Highlanders v Crusaders

[Stargazer]

Highlanders

1 Ayden Johnstone
2 Liam Coltman
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 Josh Dickson
5 Jack Whetton
6 Shannon Frizell
7 James Lentjes
8 Luke Whitelock (cc)
9 Aaron Smith
10 Josh Ioane
11 Richard Buckman
12 Teihorangi Walden
13 Patelesio Tomkinson
14 Waisake Naholo
15 Ben Smith (cc)

Reserves
16 Ash Dixon
17 Daniel Lienert-Brown
18 Siate Tokolahi
19 Tom Franklin
20 Elliot Dixon
21 Dillon Hunt
22 Folau Fakatava
23 Marty Banks

Unavailable due to injury: Tevita Nabura (knee - season), Liam Squire (hip), Rob Thompson (ankle)

Pulse Energy Highlanders Head Coach, Aaron Mauger, has largely stuck with the side that took on the Hurricanes last week with changes made for the two players that left the field with concussion injuries; Teihorangi Walden comes in for Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Jack Whetton for Pari Pari Parkinson. Shannon Frizell is in for the hard-working Jackson Hemopo and Tevita Li slips out of the 23 while Waisake Naholo returns to his right-wing spot. Siate Tokolahi is restored to the bench which will have a 6:2 forward/back split.  Folau Fakatava and Marty Banks will cover the backs while openside flankers Dillon Hunt and James Lentjes are included in the same 23 for the first time this season.

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[Stargazer]

Great to see they've dropped Hammington and Li!

A 6-2 split on the bench; interesting.

[ACT Crusader]

Interesting they’ve gone the 6:2 bench. Plenty of versatility in that side but basically banking on no back injuries and Ioane stepping it up to play 80

[KiwiMurph]

That's a very strong team.

Crusaders winning streak vs Highlanders home winning streak.

Should be great viewing under the roof.

[Chris]

[link text](link url)https://crusaders.co.nz/news/1316-team-v-highlanders

[Stargazer]

Crusaders

1 George Bower
2 Codie Taylor
3 Owen Franks
4 Scott Barrett
5 Sam Whitelock (C)
6 Jordan Taufua
7 Matt Todd (VC)
8 Whetukamokamo Douglas
9 Bryn Hall
10 Richie Mo'unga
11 George Bridge
12 Ryan Crotty (VC)
13 Jack Goodhue
14 Braydon Ennor
15 David Havili

RESERVES
16 Andrew Makalio
17 Harry Allan
18 Michael Alaalatoa
19 Quinten Strange
20 Tom Sanders
21 Ereatara Enari
22 Brett Cameron
23 Will Jordan

https://crusaders.co.nz/news/1316-team-v-highlanders

[Tim]

Great to see Ere Enari ahead of Drummond. Thought his passing looked sharp last week.

[98blueandgold]

Highlanders 45-31!!!!!

[Bones]

Li finally gone, only to be tempered by no Thompson, as well as fucking Lentjes starting ahead of Hunt again.

Shithot crusaders team too. Marty to win it with a drop goal.

[ShadowTrooper]

Who is George Bower and is he any good?

[Stargazer]

@ShadowTrooper said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

Who is George Bower and is he any good?

A Fijian (Wellington-born) prop who played for Otago in 2017 and 2018 (he studied in Dunedin), although he wasn't named in their initial squad (both years). He made his SR debut off the bench last week.

[ACT Crusader]

I think that’s our best starting backline.

Whetu Douglas is having a great start to the season and with Todd back and S. Whitelock, it could open his game up a little bit more.

[Chris B.]

@ACT-Crusader Will be interesting if it is still the best backline at the end of the season.

Havili vs Jordan will be interesting, and Ennor vs Reece.

[SammyC]

@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

I think that’s our best starting backline.

Agree, Havili still starts over Jordan in the tough games I reckon. He’s a safer option on defense.

[ACT Crusader]

Havili is pretty staunch in defence and his time in the midfield I think has helped him be a better defender as a fullback.

Jordan is skilful and quick and his time will come.

[shark]

Anyone care to bet when (not if) we'll see Jordan, Bridge and Ennor together in an ABs backline?

[Stargazer]

@shark Stealing @ACT-Crusader 's thunder here, but why not

9 Enari 10 Mo'unga 11 Bridge, 12 Havili, 13 Goodhue, 14 Ennor and 15 Jordan?

[Canes4life]

@shark Ioane will have to be injured for that to happen.

[antipodean]

@Stargazer said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@shark Stealing @ACT-Crusader 's thunder here, but why not

9 Enari 10 Mo'unga 11 Bridge, 12 Havili, 13 Goodhue, 14 Ennor and 15 Jordan?

Are we playing Japan midweek again?

[Frank]

Even though he is injured and not playing - I 'd just like to say I'm really getting sick of NZ media describe Liam Squire as the All Black enforcer.
That is all.