Blues vs. Highlanders

[Daffy Jaffy]

<p class="" style="color:rgb(255,255,255);background-color:rgb(0,159,227);"><strong>The Blues team is:</strong></p>
<ol><li>Ofa Tu’ungafasi</li>
<li>James Parsons ©</li>
<li>Sione Mafileo</li>
<li>Patrick Tuipulotu</li>
<li>Josh Bekhuis</li>
<li>Joe Edwards</li>
<li>Blake Gibson</li>
<li>Steven Luatua</li>
<li>Bryn Hall</li>
<li>Ihaia West</li>
<li>Tevita Li</li>
<li>George Moala</li>
<li>Male Sa’u</li>
<li>Melani Nanai</li>
<li>Lolagi Visinia.</li>
</ol><p style="color:rgb(255,255,255);background-color:rgb(0,159,227);">Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Namatahi Waa, Charlie Faumuina, Akira Ioane, Kara Pryor, Billy Guyton, Matt McGahan, Rene Ranger</p>

[Crucial]

<p>RR in the reserves?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Maybe T is looking for a more distributing centre to use the outsides and use RR as an impact player?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Some good impact off the bench there with Charlie, Akira and RR.</p>

[KiwiMurph]

Sounds like Ranger is still getting up to speed fitness wise so bench makes sense. Bit of pressure in the back 3 with plenty of talent in the squad (Lam, Duffie, R Ioane etc). Looks like Luatua is covering lock.

[SouthernMan]

<p>I'm a whole lot more confident against that unit, than I would be against the team picked by Tim at the top of the thread. </p>

[Hooroo]

<p>Kaino injured/suspended?</p>

[KiwiMurph]

Kaino suspended one week for punching P Manu in last week's preseason game.

[Hooroo]

<p>Right.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That's good as I thought he was injured.</p>

[SouthernMan]

Highlanders team hot off the press.

[Stargazer]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SouthernMan" data-cid="560537" data-time="1456287038">
<div>
<p>Highlanders team hot off the press.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Daniel Lienert-Brown  2. Liam Coltman  3. Josh Hohneck  4. Tom Franklin  5. Joe Wheeler  6. Elliot Dixon  7. Shane Christie ( co-capt)  8. Liam Squire</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Aaron Smith  10. Lima Sopoaga  11. Patrick Osborne  12. Teihorangi Walden  13. Malakai Fekitoa  14. Waisake Naholo  15. Ben Smith ( co-capt )</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Reserves:</em></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">16. Ash Dixon  17. Brendon Edmonds  18. Ross Geldenhuys  19. Alex Ainley  20. Dan Pryor  21. Fumiaki Tanaka  22. Hayden Parker  23. Matt Faddes</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://thehighlanders.co.nz/our-news/latest-news'><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">http://thehighlanders.co.nz/our-news/latest-news</span></a></p>

[SouthernMan]

Sorry, thought I had attached a picture from my emails.

[KiwiMurph]

<p>Bit of a surprise that Rob Thompson missed out on the 12 jersey?</p>

[African Monkey]

<p>Look forward to seeing whether Mafileo has the goods at this level. The kid is one to watch for the future imo.</p>

[Tim]

<p>Is Mafileo really only 5'10"?</p>

[taniwharugby]

<p>be good to see the Pryor brothers get a chance to square off against one another! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Stoked to see Waa on the bench, he musta put in some work in the off season!! </p>

[KiwiMurph]

<p>I think I saw on here a couple of weeks ago a comment that Waa had shed a heap of weight over the offseason.</p>

[taniwharugby]

<p>YEah I think it was Daffy, I had heard he was highly rated but struggled with fitness (weight) and injuries last season.</p>

[African Monkey]

<p>Anything has to be an upgrade on Sam Prattley. Good luck to him.</p>

[Crash]

<p>Really looking forward to this game, and to the rarefied air of the Soup season in general - have taken Friday off to watch.</p>
<p>Better than the stodge served up by the likes of the NH comps - 6 nations/European Cup/Top 14 and the godawful pro 12.</p>
<p>Wales has been good - but the 8 nations draw hinders their progress.</p>
<p>Will be good to see free-spirited, creative open running rugby for a change.</p>

[taniwharugby]

<p>1 Blues <span style="margin:0px;">1.92</span></p>
<p>2 Highlanders 1.82</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1 Blues 13 & Over <span style="margin:0px;">5.25</span></p>
<p>2 Blues 12 & Under <span style="margin:0px;">2.85</span></p>
<p>3 Draw <span style="margin:0px;">18.00</span></p>
<p>4 Highlanders 12 & Under <span style="margin:0px;">2.75</span></p>
<p>5 Highlanders 13 & Over <span style="margin:0px;">4.75</span></p>

[Crucial]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crash" data-cid="560574" data-time="1456297358">
<div>
<p>Really looking forward to this game, and to the rarefied air of the Soup season in general - have taken Friday off to watch.</p>
<p>Better than the stodge served up by the likes of the NH comps - 6 nations/European Cup/Top 14 and the godawful pro 12.</p>
<p>Wales has been good - but the 8 nations draw hinders their progress.</p>
<p>Will be good to see free-spirited, creative open running rugby for a change.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Don't get your hopes too high in the early stages. Some of the first rounds can produce messy crap and I am apprehensive as to the rule changes until teams get used to them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But generally, yeah I'm ready to watch some good rugby.</p>