Highlanders v Crusaders

[SouthernMann]

Highlanders team named to play Crusaders;

Really stoked to see Hugh Renton make the bench. He's been awesome in pre-season. A little disappointed to see TUJ not make the team, but hopefully he will get his chance when Tomkinson gets suspended. I'm rather excited to see what our back three can do and interesting to see that Hunt's early season and Mitre 10 Cup form got him the 10 spot ahead of Ioane.

1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
2 Ash Dixon (cc)
3 Siate Tokolahi
4 Josh Dickson
5 Jack Regan
6 Shannon Frizell
7 Billy Harmon
8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
9 Aaron Smith (cc)
10 Mitch Hunt
11 Jona Nareki
12 Patelesio Tomkinson
13 Ngatungane Punivai
14 Connor Garden-Bachop
15 Solomon Alaimalo

Reserves

16 Liam Coltman
17 Josh Hohneck
18 Jeff Thwaites
19 Bryn Evans
20 Liam Squire
21 Folau Fakatava
22 Josh Ioane
23 Hugh Renton

[Tim]

@southernmann What's the word on Jack Regan? Is he NZ eligible?

[Tim]

Squire on the bench ahead of Lentjes is odd.

[Bovidae]

The 6:2 bench (of previous seasons) must have been Brown's idea.

[Kiwiwomble]

what the hell kind of dirt has Sio got on the Landers management?

interesting Hunt gets the nod, Ioane really seemed to spark things when he came on, maybe an 80 min game plan? maybe planning or really speeding things late in the game with fatatava and Ioane

no selby-rickit?

[Duluth]

@kiwiwomble said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:

maybe planning or really speeding things late in the game with fatatava and Ioane

With no specialist openside cover?

[Kiwiwomble]

@duluth ...more backline focused

[KiwiMurph]

I wonder if Josh Ioane is receiving a bit of tough love after last season and his issues with drinking and weight.

I get the sense Highlanders could be chopping and changing their midfield throughout the season.

[Kiwiwomble]

@kiwimurph i really wish we'd settle for a few games, we saw Collins got much better after three or four games there last year

[Kiwiwomble]

fuck it...just reading Fetuli Paea is out for the season

[SouthernMann]

@Tim

Jack Regan isn't NZ eligible. I'm pretty sure he only came prior to the Dunedin Club Rugby season last year.

I'm thinking that Squire was always going to make the bench, the selection of Hugh Renton over Lentjes would have been the tight call. I'd say that Renton will be providing the openside cover off the bench.

[Bovidae]

@kiwiwomble said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:

no selby-rickit?

If fit, he has missed out to a 36 yr old.

And both Regan and Renton aren't part of the original squad.

[Duluth]

@southernmann said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:

I'd say that Renton will be providing the openside cover off the bench.

Ahh. I wasn't looking for openside cover in number 23

[Kiwiwomble]

@bovidae said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:

@kiwiwomble said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:

no selby-rickit?

If fit, he has missed out to a 36 yr old.

And both Regan and Renton aren't part of the original squad.

you'd think he must have a niggle...surely...i mean im not a huge fan of the guys...but he can play some good code

[bobily2]

The first-round selections always have a few odd picks. Could be little injuries the coaches want to get sorted. Could be the players came back to training unfit and are still catching up. Could be rewarding preseason form/training efforts.

I'd expect to see the likes of Selby-Rickitt, Lentjes, etc to get start getting selected in a few weeks, especially if the Highlanders drop a game or two. Tomkinson will likely stay around, but maybe TUJ or Collins will come into the midfield to replace Punivai too.

[Kiwiwomble]

I like pictures

[delicatessen]

That's a ridiculous 23. Who's playing in the midfield when Tomkinson gets carded?

[Kiwiwomble]

@delicatessen dont get to replace a carded player

[delicatessen]

@kiwiwomble ah good point

[Kiwiwomble]

@delicatessen i assume thats why we've paired him with Punivai, normally a winger, need someone fast to cover the inevitable hole