Highlanders 2023
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In terms of player criticism it is a strange starting point to launch with the players who are actually going ok.
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@SouthernMann yeah, 10 and 13 are the real issues IMO, if we do manage to spark anything outside 10 (rare) its either through TUJ making a break....but then we have no one outside him to keep it going....or if it goes through the hands it just goes into contact at 13
after those its wings, i dont think we're giving them much to work with but they're not looking for it either
and injuries, we can see these guys get better with multiple games, FF has largely shaken off his first couple of games and is looking lively. these guys just aren't going to improve if they are getting one or two games before needing a break
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann yeah, 10 and 13 are the real issues IMO, if we do manage to spark anything outside 10 (rare) its either through TUJ making a break....but then we have no one outside him to keep it going....or if it goes through the hands it just goes into contact at 13
after those its wings, i dont think we're giving them much to work with but they're not looking for it either
and injuries, we can see these guys get better with multiple games, FF has largely shaken off his first couple of games and is looking lively. these guys just aren't going to improve if they are getting one or two games before needing a break
I think you're wrong about Lowe here. He goes looking for work all the time and comes off his wing regularly to get that ball (resulting in a few try assists) and has also been strong on defence. His problem is that he doesn't get noticed because he's such an introvert that he hardly even celebrates his own tries. He's having a good season.
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@Stargazer thats fair, youre right he's been good and like the others i think he's getting better the longer run of games he gets, really settling in
i really do miss seeing a wing recieve the ball, beat a couple of guys or run around them and score, Nareki obviously can do that when fit...Vahaakolo was also good and standing up his man and getting around him...but then we have to go back to Naholo and osbourne
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@SouthernMann I'd say all of our backs have been OK - which is part of the issue. Look at the likes of Stevenson, Moorby, Perofeta, Jordan etc. These guys get the ball at the back and run into gaps.
I will say, I think our tactical kicking is poor, which means we don't get nearly enough ball in broken play, and I'm unsure whether this is through pair option taking by the players, or just a poor gameplan.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann yeah, 10 and 13 are the real issues IMO, if we do manage to spark anything outside 10 (rare) its either through TUJ making a break....but then we have no one outside him to keep it going....or if it goes through the hands it just goes into contact at 13
after those its wings, i dont think we're giving them much to work with but they're not looking for it either
and injuries, we can see these guys get better with multiple games, FF has largely shaken off his first couple of games and is looking lively. these guys just aren't going to improve if they are getting one or two games before needing a break
I was happy to give the team some time... those first three games were always going to be rough, but that game against the Canes was diabolical without any excuses. We should have at the very least run them close, and we didn't... all of the backs are open for criticism I'm afraid.
In my view, they need to shake things up...
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Smith
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Hunt
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Dawai
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Gilbert
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Umaga-Jensen
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Lowe
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Bogado
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Fakatava
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Burns
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Timu
The ball needs to move quicker with more threat across our backline, use TUJ wider to keep the defence on their toes a little more, which carries more threat than just using him as a battering ram - that is schoolboy tactics. Use Gilbert and Bogado to play some territory, ditch the box kicks, because we never ever retain possession off them.
Bogado has shown an eye for the gap, so keen to see whether he can break the game open.
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Gilbert on the other hand has been talked about as being the quickest in the squad. He has the size and speed to be useful at centre. I suspect we will see Timu back at centre this weekend. If Bogado is fit we allow him to continue to develop on the wing. The team will never flourish with Hunt at 10. I would like to see more of CGB. He looked sharp before getting injured.
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@friedrugby so keeping hunt who is universally considered a weak link...moving Gilbert and TUJ who have been solid and pretty awesome respectively...and then a FF Burns Timu front row in the second half....im not on board
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@Kiwiwomble Only reason I say Hunt, is because Millar is injured, and I'm assuming Burns won't be ready to start straight away...
I don't rate Hunt, because his punting is pathetic.
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@SouthernMann CGB can never stay fit, and is far too inconsistent. Not worth persisting with... if everyone was fit, I think this is probably our best side (or one I'd like to see at least)?
- de Groot
- Marshall
- Ainsley
- Parkinson
- Dickson
- Withy
- Harmon
- MMT
- Fakatava
- Burns
- Nareki
- Umaga-Jensen
- Gilbert
- Lowe
- Bogado
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Tight Five (and Forwards in general) going well. Loosies is an interesting one, reckon Frizell has been off the boil, and though I think Renton has been good, I also think MMT is definitely an upgrade.
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Fakatava isn't better than Smith, but I maintain having him start, adding spark whilst also focusing on his own game before unleashing Smith with 25 to go is the best combo... look back to 2021, our win rate doing that was noticeably higher (Remember the Crusaders game where he got injured?)
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Burns is easily the best 10, once fit again, Millar is ideally in 22 to continue his development - Hunt's punting just isn't good enough
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As I continue to say, pace required in the midfield. Gilbert has to be at 12 or 13.
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I still would like to see Bogado in 15, because I think he has the attributes to break a game open, and has a massive punt. Gilbert barely ever slices open a defence from deep.
In terms of a bench, Holland/Hicks has to be the reserve lock, how Tucker is used I'll never know. I'd also go Dawai in 23, as he is someone who could impact a game at least.
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@friedrugby 10 is once again where i disagree, would take Millar (or even Gilbert) over Burns, he looks all at sea in the game in Melbourne, i think it show 9/10 are probably where the NH and SH games differ the most, dont think you can just slot into those roles, he should have come and done a stint in NPC first
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That team, yeah, nah.
Forwards are fine.
Backs are a mess.
All of our 10s are shit. It doesn't matter which of them is there from Banks through to Burns. All shit or not currently up to this level.
When has Bogado even played fullback? Except for one game for the Bravehearts, he isn't our great South American hope in the 15 jersey. Hopefully he sticks around for the NPC and plays for Southland? Could be a good opportunity to play some 15 then.
Fakatava, nahhhh. Let him stay on the bench for the rest of the season. What is the point in unleashing Smith with 25 to go when we are down by 20+. Let him keep us in the game, then get Fakatava on when we are close or winning.
All our players are much the same. Cornflakes. Ok, not horrible, but certainly not a full eggs bennie.
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last year we had Gilbert at 10 for a few games, there was debate how much of his play was a traditional 10 or if we'd just given smith the playmaker role and so gilbert just had to run or pass...which he was quite good at, most often at least getting front foot ball for the next phase.
With TUJ now back and looking dangerous...could that actually be quite a good weapon? rather than TUJ having to basically start on the flay foot after being shovelled the ball from hunt, have gilbert actually attacking the line and either breaking and feeding TUJ or getting over the line and then having TUJ ready at first received for a fast ball to attack the retreating defence?
if we're short on players then Hunt back to 15 which is where he often is on defence anyway and the few times he's looked really dangerous with ball in hand is on the counter attack or coming into the line wider
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Gilbert is probably the best of the options at 10. He can't be any worse than the other lads.
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