Blues v Highlanders
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The player the Highlanders are really missing is Dixon. Coltman was back to being too inconsistent with his lineout throwing, so what used to be a strength of the Highlanders and the catalyst for many of their tries is now a weakness. The lineout just before HT being an example.
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@winger The Canes are in a healthy position, they are a young squad and have been able to pick up wins without a large chunk of their experience. They've got plenty of depth, the problem with the Canes is making sure the right players are on the park. We haven't even seen Perenara, Coles, Walden, Franks, Bird, Walker-Leawere, Howden, Roigard etc this year so I don't think you need to lump the Hurricanes in that bracket. If the Canes get all their experience back towards the end of the season they can beat anyone.
The Highlanders on the other hand, sheesh they really have no depth whatsoever. You know you're in trouble when you have Marty Banks on the bench. He's barely NPC level these days, let alone Super Rugby quality.
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@old-samurai-jack He was one of our best in the first 2 games. Don't think he was overly terrible yesterday either apart from getting the ball slapped out of his hands when he was about to score.
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@african-monkey He was good under the high ball, carried well, ran good lines, but did fuck up that try. He's having a good season.
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@tim He looks hungrier this year, which he needs to with the competition on the left wing (that doesn't include George Bridge). His work rate has improved a lot too, not that it was awful in previous years, but he's stepped up his game this year imo.
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@african-monkey said in Blues v Highlanders:
@tim He looks hungrier this year, which he needs to with the competition on the left wing (that doesn't include George Bridge). His work rate has improved a lot too, not that it was awful in previous years, but he's stepped up his game this year imo.
I think if he had scored that try, it would be a very different story, he well fucked that up, and was also very aggressive in going for contestables - he's made some excellent catches this year and is getting plenty of metres (led the team yestreday with 95 off 14 runs, 22 passes, 1 defender beaten, 1 clean break, and 1 offload). He also made 6 tackles and missed none (3 turnovers though, which is a concern but everyone was bad for that last night).
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@gt12 said in Blues v Highlanders:
@african-monkey said in Blues v Highlanders:
@tim He looks hungrier this year, which he needs to with the competition on the left wing (that doesn't include George Bridge). His work rate has improved a lot too, not that it was awful in previous years, but he's stepped up his game this year imo.
I think if he had scored that try, it would be a very different story, he well fucked that up, and was also very aggressive in going for contestables - he's made some excellent catches this year and is getting plenty of metres (led the team yestreday with 95 off 14 runs, 22 passes, 1 defender beaten, 1 clean break, and 1 offload). He also made 6 tackles and missed none (3 turnovers though, which is a concern but everyone was bad for that last night).
A couple of shit kicks as well.
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@gt12 Yeah I'm surprised by the negativity towards him. For me, its out of him and Leicester Fai'anganuku gunning for the best left wing in the country with Rieko shifting in 1 of course these days.
Good to see some healthy competition for spots for higher honours.
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@chris said in Blues v Highlanders:
@gt12 said in Blues v Highlanders:
@african-monkey said in Blues v Highlanders:
@tim He looks hungrier this year, which he needs to with the competition on the left wing (that doesn't include George Bridge). His work rate has improved a lot too, not that it was awful in previous years, but he's stepped up his game this year imo.
I think if he had scored that try, it would be a very different story, he well fucked that up, and was also very aggressive in going for contestables - he's made some excellent catches this year and is getting plenty of metres (led the team yestreday with 95 off 14 runs, 22 passes, 1 defender beaten, 1 clean break, and 1 offload). He also made 6 tackles and missed none (3 turnovers though, which is a concern but everyone was bad for that last night).
A couple of shit kicks as well.
Thatβs a definite work on.
I like his involvements though, heβs really involved so heβs making more mistakes. Better for him to learn here.
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@african-monkey said in Blues v Highlanders:
@gt12 Yeah I'm surprised by the negativity towards him. For me, its out of him and Leicester Fai'anganuku gunning for the best left wing in the country with Rieko shifting in 1 of course these days.
Good to see some healthy competition for spots for higher honours.
Iβd pick them both in a squad. Leicester has the ability to cover the midfield which I think would make him really nice to have in the 23.
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@african-monkey I hope he shoves my words up my arse because the potential is there for anyone to see. But AB left wing material at the moment? I think Leicester Fai'anganuku as a far better option at the moment. Rieko is the best left wing by a country mile though....
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@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@gt12 said in Blues v Highlanders:
very aggressive in going for contestables
Is this another way of saying "if he can't make it he fake jumps and takes the other guy out"? π
You say take out, I see him in the air going for the ball. But, actually I was referring to last week when he was excellent against us taking contestable in traffic.
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@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@gt12 said in Blues v Highlanders:
very aggressive in going for contestables
Is this another way of saying "if he can't make it he fake jumps and takes the other guy out"? π
He takes so many, some AFL style above his head, he might be earning the benefit of the doubt from refs. Has been a highlight of his play this year.
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@gt12 said in Blues v Highlanders:
@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@gt12 said in Blues v Highlanders:
very aggressive in going for contestables
Is this another way of saying "if he can't make it he fake jumps and takes the other guy out"? π
You say take out, I see him in the air going for the ball. But, actually I was referring to last week when he was excellent against us taking contestable in traffic.
If we're talking about the same incident (on CGB) he wasn't even in the air by the time he hit him, he'd landed, that's how early he jumped. Blatant as.
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@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@gt12 said in Blues v Highlanders:
very aggressive in going for contestables
Is this another way of saying "if he can't make it he fake jumps and takes the other guy out"? π
He takes so many, some AFL style above his head, he might be earning the benefit of the doubt from refs. Has been a highlight of his play this year.
I don't think refs would think oh it's Clarke it's ok. Just good at masking reckless play (as Alaimalo can probably attest to also).
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@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@gt12 said in Blues v Highlanders:
very aggressive in going for contestables
Is this another way of saying "if he can't make it he fake jumps and takes the other guy out"? π
He takes so many, some AFL style above his head, he might be earning the benefit of the doubt from refs. Has been a highlight of his play this year.
I don't think refs would think oh it's Clarke it's ok. Just good at masking reckless play (as Alaimalo can probably attest to also).
I donβt think it was reckless, heβs been getting those, just slightly mistimed. You are seeing something not there.
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@african-monkey said in Blues v Highlanders:
@dan54 Hes well past it. He makes Hunt look like a world beater.
Nah man that's wrong. At least he can kick better than a pre teen kid. He took that penalty yesterday from 40 out and got the lineout on the 5, with no angle. Hunt....25m out, 15m infield and he puts it 10m out. What the fuck?
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@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@gt12 said in Blues v Highlanders:
very aggressive in going for contestables
Is this another way of saying "if he can't make it he fake jumps and takes the other guy out"? π
He takes so many, some AFL style above his head, he might be earning the benefit of the doubt from refs. Has been a highlight of his play this year.
I don't think refs would think oh it's Clarke it's ok. Just good at masking reckless play (as Alaimalo can probably attest to also).
I donβt think it was reckless, heβs been getting those, just slightly mistimed. You are seeing something not there.
So not reckless, just clumsy? Either way it was well worth a penalty and pretty dangerous. It looked to me like he jumped super early so he could obstruct, as he realised he was too far. I find it hard to believe it's just mistimed when he'd actually landed.