Highlanders 2024
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
20th time lucky? We're going to have to win another derby at some point, there are few excuses I can offer them team if they don't get over the line this week.
Credit to the coaches, they have gone back to basics and the past two games we have been far better structurally, and from the selection front (for the most part) and with that came a good performance last week. Think we'll look to stick with something pretty similar this week:
- de Groot
- Bell
- Ainsley
- Dunshea
- Holland
- Haig
- Withy
- Harmon
- Fakatava
- Millar
- CGB (Bogado if concussed)
- Te Hiwi
- Tele'a
- Tavatavanawai
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
- Taylor
- Johnstone (Surely can't be DLB?)
- Ma'u
- Tucker
- Broughton
- Arscott
- Gilbert
- Bogado (If CGB is out then probably Faleafaga?)
I would agree with majority of that. Possibly keep Ma’u starting due to Ainsley’s lack of minutes but would consider Ainsley for scrum time, feel like he has the edge over Ma’u there.
Completely agree with Johnstone over DLB. DLB just seems to have so many errors in his game this year for one reason or another and that’s before factoring scrum time issues.
I’d still rather Stodard on the bench over Broughton personally but the coaches seem to like Broughton.
Any updates on Timu? Would rather him have that 23 spot on the bench if available.
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@Landers92 Timu is fit, but he'd be a waste of a bench spot when Gilbert is there. Ideally you'd have an outside back on the bench, but 3/6 would be injured, and the other the other three would be starting!
Hurley - just no thanks.
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thats kind of the problem, Gilbert could cover outside back....but we need him for 10...unless we bring in Ajay?
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
thats kind of the problem, Gilbert could cover outside back....but we need him for 10...unless we bring in Ajay?
I think you may as well have Faleafaga on the bench. Wouldn't rule out the 6-2 split either, but overall, you might as well cover the specialist 10, because otherwise you're having two midfielders or an inferior outside back.
If JRK got injured, Gilbert would come on at fullback. If one of the wingers went down, they'd either bring Gilbert on in the midfield and shift Tele'a out, or just stick Gilbert out there.
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exactly what im thinking, i think his straight running and confidence under a high ball actually makes him a good outside back option
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Reckon regardless of what happens in the weeks that follow, this weekend probably defines our season. Snapping the hoodoo in front of a huge crowd, and kicking on to finish 6th (or if not a close 7th) probably feels like you'd give this season a B- sort of grade (at a minimum).
Lose, and even if we limp into 8th, would feel hard to justify this season as anything other than a fail. Granted we've a young team, but going 0/6 in derby games, and making the playoffs only on the back of wins over Moana (2x), the Force, the Waratahs and probably the Drua would feel pretty underwhelming to me.
For what it is worth, I think either side of that three-game blip, we have definitely improved this year. I'm pleased that the coaches seem to have learned from their mistakes, and I'm expecting the boys to front up and get themselves over the line - and I think it would be deserved, and would justify that we are heading in the right direction... and gee, in a season which threatened to go totally off the rails, they'd be something really amazing about landing what would be pretty much the final blow on the Crusaders.
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How good was last night?! Was it perfect? Of course not (something really funny that it was two tries to four) but we played a sensible smart game, against a side which is still laden with All Blacks. Reckon the coaches once again nailed the gameplan so full credit to them... but these young boys, they stepped up, and this might just be the night things took a turn for the better.
Thought de Groot and Holland were awesome, whilst that might be the best game Nikora Broughton has ever played. Cam Millar I think probably does have limitations to his game, but if nothing else he is always going to be a great backup first five... ice cool off the boot, 27 points against the Crusaders is nothing to be sniffed at!
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@frugby i think a lot of NZ fans could learn something watching someone like millar...we need to stop comparing everyone to DC...hell...stop comparing to almost any AB 10.....as long as he plays to his strengths (kick for territory, kick is goals, if out of options take the tackle and secure the ball)...we can make that work, we just need a variety of gameplans depending on which 10 we have
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@Nogusta said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby failed HIA wasn't it? Collected a swinging arm from Havili just before half time.
Oh really? I was at the game, he seemed to be limping so I assumed it was that. Could well have been an HIA - did they mention anything on TV about it?
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Where's Parkinson?
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@antipodean said in Highlanders 2024:
Where's Parkinson?
I wonder if he will be playing club this week. I was at the game last weekend and he was running around warming up and running opposition for the team during their warm up. Can’t be far away from being fully healthy. Possibly fallen out of favor with Dunshea and Tucker being back and doing a job?
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Parkinson is listed to play club rugby on the weekend. He was meant to have as well last weekend, but was pulled to be a fit tackle bag holder/late injury replacement. It looks like him and Max Hicks have both slipped down the pecking orders.
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Paul Dwyer saying there are rumours Timoci Tavatavanawai and Mitch Dunshea will be playing for Southland this year. This is great news for the Stags. He also slightly bemoaned the Dunedin based Southland acadamey. This is a very smart move from a Highlanders and lower south rugby perspective. We need as many of the decent layers getting opportunities as possible. Otago can't hoard all the young players and have Southland starving
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Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
In terms of Dunshea. As mentioned, in the Dwyer ODT article it reads like he is going to Southland. From a financial perspective, I'm against Otago recruiting established Super quality players. Keep bringing kids down at 18. Don't sign guys aged 25+. Too expensive. Just like what we did last year wirh Sanders. Did he offer more than Lio-Willie or Stodart. Nah. We certainly shouldn't be paying over market rates for Highlanders who are just average Super players.
