Highlanders 2023

[Bovidae]

Good to see PPP back.

[gt12]

These guys will be a fun team to watch, I hope you guys don't lose half of your classy players through injuries.

A lot is riding on Hunt to play well, but he might have enough weapons around him for that team to be really dangerous.

[Kiwiwomble]

@gt12 like most year...if we can avoid serious injuries that squad can plays some good code...but fully expect someone to come out of this game with a multi week injury

the more i think about it i think its just a result of having a lower average skill level than other teams, our guys always have to be at or above their capabilities to compete and trying to keep that up is just begging for injuries, from memory, people like smith and smith...our real stars...were generally pretty good on the injury front...i think just because playing so well was still well within their capabilities

[SouthernMann]

@Kiwiwomble the starters are always going to be competitive. The problem with our squad is there are probably about eight guys in the squad who would not make other squads. Due to the lack of capability in the squad they will likely play a bit of code during the season.

[Chris]

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:

@Kiwiwomble the starters are always going to be competitive. The problem with our squad is there are probably about eight guys in the squad who would not make other squads. Due to the lack of capability in the squad they will likely play a bit of code during the season.

You have a decent 23 or 26 I reckon then yep it drops off.When those top 23 are able to be picked the Landers will be a handful.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Chris pretty much our mantra

[Stargazer]

Highlanders recruit Burns eager to play alongside 'some of the world's best'

Highlanders recruit Freddie Burns is looking forward to playing alongside some of the “world’s best players” in Super Rugby Pacific this year.

[cgrant]

Is Holland injured ?

[SouthernMann]

@cgrant said in Highlanders 2023:

Is Holland injured ?

Yeah. 6-8 weeks away. So back by round 2 or 3

[SouthernMann]

Highlanders will be streaming the pre-season clash with the Crusaders

https://www.facebook.com/events/872632127344592/?acontext={"source"%3A"29"%2C"ref_notif_type"%3A"event_profile_plus_create"%2C"action_history"%3A"null"}&notif_id=1675904135845400&notif_t=event_profile_plus_create&ref=notif

[Bones]

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:

Highlanders will be streaming the pre-season clash with the Crusaders

https://www.facebook.com/events/872632127344592/?acontext={"source"%3A"29"%2C"ref_notif_type"%3A"event_profile_plus_create"%2C"action_history"%3A"null"}&notif_id=1675904135845400&notif_t=event_profile_plus_create&ref=notif

Booooooo

[Kiwiwomble]

@Bones my thoughts exactly, and the o my advice they gave when I asked was to use a VPN

[Tim]

@Kiwiwomble Mullvad has an NZ node.

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/131233893/super-rugby-all-black-aaron-smith-to-miss-highlanders-first-two-games-on-extended-break

[Kiwiwomble]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/131263622/highlanders-land-kendrick-lynn-from-top-french-role-as-coaching-rebuild-continues?fbclid=IwAR2fI3gWEFbIqlGwprdQWavBLKr-Al-0oKk02DwlbZ_WG-dclDlOmZKcwyA

Kendrick Lynn, the former Southland and Highlanders midfielder/outside back, will join the Highlanders in 2024 on a three-year deal after making an impressive start to his coaching career in France.

Lynn, 40, is in his first year as head coach of Lyon, and has guided them to third place in the Top 14 this year, an achievement that was not lost on the Highlanders as they build a team around Clarke Dermody.

bit out of the blue, remember liking him as a player so not against it

[SouthernMann]

Fantastic get for the Highlanders. All reporters seem to indicate Lynn is one of the best coaches in France

[SouthernMann]

Clare Dermody confirms Sam Gilbert is a midfield option... great to hear he thinos the say way I did 18 months ago https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/131265048/folau-fakatava-returns-as-highlanders-beat-moana-pasifika-3324-in-trial-match

[SouthernMann]

Think Irish Paul hits the nail on the head. Good first team, will pinch a few wins, but is a fair way off and will get pumped if key players go down injured.

Guys like Koroi, Banks, Paea, Dawai and Thwaites are pretty much there to hold tackle bags. While there are several others who are lucky to have contracts.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/131233947/super-rugby-season-preview-highlanders-look-sharper-out-wide-but-depth-issues-remain

I'd expect the team to run out on the weekend to be

1 de Groot
2 Marshall
3 Ainsley
4 Parkinson
5 Dickson
6 Frizzell
7 Harmon (c)
8 Tu'u

9 Fakatava
10 Hunt
11 Nareki
12 Umaga-Jensen
13 Timu
14 Lowe
15 Gilbert (GK and midfield cover)

16 Apasai
17 Johnstone
18 Ma'u
19 Hicks
20 Withy/Broughton/Lentjes
21 Arscott
22 Burns
23 Garden-Bachop

A really tidy top team. Will get beaten most weeks, but will take it tight. Put in the players who should not be playing Super footy and this team could get some towlings.

[Kiwiwomble]

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:

Clare Dermody confirms Sam Gilbert is a midfield option... great to hear he thinos the say way I did 18 months ago https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/131265048/folau-fakatava-returns-as-highlanders-beat-moana-pasifika-3324-in-trial-match

jesus...keep that quiet or this thread will blow up!

[Kiwiwomble]

other names that must be fit at the moment, some good names getting a run