Highlanders 2024
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From the Stuff article -
The Highlanders have four more spots to fill in their squad – a third No 10, another outside back, a midfielder and a hooker.Experience is likely to be an important consideration in all of these roles as they prepare to enter 2024 with 10 players aged 22 or under.
The Highlanders have indicated that they are prepared to be patient in their search for the hooker and midfielder, with overseas acquisitions a possibility.
The need for experience in the No 2 jersey means a move for Ioane Moananu, who impressed as injury cover for the Crusaders this year, is unlikely.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/132484443/highlanders-sign-jacob-ratumaitavukikneepkens-tom-sanders-and-mitchell-dunshea -
but we think PUJ is likely the midfielder?
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2024:
The need for experience in the No 2 jersey means a move for Ioane Moananu, who impressed as injury cover for the Crusaders this year, is unlikely.
Coaches and their obsession with experience. That's how you end up with Leni Apisai.
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Hmmm Sanders and Dunshea? Two very injury prone players there, not sure about those signings.
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@African-Monkey speaking of injury-prone, if PUJ joins TUJ that is going to be an interesting midfield in more ways than one..
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this is going to get tedious if every time we sign a fit young guy someone comes in and just points out theyre inexperienced...but when we sign and older more experienced player with some question marks over their injury history that gets pointed out
can we all just agree and understand that if we could attract perfectly fit top level players with loads of experience...we wouldn't have finished last?
to get people to move to dunners and play for the bottom team we have to make some compromises...we're not oblivious to that
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@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2024:
@African-Monkey speaking of injury-prone, if PUJ joins TUJ that is going to be an interesting midfield in more ways than one..
A strong chance TUJ comes off the bench in that side. I would bet on a Gilbert PUJ midfield should be head down to Dunedin. TUJ becomes the 30 minute player against a tiring team. With Dunshea and Sanders. They will be strong squad members. Do they start each week? Who knows. Will they be injured. Again, who knows. They are players who will compete well for a spot each week
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2024:
@African-Monkey speaking of injury-prone, if PUJ joins TUJ that is going to be an interesting midfield in more ways than one..
A strong chance TUJ comes off the bench in that side. I would bet on a Gilbert PUJ midfield should be head down to Dunedin. TUJ becomes the 30 minute player against a tiring team. With Dunshea and Sanders. They will be strong squad members. Do they start each week? Who knows. Will they be injured. Again, who knows. They are players who will compete well for a spot each week
Yes that sounds likely. But I'm actually quite interested in how a TUJ-PUJ midfield would go, hope to see it at least once or twice.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2024:
@African-Monkey speaking of injury-prone, if PUJ joins TUJ that is going to be an interesting midfield in more ways than one..
A strong chance TUJ comes off the bench in that side. I would bet on a Gilbert PUJ midfield should be head down to Dunedin. TUJ becomes the 30 minute player against a tiring team. With Dunshea and Sanders. They will be strong squad members. Do they start each week? Who knows. Will they be injured. Again, who knows. They are players who will compete well for a spot each week
Wow. I must 100% underrate Gilbert.
I’d have an UJ midfield for the landers in fucking heartbeat.
But, if I’m wrong, that’s likely 1 reason why you can’t attract players with AB caps. -
Rhys Patchell to the Highlanders, apparently
Wales star a shock transfer target for top New Zealand Super Rugby outfit
Rhys Patchell is a man in demand after ninge released by the Scarlets at end of last season
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Could be quite a fun signing to help in the development of Millar and Faleafaga. Has he been quite injury prone though?
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The club has said on one of its social channels it will announce two further signings this week.
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@SouthernMann where did you see that?
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On the new Twitter. Thread.
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@SouthernMann ive read this a couple of time....is that a new social media platform? is in office profile as i cant see anything on their other offical ones?
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Yes, is on the team's official profile on Threads.
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@SouthernMann ok, cheers, annoying when they pick and choose which platforms to announce things on, have downloaded
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Yeah I don't like following others. Someone alerted me to it on Twitter
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I think it is likely this will be Peter Umaga-Jensen and an outside back... unless of course Patchell is a done deal and that is how Walesonline caught wind of it - but there was a rumour we had already signed another outside back from another Super team, so we will see.
I'm 99% confident it won't be a hooker, the other gap in the roster.
