NPC 2022 matches featuring Western Force Players

[Tazzmania]

Force players in action weekend starting 30 September final group round:

Jackson Pugh retains the starting number 8 jersey for Auckland v Taranaki (Sat)

Chase Tiatia retains 15 jumper for Hawkes Bay v Tasman (Fri)

Cambell Parata not include in a strong Tasman 23

Other teams still to be announced

[Tazzmania]

Stats for the final group round of NPC 2022

Chase Tiatia starting 15 Hawkes Bay v Tasman 4 Passes 3 Tackles 2 Missed tackles 5 Kicks 0 Clean breaks 30 Metres carried 0 Defenders beaten

Felix Kalupu starting 5 North Harbour v Southland 1 x Try, Substitution off 73, 2 Passes 8 Tackles 1 Missed tackles 0 Kicks 0 Clean breaks 35 Metres carried 1 Defenders beaten 0 Turnovers won

Jackson Pugh starting 8 Auckland v Taranaki 7 Passes 7 Tackles 1 Missed tackles 0 Kicks 0 Clean breaks 34 Metres carried 2 Defenders beaten 0 Turnovers won

Manasa Mataele starting 14 Canterbury v Otago 1 x Try, 7 Passes 6 Tackles 1 Missed tackles 1 Kicks 2 Clean breaks 120 Metres carried 4 Defenders beaten 0

Cambell Parata not selected in match day 23 for Tasman.


Summary

Another 2 try weekend with both Felix and Manasa with a try a piece.

Chase Tiatia another solid effort for Hawkes Bay.

Felix Kalapu worked hard and was rewarded with a try in North Harbour's dominant performance over Southland. Looked for work and tried hard. Commentator remarked that with him going to the Force for three years, New Zealand had a lost another good one from their system.

Jackson Pugh again a very high work rate and gave a good account of himself. Again as I mentioned previously you can just see what regular high level game time does for a player as he goes from stregnth to stregnth.

Manasa Mataele was totally anonymous in the first half as the ball and play did not go to his way so most of his stats are really one half and he sure exploded into action, started and then finished an almost legnth of the field try and his stats refelect a very good second half.

[Tazzmania]

The video of Manasa's try worth watching

Video twitter link

[andrewg]

The video of Manasa's try worth watching

Video twitter link

The benefits of having a big, fast winger.

[Sheikh]

The benefits of having a big, fast winger.

And giving him the ball in space. Too often last season he only got the ball with a defender already closing him down. With someone like Manasa he needs to be fed the ball early to get the best out of him.

[bootsetal06]

Tia Tia / Mataele combo is definitely going to be one to watch …..

[Tazzmania]

Quarter finals weekend starting 7/10/2022

Jackson Pugh named starting 8 for Auckland v North Harbour Friday 7 /10/2022

Felix Kalapu starting 5 for North Harbour v Auckland Friday 7/10/2022.

Chase Tiatia starting 15 Hawkes bay v Wellington Saturday 08/10/2022

Manasa Maetelle strating 14 Canterbury v Northland Saturday 08/10/2022

Cambell Parata will not take part as Tasman did not qualify for the finals.

[Tazzmania]

[Tazzmania]

Stats for Force players in NPC quaterfinals

Jackson Pugh starting 8 Auckland V North Harbour Substitution off 66' 6 Passes 6 Tackles 3 Missed tackles 0 Kicks 0 Clean breaks 22 Metres carried 1 Defenders beaten 0 Turnovers won 0 Offloads

Felix Kalapu starting 5 for North Harbour v Auckland Substitution off 51' 1 Passes 9 Tackles 0 Missed tackles 0 Kicks 0 Clean breaks 2 Metres carried 0 Defenders beaten 0 Turnovers won 0 Offloads

Chase Tiatia starting 15 for Hawkes Bay v Wellington 6 Passes 4 Tackles 0 Missed tackles 5 Kicks 2 Clean breaks 98 Metres carried 3 Defenders beaten 0 Turnovers won

Manasa Mataele starting 14 Canterbury v Northlands Substitution off 59' 4 Passes 2 Tackles 3 Missed tackles 0 Kicks 0 Clean breaks 64 Metres carried 2 Defenders beaten 0 Turnovers won 0 Offloads

Review

Chase and Felix end thier NPC season as North Harbour and Hawkes Bay exit the NPC finals. Hopefully Jackson and Manasa get selected for the semi finals this coming weekend.

A fustrating match for both Felix and Jackson with far too many kicks by both teams. Felix tackled well and had 100% completion rate in the 51 minutes on the field. Jackson too had a quiet evening due to ball in the air rather in hand but still managed a decent hit out. I have really liked his growth in confidence and willingness to take the ball and try and make something happen.

Chase had more than a few wobbly moments but also did some great things. He is going to be a player that both fustrates and excites us, as he does nothing half hearted, its an all or nothing approach. He does have a great off load and a great boot and thats something we really need.

As I say every week Manasa was just being Manasa,looks dangerous in space and with the ball in hand. Hopefully this year we can put him into more space and see more return from what must be one of our best investments.

[Tazzmania]

Jackson Pugh to start in NPC semi final for Auckland

[Tazzmania]

Manasa Maetele to start at 14 for Crusaders on Saturday v BOP in the other semi final

[The InnFORCEr]

Jackson had great game in a losing team, the kiwi commentary talk him up a fair bit

[Tazzmania]

Stats for the weekend semi finals:

Stats:
Jackson Pugh starting 8 Auckland v Wellington 1 x Try 6 Passes 9 Tackles 3 Missed tackles 0 Kicks 1 Clean breaks 57 Metres carried 4 Defenders beaten 0 Turnovers won

Manasa Mataele starting 14 Crusaders v Bay of Plenty Substitution off 67' 5 Passes 5 Tackles 1 Missed tackles 1 Kicks 1 Clean breaks 67 Metres carried 3 Defenders beaten 0 Turnovers won

Reviews:

AsThe InnFORCEr mentioned above Jackson was good in a losing team. Wellington were far too good but he kept his head up and kept trying and was rewarded with another try. He had a very good NPC. He went as a possible bench player and started in ten matches and grew from week to week in confidence. He will have gained from the players and coaching staff at Auckland and hopefully he will come back to the Force and continue that growth he showing.

Manasa had a decent game in a tough match, he had to work hard in a tight match and did well and made metres as well as beating defenders. He goes on for another week and hopefully gets selected to play in the Big Dance on the weekend.

[Tazzmania]

Manasa Maetele to start at 14 for Cusaders in the grand final v Wellington 22/10/2022.

[Tazzmania]

Also good to see Pek Cowan starting tighthead (yes, tighthead) for Welington, where he has played a number of games for them this season.

With the dearth of tightheads at the moment we may need to look to an old favourite should the need arise!