Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5
-
Canes will welcome back Lomax, Aumua, Gallagher and Cashmore. They all trained this week so they will be welcome additions.
I can’t recall the last time the Highlanders beat the Canes? It must have been a while but definitely a change of tune as I think they’ll go in as favourites for this one.
The tide will turn for the Canes at some point but I feel that won’t come until after the bye. One of our main problem areas is the midfield. We won’t get Higgins back until at least round 7 and there is still no news on Proctor so as long as Umaga-Jensen and Sullivan are there our outsides will struggle to see any ball.
I’m picking the Landers in a close one with the Canes season almost being dead and buried before the seasons really begun. We’ll have to win almost every game from here on out if we lose on Saturday.
-
I've heard Proctors foot injury is a very complicated one that has medicos stumped as in what to do/how to treat. Not entirely sure what that means but what Ive heard is it's an unusual injury and maybe even career threatening.
I'd love to be wrong with this one. -
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
An interesting game this. The cellar dweller Canes off to Dunedin to see if they can get their season back on track.
While the Landers, who somehow managed to move up a spot during the bye week will be wanting another home win to solidify our spot in the top 4.
A win for the Landers should see us keep the good times rolling. I'm sure the former ODT scribe Rob Van Royen will still write a shitty review of the team in the weekly power ratings though. A loss keeps us in the mid-table shitfight.
A loss for the Canes really puts them up shit creek. A win brings them into the mid-table shitfight.
Looks like the Canes may be getting some injured players back. Which will be very welcome additions. Highlanders may consider bringing Nareki in and Howden may start at six.
Really looking forward to this one.
My Landers side:
De Groot
Vikena/Taylor
Ma'u
Holland
Dunshea
Howden
Withy
RentonHastie
Robinson
Nareki/Tangitau
Tavatavanawai
Tele'a
Tangitau/Gilbert
Hurley/GilbertTaylor/Bell/Vikena
Bartlett
Kautai
Lasaqa
Broughton/StodartFakatava
Gilbert/Nareki/Hurley
Naeata/TUJOptions galore for the bench. If Nareki is fit, he will have a tough job getting the 11 jersey off Tangitau. Although, Tangitau is a natural right winger.
I'd keep Hastie at 9. Not sure what Robinson's goal kicking is like. But, other options may need to be considered if we chuck Gilbert on the bench as a utility replacement. Hurley is also a goal kicking option. Gilbert may need to be the 10 cover with Millar still suffering from wobbly knees due to his poor tackling technique.
Howden, de Groot and Ma'u will be welcomed back into the pack.
Highlanders by 8 - 11.
Can Howden cover lock? Nothing having Stoddard on the bench means out locks have to go 80 again. I do worry the combo of Broughton and Lasaqua is too light at the breakdown.
Hopefully the landers can string two halfs together. Consistency is key.
-
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
An interesting game this. The cellar dweller Canes off to Dunedin to see if they can get their season back on track.
While the Landers, who somehow managed to move up a spot during the bye week will be wanting another home win to solidify our spot in the top 4.
A win for the Landers should see us keep the good times rolling. I'm sure the former ODT scribe Rob Van Royen will still write a shitty review of the team in the weekly power ratings though. A loss keeps us in the mid-table shitfight.
A loss for the Canes really puts them up shit creek. A win brings them into the mid-table shitfight.
Looks like the Canes may be getting some injured players back. Which will be very welcome additions. Highlanders may consider bringing Nareki in and Howden may start at six.
Really looking forward to this one.
My Landers side:
De Groot
Vikena/Taylor
Ma'u
Holland
Dunshea
Howden
Withy
RentonHastie
Robinson
Nareki/Tangitau
Tavatavanawai
Tele'a
Tangitau/Gilbert
Hurley/GilbertTaylor/Bell/Vikena
Bartlett
Kautai
Lasaqa
Broughton/StodartFakatava
Gilbert/Nareki/Hurley
Naeata/TUJOptions galore for the bench. If Nareki is fit, he will have a tough job getting the 11 jersey off Tangitau. Although, Tangitau is a natural right winger.
I'd keep Hastie at 9. Not sure what Robinson's goal kicking is like. But, other options may need to be considered if we chuck Gilbert on the bench as a utility replacement. Hurley is also a goal kicking option. Gilbert may need to be the 10 cover with Millar still suffering from wobbly knees due to his poor tackling technique.
