Highlanders 2023
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2023:
That article also lists the Highlanders NDC players:
- Hooker Jack Taylor
- No 8 Semisi Taeiloa Tupou
- No 10/No 15 Finn Hurley
- No 10 Ajay Faleafaga
- Loose forward Will Stodart
Really interested to see how these guys develop. I think they are investing a fair bit in Jack Taylor. Henry Bell will be back next year. Our current hooking stocks are fairly limited and short term. So Taylor needs to have long-term potential. Hurley has the potential to be a Hunt, Robbie Robinson or at best a Damian McKenzie. Could be any one of those three. Tupou looked like a million bucks in high school footy, but it tends to be a lottery how those guys develop. Faleafaga is a big hope for mine. Could be a quality long-term 10. Stodart is interesting, might be stuck behind Haig with Otago at six.
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@SouthernMann All were in the NZ U19s that toured SA last year. Hurley is a midget so that will be a problem the higher he goes up the levels.
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann All were in the NZ U19s that toured SA last year. Hurley is a midget so that will be a problem the higher he goes up the levels.
Big time midget. Talent only takes you so far when you are that small conpeting against giants. Plus, the Highlanders have had their dair share of midgets
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Highlanders have signed an English battler at 10, as an i jury replacement for prop Luca Inch. Freddie Burns, 32 from the Leicester Tigers is on his way down to Dunedin. Not getting a lot of game time at the Tigers, rated below 39-year-old Jimmy Gopperth and Handre Pollard. But, heck worth a go.https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/surprise-signing-highlanders
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@SouthernMann Not a bad signing if not for at least the international experience to pass on to the younger 10s coming through.
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That ODT article is behind a pay-wall. Here's the Highlanders' media release:
Former English International to join the Highlanders | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership
English first-five Freddie Burns will join the Highlanders for the 2023 edition of DHL Super Rugby Pacific. Burns, currently playing for Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership has agreed terms with the Highlanders, and with the support of Leicester, will land in New Zealand prior to the first...
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This is the Leicester Tigers media release about the release of his contract.
Squad announcement: Freddie Burns
Leicester Tigers have agreed terms with Freddie Burns for an early release from his contract with the club to pursue an opportunity in Super Rugby with the Highlanders in New Zealand.
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The video has a fair bit of training footage for those who want to see who is there (e.g., TUJ).
Rugby: All Blacks halfback Folau Fakatava taking no chances in race to be fit for 2023 World Cup | Newshub
The 23-year-old has opted to forgo surgery on his injured knee to help reach France.
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@Stargazer They look like they have an improved coaching setup this if I am correct and having Ben Smith will be a big plus. What is his role?
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@SBW1 said in Highlanders 2023:
@Tim Is a new No.10 still on the horizon from Wales?
Gavin Henson might be free, he was playing league last year. That is, if he can pulled away from lobster fish fingers...
We review Gavin Henson's new restaurant The Fox
The former Welsh rugby star and his wife Katie have just taken over the St Brides Major venue
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@Stargazer This comment about the Burns signing from an Irish fan on Reddit made me smile -
"He knows the ball spins the other way down there, yeah?"
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Good old rugbypass. This article had the opposite effect on me than what was intended I think.
Paints a good picture of depth and potential when we lose our top 2-3 first fives for the ABs - as well as having a couple of guys with a hell of a lot of good experience to pass on to the school kids at the highlanders.
Have the Highlanders lost the plot?
The All Blacks top two No 10s will be gone next year, presenting a major drop-off in available talent for whoever is the next head coach.
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@Bones I agree, I see nothing wrong with Burns coming in, it's nothing new. Highlanders are right to bring in an experienced player to take pressure off Cam Millar, let the kid grow under the other players. Anyway Highlanders job isn't to develop ABs but players for Highlanders. They talk about the drop off in talent when RMo and BB go, we have that whenever anyone leaves and in all honesty at test level neither RMo or BB are really in top echelon of world 10s.
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Is there any clips or highlights of Freddie Burns? Interested to see what his style of play is.
