Highlanders 2023
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@nostrildamus He'd just been sacked by Leicester for abysmal results & CEO Clark's adamant we swoop on this fella.
The more time that passes the more I rue his appointment. It's a regretful case of what could've been in 2018/19 with a competent coach, should've gone far in the tournament with close to peak Coltman, PT, Dixon, Tokolahi, Squire, E.Dixon, Dickson, Whitelock, Franklin, A.Smith, Sopoaga, Naholo, Faddes, Walden, Buckman, B.Smith, Hemepo, etc. There was such a rich amount of experience across each position, it's absolutely tragic the extent of how badly the Highlanders underachieved under Mauger.
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@kiwi_expat said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2023:
@Bones I don't think it matters whether a champions team or another team recruits from overseas as every NZ franchise can call up non full squad members from other NZ franchises. So whatever depth is available at one franchise is available to the others. We saw that last year.
The question is more what depth is available in NZ (at all franchise combined) and first five-eighth is definitely a position with low depth in NZ. However, there are good NZ 10s playing overseas and ideally they would have been contracted. Maybe multi-year contracts prevented that, so I don't really have an issue with the signing of Burns. The young guns at the Highlanders can learn a lot from an experienced player like him, just like the young loosies at the Crusaders could learn from Matera's experience.
Bogado, however, I can't see a justification for signing him on a two-year contract. He's a winger and I don't think we have a shortage of good wingers. He also doesn't offer experience young players can learn from, as he is a young player himself. He's is taking a spot that should have been filled by a Kiwi.
The argument against Bogado would be better if there was a more even spread of talent. Was a better winger available to the Highlanders? Doesn't appear so, according to their coaches. Will better wingers than Bogado be sitting in the stands for the Crusaders when and if he plays. Most certainly. The Highlanders can only recruit who is available. Certainly appears as if the Highlanders have an image problem in terms of players wanting to be on the park for them insteead of in the stands for other teams.
The most frustrating thing for me is how the Highlanders under Mauger pissed away the 2018-2019 seasons with a very good squad loaded with Maori All Blacks and experienced campaigners still remaining from 2015-2017. Mauger's results of 8th and 7th in those two years was appalling. That squad was really well-balanced & should've finished among the top 4 teams in those seasons.
What should have been a great midfield for the following half a decade was driven off too, two of the best players from the previous season. Was it him that decided Ioane was a 12?
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
I think the difference between Matera and Burns is the capability of the players and those in the teams.
Matera is one of the best loose forwards in the world, being recruited into one of the best clubs in the world. In terms of options at 6/8 the Crusaders had All Blacks and future Junior All Blacks.
Burns is a player who isn't judged good enough to make his premiership match day squad. He is coming to a team that is in a dire state at 10. It has a few decent young players (Millar, Faleafaga and Hurley). But, the squad players are either struggling at this level, broken or inexperienced. Someone like Burns seems a decent shout despite probably not being up to it. It isn't like Finn Russell coming down at slotting into the Crusaders or the Blues.
Not strictly true. Burns would be wearing the 22 shirt of everyone's fit at Tigers. He's currently injured. He's back up to Pollard this season like he was back up to Ford last season, when he won a player of the month award and came off the bench in the final and scored the winning drop goal. I think the Highlanders fans will like him, he's definitely a character and likes to play attacking rugby (watch for the go to chip and chase move). His tactical kicking is good but he gets frustrated with the kick tennis that's more prevalent in the NH and tries something more innovative which doesn't always come off.
In regards to the Puma you've got I think he's been playing 15 for Bayonne who are doing alright in the Top 14 so might give more overall back three coverage.
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@cgrant said in Highlanders 2023:
Concerning Burns, Fletcher Smith could have been a better option IMO. Instead, they let him head north to France.
i really rated Smith and thin he could have been a serious replacement for Ben or at 10 depending on how he developed....but i doubt going back to dunners was a coin flip to going and playing in europe
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@Nepia said in Highlanders 2023:
@Chris said in Highlanders 2023:
Makes me smile a bit with Burns getting a contract some people bagged the shit out of the Crusaders for signing Matera last season but it is ok to sign Burns.
Personally I say good on the Highlanders for signing Burns if it makes them stronger it is great for the Competition.
I reserve the right to bag the shit out of both South Island teams - and the Chiefs when they do it too.
We have a whole thread with posters complaining about players leaving yet we're giving spots to foreign test capped players.
Not sure this kind of signing encourages players to stay or go. I thinking money overseas helps, and also if players are in a team that is a little bit more successful will maybe help keep a few around?
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A few other Southlanders are training with the Highlanders:
Isaac Te Tamaki
Josh Bekhuis
Jacob PayneHayden Michaels must be part of the WTG.
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Bekhuis has been there and done that so good for short term but does nothing to help the long term
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Highlanders chair Peter Kean obviously putting money where mouth is, and also thinks World Club Champioship is a goer. Interesting times!
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'Been working really hard': All Blacks star to make stunning return from injury
Injured scrumhalf Folau Fakatava is “on track” to return for the Highlanders this preseason, after injuring his knee ahead of the All Blacks’ end-of-season tour last year.
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@Stargazer it turned out to not be as bad at they thought too from memory, a high grade tear rather than rupture, still a huge effort, pretty obvious he realises he needs to shine if he wants a sport on the plane come RWC time
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@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2023:
Highlanders chair Peter Kean obviously putting money where mouth is, and also thinks World Club Champioship is a goer. Interesting times!
Kean lifted his share to 29% of the Highlanders, with the remainder owned by Sydney-based director Ray Burke (29%), Shane Drummond (29%) and the Highlanders region provincial unions (13%)thats actually the most interesting paragraph, didn't realise that was the ownership breakdown
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@Kiwiwomble neither did I Kiwi, I thought maybe the provincial unions had a bigger share. Good though I think the fellas putting money in obviously see getting a return.
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@Dan54 from memory NZR kept a chunk when it was first floated, i remember the other franchises announcing their new owners etc and wondering what has happening with us and quite late in the piece it was announced the unions had got together but NZR was holding on to some
been out of NZ for a while and so must have missed as they managed to sell of more and more
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Sad to see confirmation the GOAT Aaron Smith is off. Even though we knew it was happening. He deserves the $$$ though. Sure we will see a few more one man victories before he clocks off.
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@Kiwiwomble Is the Shane Drummond that holds a 29% share of the Highlanders the same Shane Drummond that turned Ta$man's fortunes around?
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@Higgins said in Highlanders 2023:
@Kiwiwomble Is the Shane Drummond that holds a 29% share of the Highlanders the same Shane Drummond that turned Ta$man's fortunes around?
considering i didn't know that was the ownership structure a couple of days ago...i have no idea
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@Higgins said in Highlanders 2023:
@Kiwiwomble Is the Shane Drummond that holds a 29% share of the Highlanders the same Shane Drummond that turned Ta$man's fortunes around?
Yes.
Mitch Drummond's father.
