Hurricanes v Highlanders
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Don't expect to win. A close loss will be what I want to see. Look competitive. Show we are on the right track and hope to do a raid on the Brumbies the week after. A few clashes I'm keen to see though. De Groot v Lomax, things didn't go de Groot's way last time and he will be wanting a big game. Holland v Delaney. A good gauge on where both players are at in the pecking order. Haig v Shields. Similar players. Think the Sheilds style is similar to how Haig will end up. Haig is a bit bigger though. Fakatava v Perenara. Perenara should get a pack going forward. Which will give him a bit of an advantage. Good chance for Fakatava to show he should be in the conversation. Cameron v Millar. Two quite capable, yet very limited first fives. Cameron is probably the style of player Millar will be similar to down the line.
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@SouthernMann yeah, this has "bigger picture" written all over it, use it the gel the core squad ready for playoffs, if we get done by some next level acts of brilliance then fine, if we get beat because we didnt put our shoulders on or committed loads of handling errors then thats on us
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My feeling is that this game will be lost around the ruck with dominant carries and in the midfield. The Canes have five midfielders better than our best offering in 12 and 13 jerseys. While our locks and loosies will need to have big defensive games to protect ourselves around the fringes.
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@SouthernMann you can see it now cant you (because we've seen it before), pressure in midfield, scambling to defend...and it either breaks and theyre under the posts...or our wings get drawn in and we get beaten too the corner
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
Those with ? against their name are: Shields (quad), Aumua (knee), Iose (concussion), Love (knee), Lomax (unidentified), Delany (unidentified).
If I were the canes I’d rest all of the above if they aren’t quite 100%.
BUT, I’m not canes and I’m a highlanders supporter so I would also like them to rest all of the above😂
This game is on after the Drua vs Rebels so it’s most likely the teams will know what’s on the line/who possible opponents are the following week before kick off. Due to this there could be a couple last minute changes/pull outs, who knows but I wouldn’t be surprised
For the Highlanders, keep the same team out there as last weekend with potentially just adding Millar at 10 if that’s what the coaches would prefer. We just need to build on last week and carry a solid performance and some confidence into the quarter finals.
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@nzzp said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
I think Blues will beat Chiefs, but not sure they will win by a 3 try margin.
Depends if we see Chiefs A or Chiefs B
No need to worry, the Chiefs are so bad they lost to the Crusaders.
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Based off of Dermody's comments on SENZ could be seeing a bit of rest/rotation this week - Millar also still a week away.
Could be something like:
- de Groot
- Taylor
- Ma'u
- Dunshea
- Tucker
- Hicks
- Harmon
- Broughton
- Arscott
- Faleafaga
- Nareki
- Gilbert
- Te Hiwi
- Tavatavanawai
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
- Bell/Jackson
- Johnstone
- Ainsley
- Stodart
- Michaels
- Hastie
- Whaanga
- Garden-Bachop
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By those mins in the Highlanders thread you'd think it would make sense to give Tavatavanawai a rest. Get him nice and fresh to stream roll the Brumbies (likely) next week.
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@Canes4life if anyone else suggested it i might have fallen for that!
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@Kiwiwomble worth a shot.
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Was wanting to go to this game. Will give it a miss now. Not keen to see us get flogged by 50. No JRK, Tavatavanawai, Haig, Fakatava on the bench, Withy rested.... Hurley at fullback and Michaels to debut
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what the fuck...straight in to start?
"hey, you know the hurley guy and hes got some skill but a bit small?....how about we surround him with other smaller guys....just so he gets no protections at all....sound good?"
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Aumua back, still no Lomax.
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This could get very ugly
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Canes by a million...per half
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For those that don't want to scroll through instagram
Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi, James Tucker, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Brayden Iose, TJ Perenara, Brett Cameron, Salesi Rayasi, Jordie Barrett (c), Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Ruben Love
RESERVES: James O'Reilly, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tevita Mafileo, Justin Sangster, Peter Lakai, Jordi Vijoen, Riley Higgins, Bailyn Sullivan
