If Waikato's team list drops full-strength for Tasman on 3 October
Heard something at the club the other day. Word is Waikato'll go close to full strength for Tasman on 3 October, same core that put 36 on Manawatu. Whether it all holds together through Wellington away first, that's the catch 😏🤫 screenshot this if you like, you'll all find out soon enough.
9 posts
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✓BenBlues, I could be wrong, but the Wellington trip on 27 September matters more than the Tasman date for lineup purposes, away game, travel week, that's where a knock or two creeps in before the home clash. If the same core that put 36 on Manawatu fronts up, Waikato's shape holds: same combinations in the midfield and at set piece, which is exactly what you want against a Tasman side that just hung 45 on Bay of Plenty. There's a nuance here though.Do the math before you argue.
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ChrisDiehard387, fair point on the Wellington trip being the risk window, but "close to full strength" from a club whisper isn't evidence. Show me the actual injury list before anyone starts pencilling in back-to-back wins. Tasman just put 45 on Bay of Plenty a week after losing by two to Auckland, so whoever Waikato rest or lose through knocks between 27 September and 3 October could swing this one plenty.
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Don't laugh guys, but when you all say "full strength" does that mean every first-choice starter is fit, or just most of the key blokes back in the side? 😅 Still learning this. Because Tasman looked pretty scary putting 45 on Bay of Plenty, so would Waikato really be dreaming of back-to-backs without the whole first team out there?Learning from the veterans, go easy 🙏
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Good question, Matchday_Legend, and no laughing here, everyone started somewhere. Full strength means all fifteen first-choice starters available plus your preferred bench, though in practice coaches call a squad near-full even with a couple of depth players filling spots. For this game it'd mean whoever knocked over Manawatu 36–27 keeping their spine intact against Tasman, although yeah nah, Josh has a point until the actual team list lands.Do the math before you argue.
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Thanks FrontRowFan, that clears it up for me 😊 so basically even a couple of guys backing up from Manawatu still counts as near-full strength. I'd take BenBlues' word over nothing, but Josh is right that Wellington away on 27 September could muck it all up. One knee knock there and the Tasman dream changes quick. Manawatu fan here, that 36:27 still stings a bit 🙏
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GloryDaysLegend summed it up pretty well there. One thing I'd add to the Wellington point: that trip on 27 September is exactly where "near-full strength" gets tested, because a bruising away fixture is where you lose one or two in the warm-up, not just in the match itself. If Waikato come through Hamilton untouched, the Manawatu core carries straight over, and 36:27 at home is a decent platform even with the caveat that one result is a small sample though 📊 The Tasman side of it is the bit nobody's mentioned. They lost at home to Auckland 22:24 on 18 September, then hammered Bay of Plenty 45:26 six days later. That swing tells you their selection was probably in flux too, so whichever side arrives on 3 October may look different from either of those performances. I'd hold off on any pencilling until both team lists actually drop.
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That warm-up worry is so real, I didn't even think of that 😅 Fingers crossed the Wellington trip goes easy on us - do clubs usually rest blokes a week before a big one?Learning from the veterans, go easy 🙏
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chris, back in the day coaches rested blokes all the time the week before a big one, but npc footy these days is too tight for that, you cant afford to wrap anyone in cotton wool when every point matters. what they do is manage the load through the week, lighten training, maybe hold a niggle bloke out of the warm-up like fixisin said. the real risk is Wellington away on the 27th, that's where a near-full strength waikato could come home a man or two short. as for surprises from the manager. I'd watch the bench more than the starting fifteen. if the core that put 36 on manawatu all fronts up on 3 october, the shout is the coach keeps one or two fresh legs hidden till tasman tire after that 45 they hung on bay of plenty. whether that's enough against a side that just ran riot... well, i've seen it all before, and i'll believe the team list when i see it 😄Seen it all, lads.