Highlanders 2024
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@Nogusta said in Highlanders 2024:
A little academic but Naitoa Ah Khoui and Rob Rush were (very) near misses.
Ekuasi could be on the cards though.Sounds like we wont be getting Frizzell hunting all those loosies
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That would suggest the theory though, that the Highlanders are needing a tighthead, a lock and a loose forward (reckon Hicks could well have been shown the door). If there is another one, it will be a back, and it will be a low-key addition either at 10, or they are waiting to see if anything comes up in the NPC, because we've got good backs all sorted.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
That would suggest the theory though, that the Highlanders are needing a tighthead, a lock and a loose forward (reckon Hicks could well have been shown the door). If there is another one, it will be a back, and it will be a low-key addition either at 10, or they are waiting to see if anything comes up in the NPC, because we've got good backs all sorted.
Yeah the last back I'd back to be Byron Smith, unless he does something very wrong
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@SouthernMann Guess it depends how he goes. They may not want three 10s u23... that said I reckon Faleafaga could potentially see time at 12 for Otago, and that could be a catalyst for a position change.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann Guess it depends how he goes. They may not want three 10s u23... that said I reckon Faleafaga could potentially see time at 12 for Otago, and that could be a catalyst for a position change.
I think three young 10s fits the team's style. I'd like to see Faleafaga given a go at 12. I'm just worried about how many midfielders Otago has. Which could impact young wingers getting a go. Let alone 10s getting a run at 12.
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@Nogusta said in Highlanders 2024:
A little academic but Naitoa Ah Khoui and Rob Rush were (very) near misses.
Ekuasi could be on the cards though.Ekuasi would make sense and wouldn’t count as a foreign player. Also only 22. Between him, Renton and Stodart that is some solid depth at 8. I’d be on board with Ekuasi for sure.
How reliable is this inside info, don’t want to get my hopes up…. Haha
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Pretty cool for Fabian Holland. Very bright future ahead.
Highlanders lock Fabian Holland selected for Barbarians
Highlanders lock Fabian Holland is on his way to London. But he will be back. Holland has been selected to play for the Barbarians against Fiji at...
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Kenny Lynn to leave the Highlanders after a year to take up a role with Argentina from the Highlanders website
Highlanders Attack Coach, Kendrick (Kenny) Lynn, has today been announced as the Assistant Coach for the Argentinian National Rugby Team, Los Pumas.Lynn returned to the Highlanders as a coach in 2024 after spending his late playing and early coaching years with Lyon in France.
“When I returned from France my intention was always to see out my contract with the Highlanders, but an opportunity to Coach at the international level has always been a personal goal of mine. I am delighted to be taking up the role with the Pumas but obviously disappointed I will not be carrying on with the Highlanders. I hugely appreciate everything this organisation has done for me. I’ve loved this season and look forward to watching the team in the next few years,” said Lynn.
Highlanders CEO, Roger Clark, added, “We’re proud of Kenny and his appointment as a coach for the Pumas. We will certainly miss him in our coaching team however it’s natural, for both players and coaches, to strive for a national team. We wish Kenny, Becs and the kids the very best on their next adventure.”
An announcement about a replacement will be made ahead of the 2025 season later this year following.
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I'm a bit disappointed to see Lynn go.
He was brought in with great fanfare, with a strong reputation as a back coach, and during the season the backs showed glimpses of some real innovation. There was plenty to build on.
It will be interesting to see who they get in to replace him.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Kenny Lynn to leave the Highlanders after a year to take up a role with Argentina from the Highlanders website
Highlanders Attack Coach, Kendrick (Kenny) Lynn, has today been announced as the Assistant Coach for the Argentinian National Rugby Team, Los Pumas.Lynn returned to the Highlanders as a coach in 2024 after spending his late playing and early coaching years with Lyon in France.
“When I returned from France my intention was always to see out my contract with the Highlanders, but an opportunity to Coach at the international level has always been a personal goal of mine. I am delighted to be taking up the role with the Pumas but obviously disappointed I will not be carrying on with the Highlanders. I hugely appreciate everything this organisation has done for me. I’ve loved this season and look forward to watching the team in the next few years,” said Lynn.
Highlanders CEO, Roger Clark, added, “We’re proud of Kenny and his appointment as a coach for the Pumas. We will certainly miss him in our coaching team however it’s natural, for both players and coaches, to strive for a national team. We wish Kenny, Becs and the kids the very best on their next adventure.”
An announcement about a replacement will be made ahead of the 2025 season later this year following.
Ok I’ve put my tinfoil hat on and come to the conclusion Tony Brown is coming back to take over this role because he wants to coach with Jamie Joseph again who is about to take over as head coach. 2015 all over again.(I’m delusional).
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hope you're right, was disappointed with this year but if i force myself to step back i could see glimpses of what Lynn might have been working towards and so its a bit sad to think we're back to square one
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Absolutely no show of the gang getring back together. Brown will be on massive money. Not sure who the options are locally.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Absolutely no show of the gang getring back together. Brown will be on massive money. Not sure who the options are locally.
It was a complete and utter joke make. Not sure how I could make that any more obvious 😂
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Yeah I know... just give it to JL he has been stiffed for cosching roles for years
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Well here's the oil. Jamie Joseph wants the head coach's job in a great surprise to absolutely nobody... and I struggle to see a world where the change doesn't happen.
That will spell the end for Donnelly, so depending on their relationship/desires, Dermody could step back to be the forwards coach like Tana Umaga did when Leon McDonald took over as Blues coach. Not improbable, because his other options are heading off-shore, and I doubt he'd be a high demand head coach.
Is Kenny Lynn leaving a shame? Clearly he is highly rated, but our attacking metrics were still right down the bottom of the competition, barring defenders beaten, which really just measures and individual's ability to break a tackle. Not saying he deserved the sack by any means, but I'm not sure it is the end of the world either.
Flutey and Ben Smith could both be in line to take the attack portfolio if they go internal... which on the face of things would seem reasonably likely. Only other one who I could envisage off the top of my head would be Mark Ozich.
Dave Dillon's job is probably also up for review. Another coach who has been highly rated, but in his two seasons as defence coach, we've been thrashed several times by the top New Zealand sides, so it is hard to suggest he has done a good job. If Joseph is going to go full on getting the band back together, then potentially Scott McLeod could fill the void?
