The Silver Fern

There’s a few exciting match ups for a highlanders fan at least. Can Groot get his act together and dominate? Can Holland hack it against Vai’i? Is Haig anywhere close? Can Tavatavanawai put a big shift in against Tupaea? Will be interesting all round to see how the teams match up

@sparky said in Highlanders v Drua:

@Dan54 I'm a big fan but lock is an area of strength with Tupou Vai'i, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Sam Darry and Patty T competing for three slots.

Couldn't agree more mate, I just think he's the type of player that will be the glue of the locks a bit like Sam W has been. I thinking that in a few years it will happen. But anyway , I think as you say we got a lot of depth at moment, so will take a bit to get first choice spot.

@KiwiInLondon said in Force v Highlanders:

@Bones said in Force v Highlanders:

@KiwiInLondon like I said earlier, he's not even noticeable apart from the odd lineout, definitely haven't noticed any niggle.

I notice it a lot around the ruck. He has resorted to pushing and pulling players in trying to disrupt but completely ineffective. He’s young but he’s had u20 and AB XV caps now and was touted as an all black. You expect those players to stand up in adversity, not shrink

Players get dragged down by those around them... he's running on fumes because we have no other locks, Dunshea is struggling, the loosies suck and the props have been ailing.

If he was looking good in this rabble, he'd be the best lock of all time.

@Dan54
The no-arm tackle on Hastie was a game decider. 40 meters in front of the Brumbies posts. This could have led to 3 points for the Highlanders. But the Ponies scored a few phases later from their scrum.
And the Lasaqa's turnover which was penalized just a few meters from the Highlanders try line. It also led to a Brumbies score.
And the three turnovers which seemed perfectly valid and which did not lead to Highlanders penalties : they allowed the Brumbies to keep on playing and to score the winning try.
However, I agree with you that the Highlanders made stupid mistakes (two out on the full restarts and one penalty kick which failed to find touch are the ones which come to my mind plus the ball they kept in their going forward scrum which they should have cleared out). BTW, the ensuing penalty was very harsh as it did seem that Bartlett was pushing straight.

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Reds:

@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Reds:

Slug out it out for this season. Then two words. Better Recruitment.

Our recruitment is miles better than what is has been. We have actually recruited players who have made a difference.

Good recruitment is not bringing starting players in. It is bringing the right young guys through.

Seems we were quick to sign U20 talent. Some may have not been the right guys.

Yes in retrospect I didn’t quite make my comment clear. The recruitment this year has been good and getting some players with actual super rugby experience has been incredible beneficial.

It was more a reflection on the past 2-3 years. I’m just incredibly frustrated that a group that has largely been together at NPC and super rugby has made very little progress. Everyone was very confident 2-3 years ago that we had a lot of up and coming talent and it really hasn’t resulted in many gains

@gt12 said in Highlanders v Blues:

@Dan54 said in Highlanders v Blues:

POTY points
6 - Finn Hurley (HIG)

3 - Harry Plummer (BLU), Hoskins Sotutu (BLU), Folau Fakatava (HIG)

2 - AJ Lam (BLU), Caleb Clarke (BLU), Timoci Tavatavanawai (HIG)

1 - Patrick Tuipulotu (BLU), Finlay Christie (BLU), Tanielu Teleʻa (HIG)

As good as Hurley was, Jim only getting 2 points from that game while Plummer and Hoskins walk away with 3, is, well, fucking mad.

I thought that Jim would get more, but as I say with system, I am sure the players on field know who is causing them the most problems in the opposition team. I was also surprised that Hoskins and Plummer got them too, but guess I missed stuff.

@Kiwiwomble said in Waratahs v Highlanders R1:

@Dan54 sweet, where was that announced?

Just last night I think .It on super rugby website.

@Higgins said in Preseason - Highlanders v Crusaders:

Excellent coverage from ThePits TV. Hadn't really heard much of them much before this and was expecting just a one or two camera job but they far exceeded that and look to have set a high benchmark for any others out there to try and match.

Couldn't agree more. Was real impressed with whole production. Enjoyed the commentary team too.

@frugby tough for Hastie, I've liked what he offer in terms of offloads and boxkicks. However Pledgers speed of play reminds of the great A Smith so obviously can't let him slip away

@SouthernMann said in QF - Brumbies v Highlanders:

@KiwiMurph said in QF - Brumbies v Highlanders:

You need to put things in perspective

Highlanders had very young 10s - missing by fair their best midfield back, missing by far their best 8 in Renton.

Teams struggle to win in Canberra. They were undefeated there all season.

100%. No issue with saying we gave it good bloody go. Then in the second half, the team with several international players at home ran over the top of us. Compare the two teams and about five of our guys would make their team.

Bang on mate.

