Highlanders 2023
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@Chris Don't forget Lord is probably out injured most of the season, and Ah Kuoi and Va'ai might both be more suited to playing 6.
Is not Lord back for start of SR.Yep I can see AH Kuoi being used at 6 with Bay Of Plenty using him there for NPC.
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann Don't think the coaches were ever that fond of MSR... as we know, a bit of a special record off the field.
From a Highlanders perspevtive. You have Dickson who has been in the All Black set up. Then Holland is just an absolute sponge and keeps on improving everytime he steps on the field. We know what PPP can do when he is on. Max Hicks is also a solid bench option. So not phased by MSR going.
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@SouthernMann I think an MSR/Dickson combo is excellent. A bit of a "lite" version of Retallick/Whitelock.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann I think an MSR/Dickson combo is excellent. A bit of a "lite" version of Retallick/Whitelock.
Skill wise Holland blows them both out of the water. Dickson is the mongrel, Holland just can do everything. The guy is young though. Only in his second year out of school. There is no way he can or should play every week. Plenty of rotation between him, PPP and Dickson is in order. Think Max Hicks can add a fair bit coming on late too. Really like the idea of him, Withy, Fakatava, Ma'u and hopefully Pole bringing aome heat off the bench.
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@SouthernMann I just remember MSR making a brief comeback and showing really well around the park.
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@Chris Don't forget Lord is probably out injured most of the season, and Ah Kuoi and Va'ai might both be more suited to playing 6.
If true, MSR could take Brown's spot with Ah Kuoi becoming a 6. I honestly wouldn't be too bothered if PGS left.
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
Selby-Rickit off to the Chiefs I hear. Tucker to replace him.
Stupid. Should be the other way around.
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@Yeetyaah screw you, you can have the crim...we'll take the future AB
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another new coach! surely flutey and/or christie are moving on?
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@Kiwiwomble Christie indicated he wouldn't be back at the end of the SR season. Dermody is replacing himself.
Edit: It might have been mentioned in the commentary but he is off-contract.
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@Kiwiwomble FYI
Donnelly will join Dermody, Dave Dillon (defence), Richard Whiffin (attack), Riki Flutey (skills and backs) and coaching mentor Chris Boyd at the Highlanders.
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Have just dossed up a Highlanders squad for next year. Big question marks over first five, midfield and outside backs. The forwards look settled. A strong propping rotation to be around for a number of years to come. Hookers will be replaced over the next few years. Rhys Marshall to stick around after next year. Locks good. Loosies more will be added in come 2024. First five is a massive worry. Really fascinated by the depth to be signed in the outside backs and midfield. Overall, next year will be a tough watch.
Highlanders squad
LooseheadEthan de Groot
Ayden Johnstone
Abraham PoleHookers
Line Apisai
Andrew Makalio
Rhys Marshall
Saula Ma’u
Jermaine Ainsley
Luca InchLocks
Josh Dickson
Paripari Parinson
Fabian Holland
Will TuckerLoosies
Shannon Frizell
James Lentjes
Billy Harmon
Sean Withy
Max Hicks
Marino Mikaele Tu’u
Nikora Broughton
??Halfbacks
James Arscott
Folau Fakatava
Aaron SmithFirst fives
Mitch Hunt ?
Marty Banks ?
Vili KoroiMidfield
Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Josh Timu
Scott Gregory
???
???Outside backs
Connor Garden-Bachop
Sam Gilbert
Jona Nareki
Jonah Lowe
??
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@SouthernMann I would love to see us actually come up with a game plan that uses the tools we have rather than thinking we're the AB's circa 2015
so if we have smith and fakatava/arscott who have done apprentices under him and therefore know how to play like him, lets give gilbert a run in the pseudo 10 role we saw last year, play making form 9/10, a big 10 running at 10 and 12 (TUJ) means we can have a smaller 13 like timu and outside backs like hunt, nareki and kori
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:
so if we have smith and fakatava/arscott who have done apprentices under him and therefore know how to play like him, lets give gilbert a run in the pseudo 10 role we saw last year, play making form 9/10, a big 10 running at 10 and 12 (TUJ) means we can have a smaller 13 like timu and outside backs like nareki and kori
I'd say the first choice wingers are fairly locked down at the moment with Nareki and Lowe. Doubt he would have signed a three year gig to hold tackle bags.
