Highlanders 2024
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2024:
@Kiwiwomble shithouse. Harmon to 8, Withy to open?
I like this... though equally Broughton might benefit from getting time in the saddle and a consistent run of games? He was awesome on debut against the Drua last year under the roof, so he has it in him.
I think it is more likely though they opt for Sanders, who actually was quite good statistically vs the Tahs. Let's not forget, he had a very disrupted pre-season, so I wouldn't want to write him off too quickly (this also applies to Broughton, though he has had bench appearances)
Sanders Stats:
3 Carries
10 Metres Gained
12/14 Successful Tackles (Renton was 13/17... Sanders also played 17 fewer minutes)
1 Penalty ConcededIf they are going like for like, they should and will pick Sanders.
Interesting though, to look at the stats of Sean Withy this season. His tackle numbers are way below that of Harmon and Renton, which to me backs up the idea they are using him in the wide channel. If they are going to stick with that, then IMO they'd be better off going with Haig at 6, and using Withy at 8 for the next period.
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2024:
That was also the butter-fingers Sanders we remember from his Chiefs days.
He actually only knocked the ball on once (which was from that chip and chase)... I personally think that the Highlanders when structuring their loose forward trio need to build a trio.
Needs to be 2 hard-workers (Harmon + Withy/Renton/Sanders) and one more dynamic ball-player (Haig/Broughton/Stodart).
Stodart is still very young, so I'd expect him to get very few if any minutes this season, because that has been what we have traditionally done with our first year forwards... particularly loosies.
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A disappointing step backwards, but by no means a disaster. I actually think we lost that game in the coaches box with a way over-thought game-plan. We discussed an aerial game, but were way too strict to it. We kicked the ball 36 times, which IMO is way too many for an afternoon kickoff under the roof.
Our backs look dangerous when they run it, and once again, our outsides looked good. Fakatava made some poor decisions, but I'll caveat that with the fact he was clearly under instruction to kick the ball... also doesn't excuse him overplaying at times.
Pack largely went well, particularly Sanders and Harmon IMO. Should be an interesting selection meeting for what is a free-hit against the Chiefs.
- Johnstone
- Bell
- Ma'u
- Holland
- Parkinson
- Withy
- Harmon
- Sanders
- Fakatava
- Patchell
- Nareki (Has great form at Waikato Stadium)
- Gilbert
- Tele'a
- Tavatavanawai
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
- Taylor
- DLB
- Ainsley
- Haig
- Broughton
- Hastie
- Faleafaga
- Bogado
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Highlanders more optimistic about de Groot and Hicks
Highlanders forwards Ethan de Groot and Max Hicks could be back in action sooner than expected. The pair were invalided out of the game against the...
de Groot recovering well from the head knock and Hicks is just a wrist sprain
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby reckon Taylor deserves another crack at starting.
Tight call. I do think though, Bell earned the starting role through those first three games and was merely rested last week.
Taylor certainly well clear of Jackson though imo.
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Certainly has been an interesting start to the season. Lots of promise, but probably not quite the output we'd like?
Notable that Parkinson is the only player who started for us in Hamilton last year, who will do so again on Saturday. This is still a really new side adapting to new combinations, so to expect it to always be perfect was probably a little optimistic. de Groot, Parkinson, Harmon, Renton & Gilbert (eight of his starts were also at fullback) were the only players to start over half our games last year who are still nailed on starters.
The next two games are going to really show if we just had an easy draw to start and other sides are rusty, or whether we are genuinely going to be able to challenge for the places between 3-6.
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I feel Nareki firing could be whats missing, been good on D but havent seen that threat with ball in hand yet
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
I feel Nareki firing could be whats missing, been good on D but havent seen that threat with ball in hand yet
Definitely part of it. Some of it is also just a few general teething issues I think. Certainly we are guilty of rushing things, which is what you get with loads of younger players.
This is why I do think it is key having Patchell at 10 rather than one of the younger two at this stage to provide some balance and patience.
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thats actually why id be tempted to start Ajay, him coming on late when guys like nareki are already gassed just doesnt excite me, shock and awe early in the game and getting a lead would be awesome...and then steady hand patchell comes on to close
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
thats actually why id be tempted to start Ajay, him coming on late when guys like nareki are already gassed just doesnt excite me, shock and awe early in the game and getting a lead would be awesome...and then steady hand patchell comes on to close
At this stage of Faleafaga's career though, he just simply isn't a better player than Patchell.
Patchell beats him in the playmaking and kicking department quite comfortably.
Faleafaga has provided great impact off the bench the last few games, because his extra pace is handy at exploiting tired opposition forwards... this is not to say he couldn't do it from the start, but I think the Highlanders have looked at their best overall with Fakatava and Patchell combining at 9 and 10.
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@SouthernMann bang on mate, I a Canes man, but I impressed with what Highlanders are doing with their youngsters. I know Withy was in U20s in '21 and not '22, but look at way he going along with Holland, Haigh's another good youngun coming on great there, as well as Taylor at hooker etc. They got a few young backs they bleeding into team nicely I think!
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
I feel Nareki firing could be whats missing, been good on D but havent seen that threat with ball in hand yet
Yeah although I'm reminded of his earlier career - it took him a good season or so to really hit his peak... bugger.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2024:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
I feel Nareki firing could be whats missing, been good on D but havent seen that threat with ball in hand yet
Yeah although I'm reminded of his earlier career - it took him a good season or so to really hit his peak... bugger.
He's affected by the injuries I think... not trusting his body enough to burst through or around contact like he once did, so has reverted to the chip kick.
I actually think it is only a mental hurdle, to the eye at least he looks just as quick, and just as elusive.
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Who’s likely to start at centre for the Landers now that Tele’a will likely get a couple weeks off?
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@Canes4life Te Hiwi I think. Timu has only just come back, and M Whaanga is injured I believe.
If not those, then they're either chucking J Whaanga in at the deep end, or playing Nareki/Tavatavanawai there as they did at the end of the Chiefs game.
Jonah Lowe the other option, but he was so diabolical against the Tahs that they seem to have done away with that idea.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby almost exactly what i was thinking...something tells me Lowe might get a run
That is my fear... though he did play wing for the Bravehearts, so fingers crossed they have dumped that idea.
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@frugby i dont hate the idea in general as i thought he has some sixe and could have been good at getting that front foot ball....but they needed to spend the entire pre season turning him into a 13 (rather than just playing a wing at 13)....and they dont seem to have done that
