Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5
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@antipodean Agreed. If Hurley is fit and Adam Lennox available for selection I'd slot them both into that bench. But a pretty green side to close out the game.
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A few names spotted in yellow bibs at training today which signals they are in the 23 including the likes of Gallagher and Lomax and Aumua. Interesting to see Brett Cameron training, early return maybe? He was meant to be gone for the season.
Likely side from the images below, by far our strongest 23 of the year.
- Numia
- Aumua (CC)
- Lomax
- Delany
- Gallagher
- Shields (CC)
- Kirifi (CC)
- Lakai
- Roigard
- Godfrey
- Naholo
- Umaga-Jensen
- Sullivan
- Finenganofo
- Love
- Devery
- Mafileo
- Tosi
- Walker-Leawere
- Iose
- Enari
- Punivai
- Banks
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Team to face the Hurricanes
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The starting side is pretty close to our top side. With potentially a couple of guys, with the likes of Haig, Hurley/JRK and a question mark at hooker.
It is our bench where we are short. Big challenge in the last 30.
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@SouthernMann Solid side. I didn’t think bench was too bad, obviously DLB over Bartlett when available but other than that a strong forwards bench. Vikena and Lasaqa should add some impact when they come on which could be vital, especially after seeing Aumua and Lomax named on the Canes bench.
Backs - would be happy to see Umaga Jenson over Te Hiwi but I guess we have to wait another week for that. Happy to see Faleafaga named, hope the game goes ok and he manages to get a run.
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Xavier Numia, Jacob Devery, Tevita Mafileo, Caleb Delany, Zach Gallagher, Brad Shields (co-c), Du'Plessis Kirifi (co-c) Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, Harry Godfrey, Kini Naholo, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Bailyn Sullivan, Ngatungane Punivai, Ruben Love
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tyrel Lomax, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brayden Iose, Jordi Viljoen, Riley Hohepa, Fatafehi Fineanganofo
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The good thing for Faleafaga is that he won't be outplayed by Hohepa when he comes on. I want to see him go well as well. He has all the skills.
I'm excited to see Nareki and Tangitau in the same back three together.
With the bench, I've just got a bit of a hope about an injury free squad with a bench featuring Howden, Lasaqa, Fakatava, Millar and Hurley. A real impactful bench
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And Hurricanes look very strong. Will be a tough game
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That Canes bench scares me... Landers bench is very green, I thought they would have gone for a 6-2 split, but Naeta is seemingly out in the cold.
Jamie showed against the Blues he can be ruthless, so would not be surprised to see those back reserves get very limited minutes, how he injects Stodart and Lasaqa will be key to maintain dominance in the tight five. I think in this team, Howden has to go the 80, or else we could be bullied for size.
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The big dogs are back.
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Highlanders definitely favorites
Canes look a little stronger than last week, if they can keep their discipline it should be a great game.
Canes bench very mixed, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Riley Hohepa could easily cost us the game tempered by the long awaited return of Lomax and Aumua to finally bring some ball carrying ability. -
It's funny on IWL, I feel he'd been really ramping up since the middle of last year and was easily playing his best footy this year, definitely more noticeable in the tackle and ball in hand. Then his ill discipline returns with a vengeance and he's written off. I'd persist with him, his upside is definitely starting to show, just needs to keep his head in the game.
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The only reason the Landers are the favourites, is because they are 2-1 and the Canes are 1-3. Starting sides are fairly even (I actually think the Landers backline has sneakily become very strong, which is weird!) but the Canes bench is way superior.
Canes have the better front row (overall)
Landers better locking combo
Canes better loose forwards
Canes better halves
Landers better midfielders
Landers better wingers
Canes better fullback. -
@Bones said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
It's funny on IWL, I feel he'd been really ramping up since the middle of last year and was easily playing his best footy this year, definitely more noticeable in the tackle and ball in hand. Then his ill discipline returns with a vengeance and he's written off. I'd persist with him, his upside is definitely starting to show, just needs to keep his head in the game.
I agree but he deserves to be benched for this game. Rewarding such a poor and ill-disciplined game with another start would have been a horrible move by the coach. His size and mobility are a big plus though so if he pulls his head in, he could reach quality heights.
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@frugby said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
The only reason the Landers are the favourites, is because they are 2-1 and the Canes are 1-3. Starting sides are fairly even (I actually think the Landers backline has sneakily become very strong, which is weird!) but the Canes bench is way superior.
Canes have the better front row (overall)
Landers better locking combo
Canes better loose forwards
Canes better halves
Landers better midfielders
Landers better wingers
Canes better fullback.Hard to disagree with this at this stage of the season. Hopefully when we meet next time we'll have our better midfield on the park.
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@Canes4life I think ultimately the Highlanders might win, simply because they are playing with so much confidence + zoo factor, JJ factor, but if it is close at the end, I see our set piece getting butchered, and then being unable to defend on our line. We lack big bodies on the bench... really need Stodart to step up.
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@frugby said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
@Canes4life I think ultimately the Highlanders might win, simply because they are playing with so much confidence + zoo factor, JJ factor, but if it is close at the end, I see our set piece getting butchered, and then being unable to defend on our line. We lack big bodies on the bench... really need Stodart to step up.
If the Higlanders can start really well then that should give them enough confidence to kick on. However, if it's close or if the Hurricanes are leading at the break I think they will pull away with a stronger bench.
The key players for the Hurricanes on Saturday will be Roigard, Godfrey and Love. They need to kick well and control territory and not give the Highlander's lethal back three (Tangitau and Nareki in particular) too much time and space.
It's definitely going to be close, the Highlanders should definitely be confident in in getting their first W against the Canes for about 6-7 years. BRING IT ON.
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the later is actually a good shout
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
@Bones said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:
It's funny on IWL, I feel he'd been really ramping up since the middle of last year and was easily playing his best footy this year, definitely more noticeable in the tackle and ball in hand. Then his ill discipline returns with a vengeance and he's written off. I'd persist with him, his upside is definitely starting to show, just needs to keep his head in the game.
I agree but he deserves to be benched for this game. Rewarding such a poor and ill-disciplined game with another start would have been a horrible move by the coach. His size and mobility are a big plus though so if he pulls his head in, he could reach quality heights.
Yep, I'm sure he's been given the reason for his benching, will be the measure of him whether he can make the required changes.
