Highlanders 2020

[Stargazer]

Pre-season game:

Kick-off 6 pm.

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[Wurzel]

Zane Kapeli to the Landers, apparently. Which surprises me given they already have twos 7s.

[Bones]

@Wurzel said in Highlanders 2020:

Zane Kapeli to the Landers, apparently. Which surprises me given they already have twos 7s.

And one is the captain.

Openside are all the rage, get as many on the park as possible.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Bones Wiki and the world cup site list him at 6'3 and 130kgs so he's not your standard openside. He hits like Kaino in a bad mood so would a be very useful Blindside I reckon.

[Yeetyaah]

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Interestingly they've removed all players that were confirmed leaving already, e.g. Lomax and Smith. These players must be staying on? We've been talking about PPP and maybe where he's going, seems like he maybe staying. Might be looking into a bit much. Interesting though.

[Bones]

@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2020:

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Interestingly they've removed all players that were confirmed leaving already, e.g. Lomax and Smith. These players must be staying on? We've been talking about PPP and maybe where he's going, seems like he maybe staying. Might be looking into a bit much. Interesting though.

For all the talk, there's the makings of a bloody good super rugby 23 in there. Just the depth that will hurt.

[Chris B.]

@Bones Bit of a scarcity of All Blacks - Aaron Smith the only big name, alongside Coltman and Frizell from the RWC squad.

[Bones]

@Chris-B said in Highlanders 2020:

@Bones Bit of a scarcity of All Blacks - Aaron Smith the only big name, alongside Coltman and Frizell from the RWC squad.

True, I mean we're so used to having a plethora of them...

[Chris B.]

@Bones You did at least used to have two Smiths.

And a sprinkling of Naholos and Squires - even Dixon and Lomax.

[Bones]

@Chris-B said in Highlanders 2020:

@Bones You did at least used to have two Smiths.

And a sprinkling of Naholos and Squires - even Dixon and Lomax.

Now we have THE FUTURE! Ably led around the pitch by the after....david.

Honestly though, there's a number of guys there touted as having a shot at the black jersey, as well as a butchers handful of guys bubbling under the last year or three.

[Chris B.]

@Bones Yeah - the one who would have been handy to keep is Lomax - though I think your CEO actually identified Luke Whitelock as the biggest loss (he's another - I forgot him!).

[Bones]

@Chris-B Lomax was killing it early season this year and then had a big drop....here's hoping he can pick it up again next year - in form he makes Ta'avao look even more like a pretender.

[Bovidae]

HIGHLANDERS 2020 SQUAD (* new player)
FORWARDS: Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Ricky Jackson,* Daniel Lienert-Brown, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Ayden Johnstone, Siate Tokolahi, Jeff Thwaites*, Ethan De Groot*, Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Jack Whetton, Manaaki Selby-Rickit*, James Lentjes, Dillon Hunt, Marino Mikaele Tu'u, Shannon Frizell, Sione Misiloi*, Zane Kapeli*, Teariki Ben-Nicholas*, Jesse Parete*.
BACKS: Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Folau Fakatava, Bryn Gatland, Josh Ioane, Mitch Hunt*, Rob Thompson, Patelesio Tomkinson, Teihorangi Walden, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Scott Gregory, Ngane Punivai*, Jona Nareki*, Tevita Nabura, Josh McKay, Michael Collins*, Chris Kuridrani*, Connor Garden-Bachop*.
In: Ricky Jackson, Jeff Thwaites, Ethan De Groot, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Sione Misiloi, Zane Kapeli, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Jesse Parete, Mitch Hunt, Ngane Punivai, Jona Nareki, Michael Collins, Chris Kuridrani, Connor Garden-Bachop
Out: Sef Fa'agese, Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes), Ray Niuia, Tom Franklin (Kobe), Jackson Hemopo (Mitsubishi DynaBoars), Luke Whitelock (Pau), Elliot Dixon (Ricoh), Liam Squire (NTT Docomo), Marty Banks (NTT Docomo), Richard Buckman (Kobe), Matt Faddes (Ulster), Tevita Li (Suntory), Waisake Naholo (London Irish), Ben Smith (Pau).

[Jonty lean]

@Bovidae no kianu kereru symes

[Stargazer]

@Jonty-lean Another disappointment. He's better than Ricky Jackson.

I guess Kereru-Symes didn't get enough game time this season to make a case. Not good for him being stuck behind Dixon, who had a cracker of a season. Will get his chance next year, I hope.

[cgrant]

Where is Tuilamo ? He did play a few games last year before his injury.

[Higgins]

@Stargazer Please enlighten me. Who is Ricky Jackson as I don't recall his name from the NPC?

[Steven Harris]

@Higgins NZ under 20s..it’s probably one of those cover selections to keep a young player in the area

[Stargazer]

@Higgins Yep, NZU20s a few years ago. Very average signing. Plays for Otago.

[Bovidae]

@Steven-Harris said in Highlanders 2020:

@Higgins NZ under 20s..it’s probably one of those cover selections to keep a young player in the area

Agreed, and I have no problem with that. I thought Jackson played well for the U20s. They could have selected Flynn Thomas.