TABLE AFTER ROUND 2


ROUND 3 FIXTURES
Thursday, Aug 12: Tasman v Hawke's Bay, 7.35pm, Blenheim.
Friday, Aug 13: Canterbury v North Harbour, 7.35pm, Christchurch.
Saturday, Aug 14: Bay of Plenty v Auckland, 2.35pm, to be confirmed;
Southland v Counties-Manukau (Ranfurly Shield), 5.30pm, Invercargill;
Otago v Wellington, 7.35pm, Dunedin.
Sunday, Aug 15: Northland v Manawatu, 2.35pm, Whangarei; Waikato v
Taranaki, 4.35pm, Hamilton.

HENDO'S MUST WATCH MATCH
Southland put their shield on the line again this week, this time to a much improved and in form Counties who are coming off a great win over Wellington. Southland successfully defended the shield against Otago last round in a very close battle. Expecting Counties to put up a decent fight, but I feel Southland's forward pack will get the better and win it in a close won. Southland 1-12.

Also Friday nights game in Christchurch could see Sonny-Bill Williams make his debut for Canterbury, so that should be worth a watch.

Tasman V Hawke's Bay 1-12
Canterbury V North Harbour 13+
Bay of Plenty V Auckland 1-12
Southland V Counties-Manukau 1-12
Otago V Wellington 1-12
Northland V Manawatu 13+
Waikato V Taranaki 13+

Tasman V Hawke's Bay 1-12
Canterbury V North Harbour 13+
Bay of Plenty V Auckland 1-12
SouthlandV Counties-Manukau 1-12
Otago V Wellington 1-12
Northland V Manawatu 13+
Waikato V Taranaki 1-12

Tipping Counties to take the shield aye Rozz? huge call!

Thinking they have too much attack for Southland Hendo.

Tana must be having a bit influence on the young Counties players. They only won 2 games all year last year, they have won 2 already.

Dagg is playing for the magpies on thursday! Yay!

Sonny Bill is sitting out another week.... His arrival in the ITM Cup has been a huge anti-climax

Heard HB were down 21-7 to Tasman recently...wtf has happened to the bay??

Another frustrating game. We just aren't making the most of our opportunities. Keep losing the ball in or around the opposition 22.

yayahh we on top, this week we should win the shield, bring it home!

Southland will shut the steelers backs out of the game with that epic forward pack and grind away a narrow victory.

Its getting close to kick off time between Counties and Southland. Can Counties take the shield off Southland? I sure hope so.

Hendo was right as ever - VERY narrow victory to the Stags and Counties didn't disgrace themselves.

In other news - Wellington beat Otago in a relatively high-scoring affair to send off departed coach Jamie Joseph - ironically Joseph will from next year be coaching many of the players his team just beat. He's got Thomson for now but Dagg's jumped ship to be a little bitch just like Guildford and run to the Crusaders - He's effectively traded with Colin Slade who's set to play 10 for the Highlanders next season.

Northland meanwhile won a record-breaking match over Manawatu scoring 77 points

Pantherus - Im pretty sure they only scored 70 points.

The PAYNE TRAIN WAS ON FIRE. 4 trys!

Sunday August 15
Northland 77 beat Manawatu 8

Pisses me off that Dagg has gone to the Crusaders, how about evening out the talent a bit?!?!

1. B. Franks
2. C. Flynn
3. O. Franks
4. S. Whitelock
5. B. Thorn
6. A. Thomson ???
7. R. McCaw
8. K. Read
9. K. Fotuali'i/ A. Ellis
10. D. Carter
11. Z. Guildford
12. S.B. Williams
13. T. Bateman/ R. Fruean
14. S. Maitland
15. I. Dagg

Bolded are current or former ABs. Not bad, potenitally they will field a team of 12 former or current ABs, then they'll have guys like W. Crockett, C. Jack and G. Whitelock on the bench, all who have been ABs before.

Highlanders on the other hand, will be lucky to field a team with 5 ABs in it.