Highlanders v Crusaders
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Bucky
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@MajorRage said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Looking at the make up of that team, Buckman should be in the forwards.
When he's playing in the centres, he is a forward. He lead the ITM Cup in turnovers won a couple of years ago
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Crusaders team to play the Highlanders:
1 Joe Moody
2 Codie Taylor
3 Owen Franks
4 Scott Barrett
5 Sam Whitelock (C)
6 Jordan Taufua
7 Matt Todd (VC)
8 Whetu Douglas
9 Bryn Hall
10 Mitchell Hunt
11 Seta Tamanivalu
12 Ryan Crotty (VC)
13 Jack Goodhue
14 Israel Dagg
15 David HaviliRESERVES
16 Ben Funnell
17 Wyatt Crockett
18 Michael Alaalatoa
19 Luke Romano
20 Jed Brown
21 Mitchell Drummond
22 Marty McKenzie
23 George BridgeIt looks like the absence of one player (Mo'unga) has led to a complete overhaul of the backline (except the midfielders).
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Anyone got a theory on the logic of shifting Dagg to the wing and Havili to fullback?
I can only think that David's going to be doing at least some, if not all, of the goalkicking.
Otherwise it's a bit of an indictment of all the specialist wings in the squad.
Pleased to see Hunt at first five. Let's hope he goes well, because I've got very little faith in McKenzie.
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@Chris-B. said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Anyone got a theory on the logic of shifting Dagg to the wing and Havili to fullback?
I can only think that David's going to be doing at least some, if not all, of the goalkicking.
Otherwise it's a bit of an indictment of all the specialist wings in the squad.
Pleased to see Hunt at first five. Let's hope he goes well, because I've got very little faith in McKenzie.
The Crusaders are really short on experienced, specialist wings (they have Ioane, Bridge, Macilai, Mataele, Fifita). Ioane is only just returning from injury and may play for the Knights, but isn't ready for SR; Macilai is out for the season; Mataele and Fifita are uncapped; and George Bridge has only one cap from last week.
So even if they've moved Dagg to the wing to strengthen the wings, and not to bring Havili on for his boot, then I can hardly see it as an indictment of all the specialist wings in the squad. It may just mean that they want more experience in this position.
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Crusaders' tight 5 looks like a weak point...
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@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Crusaders' tight 5 looks like a weak point...
It really is one of those games where one team has a better forward pack and the other better backs
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@Chris-B. said in Highlanders v Crusaders:
Pleased to see Hunt at first five. Let's hope he goes well, because I've got very little faith in McKenzie.
I know he was mostly at fullback in the NPC but did he get any starts for Ta$man at 10? How did he go?
I was one of the Auckland supporters who wanted him to get more opportunities back in 2015. But he didn't do well in his only start that year (a draw with Southland)
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@Duluth Only one I can remember very clearly was the season opener vs Waikato, where Hunt played 1st five for Ta$man and I'm pretty sure Damien McKenzie played 1st five for Waikato.
Ta$man scraped home if that's any indication and I recall thinking Damien had a long way to go to be an AB first five. Can't remember much about Hunt - don't think he was brilliant. He may have got another start or two before Marty Banks returned from injury. And I'm pretty sure Marty missed another game somewhere - he seemed to be playing injured a lot of the time.
