Highlanders 2021
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@family-man no idea, but to be honest long range pace comes in a lot less handy these days than it used to. He's bloody quick on that swerve and changing direction, very similar to NMS. Can't see him making the ABs unless he has this kinda form in a world cup year.
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I’m captain of the nareki cheer squad and I’m not talking about the abs
Reece was awesome last week remember
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I’m going to modify my stance, hes great I would put him in a similar bracket to ash Dixon but for different reasons
If we had a bad run of injuries I’d be happy to give him a shot, he’s not bringing the experience ash would but he does seem like the guy that might spark if given a shot...just doesn’t have quite the rounded game to over take an incumbent
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@family-man said in Highlanders 2021:
@bones has nareki played any other positions? He seems to lack a bit of pace for a international winger but think maybe centre or full back may be a option in the future.
He'd be too small at centre. I'm sure he could play fullback without too much difficulty
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It’s just so hard because left wing is so clearly his best position with that left boot he has, he does all out left corner exits
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@kiwiwomble I always used my right foot when kicking for touch from the left hand side of the field when there was not much angle to work with.
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@bones He's still got one more match winning hattrick to go to atone for that God awful butchering of a huge overlap vs the Blues last year till he's back in my good books. Hungus cost us a decent win and reparation does not get paid by beating the Italy of Super Rugby Aotearoa 😃.
He was pretty good yesterday but.
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@bobily2 said in Highlanders 2021:
@family-man said in Highlanders 2021:
@bones has nareki played any other positions? He seems to lack a bit of pace for a international winger but think maybe centre or full back may be a option in the future.
He'd be too small at centre. I'm sure he could play fullback without too much difficulty
Yeah he's basically NMS mk II. If he'd burst out with this form in a RWC year he might have a chance.
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@bovidae damn, coltman use to play both, wonder if we’d rather a super level hooker playing prob than digging too deep into the reserves
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@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
@bovidae damn, coltman use to play both, wonder if we’d rather a super level hooker playing prob than digging too deep into the reserves
I believe he was more of a tighthead.
There are still a few looseheads around who are passable. Some are definitely training with other franchises, so I'm not sure how that all works, but Cobb, Lindenmuth, Coxon, O'Donnell would all go okay.
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Lienert-Brown fractured his left forearm in the second half against the Chiefs and will be out until the end of April.
Ayden Johnstone has returned to training paddock after a long spell out with concussion but is still not ready, leaving Josh Hohneck and Ethan de Groot as the Highlanders’ only options against the Blues’ All Blacks tightheads Nepo Laulala and Ofa Tuungafasi.
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This article was posted in a Hawke's Bay thread, but re-posting it here because otherwise not everyone interested in the Highlanders might see it.
Loosehead Daniel Lienert-Brown fractured his arm against the Chiefs, with Josh Hohneck likely to start in the No 1 jersey.
However, that may not be the only change if the Highlanders decide to freshen up the pack after starting with the same lineup for the past two weeks.
Hooker Liam Coltman's size could be an asset early on, while abrasive loose forward Hugh Renton has also been pushing his case with some physical performances.
Dermody said the sluggish starts of the past two weeks had been addressed, putting the responsibility on the players to get their attitudes right.Meanwhile, Hawke's Bay prop Namatahi Waa is spending the week with the Highlanders as injury cover following Lienert-Brown's injury.
Waa arrives on the recommendation of Magpies coach Mark Ozich, who is also helping the Highlanders with their under-20s program.Edit: don't know why it won't properly embed
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Press release from the Highlanders. Just awesome news for everyone who loves the Landers. We keep Fakatava, for another two years at least.
News | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership
Keep up to date and get breaking Highlanders news first! See the latest scores, team standings and player news.
Fakatava signs two-year deal with Highlanders
Following a lot of media speculation Highlander’s CEO, Roger Clark, today confirmed Folau Fakatava has committed to the Speight’s Highlanders until 2023. Following Aaron Smith’s recent contract extension it was thought that Fakatava may look elsewhere, but Clark confirmed the talented playmaker was comfortable staying in Dunedin despite being chased by other Clubs.Clark said, “Folau certainly had other offers to consider but we are delighted he has chosen to stay with us. We are working hard to retain a nucleus of players for the next few years and we certainly see Folau as key to our future aspirations”.
Fakatava played for Hawkes Bay in 2018, straight out of Hastings High School as an 18-year old, where he helped his team to two national top four finals, winning the top school honour in 2017.
He signed for the Highlanders in 2019 and has made seven appearancesafter making his debut against the Melbourne Rebels.
In 2020, after an outstanding year with Hawkes Bay that included winning the Championship title, he was awarded the Duane Monkley Medal for the Mitre 10 Cup Player of The Year and capped off a successful year with a game for the Moana Pasifika team against the Maori All Blacks.
Highlanders Head Coach, Tony Brown, is excited at the prospect of what Fakatava could deliver over the next few seasons.
“He is a special talent no doubt, he has certainly grown as a man and a player over the last few seasons and his game is starting to come together nicely. He is a real threat to any defence and was outstanding for Hawkes Bay last season. We look forward to him taking his game to new heights over the next few years and I would love to see both Aaron and Folau in the All Blacks - he is certainly capable”.
Smith and Fakatava have already shared the starting duties in 2021 and he should get plenty more opportunities which he is excited about.
“I have really enjoyed my time here and although there were other options, I really wanted to pay back the club that gave me my start. I have had the best halfback in the world as my coach and I feel very lucky to have had the chance to learn so much down here. I feel like a southern man now.”
ENDS
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awesome news
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It will be interesting to see whether he'll make the ABs already this year. That is, if he decides to play for NZ instead of Tonga, which isn't a given. If it happens this year, I hope Weber doesn't leave immediately, or we'll have a problem in Hawke's Bay (which we'll also have if Fakatava takes Perenara's spot in the ABs, instead of Weber's).
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@stargazer we're sure he's qualified? i thought there was some doubt if he needed another year?
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@kiwiwomble No, he's definitely eligible. Even if they hadn't postponed the starting date of the 5-year residency requirement, I think he'd still be eligible. He arrived in NZ just in time.
Edited to add that the 5-year-residency rule enters into force on 1 January 2022. So the last day to enter NZ under the 3-year residency rule was 31 December 2016. Fakatava already played for Hastings Boys in 2016.
