Highlanders 2021
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@shark said in Highlanders 2021:
@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
@shark said in Highlanders 2021:
@southernmann said in Highlanders 2021:
Don't get me wrong.
I'd love to have CGB playing for his third province in four years. This time blue and gold.
But, I just want to see him playing rugby.
Although a backline of (if we could snag CGB) would be awesome.
Garden-Bachop
Vahaakolo
Tomkinson/Timu/Gilbert (I think with his size he could be a good midfielder)
Umaga-Jensen
Nareki
Ioane
Hammington21 Arscott
22 Koroi
23 Tomkinson/Timu/GilbertInjury free that would be the best Otago backline we've had in years.
Gilbert in midfield you mean? He's a 10/15.
people can change and given the option at 10/15 and with his size i can see what @SouthernMann is saying, he could punch some holes in midfield, could be a good 12 second 10 kind of player
Physical attributes are all well and good. But do you actually see something in his game that indicates midfield is a better spot for him? Or in his playing background (which would be a no, by the way). Otherwise it's just fantasy.
TBF if he can play 10 and is 6'3", 103kg, he can play 12.
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@smudge said in Highlanders 2021:
Lachie Munro
Back in 2014 the unnamed culprit was you then?
Is this the worst ever split lip? Rugby star Munro's horrific injury
WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Lyon back Lachie Munro suffered possibly the worst case of a split lip that has ever been seen while playing against Narbonne.
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@stargazer will be plenty of motivation for the Highlanders if that’s the case with Ash ,..I suspect that same motivation will apply for Michael Collins being his last Super Rugby appearance not to mention a victory over a team he once played for ..
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@antipodean said in Highlanders 2021:
@shark said in Highlanders 2021:
@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
@shark said in Highlanders 2021:
@southernmann said in Highlanders 2021:
Don't get me wrong.
I'd love to have CGB playing for his third province in four years. This time blue and gold.
But, I just want to see him playing rugby.
Although a backline of (if we could snag CGB) would be awesome.
Garden-Bachop
Vahaakolo
Tomkinson/Timu/Gilbert (I think with his size he could be a good midfielder)
Umaga-Jensen
Nareki
Ioane
Hammington21 Arscott
22 Koroi
23 Tomkinson/Timu/GilbertInjury free that would be the best Otago backline we've had in years.
Gilbert in midfield you mean? He's a 10/15.
people can change and given the option at 10/15 and with his size i can see what @SouthernMann is saying, he could punch some holes in midfield, could be a good 12 second 10 kind of player
Physical attributes are all well and good. But do you actually see something in his game that indicates midfield is a better spot for him? Or in his playing background (which would be a no, by the way). Otherwise it's just fantasy.
TBF if he can play 10 and is 6'3", 103kg, he can play 12.
Sure, guaranteed. Like a tall 8 or 6 can always play lock. Or a short lock can always play 6.
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@shark said in Highlanders 2021:
@antipodean said in Highlanders 2021:
@shark said in Highlanders 2021:
@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
@shark said in Highlanders 2021:
@southernmann said in Highlanders 2021:
Don't get me wrong.
I'd love to have CGB playing for his third province in four years. This time blue and gold.
But, I just want to see him playing rugby.
Although a backline of (if we could snag CGB) would be awesome.
Garden-Bachop
Vahaakolo
Tomkinson/Timu/Gilbert (I think with his size he could be a good midfielder)
Umaga-Jensen
Nareki
Ioane
Hammington21 Arscott
22 Koroi
23 Tomkinson/Timu/GilbertInjury free that would be the best Otago backline we've had in years.
Gilbert in midfield you mean? He's a 10/15.
people can change and given the option at 10/15 and with his size i can see what @SouthernMann is saying, he could punch some holes in midfield, could be a good 12 second 10 kind of player
Physical attributes are all well and good. But do you actually see something in his game that indicates midfield is a better spot for him? Or in his playing background (which would be a no, by the way). Otherwise it's just fantasy.
TBF if he can play 10 and is 6'3", 103kg, he can play 12.
Sure, guaranteed. Like a tall 8 or 6 can always play lock. Or a short lock can always play 6.
The discrepancy between the two isn't as large.
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@stargazer I'd be interested to see how much game time Dickson got to be disappointing in, Vs Evans. Is Selby-Rickett injured?