Howden, de Groot and Ma'u will be welcomed back into the pack.
Highlanders by 8 - 11.
Can Howden cover lock? Nothing having Stoddard on the bench means out locks have to go 80 again. I do worry the combo of Broughton and Lasaqua is too light at the breakdown.
Hopefully the landers can string two halfs together. Consistency is key.
Howden covered lock for the Canes and went well. He’s a similar size to Delany who plays lock for the Canes. Definitely a 6 first and a lock second though.
-
@Canes4life said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
An interesting game this. The cellar dweller Canes off to Dunedin to see if they can get their season back on track.
While the Landers, who somehow managed to move up a spot during the bye week will be wanting another home win to solidify our spot in the top 4.
A win for the Landers should see us keep the good times rolling. I'm sure the former ODT scribe Rob Van Royen will still write a shitty review of the team in the weekly power ratings though. A loss keeps us in the mid-table shitfight.
A loss for the Canes really puts them up shit creek. A win brings them into the mid-table shitfight.
Looks like the Canes may be getting some injured players back. Which will be very welcome additions. Highlanders may consider bringing Nareki in and Howden may start at six.
Really looking forward to this one.
My Landers side:
De Groot
Vikena/Taylor
Ma'u
Holland
Dunshea
Howden
Withy
RentonHastie
Robinson
Nareki/Tangitau
Tavatavanawai
Tele'a
Tangitau/Gilbert
Hurley/GilbertTaylor/Bell/Vikena
Bartlett
Kautai
Lasaqa
Broughton/StodartFakatava
Gilbert/Nareki/Hurley
Naeata/TUJOptions galore for the bench. If Nareki is fit, he will have a tough job getting the 11 jersey off Tangitau. Although, Tangitau is a natural right winger.
I'd keep Hastie at 9. Not sure what Robinson's goal kicking is like. But, other options may need to be considered if we chuck Gilbert on the bench as a utility replacement. Hurley is also a goal kicking option. Gilbert may need to be the 10 cover with Millar still suffering from wobbly knees due to his poor tackling technique.
Howden, de Groot and Ma'u will be welcomed back into the pack.
Highlanders by 8 - 11.
Can Howden cover lock? Nothing having Stoddard on the bench means out locks have to go 80 again. I do worry the combo of Broughton and Lasaqua is too light at the breakdown.
Hopefully the landers can string two halfs together. Consistency is key.
Howden covered lock for the Canes and went well. He’s a similar size to Delany who plays lock for the Canes. Definitely a 6 first and a lock second though.
@Canes4life said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
An interesting game this. The cellar dweller Canes off to Dunedin to see if they can get their season back on track.
While the Landers, who somehow managed to move up a spot during the bye week will be wanting another home win to solidify our spot in the top 4.
A win for the Landers should see us keep the good times rolling. I'm sure the former ODT scribe Rob Van Royen will still write a shitty review of the team in the weekly power ratings though. A loss keeps us in the mid-table shitfight.
A loss for the Canes really puts them up shit creek. A win brings them into the mid-table shitfight.
Looks like the Canes may be getting some injured players back. Which will be very welcome additions. Highlanders may consider bringing Nareki in and Howden may start at six.
Really looking forward to this one.
My Landers side:
De Groot
Vikena/Taylor
Ma'u
Holland
Dunshea
Howden
Withy
RentonHastie
Robinson
Nareki/Tangitau
Tavatavanawai
Tele'a
Tangitau/Gilbert
Hurley/GilbertTaylor/Bell/Vikena
Bartlett
Kautai
Lasaqa
Broughton/StodartFakatava
Gilbert/Nareki/Hurley
Naeata/TUJOptions galore for the bench. If Nareki is fit, he will have a tough job getting the 11 jersey off Tangitau. Although, Tangitau is a natural right winger.
I'd keep Hastie at 9. Not sure what Robinson's goal kicking is like. But, other options may need to be considered if we chuck Gilbert on the bench as a utility replacement. Hurley is also a goal kicking option. Gilbert may need to be the 10 cover with Millar still suffering from wobbly knees due to his poor tackling technique.
Howden, de Groot and Ma'u will be welcomed back into the pack.
Highlanders by 8 - 11.
