Highlanders 2024
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@Kiwiwomble cheers mate. Noted 👍🏽
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Loving that Landers side. Tactics should be to get it wide though, those wingers are deadly, especially under the roof.
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I'm pretty happy with that for a first up win. Was it the big huge win we all hoped for? Obviously not, but we quite easily could have crumbled at 21-14 down with things going against us. The quality of the backline is clear to see, which will help us tenfold.
The Blues will be a step up next week, but I'm backing us to rise to the challenge with a fairly similar team. de Groot should be back, and I'd just like to see a straight swap for DLB. DLB is better at most things than Johnstone, but he can't scrummage, and I think that will be key in closing out the game.
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Harmon was immense, saw him fold the MP no8 at least 3-4 times
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Development side to take on Crusaders development. Some interesting names from out of area. Ayden Johnstone
Jacob Payne
Hamdahn Tuipulotu
Oliver Haig
Hugo Plummer
Will Stodart
Hayden Michaels
Tom Sanders (C)
Connor McLeod
Cameron Millar
Jeremiah Asi
Matt Whaanga (VC)
Jake Te Hiwi
Tevita Latu
Byron Smith
Joe Walsh
Heath McEwan
Paula Latu
Blair Ryall
Leroy Ferguson
Lachie Albert
Johnny Vaili
Kynan Stowers-Smith -
@SouthernMann good loose forward depth even that Blair Ryall fella impressed during preseason
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Didn't play any last year. I would have thought Taylor would kd havebeen given a decent run in this game. Or given A-One Lolofie a run. But it doesn't seem as if any of the acadamey players are playing. Albert, Stowers-Smith, Byron Smith and Tuipolotu are interesting inclusions.
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@SouthernMann McEwan was a smallish loose forward at school, so is another they've converted to a hooker.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Didn't play any last year. I would have thought Taylor would kd havebeen given a decent run in this game. Or given A-One Lolofie a run. But it doesn't seem as if any of the acadamey players are playing. Albert, Stowers-Smith, Byron Smith and Tuipolotu are interesting inclusions.
He is also in Australia. Wingham, Taylor, Arscott & Bogado all have travelled.
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Makes sense. Surprised they didn't run these games when the squads were in NZ to maximise gametime
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Unless they fly someone else over, there won't be any major changes next week, but we need to seriously do something about the loose forward trio.
We were totally out played there tonight, both tactically and on ability. Need to clear the rucks better, and need a dynamic ball runner. Broughton didn't look great tonight, so maybe Haig, Harmon, Sanders is worth a crack when we get back home?
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Withy and Harmon are locks with that trio. If we play Renton, we need to consider who takes on the carrying responsibility from the rest of the pack. That'll likely sit on Holland's shoulders. Which means he has to start. The eight role is still a question mark. I'd like to see them give both Sanders and Stodart a go. On reflection, a bit of ill discipline and goal kicking was the difference score wise. The game certainly showed we can compete with the other NZ sides. The biggest upside of the last couple of weeks is that our backs are opening up space behind the defensive line.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Withy and Harmon are locks with that trio. If we play Renton, we need to consider who takes on the carrying responsibility from the rest of the pack. That'll likely sit on Holland's shoulders. Which means he has to start. The eight role is still a question mark. I'd like to see them give both Sanders and Stodart a go. On reflection, a bit of ill discipline and goal kicking was the difference score wise. The game certainly showed we can compete with the other NZ sides. The biggest upside of the last couple of weeks is that our backs are opening up space behind the defensive line.
Stoddart might be a year early? I'm not sure Withy should be a lock. We got totally bullied in the loose.
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