues penalty. Tough angle to kick for posts. Going for touch. 10m out on attack the Blues.
1 min left. Blues scrum 8m out.
Keer Landers!!
@Ben (Comment 74) : true 😉
Time’s up. 2 reset scrums. Blues scrum still 8m out.
@Pokkel (Comment 77) : Stressed?
Penalty Blues. They take a scrum.
@JarsonX (Comment 80) :
Just a bit!
Ball dies in the ruck. Game over!
FULL TIME
Highlanders 30 – 27 Blues
@Ben (Comment 83) :
Yes!!! Still alive! Now I can relax for the rest of the weekend!
@Pokkel (Comment 82) : ok, you can go change now 😉
Nailed it! 1 from 1 with a margin and bonus point (probably shared) 😎
@Franshark (Comment 85) :
@Franshark (Comment 85) : Hehe
@Franshark (Comment 85) : I thought there was a smell in the air 😆
@Pokkel (Comment 84) : Yeah right.
@Salmonoid (Comment 90) :
I’m not expecting the Sharks to win so I won’t be to stressed for the Sharks game.
@Ben (Comment 88) : thanks for the updates, this working thing…
@Franshark (Comment 92) : No worries.
@Ben (Comment 93) : Thanks 😎
@JarsonX (Comment 94) : No sweat. 😎