Incredibly tough to watch at the time and I let it get the better of me but take a few steps back and let the result for a bit and you do have to remind yourself of the bigger picture. Did bloody well to be there and to be honest, I can’t imagine many of us saw us finishing 6th once the slump started on the Aussie tour.

All eyes on the future, 2 or 3 solid signing and another year in the jersey for a lot of the young boys and we should expect a similar(if not better) table finish but hopefully more convincingly and also have some closer loses. The loses we had against NZ sides really got away from us so if we could close that gap and really push for 2026 then I’d be over the moon.

Huge emphasis on bigger picture.

@Canes4life

Impressive Haka

@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders v Drua:

Why was Faleafaga dropped earlier in the season? He seemed to be playing pretty well and then he was out of the 23 altogether with Millar eventually taking over. Was there an injury to someone?

im not sure it was so much dropped as our 3rd choice 10 (as he started the season) rotated out when our first choice 10 was available again

@Frank said in Blues v Highlanders:

@Kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:

One of the best moments of the game for me (as an Akira fan) was watching him smash a Clan forward backwards, get up and drive through the ruck and then steal the ball. His work clearing bodies at the ruck this year has been top drawer.

Huge workrate, as normal.

What do you think Foster and (possibly Razor) see as his drawbacks?

It's hard to answer, as was said above his workrate has consistently been above a player like Frizzell who the coaches seemed to love. At the height of "he's lazy" he was often playing 80mins, and the last defender on the line on breaks, our main maul defender, etc. Never agreed with the laziness call.

The head patting, giving lip, probably doesn't help how he's perceived, but it's extremely rare for him to be penalised for that. And one of my favourite players was Sean Fitzpatrick, and AI isn't in the same league at being annoying as he was. At least I've missing him having his ear bitten in complete frustration.

He's not been helped with coaches putting him wide to make use of his handling and running skills against the backs. With Cotter keeping him tight he's been shining. Big defender, good in the lineout, covers two positions and has great link play.

Could be his year.

@Damo said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@nzzp said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Just saw the final try by the Crusaders. Interesting as was talking about it in the previous game - if refs want to call 'tackle', the ball carrier should not be able to continue forward. Players get released and crib a few metres - or in the case below, score a try.

@Damo you reffed, thoughts on this? Looked very very weird to me; I think a comp-wide interpretation of either calling maul when the attacking player's mate joins, or cracking down hard on cribbing metres would be a good solution. Or do both!

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/1cqjcwi/controversial_final_try_for_the_crusaders_vs_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I think it is an unusual situation. I did not think it was a mail, because there was not a player from the ball carriers team attached (from memory - I could be wrong). The tacklers ought to have released earlier, but when they got the call to release they did so. Should the ball carrier be able to use the momentum to then go over the line and score?

Personally I think not but per the laws it was probably correct.

I am of view that if a player is reaching out to score the defenders should not have to release to allow the try. As per the laws as written this is not the current position.

I add I have not reffed for 3 years so I am not up to date with the current interpretations/trends.

I should have clicked the link..

I think the tackle was completed before the players joined so it couldn't be a maul.

I think it is an unusual situation but I can't fault the referee for the decision.

@Machpants said in Moana Pasifika v Highlanders:

MP 15 been very good

He’s David Havili’s brother. William Havili is the best player in the MP backline this year in the absence of their stars they lost to the Highlanders (Tavatavanawai) and Crusaders (Aumua). The MP forwards have been a bit better this year but they’ve lacked a killer punch in the backs that they had with Aumua & Tavatavanawai. If only those guys had this year’s MP forwards giving them front-foot ball, MP would’ve had a few more wins.

@Bones

add in the 'bad passes' maybe?

That was 13 (Highlanders) v 12

@African-Monkey said in Reds v Highlanders:

@Landers92 Lol it's rich coming from Blues fans when we were in the same situation a few years back.

I thought he'd be a reds fan these days? Hence the re-emergence from nowhere and delight.

@antipodean I'm going from this year's form, he's been one of the best players for the Brumbies and one of the top fullbacks in the comp. Wright's screwed up plenty of times in the past but is this the year he's finally matured? Who knows but I'd have him in the mix for sure.

Darby Lancaster is another young gun winger playing really well for the Rebels. He could also be in the mix. The Wallabies aren't short of outside back options.

Lakia, Iose and um ... Lomax in his 100th game

But a number of others would have been worthy too. Great situation to be in when a few years back it was in some games Savea and sometimes Barrett and no one else

@cgrant said in Highlanders v Hurricanes:

@Dan54
Tosi is the one who has stepped up very significantly this year. Last year, he could not scrum. Now, he is a beast at scrum time. And he is very effective in the loose, making the hard yards and he also has good hands. He is the second best THP in NZ, IMO. I would be delighted to see him get a call for the ABs.

Couldn't agree more mate!