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@antipodean Garbage. Just because a bloke can catch, kick, tackle and enter the line from fullback, doesn't mean he can create at 12. And in Gilbert's case, he hasn't even played 10 at first class level, let alone 12. So it's pure fantasy at this stage to suggest he could or should transition to 12. Further, I think the initial suggestion was that he could play in midfield which could mean 12 or 13, with 13 being an even greater stretch.
Lastly, most first-fives - some of whom can also play fullback - aren't 12 options. Of the current SR crop I'm looking at Hunt, Ioane, Mo'unga, Burke, Cameron, JGB, McKenzie, Trask, Gatland, Black and Perofeta.
The skills required to shift from 10 to 12 are more than most posess.
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@shark said in Highlanders 2021:
The skills required to shift from 10 to 12 are more than most posess.
I think we have seen how difficult 12 is to play, look how long it took Nonu to own that jersey and then at Goodhue, a classic centre who struggled to impose himself at 12 last year.
I dont see a 10 as a natural fit to move to 12 any more than a 12 could naturally move into 10 (obviously DC was an exception, but even then, it was more early in his career he did this)
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@taniwharugby yes, I believe we're on the same page.
I'm asking my Mexican mates south of the Waitaki to justify why Sam Gilbert should or could move into the midfield. Thus far it's because he's big and can play 10 and 15. When I say he can play 10/15, which they've leapt on, he probably hasn't played 10 since his 1st XV days so in that regard may find himself Josh McKay'd at first class level in that position.
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@shark I just don’t know why you care so much about some pretty off the cuff speculation by highlanders/Otago fans in the highlanders thread, you say your not offended by the idea but you keep coming back saying you want us to justify why we briefly mentioned it…it’s weird dude
Move on, i know you don’t have a final to chat about but surely the crusaders thread isn’t that dead you need to crusade (pun intended) here
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@taniwharugby said in Highlanders 2021:
@shark said in Highlanders 2021:
The skills required to shift from 10 to 12 are more than most posess.
I think we have seen how difficult 12 is to play, look how long it took Nonu to own that jersey and then at Goodhue, a classic centre who struggled to impose himself at 12 last year.
I dont see a 10 as a natural fit to move to 12 any more than a 12 could naturally move into 10 (obviously DC was an exception, but even then, it was more early in his career he did this)
Tom Taylor?
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@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
@shark I just don’t know why you care so much about some pretty off the cuff speculation by highlanders/Otago fans in the highlanders thread, you say your not offended by the idea but you keep coming back saying you want us to justify why we briefly mentioned it…it’s weird dude
Move on, i know you don’t have a final to chat about but surely the crusaders thread isn’t that dead you need to crusade (pun intended) here
I'm not offended. I'd just like you learned fellows to provide some form of evidence that the move might work.
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@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
@shark I just don’t know why you care so much about some pretty off the cuff speculation by highlanders/Otago fans in the highlanders thread, you say your not offended by the idea but you keep coming back saying you want us to justify why we briefly mentioned it…it’s weird dude
Move on, i know you don’t have a final to chat about but surely the crusaders thread isn’t that dead you need to crusade (pun intended) here
One of the joys of this place and one of the reasons I love reading it and don't post a lot. One off the cuff comment, something you didn't think much of when you typed it, something that in your mind was not important to the point you were trying to make, gets called out and suddenly you find that comment being challenged. Then energy is spent trying to defend that comment. I am too bloody lazy for that.
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Shit me.
This has gone a bit over the top.
I just see Sam Gilbert as a bit of a utility. Much like Scott Gregory. I think most players should be looking to develop their skillsets as much as possible across a range of positions, as it certainly increases their value in the squads they are playing in.
If we breakdown the likely members of the (2022) Highlanders backline. There's a lot value in players who can jump into multiple positions. Especially for those who may not be rated in the top one or two in their preferred positions.
Big Sam Gilbert is probably competing for a bench spot in a full strength team, against Scott Gregory. So, if he can cover 11-15, with Josh Ioane, also covering 10, 12 and 15. There's the entire backline covered across these three players.
I still think that Tony Brown would like to run TUJ and Paea as his preferred midfield. Having those real out and out utilities on the bench will offer great value.
The Highlanders will go into next year with a lot of depth. Utilities will be really useful, especially if they have already played a bit of Super Rugby.
While Gilbert hasn't played in the midfield. I just hope he and his coaches explore that option of seeing whether he has the ability to move into that role if needed.
