Highlanders 2021
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@Stargazer Who will be in the WTG?
Tucker, Nu’u, Arscott, McDowall, Vahaakolo??
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Looking at the balance of the loosies:
The opensides are clearly Lentjes and Harmon, but all other loosies can play both 6 and 8, as far as I know. Frizell has been used at lock in the past, too.
You'd have to assume that these players will be starters:
6 Frizell, 7 Lentjes, 8 Mikaele-Tu'u
So what will be the pecking order for the bench spot? I don't expect Misiloi to see much game time, he's right at the bottom, I think.
I assume they're more likely to go for a 6/8 than for an openside? So Harmon only for rotation and in case of injury to Lentjes?
Squire is the most experienced; Himeno will have to adapt to the NZ set-up/culture etc, but they'll play him at some stage as they need to justify signing an overseas' player. So it will be between Squire and TBN for the 20 jersey, in the first instance? -
Lentjes is a bit of an known, injured for so long and already fighting for the 7 jersey with Hunt, id be interested to see Harmon play
think someone said Himeno has also played at 7 quite a bit so we might have him more in line for 6/7
yes, Frizell has played a lot of lock for Ta$man, not as much for us
There is a lot of fixability in these loosies , my money is on 6. frizell 8. MMT and Squire on the bench to start the season
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@KiwiMurph he was before getting injured, some of us were a but surprised because we thought Hunt was as good if not better when both 100%, he's not now and so will have a fight on his hands
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@macmanus said in Highlanders 2021:
@Stargazer Who will be in the WTG?
Tucker, Nu’u, Arscott, McDowall, Vahaakolo??
Nel and Charles Alaimalo also for loosies. Surely Timu is one the backs.
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Absolutely flabbergasted that the Highlanders and NZ Rugby would sign a 36 year old former All Black Lock who could not hold a place in the match day 23 for Hawkes Bay while a 23 year old by the name of Sam Caird who was outstanding for the Northland Taniwha , and I mean outstanding..has to go to the Waratahs to pick up a contract ..even Jack Whetton would have been a much better option ..
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Some snippets from the article below about Folau Fakatava, which is behind a pay-wall:
While he's loved his two years down south absorbing Smith's vast knowledge, Fakatava knows his path to a regular start is blocked. When the time comes to decide where to next, there will be no shortage of suitors for the future All Blacks halfback. "I have one more year with the Landers and we'll see what happens from there," Fakatava said as he prepares to link with Highlanders playmaker Josh Ioane for Moana Pasifika. "I'll look around for somewhere I can play some footy but I don't know yet."It's good to learn from Aaron but at the end of the day I need game time. You can't argue with that because he's the best but I'll hang around next year and see what happens. They reckon they'll give me more game time next year but we'll see.He seems to be interested in the new Pasifika team that might be joining the SR competition in 2022.
Liam Napier calls him a future All Black, and many of us would like to see that happen sooner rather than later, but it's still a big question which country he'll want to represent at test level.
The chance to represent Tonga, where Fakatava grew up before gaining a scholarship to Hastings' Boys High School, is close to his heart.Oh, and the mullet might go at the end of the year.
The next Aaron Smith? The rising Super Rugby star set to be in hot demand
Standout player will be in hot demand with NZ Super teams next year.
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@Stargazer if we loose him to someone like the Pasifika team then thats not bad, would be cool to see him head back to his roots, will be a bit disappointed if we cant put up as good an offer as other NZ teams, nuggy is getting on, surely we'll look to the future
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@Steven-Harris Yeah hate signings like that especially when there are plenty of locks out there without contracts.
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@African-Monkey the Jack Whetton one blows me away , I thought he did very well with the Landers , and was playing very well for Auckland pre his injury
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@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders 2021:
This is the trade off when you sign NMS. He's taking up a spot of a talented
youngsterplayer.FIFY
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@Steven-Harris Whetton want more game time. Brown want experience. I would like, Caird, Choat, Parsons or Lamborn ( he deserved the Himeno’s spot)
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@Steven-Harris said in Highlanders 2021:
@African-Monkey the Jack Whetton one blows me away , I thought he did very well with the Landers , and was playing very well for Auckland pre his injury
I thought whetton played well, really stepped up after Dicksons injury
hard to know if he was lured away to the tahs or if he found the gig after we said we didn't want him
I think we have to keep in mind, Evans might have been happy to play a secondary role where some of these younger guys might not and rather than healthy competition you just get some resentment
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I've been a bit slow catching up with up with all that has been written in the media around the squad announcements.
Maybe someone already mentioned this, but this cought my eye:The return of Thomas Umaga-Jensen – who Brown said had turned himself into a 113kg midfield “beast" – will give the Highlanders midfield more punch.
Brown told Stuff that Umaga-Jensen would start the preseason trials as the preferred No 12 with Paea his midfield partner.
Alaimalo will provide some size in the wider channels, and Brown said Alaimalo would be given every opportunity to nail down his preferred No 15 jersey.
So he prefers a TU-J and Paea midfield over Tomkinson (and Collins). Sounds good.
Also, he seems to prefer Alaimalo at 15, which would presumably send Mitch Hunt to the bench (ifJosh Ioane starts at 10). It could also mean that Collins will end up on the bench or out of the 23 entirely.Obviously, I really liked reading this; it might be bad news for Hammington:
Brown signalled that Hawke's Bay halfback Folau Fakatava will play a much greater role in the Highlanders’ campaign in 2021 after a brilliant Mitre 10 Cup season.
“In 2021 he's going to have a real impact on this team," Brown said.
“I know we've got Aaron Smith as our All Black and our starting No 9, but I think with the way that Folau is playing he's going to start putting a lot more pressure on Aaron Smith, and get a lot more game time.”And this about the role of Bryn Evans:
Evans has returned to New Zealand after a long spell overseas and Brown said he wanted the former All Black to "mentor" the likes of Pari Pari Parkinson and Manaaki Selby-Rickit.
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Oh if Squire could jump and push in the scrum, at 1.96m he has a Brad Thornesque height and could model himself on Kevin Skinner in the lineouts..