Can Howden cover lock? Nothing having Stoddard on the bench means out locks have to go 80 again. I do worry the combo of Broughton and Lasaqua is too light at the breakdown.
Hopefully the landers can string two halfs together. Consistency is key.
Howden covered lock for the Canes and went well. He’s a similar size to Delany who plays lock for the Canes. Definitely a 6 first and a lock second though.
Good. Will be good to have some competition in the six spot with two decent sized six’s once Haig gets back
-
@Canes4life said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
Canes will welcome back Lomax, Aumua, Gallagher and Cashmore. They all trained this week so they will be welcome additions.
I can’t recall the last time the Highlanders beat the Canes? It must have been a while but definitely a change of tune as I think they’ll go in as favourites for this one.
The tide will turn for the Canes at some point but I feel that won’t come until after the bye. One of our main problem areas is the midfield. We won’t get Higgins back until at least round 7 and there is still no news on Proctor so as long as Umaga-Jensen and Sullivan are there our outsides will struggle to see any ball.
I’m picking the Landers in a close one with the Canes season almost being dead and buried before the seasons really begun. We’ll have to win almost every game from here on out if we lose on Saturday.
Lomax, Aumua and the likes will make a difference, but I honestly don't think the Canes forwards have really been their problem. With Proctor and Higgins seemingly no closer, there is no quick fix to what is a fairly shoddy backline once you get past 9-11.
-
I won’t be surprised if we see Faleafaga on the bench this week. We saw what happened when Robinson went off and Millar went down against Moana and Gilbert was the make shift 10, he can do it at a pinch but it’s nothing you want to be relying on.
I’m selecting the same starting side as @frugby above but swapping 1 back sub and 1 forward sub. Taylor for Bell in 16 along with 22 to be Faleafaga and 23 to be Umaga Jenson.
-
Last time the Highlanders bet the Hurricanes was 2018. Surviving players are DLB, Brad Shields and at the time Highlander's prop Tyrel Lomax.
She's been a cold winter since then.
10 cover will be an interesting watch. I reckon it'll depend on whether Hurley can get himself back on-board. We will really see whether Joseph truly has absolutely no time for Faleafaga.
I'm happier with Taylor at back up hooker than Bell.
I also reckon we will see Howden at six, and Withy at seven. Bring Lasaqa on as the impact man
-
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
Last time the Highlanders bet the Hurricanes was 2018. Surviving players are DLB, Brad Shields and at the time Highlander's prop Tyrel Lomax.
She's been a cold winter since then.
10 cover will be an interesting watch. I reckon it'll depend on whether Hurley can get himself back on-board. We will really see whether Joseph truly has absolutely no time for Faleafaga.
I'm happier with Taylor at back up hooker than Bell.
I also reckon we will see Howden at six, and Withy at seven. Bring Lasaqa on as the impact man
If I had to pick the Canes side for this week assuming Cashmore, Lomax, Aumua and Gallagher return via the bench, I would go for the following:
- Xavier Numia
- Jacob Devery
- Pasilio Tosi
- Caleb Delany
- Hugo Plummer (IWL can take a hike)
- Brad Shields (CC)
- Du Plessis Kirifi (CC)
- Peter Lakai
- Cam Roigard
- Harry Godfrey
- Kini Naholo
- Peter Umaga-Jensen (yuck)
- Bailyn Sullivan (yuck)
- Kade Banks
- Ruben Love
- Asafo Aumua
- Tevita Mafileo
- Tyrel Lomax
- Zach Gallagher
- Brayden Iose
- Jordi Vijoen (time to give this kid an opportunity)
- Lucas Cashmore
- Fehi Finenganofo
-
@Canes4life What a massive dissapointment PUJ and sullivan have been. I actually was quite optimistic about the pairing, and perhaps if it had been only one of them thrust into the starting role it might have been okay - but we are really seeing why these guys have never progressed in their careers. They are actually going backwards by the looks and it really rarked me up seeing PUJ have a giggle to himself when he dropped a pretty standard kick with no pressure on him vs MP. Do we have noone in the wider squad to make these two actually justify their selection?
