Highlanders v Blues
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all jokes aside, obviously the Blues have better options on paper in almost every position, 9? maybe but fakatave is coming back from injury, i would say possibly close at 12 and our locks are very good...our only hope is if we can come together as a better unit.....but in saying that most of that blues team has been playing together for a while....so...a tough ask
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Blues:
@antipodean said in Highlanders v Blues:
According to AB threads that backline contains a useless halfback, a scattergun 10, a wannabe 12, a 13 that makes poor decisions, a stopgap wing, a wing with terrible defence that trips over his own feet and a fullback that isn’t good enough to get a game.
No chance. Every Highlander is a superior player to their Blues opposite.
It was more that I was taking the piss out of AB critics who then say 'what an awesome side'. Same players.
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@Crucial you didn't address my reply earlier...you do get there is a HUGE difference between test rugby against Ireland and France....and the Highlanders....our whole backline has 2 caps
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Crucial you didn't address my reply earlier...you do get there is a HUGE difference between test rugby against Ireland and France....and the Highlanders....our whole backline has 2 caps
It was a joke FFS. Never meant to be a critique of players at this level. I also tried to make it personal skill criticisms rather than abilities at a higher level.
If you trip over your own feet, surely the level isn't the problem.The joke was directed at posters and crtics, not at players.
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@Crucial said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Blues:
@Crucial you didn't address my reply earlier...you do get there is a HUGE difference between test rugby against Ireland and France....and the Highlanders....our whole backline has 2 caps
It was a joke FFS. Never meant to be a critique of players at this level. I also tried to make it personal skill criticisms rather than abilities at a higher level.
If you trip over your own feet, surely the level isn't the problem.The joke was directed at posters and crtics, not at players.
And it was a great joke. Also helped me in reaffirming the Blues in my delusional mind are ripe for the picking! Highlanders by 25+
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@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders v Blues:
Should be a great battle in the loose forwards
the battle of the 6s and 8s will be epic. You would think that there are a couple of spots in the AB squad up for grabs there, and every game will count
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@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Blues:
@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders v Blues:
Should be a great battle in the loose forwards
the battle of the 6s and 8s will be epic. You would think that there are a couple of spots in the AB squad up for grabs there, and every game will count
I wouldn't underestimate Harmon, he'd be a fantastic addition to the ABs but yeah he won't be there this year unless injury strikes.
Unlucky for Lam, at least he's on the beach though I guess.
The worst parts of both backlines appear to be the 10's. Out of position with better players named elsewhere.
Be nice for them to prove me wrong this year.
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@Bones yeah, i think harmon has become a player a bit like ash dixon, in that if he was given a shot in the AB's....i have faith he'd be ok, might not be the best player on the pitch but i dont think he'd shit the bed...and at this level he's more than comfortable
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@Kiwiwomble I think he'd be very good, in the right trio. Brilliant on attack and doesn't shirk at the breakdown. Probably wouldn't work alongside Ardie though.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Blues:
Highlanders side; Man for man clearly better than their opposite. Landers by 25+
Ethan de Groot
Rhys Marshall
Jermaine Ainsley
Paripari Parkinson
Josh Dickson
Shannon Frizell
Billy Harmon ©
Marino Mikaele Tu’u
Folau Fakatava
Mitch Hunt
Jona Nareki
Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Josh Timu
Jonah Lowe
Sam Gilbert
Reserves: 16. Andrew Makalio, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Saula Ma'u, 19. Will Tucker, 20. Sean Withy, 21. Kemara Hauiti Parapara, 22. Freddie Burns, 23. Connor Garden-BachopNot Available due to injury: James Arscott (knee), Marty Banks (groin), Fabian Holland (knee), Vili Koroi (knee), Fetuli Paea (calf)
Nug getting one of his days off?
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Landers in good shape for opener
The Highlanders are almost at what you would describe as absolutely full strength for their Super Rugby Pacific opener tomorrow night. It remains...
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not going to happen this game....because...blues with 13 All Blacks....but god i'd love to see us truly thump someone, full 80min display...seems like an eternity
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The Blues will miss Tom Robinson’s influential, workaholic presence until he sufficiently recovers from vertigo
A title is the only result for the Blues
The Blues won 15 straight games last year only to lose the final. Can they go one better?
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@Tim @Steven-Harris said he was out last week due to Covid, so depending when he got that, he may not have recovered in time for trainings...I know the vertigo was an issue in NPC last year, so you'd hope that isnt ongoing (apparently unrelated to head knocks)
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@Kiwiwomble up against it obviously🙂 although some fun trivia the last time Fakatava, Nareki and TUJ all featured in the same backline was easter Friday 2021 when we beat the crusaders in chch
