Waratahs v Highlanders - QF

Stargazer

Highlanders

1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
2 Liam Coltman
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 Jackson Hemopo
5 Tom Franklin
6 Liam Squire
7 James Lentjes
8 Luke Whitelock
9 Aaron Smith
10 Lima Sopoaga
11 Tevita Li
12 Teihorangi Walden
13 Rob Thompson
14 Waisake Naholo
15 Ben Smith (cc)

Reserves
16 Ash Dixon (cc)
17 Aki Seiuli
18 Kalolo Tuiloma
19 Shannon Frizell
20 Elliot Dixon
21 Kayne Hammington
22 Josh Ioane
23 Matt Faddes

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Highlanders Name Team For Match Against The Waratahs

It’s quarterfinal time and Pulse Energy Highlanders Head Coach, Aaron Mauger, has named his strongest side to take on the Waratahs in Sydney. Returning to the team this week are All Blacks Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, Elliot Dixon, co-captain Ash Dixon and centre, Rob Thompson.

This is the fifth consecutive year the Highlanders have made the playoffs, finishing in 6th position at the end of the round robin stage. They are in the not unfamiliar position of being on the road having played only two playoff games at home since the inception of Super Rugby (1999 and 2015).

Coach Mauger is excited by the opportunity, “these are the opportunities the guys work hard all year for and there are no second chances. It’s simply about putting our best performance on the field on Saturday. The Waratahs are a quality side playing at home which presents an awesome challenge for our guys, but like I said, these are the games we love to play”.

akan004

No Hunt? Wtf.

Stargazer

No Buckman, either.

NTA

Clan by 15

mariner4life

@nta said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:

Clan by 15

at half time?

Nepia

@stargazer said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:

No Buckman, either.

I assume he is injured?

If not and it's a direct snub ... as I said on the other thread, the Chiefs have always been good to (former) Magpies.

Hooroo

@nepia said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:

@stargazer said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:

No Buckman, either.

I assume he is injured?

If not and it's a direct snub ... as I said on the other thread, the Chiefs have always been good to (former) Magpies.

I would take Buckman in a heartbeat!

Stargazer

@nepia I can't remember whether he left the field early during the Landers' last game, or not. Maybe he did, but then I'm still not sure whether it was because of an injury. No info in their media release.

ACT Crusader

Buckman hasn’t looked right to me this whole season. He’s been easily beaten defensively and hasn’t quite had the sting in his running game that we’ve seen.

In form he and that guy Thomas make a decent midfield.

Stargazer

@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:

Buckman hasn’t looked right to me this whole season. He’s been easily beaten defensively and hasn’t quite had the sting in his running game that we’ve seen.

In form he and that guy Thomas make a decent midfield.

Whole season? He hasn't played "whole season". Only played four games due to injury.

Bones

Has Buckman played enough games?

Why no Hunt? Oh that's right Mark, he's an AB, he's probably too big for his boots.

Stargazer

Waratahs

1 Tom Robertson
2 Damien Fitzpatrick
3 Sekope Kepu
4 Jed Holloway
5 Rob Simmons
6 Ned Hanigan
7 Will Miller
8 Michael Wells
9 Nick Phipps
10 Bernard Foley
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
12 Kurtley Beale
13 Curtis Rona
14 Alex Newsome
15 Israel Folau

Reserves
16 Tolu Latu
17 Harry Johnson-Holmes
18 Paddy Ryan
19 Tom Staniforth
20 Brad Wilkin
21 Jake Gordon
22 Cam Clark
23 Bryce Hegarty

NTA

Tahs have made 1 change from last week with Newsome coming off the bench and Clark sitting down. No Hooper and that will be the end of his Super season you'd think.

1 Tom Robertson
2 Damien Fitzpatrick
3 Sekope Kepu
4 Jed Holloway
5 Rob Simmons
6 Ned Hanigan
7 Will Miller
8 Michael Wells
9 Nick Phipps
10 Bernard Foley (c)
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
12 Kurtley Beale
13 Curtis Rona
14 Alex Newsome
15 Israel Folau

16 Tolu Latu
17 Harry Johnson-Holmes
18 Paddy Ryan
19 Tom Staniforth
20 Brad Wilkin
21 Jake Gordon
22 Bryce Hegarty
23 Cam Clark

KiwiMurph

Jed Holloway at lock in a playoff game is an interesting one.

ACT Crusader

@stargazer said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:

@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:

Buckman hasn’t looked right to me this whole season. He’s been easily beaten defensively and hasn’t quite had the sting in his running game that we’ve seen.

In form he and that guy Thomas make a decent midfield.

Whole season? He hasn't played "whole season". Only played four games due to injury.

Not sure where you see that I said he played the whole season as I know he’s had injuries. But any time he has played this season he hasn’t looked right either. So the coaches are playing him unfit or his form has been found wanting.

Bovidae

@akan004 said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:

No Hunt? Wtf.

He went off early in the 2nd half in the Chiefs game in Suva. Perhaps still injured if he hasn't played in the last 2 games.

Stargazer

@act-crusader You said he hasn't looked right (to you) this whole season. Hence my reaction.

NTA

@kiwimurph said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:

Jed Holloway at lock in a playoff game is an interesting one.

He's been there the last couple of weeks I think.

akan004

@bovidae Didn't he come off the bench last week?

Bovidae

@akan004 I haven't seen the last 2 Highlanders games so no idea.

Edit: Hunt was on the bench so must be dropped.

The Silver Fern

Waratahs v Highlanders - QF