Highlanders 2021

[Stargazer]

I understand that Kazuke Himeno is still stuck in Japan because of COVID (there is a state of emergency in parts of Japan - the greater Tokyo area - at least until 7 February). So it may take a while before he joins the Highlanders ... (no idea, how long).

[Kiwiwomble]

@Stargazer bugger, I’d imagine anyone coming from a different comp/country would need a little longer getting their eye in

If we plan it right we might have him coming with fresh leg later in the season...being optimistic

[Bones]

Orrrrr....what's Lamborn up to?

[Stargazer]

[bobily2]

Jack Regan, Sean Withy and Vahaakolo have been signed on short-term contracts covering for Himeno, Gilbert and Parkinson

Stuff

[Kiwiwomble]

@bobily2 that's great news fro Freedom although I would have thought Tucker and McDowall would have been better choices

[bobily2]

@Kiwiwomble

I believe Tucker is with the Brumbies. Good point on Mcdowall though. Perhaps he's unavailable?

[Bovidae]

@bobily2 Brad Tucker.

NZ teams should also be favouring NZ-born players over an Irishmen.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2021:

@bobily2 Brad Tucker.

NZ teams should also be favouring NZ-born players over an Irishmen.

James Tucker?

agreed although until we'll know who was available and who wasn't im not going to bag them

[Bovidae]

@Kiwiwomble

Regan is Irish.

James is now at the Brumbies so I assume you were meaning Brad.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Bovidae yeah, I know hes irish, im just saying that althought I agree local talent is preferred, if there weren't many people with the right level of experience available to go to Dunedin for a short term contract then I wont bag them for picking Regan

I'm talking about Will Tucker the Otago lock as cover for PPP, no idea who Brad is and a search says James has signed with the Brumbies

[bobily2]

@Bovidae

Brad hasn't played provincial rugby in NZ for a couple years, and was a bit of a journeyman,from memory.

[Bovidae]

@Kiwiwomble @bobily2

I was getting my Tuckers mixed up. I meant Will.

[bobily2]

@Kiwiwomble

Forgot about Will. Otago seemed to favour Regan to him at times. I think Will is better suited to SR though, as Regan is on the lighter side. Good call.

[Kiwiwomble]

@bobily2 plus he has already been involved with the squad just like Slade

hopefully that mean they both have other things lined up

[Kiwiwomble]

I like Koroi but wouldn't have thought he was high enough up the ladder in either 10 or 15 to need cover

[Stargazer]

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:

I like Koroi but wouldn't have thought he was high enough up the ladder in either 10 or 15 to need cover

The fact that the Landers have only two first five-eighths in their squad may have something to do with it.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Stargazer cover for the third string 10 just seems unnecessary, going to have to look if this is because of injury or sevens commitments

[Kiwiwomble]

what did Josh Mckay do to not get called back as cover for Gilbert or Koroi, especially after a good NPC

[Stargazer]

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:

@Stargazer cover for the third string 10 just seems unnecessary, going to have to look if this is because of injury or sevens commitments

Koroi is training with the All Blacks Sevens, at the moment.

See also the Highlanders squad announcement of 3 December.

***Vili Koroi will assemble with NZ sevens team in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics