Highlanders 2024
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@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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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby week or two isn;t too bad i guess
I have no idea how long he is out for, it may well be a lot longer. I just know he flew home yesterday.
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hopefully its not too bad
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Tom Sanders has flown over as cover. I'd throw him straight into the 23.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Tom Sanders has flown over as cover. I'd throw him straight into the 23.
I'm guessing he is going to be thrown straight in at 8.
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What blows my mind about the Highlanders is their failure to up skill all the young talent they have. While the rest of that 2022 u20s team is flying along in the other franchises (e.g. Hotham), the Highlanders young 20s players are wasting away on either 5-10mins game time off the bench or not even in the squad!
Failed overseas 10 experiment take two, a locking group that’s made of glass, and a back row that was thrown around like a rag dole last season. I’d be able to bare the thrashings if it meant young players get experience for future seasons, not thrashing with overseas players and has been super rugby players who can’t get contracts for other teams. -
@KiwiInAus said in Highlanders 2024:
What blows my mind about the Highlanders is their failure to up skill all the young talent they have. While the rest of that 2022 u20s team is flying along in the other franchises (e.g. Hotham), the Highlanders young 20s players are wasting away on either 5-10mins game time off the bench or not even in the squad!
Failed overseas 10 experiment take two, a locking group that’s made of glass, and a back row that was thrown around like a rag dole last season. I’d be able to bare the thrashings if it meant young players get experience for future seasons, not thrashing with overseas players and has been super rugby players who can’t get contracts for other teams.Citing the success of Hotham and the failure of the Welsh ten makes it pretty hard to take this post seriously.
