Highlanders 2024
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@Kiwiwomble No, I've heard Jamie Joseph doesn't like him. I don't know him.
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Been a bit grim to be an Otago fan thus far, but been interesting to track the progress of the Landers...
Props: Ma'u has been very good for Otago, as has Ainsley as you'd expect - Inch also back playing so all looking good here.
Hookers: Bell started slow in his first couple, but was great in the weekend, Taylor not overly sighted so probably going to need a good overseas rake
Locks: Hicks has been good though mostly at 6, the rest have been fair
Loose Forwards: Broughton has been my Lander of the NPC so far, he has looked really strong in all three games for BOP, and hopefully he can nail down that starting 8 role. Sanders looked good for Otago in the weekend - all good here
Halfbacks: Fakatava has been great (par for the course at this level), but has to be some real concern about the two backups. Hastie seemingly rate three by Otago, which isn't a ringing endorsement when your behind Kieran McClea and James Arscott - think the latter was tidy until injury and is a serviceable third choice
First Fives: Millar can't stay fit, that ankle is becoming a concern. Faleafaga seems to be rated below some fairly average Otago players which is a little grim, though he probably starts this weekend
Midfielders: Umaga-Jensen has looked really good at centre, and I think the way rugby is going, it might be a better spot for him, with more of a playmaker needed at 12 to counter the rush defence. The rest have been fairly average (including Gilbert) so hopefully we can pick someone good up here
Outsides: All of them have looked good, so hopefully we can grab some tries next year!
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I was hoping to have seen Taranaki play Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens at fullback. Hopefully he can get a couple of runs there before the end of the season.
Happy with the performance of the forwards. Midfield my only real concern in terms of players.
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@taniwharugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby Heremaia Murray was training with the Highlanders this year, I believe the Blues are not keen on him or simply dont have room, and with his current form, I expect the Highlanders will surely be considering him.
We would probably need to off load one of Jonah Lowe or Connor Garden-Bachop to open up and outside back spot. Lowe is certainly under contract for two more years, and Garden-Bachop wasn't listed as leaving. We may be interested, but, with six outside backs including those two signed, there doesn't appear to be any room at the inn.
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@SouthernMann yeah I am not sure who he was called in to cover for earlier this year.
I'd love for us to give him a run at 13, which is his preferred spot, but he is making a good go at wing.
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Jona Nareki,Martin Bogado,Jonah Lowe
Timoci Tavatavanawai,Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens,
Sam Gilbert,Connor Garden-Bachop,
as outside backs Gilbert maybe a MF option with
J Timu,Jake Te Hiwi,Thomas Umaga Jensonyou don't have much room for Murray as you probably need another MF for cover.
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Gilbert is an out and out utility back. His biggest issue at the moment is that no one knows what his best position is. Both Otago/Highlanders name a side and work out which spot out of 10, 12 or 15 he needs to jump into. He's a good player, just not an out and out stand out in any of the spots.
Fullback can be covered by Gilbert, Garden-Bachp, Bogado or Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Who I hope gets first go at it)
Wing by Garden-Bachop, Lowe, Nareki, Tavatavanawai, Bogado, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
It depends how much faith they have in a Umaga-Jensen/Gilbert combination. If they don't see it as the correct one going into 2024, they still need to hold out for guy who can start week in week out like PUJ? If they like the TUJ/Gilbert combo. They can take a punt on someone who has more room for growth. A Whaanga or a Murray. I hope they prioritise a player more capable of starting in 2024, instead of in two of three years.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Gilbert is an out and out utility back. His biggest issue at the moment is that no one knows what his best position is. Both Otago/Highlanders name a side and work out which spot out of 10, 12 or 15 he needs to jump into. He's a good player, just not an out and out stand out in any of the spots.
