Highlanders 2025
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@Landers92 Walked past me at Uni Oval yesterday. Hard to say whether it was precautionary. Could be anything from a lightly sprained ankle to a ruptured achilles.
From the little bits I can piece together, I think it must have happened on Thursday, and is probably closer to the former than the latter, but it certainly looked like he couldn't put any weight on his foot.
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we do love co captains
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Highlanders ‘Captains’ to be announced later on today.
They both may surprise...
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A back and a forward. Had a thought the forward was an option. The back. I'm genuinely shocked
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sounds like you all know already, cant share who?
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Will be announced at 5 PM. One player has been around for a few years. The other player is relatively new. Neither are Mitch Dunshea or Ethan de Groot
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Bit of a shout out to the Landers digital membership too. The club provides information half an hour to its members prior to public release. Only $50, and get some good discounts as well. Great option to support the team for those of us living outside Otago - https://thehighlanders.co.nz/club-membership/packages/digital-membership/
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was just checking the club shop....anyone else thing its weird the chiefs and canes have a tartan scarf and we dont?
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Tavatavanawai and Hugh Renton will be co captains
There we go! Good reward for Renton. He was who I was thinking earlier today could be a good shout.
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wow....that is a surprise, they both meet the first criteria, both starters although Renton has a bit more competition, cant remember hearing Jim (theyve just announced thats Tavatavanawais nickname) speak so will good to hear him front the cameras etc
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Yeah bit suprised about that. Can’t remember the last time I heard a winger named as captain. Big Hugh seems under some competition too. Suprised Groota isn’t Captain. Though equally I’m not surprised Sam Gilbert didn’t make the cut. He’s not a guaranteed starter anymore
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Moving completely on from the Dermody leadership group. Gilbert is a weird player. Never been able to establish himself in any position, from 10 right through to fullback, except centre. He's now coming into his sixth year with the side and we don't even know what position he is. He is just an average utility back. Seems a great bloke though. Will probably be a decent coach down the line
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@SouthernMann as we've discussed before, i dont feel thats really on him, he wasn't moved from 15 because he was bad...we had a hole at 10 to cover a for a while...and then we had a hole at 12...i still feel 15 would have been his best position (not better than JRK)...if he'd been able to stick at it and develop...but whilst he was covering other positions where we were weak...we backfilled 15 with a stronger option
its kind of interesting seeing such a sea change from Dermody's reign...because JJ was director of rugby (or whatever his job title was) so you would have though he had some input last year
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann as we've discussed before, i dont feel thats really on him, he wasn't moved from 15 because he was bad...we had a hole at 10 to cover a for a while...and then we had a hole at 12...i still feel 15 would have been his best position (not better than JRK)...if he'd been able to stick at it and develop...but whilst he was covering other positions where we were weak...we backfilled 15 with a stronger option
That's the issue with Gilbert. He's a contingency player. Someone who is ok, until another better player turns up. But, he is never the 'better' player. For a guy who has played nearly 50 games, there have been very few where he has been one of the best on the paddock. As a fullback he lacked the ability break the line. Then was an ok stop-gap 10. Pushed to 12, was soft in contact and couldn't break the line. Wasn't able to beat players one on one when on the wing. Has all the attributes to be a top quality player. Just isn't. This year, he is our 3/4th string 10. Probably 2nd/3rd 12. Fourth in line at fullback. But, likely to be one of the first picked for the bench (apart from Mike Manson), due to his utility value.
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