-
@DurryMexted said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
@Canes4life What a massive dissapointment PUJ and sullivan have been. I actually was quite optimistic about the pairing, and perhaps if it had been only one of them thrust into the starting role it might have been okay - but we are really seeing why these guys have never progressed in their careers. They are actually going backwards by the looks and it really rarked me up seeing PUJ have a giggle to himself when he dropped a pretty standard kick with no pressure on him vs MP. Do we have noone in the wider squad to make these two actually justify their selection?
You might get away with having one of them starting, but because they are both erratic at the best of the times it's just a cause for complete chaos. You need a smarter / steadier operator to partner them in the midfield otherwise things turn to shit, which we've seen over the first four weeks.
-
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
Last time the Highlanders bet the Hurricanes was 2018. Surviving players are DLB, Brad Shields and at the time Highlander's prop Tyrel Lomax.
She's been a cold winter since then.
10 cover will be an interesting watch. I reckon it'll depend on whether Hurley can get himself back on-board. We will really see whether Joseph truly has absolutely no time for Faleafaga.
I'm happier with Taylor at back up hooker than Bell.
I also reckon we will see Howden at six, and Withy at seven. Bring Lasaqa on as the impact man
Hurley wasn’t training last week, so I don’t think they’ll risk him making it worse. They tend to be cautious with muscle injuries.
Faleafaga will be interesting, I think they’ll gamble on leaving him out, because they’ll go for a 6-2 split I reckon, and I doubt they’d go in with just Arscott and Faleafaga.
They might stick with Taylor, but Bell is our best defensive hooker, and Taylor and Vikena were both poor against MP, so I think he might get the nod. Could be literally any combination though.
Howden did a good job coming on off the bench, and I’m not sure he will be ready to play 80 yet, so they’ll be lining him up to cover lock at the end of the game.
The key against the Blues was retaining size in the loose at the end, which is what we lacked against the Tahs and MP. If they start with Howden, Withy and Renton, feasibly, they might end the game with Withy, Lasaqa & Broughton, which is very small, particularly as Stodart would probably be at look.
If they go Withy, Lasaqa, Renton to start, Howden could come on at 6, or Naeta could come on at 6, and we retain size.
-
Ben Smith media stand up. Sounds like Hurley, Nareki and Umaga-Jensen all available for the weekend. He did sound a bit hesitant around Hurley though.
-
A win for the Highlanders here would be massive ahead of their Aussie tour. Going to Canberra, Perth, Brisbane then back to play the Drua is a tough four weeks of travel and a poor performance could completely derail their season.
-
This post is deleted!
-
@KiwiInLondon not going to Brisbane mate. We play the Reds in Dunedin on the 22nd of March(week after the canes) then off to Canberra and Perth after that. Your point still stands though, and as we know, home victories are key.
-
@Landers92 said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
@KiwiInLondon not going to Brisbane mate. We play the Reds in Dunedin on the 22nd of March(week after the canes) then off to Canberra and Perth after that. Your point still stands though, and as we know, home victories are key.
Evidently I can’t read. Tbh that’s far more favourable only having the two weeks overseas. Massive chance to go 3/4 in the next four weeks. Also means that when they get back home a few injured players are scheduled to come back
-
My assumption will be the 23 would look something like this
- Ethan De Groot
- Soanne Vikenna
- Saula Ma'au
- Fabian Holland
- Mitchell Dunshea
- Lui Neeta
- Sean Withy
- Hugh Renton
- Nathan Hastie
- Taine Robinson
- Jona Narkei
- Timcoi T
- Tanelea Telea
- Caleb Tangitau
- Sam Gilbert
- Henry Bell
- Josh Barlett
- Sefo Kauitau
- TK Howden
- Venevui Lasaqua
- James Arscott
- AJ Falefaga
- Thomas Umunga Jensen
A few thoughts. On The highlanders 'pick your team' Hurley isn't available for selection while TUJ, Nareki and Howden are. So I think that's a good clue he's not seen as a likely for this game.
JJ has seemed hesitant to use Gilbert as 10 cover unless absolutely necessary so I suspect Falefaga makes the bench. We're pretty light on backs at the moment. So he's kinda last man standing aside from Mason and Te Hiwi (I'm assuming Whaanga is still out?)
If I was JJ i'd pick Lennox over Arscott. But Falefaga and Lennox as a halves combo at the end of the game seems too inexperienced. So I'm assuming unless Gilbert is 10 cover Lennox isn't picked.