Fullback can be covered by Gilbert, Garden-Bachp, Bogado or Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Who I hope gets first go at it)
Wing by Garden-Bachop, Lowe, Nareki, Tavatavanawai, Bogado, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
It depends how much faith they have in a Umaga-Jensen/Gilbert combination. If they don't see it as the correct one going into 2024, they still need to hold out for guy who can start week in week out like PUJ? If they like the TUJ/Gilbert combo. They can take a punt on someone who has more room for growth. A Whaanga or a Murray. I hope they prioritise a player more capable of starting in 2024, instead of in two of three years.
The Highlanders are now planning years in advance. They'll probably have a shadow squad for 2026 mapped out which includes Wingham, Stodart & Whaanga (and maybe some others young players) A matter of working backwards. They'll be looking for an older head to be the glue at 12 is my guess.
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@SouthernMann i know im a CGB fan but i honestly think he's a great number 23
if we say kneepkens has first crack at 15, nareki, bogado and Tavatavanawai first crack at wings and some UJ/Gilbert combo in the midfield then i would happily have CGB as 23
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@taniwharugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby Heremaia Murray was training with the Highlanders this year, I believe the Blues are not keen on him or simply dont have room, and with his current form, I expect the Highlanders will surely be considering him.
He isn't better than Nareki, JRK or Tavatavanawai... I'm sure he is handy, but not what the Landers need.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann i know im a CGB fan but i honestly think he's a great number 23
if we say kneepkens has first crack at 15, nareki, bogado and Tavatavanawai first crack at wings and some UJ/Gilbert combo in the midfield then i would happily have CGB as 23
CGB is a great player in theory, but has two major floors to his game which will always hold him back.
- Can't stay fit
- Doesn't have top end pace
2 is a major thing the Highlanders have struggled with.
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The way the squad is shaping up, to me at least they are planning on using Gilbert at 15.
Last year our midfield minutes went to almost solely four players, so on the basis we will sign another one, that's Timu, Te Hiwi, TUJ and the new guy.Plenty of games through both pre-season and the regular season for us to sort it out, before going for the title in 2025 - which was the stated aim all the way back in 2022.
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@frugby i didn;t think he'd been that injury prone, far less than someone like TUJ, nareki or millar
I kind of see him as Ben smith pace, quicker than most on the field, less than the real speedsters but he is good an implementing it at the right time
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby i didn;t think he'd been that injury prone, far less than someone like TUJ, nareki or millar
I kind of see him as Ben smith pace, quicker than most on the field, less than the real speedsters but he is good an implementing it at the right time
Well we signed him in 2020, and he missed his whole first year, before only playing 17 games over the next three, despite generally being picked when fit - he is 100% injury prone.
Think you are underestimating how quick Bender was. CGB can't even crack the Wellington backline half the time.
I think he is a decent player, but we've got to be aiming for better than that.
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@frugby we have different recollections, i remember him being fit and not in favour, Highlanders threads of old discussing why he wasn't selected because it wasn't (reported as) an injury
2021 he had a awesome season....and then just dropped to the bench, so fit but not starting
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
The way the squad is shaping up, to me at least they are planning on using Gilbert at 15.
Last year our midfield minutes went to almost solely four players, so on the basis we will sign another one, that's Timu, Te Hiwi, TUJ and the new guy.Plenty of games through both pre-season and the regular season for us to sort it out, before going for the title in 2025 - which was the stated aim all the way back in 2022.
I don't think they have any idea where to play Gilbert. The three most dangerous outside backs are Nareki, Ratumaitavuki-kneepkens and Tavatavanawai. If fit, they should be our outsides.
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It is also pleasing that for the first time in a few years we have a bit of a soft draw to start...
Drilling Moana Pasifika in the first week could give the players massive confidence, and have them believing - will also mean we aren't playing catchup rugby from the start. Then a new look Blues side and two Aussie sides.
Reckon we'd be disappointed not to take three wins out of that. Even if they were to drop the two following, take the bye then a nice four game stretch, where you'd again hope for three wins in four at least, which would take us to six wins, and probably have us within a show of a home quarter heading into the final four rounds.
