Highlanders 2023
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i was away over the weekend, havent watched the game and not sure i want to...all seems too painful, glad i thought twice about suggesting PPP in the Bolters thread
probably jinxing it...but god id love one of those once in a generation performances where someone just comes out and redefines a position (DC 2005 v lions)...millar to score +30
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I think the Highlanders should be bringing Otago and Southland together to work out what to do with the number of players Otago has stacked up at 10/15, and work out whether a loan deal might assist in player development.
For the NPC later in the year; Otago will have Josh Ioane (is he around this year?), Cam Millar, Villi Koroi, Ajay Faleafaga, Finn Hurley and Sam Gilbert competing for spots at 10/15 and some even able to play at 12 (Gilbert, Ioane and Faleafaga).
I think it would be worth considering whether some of the guys originally from Southland should be loaned back to them (Hurley and potentially Millar) to ensure they get game time. While putting load management conditions on the loans. In saying that, Koroi has probably well and truly slipped down the pecking order.
We need all these guys playing rugby to get a good understanding of their levels. If they are all locked up with Otago during the provincial season, it may be difficult.
We will be facing a similar issue with the young loosies coming through as well. Just not to the same level.
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@SouthernMann in principle, yeah, maybe
practically though, Voroi plays 4 time on the wing for every time he's at 10/15, Hurley and Faleafaga will be getting bench time at most t ease them in
so, really we have Gilbert as prefered 15 and Ioane and millar playing for 10...one or two injuries and we'd be in trouble or having to rely on kids
lets not get to cocky and just see how we go
Ioane cant hang around much longer, he's not originally from otago and NPC cant be enough to keep him hanging around
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:
Ioane cant hang around much longer, he's not originally from otago and NPC cant be enough to keep him hanging around
That's why I would be of the mentality it is a loan deal. Go down there and we can pull you back, if and when needed.
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@SouthernMann What is happening with Nareki?
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@SouthernMann Millar is our best 10, Gilbert is our best 15. Falefaga as the third string 10 at his age is perfectly fine, keep Ioane round as the 2nd choice for one more year, Koroi to cover the outsides.
Finn Hurley is way too small IMO, so if Southland want him, they are welcome to him.
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@Stargazer if you read a few posts back you'll see the thread took a small tangent to otago based on how so of the highlander are playing
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From the article below:
Five weeks into the Super Rugby season and injuries among the five New Zealand franchises are starting to mount up.
The Highlanders are currently without 13 of their original squad ...Things aren't much better at the Highlanders. A third of their squad is unavailable, with Saturday's clash with Fijian Drua inflicting more pain.
"We've had a couple of guys who've gone down to injury," Highlanders forwards coach Tom Donnelly said. "Martin Bogado and Jake Te Hiwi have both sustained injuries we'll need further information on." -
More complete list of injuries and some good news:
Meanwhile, Highlanders forwards Shannon Frizell and Marino Mikaele-Tu’u are back in training before the game against Moana Pasifika on Friday.
However, the unavailable list is still lengthy, with the following 13 players out of contention this week: Marty Banks, Martin Bogado, Freddie Burns, Josh Dickson, Scott Gregory, Fabian Holland, Luca Inch, Vilimoni Koroi, Rhys Marshall, Jona Nareki, Jake Te Hiwi, Josh Timu and Jeff Thwaites. -
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@FakatavaAllBlack said in Highlanders 2023:
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Thinking Nareki will be back. Chuck CGB back to fullback and Hunt can go to 10. Millar gets another 20 minutes off the bench, Quite interested to see how Gilbert might go in the midfield for a game. Like him getting his hands on the ball.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2023:
@FakatavaAllBlack switch TUJ and Gilbert and that looks better than expected.
thats what i was thinking
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
@FakatavaAllBlack said in Highlanders 2023:
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Thinking Nareki will be back. Chuck CGB back to fullback and Hunt can go to 10. Millar gets another 20 minutes off the bench, Quite interested to see how Gilbert might go in the midfield for a game. Like him getting his hands on the ball.
CGB to 15 and hunt to the bench, he can come on as impact
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In the throes of a grim situation, the Highlanders have thrown their support behind Josh Dickson after his younger brother was diagnosed with cancer.
Dickson removed himself from the Super Rugby Pacific squad in recent weeks to deal with the news.
In solidarity with Dickson and his brother Sam, the forwards have shaved their heads prior to the round six clash with Moana Pasifika.There is no return date for when Dickson will be back on the field, but it is clear the Highlanders will support him however long that may be.
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de Groot sticks around for three more years.
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Same shit every week... we are too busy trying to play school boy rugby - it is embarrassing. Run it straight up the guts, hope they miss a tackle, and then even when we do we can't make the most of it.
Zero subtly in the backline, and very little of it in the forwards. Think Renton has been awesome, but not sure he offers the dynamic ball skills a Sotutu or a MMT offers. Back to the backs, we are too busy looking for individual shit, we never put a move together, nor get the ball in open space. Our in-play kicking is turgid... need to send it long, then reset and get the ball back, at the moment we just kick just past halfway, and are straight back onto defence.
We also overrate some of our players. Fakatava, TUJ, Gilbert namely... all have big weaknesses in their games for me - and I love them, especially Fakatava, but we look through things with rose-tinted glasses... Gilbert especially is an issue - when has that guy ever broken a game open?
Big changes needed after the bye, a TOTAL rethink... just as well Mitch Hunt will be back 🙃
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Disagree competent with TUJ and to certain degree Gilbert, TUJ was one of very free bright sparks, breaks the line and making great runs, Gilbert is blood solid at the back and very rarely get caught out of position, lots of people I would look at before them
Stuff
Touching reason for mass Highlanders makeover
Ethan de Groot commits to rugby in New Zealand | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership
