Highlanders 2022
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@southernmann not sure I'd be looking at Alaimalo at 13, don't think he has the defensive nous
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@southernmann not sure I'd be looking at Alaimalo at 13, don't think he has the defensive nous
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@taniwharugby as long as he doesn't clothesline or late tackle bloke then hes an improvement on Sio
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@taniwharugby My mistake with the team list. Had a comma where a full stop should have been, throwing it all out.
Top team
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de Groot
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Coltman
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Ainsley
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Dickson
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Selby-Rickett
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Frizzell
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Lentjes
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Tu'u
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Smith/Fakatava
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Hunt
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Dawai
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Umaga-Jensen
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Paea
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Alaimalo/Garden-Bachop
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Garden-Bachop/Gilbert
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Makalio/Marshall
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Johnstone
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Hohneck
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Evans
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Evans/Renton
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Smith/Fakatava
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Banks
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Alaimalo/Garden-Bachop/Gilert/Gregory/Tomkinson
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i was excited to see TUJ and Paea as a midfield last year, big and strong...i am again and really worried one will get an injury
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nice little write up
Five players from within the Highlanders region will be named to development contracts, meaning the likes of Otago lock Fabian Holland and first five Cam Millar could get a chance to be around the professional squad.
That would be good news
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@stargazer was just going to post that, obviously dont want anyone to get injured....but i have often though he ended up taking a spot and stopping us doing something new
wonder if freedom will be called up?
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@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2022:
@stargazer was just going to post that, obviously dont want anyone to get injured....but i have often though he ended up taking a spot and stopping us doing something new
He comes across as having a bit of an attitude and has a habit of getting cards. Might be a top bloke off the field but on field could be a liability.
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@chimoaus said in Highlanders 2022:
@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2022:
@stargazer was just going to post that, obviously dont want anyone to get injured....but i have often though he ended up taking a spot and stopping us doing something new
He comes across as having a bit of an attitude and has a habit of getting cards. Might be a top bloke off the field but on field could be a liability.
Yeah he's had some challenges with tackle technique. He's a solid midfielder and has even covered wing. I guess Freedom Vahaakalo now?
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@themojoman you're more generous than i, even if he doesn't clothesline/shoulder charge/late tackle someone he always charges out of the line leaving big holes, every time i see him line someone up im holding my breath for either a card/penalty or them to break the line through the hole he's left
and offers very little on attack, a disproportionate number of his tries are just crash ball 5m out...he basically plays like a loosie but in midfield...and without the turnovers
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@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2022:
wonder if freedom will be called up?
Based on an earlier comment I am assuming there was a non-rugby reason why he wasn't selected.
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Always sad to read about a player suffering an injury that rules them out for a long period.
Although, this does open the door for a Paea and Umaga-Jensen to lock down the midfield.
I guess we will see if Vaha'akolo is available. As a fit and health wing/centre he is a viable replacement.
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This post is deleted!
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You'd think with all those players being brought in and Vahaakolo missing, it confirms things.
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@southernmann said in Highlanders 2022:
You'd think with all those players being brought in and Vahaakolo missing, it confirms things.
In for All Blacks Aaron Smith, Shannon Frizell and Ethan De Groot are Otago players halfback James Arscott, loose forward Sam Fischli and up and coming Ta$man prop Luca Inch Christian Lio-Willie has been drafted in to cover for the injured Billy Harmon who is not expected back until early April. Otago halfback, Nathan Hastie (selected for the 2021 NZ U20 team) will back up the rehabbing Folau Fakatava who is due to be available in the early rounds of Super Rugby Pacific
happy enough with all those, generally all looked pretty good during NPC
sad for freedom though
arscott, leo willie and, fischli all really looked like starters at NPC level and hoping they will all grow
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Interesting article about Jermaine Ainsley, that under the new eligibility criteria he could push for an All Black jersey.
While it is a nice idea that he could have a re-set. I don't know if he is capable of cracking the All Blacks.
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@southernmann feels wrong potentially playing for a team you've previously played against
but if someone was going to do it now is the time, props are a bit of limbo, been fine but not world class so a standout season might do it