Highlanders v Chiefs

[Duluth]

Highlanders named for clash with top-of-the-table Chiefs | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership

The Highlanders take on the top of the table Chiefs after returning from their Australian road trip. While results didn’t go the Highlanders way there is still plenty to play for over the remaining rounds as play offs loom.

1 Ethan de Groot
2 Andrew Makalio
3 Jermaine Ainsley
4 Fabian Holland
5 Will Tucker
6 Shannon Frizell
7 Billy Harmon (C)
8 Hugh Renton
9 Aaron Smith
10 Freddie Burns
11 Scott Gregory
12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen
13 Fetuli Paea
14 Connor Garden-Bachop
15 Sam Gilbert

Reserves: 16. Rhys Marshall 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Saula Ma’u 19. Josh Dickson 20. Sean Withy 21. Folau Fakatava 22. Mitch Hunt 23. Jona Nareki

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Not Available due to injury: Vili Koroi (knee) Marty Banks (groin) Jeff Thwaites (back) Josh Timu (leg) Jake Te Hiwi (ankle) Cameron Millar (ankle)

[Bovidae]

FYI - groin strain

Coach Clayton McMillan said Retallick sustained the injury in the final five minutes of the win over the Crusaders in Hamilton last Saturday, though played through it as the team had exhausted all of their reserves. He said his 100-test second-rower could possibly also miss next Friday’s match against the Reds in New Plymouth.

[ARHS]

@Bovidae Moli is off injury list now...

[Bovidae]

@ARHS said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

@Bovidae Moli is off injury list now...

He has played club rugby for the last 2 weeks.

[Kiwiwomble]

lets see if burns has settled into SH rugby a little...havent been impressed with his outings so far...i expect to get a hiding and have to sit through lots of posts about how shit we are as if i havent just watched it...yay

[Duluth]

Tu'u drifting out of the 23 is a surprise. I understand that Harmon, Withy & Renton have been playing well. The other lump of shit lives a charmed life though

[Chris]

Renton has earned that spot with a couple of big shifts.
Tu'u at 8 and Renton at 6 looks better to me,Frizzell has offered very little.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Duluth yeah, missed that on first reading...maybe im too bias against frizell as they obviously see him doing things i dont

@Chris said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

Renton has earned that spot with a couple of big shifts.
Tu'u at 8 and Renton at 6 looks better to me,Frizzell has offered very little.

i think that might work very well

[Tim]

@Duluth said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

Tu'u

Have you seen him make a tackle this year? His defense is terrible.

[Stargazer]

@Duluth From what I've heard, he's still struggling a bit (healthwise) since that injury.

[Duluth]

@Tim said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

@Duluth said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

Tu'u

Have you seen him make a tackle this year? His defense is terrible.

It's generally a weakness, I thought he's gone ok in the last couple of weeks? I would guess he's missed less in recent weeks than SF?

[Duluth]

Highlanders season so far

3 losses, 3 wins, 3 losses

Therefore Science!™ says they'll win this, beat the Brumbies away and smash the Rebels. Exciting times for Highlanders supporters

[Kiwiwomble]

@Duluth said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

@Tim said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

@Duluth said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

Tu'u

Have you seen him make a tackle this year? His defense is terrible.

It's generally a weakness, I thought he's gone ok in the last couple of weeks? I would guess he's missed less in recent weeks than SF?

hes only just come back from injury over the last couple of games but gets tagged as poor "all season", i feel he's been average on D and very good going forward but has become a whipping boy

[Stargazer]

@Tim said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

@Duluth said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

Tu'u

Have you seen him make a tackle this year? His defense is terrible.

You've just made that up. Since he's returned from injury, he's literally missed one single tackle (against the Canes) according to ESPN stats. That makes it one missed tackle this season.

[chimoaus]

Interesting to see they have gone with Rona over Poihipi in the midfield, he must have made a good early impression. This will be a tough match for the Landers.

[Dan54]

@chimoaus Probably need to give Pohipi a breather really.

[Bovidae]

@Dan54 said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

@chimoaus Probably need to give Pohipi a breather really.

Yes. Poihipi has played in every game since he replaced ALB in Rd 1. ENS is also being rested.

[cliff]

Wrampling is injured again kid can't catch a break

[Bones]

@Duluth said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

Highlanders season so far

3 losses, 3 wins, 3 losses

Therefore Science!™ says they'll win this, beat the Brumbies away and smash the Rebels. Exciting times for Highlanders supporters

This is why we need more scientists on tsf.

[Bones]

I know, I know.....I shouldn't complain when somehow one miracle has happened and Hunt is out of the starting XV....but fuck! Gregory on the wing when he's better in midfield, Nareki on the bench?

Has Hunt lost his dodgy pictures of the coaches to Paea?