Waratahs v Highlanders
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Little time to dwell on loss as Waratahs loom
Some heavy cavalry will head to Sydney as the Highlanders seek to avoid another three-game losing streak. All Blacks halfbacks Aaron Smith ...
Both halfbacks & Nareki should be back
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Paul Cully's suggestions
Smith and Fakatava will come straight into the side, although young halfbacks James Arscott and Nathan Hastie showed a promising amount of tenacity in tough circumstances in Perth. Elsewhere, Dermody would be entitled to swing the selection axe, with hooker, lock, first-five and the loose-forward mix sure to come under scrutiny. Impressive young flanker Sean Withy must start, even if it means moving Billy Harmon to No 8, while lock Fabian Holland’s energy is needed in the pack. In fact, the way the season is playing out is giving Dermody a mandate to go hard at a youth-driven rebuild in 2024, based around Withy, Holland, Cam Millar, Jake Te Hiwi, Oli Haig, Hayden Michaels, Nikora Broughton, Arscott and HastieDon't agree with the loose forwards he's suggesting. Withy should come in but not for Tu'u
Harmon/Tu'u/Withy looks like the best combination to me
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Highlanders side to play the Waratahs
Talking points
Gilbert to 12. Withy starting. No Harmon. Tu'u, Umaga-Jensen and Nareki on the bench.
Gregory on the wing and Paea still there.
Waratahs by 13+
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Highlanders named to play Waratahs for Sydney clash | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership
Highlanders Team to play the Waratahs Head Coach, Clarke Dermody has made a number of changes following the round nine loss to the Force. Aaron Smith, Folau Fakatava, Jona Nareki and Scott Gregory will come into the team for Friday night.
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@SouthernMann That line-up looks like they see the Waratahs as a weaker opponent, so they can give a few second/third choice players a start, with a few first choice players on the bench as insurance (particularly MMT and TU-J). Gregory on the wing, yuck!
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for every yay there is a neigh...
gilbert into the midfield...but replacing TUJ rather than paea
CGB in at 15....but gregory starting on the wing
Like....i dont get what some coaches see that we (I) dont...almost the only time Hunt has looked dangerous is at 15....never plays there....the only times Gregory has looked dangerous is in midfield...starts on the wing
resting players for "easy" games is what teams at the top of the ladder can afford to do....if TUJ and narkei are fit then they start for me, i'd rather we actually thrashed someone that scraped by and claimed we rested players
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@Duluth you think MMT and TUJ were dropped on form? i really have no idea whats going on if thats the case
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Te Tera Faulkner, Dave Porecki, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jed Holloway, Hugh Sinclair, Taleni Seu, Michael Hooper, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon (c), Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Lalakai Foketi, Izaia Perese, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Max Jorgensen
Reserves: Mahe Vailanu, Nephi Leatigaga, Daniel Botha, Charlie Gamble, Will Harris, Harrison Goddard, Joey Walton, Mosese Tuipulotu
Six Wallabies back
Good loosies. Also, two loosies on the bench with Seu covering lock from 6
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@Kiwiwomble Renton back at 8 is fine as he's been 1 of our best imo, Gilbert at 12 is the interesting call as he's only played there once before against the Drua
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@FakatavaAllBlack you're right, not too worried about Renton, would kind of like to see renton and MMT
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@SouthernMann said in Waratahs v Highlanders:
Highlanders side to play the Waratahs
Talking points
Gilbert to 12. Withy starting. No Harmon. Tu'u, Umaga-Jensen and Nareki on the bench.
Gregory on the wing and Paea still there.
Waratahs by 13+
I think you're overrating the Waratahs massively, I wouldn't read too much into last weeks performance, all of our teams seem to play poorly in Perth, it's been a trend forever, the Hurricanes lost at NIB stadium last year, the Chiefs only won by one point (20-19) in SRTT, the Blues nearly lost there last time as well, another typically ugly contest.
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@kiwi_expat said in Waratahs v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Waratahs v Highlanders:
Highlanders side to play the Waratahs
Talking points
Gilbert to 12. Withy starting. No Harmon. Tu'u, Umaga-Jensen and Nareki on the bench.
Gregory on the wing and Paea still there.
Waratahs by 13+
I think you're overrating the Waratahs massively, I wouldn't read too much into last weeks performance, all of our teams seem to play poorly in Perth, it's been a trend forever, the Hurricanes lost at NIB stadium last year, the Chiefs only won by one point (20-19) in SRTT, the Blues nearly lost there last time as well, another typically ugly contest.
Sitting up at 11 pm last Saturday half pissed and watching a limp dick performance against a Barbarians outfit based out of Perth really pissed me off. I love the 'Lander, but jeez it was ugly. This team is probably on the right track forward with youngsters, but, it might still be a couple of years away and some more pain to come.
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@Kiwiwomble if Gregory could recapture some of what got him a NZ 7s gig, he would be fine on the wing, but as you say, all his best games, including npc were in the mid-field, and even then, I'd not say he is a dangerous mid-fielder, more someone that does a good job with hard straight running, strong defence and a good kicking/passing game...sadly, it would seem it has been at least a season or more since he has showed any of that together
Team News - Wallabies return for Waratahs Culture Round clash with Highlanders
