Highlanders 2021
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@taniwharugby Northland spoke to Josh last year , this where the Blues should have been working with Northland , it’s win win situation , no offence to the current first fives the Blues have , but I don’t think any of them will win you a championship..
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Given that Barrett is on his way back, I doubt Ioane would want to join the Blues, but Northland/MP sounds like a plan.
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I just don’t have faith that Otago and the highlanders would be working together to replace him
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wow..i mean speights has sponsored Otago for decades, brief dalliances with other but often with Speights on the right breast too...now its a problem?
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@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
wow..i mean speights has sponsored Otago for decades, brief dalliances with other but often with Speights on the right breast too...now its a problem?
I blame Josh Ioane.
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@crucial we should maybe check if it was his neighbours who complained
its also some shit journalism, they talk about Harroways (another sponsor) cropping out Speights from imagines of an even at a school they put on...saying other sponsors dont like speights being involoved...you can clearly see speights logos in the picks on the Harroways Facebook page
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@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
@crucial we should maybe check if it was his neighbours who complained
its also some shit journalism, they talk about Harroways (another sponsor) cropping out Speights from imagines of an even at a school they put on...saying other sponsors dont like speights being involoved...you can clearly see speights logos in the picks on the Harroways Facebook page
Probably is shit reporting but I can also see how an alcohol sponsorship can cause problems for other sponsors.
The youth development programmes for Highlanders (and Otago who also have Speights as principal sponsor) certainly avoid use of the logo. I was at an age group training the other day and can't recall seeing any Speights logos except on the Highlanders dirties and injured players that turned up. -
@kiwiwomble More generally speaking, alcohol sponsorship in sports is a problem. There's plenty of evidence that it promotes drinking in young people. It's not a discussion for a sports thread, but this really doesn't come out of the blue. I'm surprised that it has taken so long ...
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@stargazer said in Highlanders 2021:
@kiwiwomble More generally speaking, alcohol sponsorship in sports is a problem. There's plenty of evidence that it promotes drinking in young people. It's not a discussion for a sports thread, but this really doesn't come out of the blue. I'm surprised that it has taken so long ...
as i say, the last bit is more of a surprise, they've been the major sponsor for Otago since the 80's, i guess i had assumed people accepted the good their investment in sport in the region kind of out weighed things, also thought it might have come up when it was first announced rather than months down the track...or when they sponsored the main stand at the Forsyth Barr
oh well, i think we know how it will end, cant really fight it
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Thought I'd just move that CGB discussion to this thread.
I just want our Highlanders playing as much rugby as possible.
When looking at the Highlanders outside backs
Sam Gilbert (Otago)
Freedom Vahaakolo (Otago)
Jona Nareki (Otago)
Vili Koroi (Otago)
Josh Ioane (Otago, but likely 10)
Solomon Alaimalo (Southland, if he comes back)
Connor Garden-Bachop (who knows at this stage)With Otago; We have Koroi and Gilbert who can play fullback. While I rate CGB as a better footy player. I just believe from a Highlanders perspective it is important to have our players playing as much as possible.
Vahaakolo and Nareki as natural wingers.
Ioane will play 10. TUG will hopefully play 12. Josh Timu or Sio Tomkinson will likely slot in at 13.
It doesn't look like there's any natural competition for Garden-Bachop at fullback for Wellington? Unless they put Love there and play the other Garden-Bachop at 10. @Canes4life might know?
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@southernmann I'm thinking Wellington will want to play Love at 10 which will open up the fullback slot for C Garden-Bachop considering there is no other out and out fullback option in Wellington atm. Love may get game time at FB though as we also have Aiden Morgan signed as a 10 and I'd say the Canes will want to look at him aswell.
On his bro JGB, I think he's out for the year from what I've heard.
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@Canes4life @SouthernMann fair enough...damn you both and your logic!
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Don't get me wrong.
I'd love to have CGB playing for his third province in four years. This time blue and gold.
But, I just want to see him playing rugby.
Although a backline of (if we could snag CGB) would be awesome.
Garden-Bachop
Vahaakolo
Tomkinson/Timu/Gilbert (I think with his size he could be a good midfielder)
Umaga-Jensen
Nareki
Ioane
Hammington21 Arscott
22 Koroi
23 Tomkinson/Timu/GilbertInjury free that would be the best Otago backline we've had in years.
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The 32-year-old has again been one of the Highlanders’ most consistent players in Super Rugby and when their season concludes he will head back to Hawke’s Bay for another provincial campaign, with the defence of the Ranfurly Shield a priority.
Before then, however, Dixon will decide whether to stay with the Highlanders and likely lead the Māori All Blacks in their two clashes with Manu Samoa. On his Highlanders future, he appears to be leaning towards staying in Dunedin.
“We’ll just wait and see,” Dixon said. “I just try and take it bit by bit. Obviously, my family means a lot to me here, and that’s a huge influence on my decision.
