Highlanders 2024
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I don't think we can judge Dermody on the last couple of years. His squad was terrible. Not saying next year's is a world beater. Just a decent improvement.
I highly doubt Joseph will want to be the BAU coach again at this level. Looks like he is happy to be back in Dunedin around his family and the Mornington Tavern. Highly likely he sits in the coaches box at games. This is a team that does need a decent sized academy. Will be fascinating to see how he can support the bringing of players and retention of players in the region.
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i think you can definitely judge him, you can them temper that judgement with the knowledge of the injury issues etc, but none of us are bulletproof and some of the selections were suspect
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I'm a bit concerned that some of the development players that we have signed aren't rated as highly by their PUs.
Faleafaga and Hastie seem to be rated by Otago lower than McLea and Leslie. Sanders is either short of a gallop or not impressed Otago coaches. What is Sam Gilbert's position? The Highlanders have signed three 10s, yet, he is playing in front of two of them.
JRK is probably seen by the Highlanders as a likely fullback, yet, he has been pigeon holed so far on the wing for Taranaki.
At this stage is looks like Garden-Bachop is just playing out his contact with the Highlanders.
I'm just finding it interesting to see the differences in views between PUs and the likely plans for the Highlanders.
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@SouthernMann i was thinking the same thing in regards to the Otago players
we were talking not long ago about Ajay and Millar getting serious game time for the highlanders, even if off the bench...but they could still be very green/rusty come next season
considering Otago is a shareholder in the Highlanders....you would think there was SOME kind of alignment
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Two of the same coaches. Tom Donnelly and Ben Smith.
Weird that we found Hurley good enough, who won't be there, but not the no10s. Could be they didn't want to throw either to the wolves against two of the top sides in Ta$man and Wellington. Started 19-year-old Whaanga as well. Millar was injured for the first round though.
Will be interesting to do a review at the end of the season, as to who got time in what roles.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
And how are Otago currently going/going to go in the NPC? This graph probably explains why the Highlanders are currently returning the results they have been getting.
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@Higgins said in Highlanders 2024:
go in the NPC? This graph probably explains why the Highlanders are currently returning the results they have been getting.
Not really. Of the 16 listed Otago players in this picture, 11 either didn't or barely stripped for the Highlanders this year.
Both Otago and the Highlanders are going through a big swing in approach.
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might try and hot up both games in melbourne
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I find it interesting in the Highlanders player profiles on the club's website, the administrators have removed all the departing players... except Frizzell and Smith. Doing their best to maintain the team's connection to 2/3rds of our All Blacks.
Highlanders Super Rugby | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership
Get to know The Highlanders Team and take a read of the player & staff profiles.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Two of the same coaches. Tom Donnelly and Ben Smith.
Weird that we found Hurley good enough, who won't be there, but not the no10s. Could be they didn't want to throw either to the wolves against two of the top sides in Ta$man and Wellington. Started 19-year-old Whaanga as well. Millar was injured for the first round though.
Will be interesting to do a review at the end of the season, as to who got time in what roles.
All about Donnelly, don't panic. Jamie Jo. don't rate him as a coach or bloke, so I suspect he'll be a pretty worried bloke right about now. ORFU were soft and didn't give him the bullet, not quite sure why the Landers went with him.
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@Kiwiwomble No, I've heard Jamie Joseph doesn't like him. I don't know him.
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Been a bit grim to be an Otago fan thus far, but been interesting to track the progress of the Landers...
Props: Ma'u has been very good for Otago, as has Ainsley as you'd expect - Inch also back playing so all looking good here.
Hookers: Bell started slow in his first couple, but was great in the weekend, Taylor not overly sighted so probably going to need a good overseas rake
Locks: Hicks has been good though mostly at 6, the rest have been fair
Loose Forwards: Broughton has been my Lander of the NPC so far, he has looked really strong in all three games for BOP, and hopefully he can nail down that starting 8 role. Sanders looked good for Otago in the weekend - all good here
Halfbacks: Fakatava has been great (par for the course at this level), but has to be some real concern about the two backups. Hastie seemingly rate three by Otago, which isn't a ringing endorsement when your behind Kieran McClea and James Arscott - think the latter was tidy until injury and is a serviceable third choice
First Fives: Millar can't stay fit, that ankle is becoming a concern. Faleafaga seems to be rated below some fairly average Otago players which is a little grim, though he probably starts this weekend
Midfielders: Umaga-Jensen has looked really good at centre, and I think the way rugby is going, it might be a better spot for him, with more of a playmaker needed at 12 to counter the rush defence. The rest have been fairly average (including Gilbert) so hopefully we can pick someone good up here
Outsides: All of them have looked good, so hopefully we can grab some tries next year!
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I was hoping to have seen Taranaki play Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens at fullback. Hopefully he can get a couple of runs there before the end of the season.
Happy with the performance of the forwards. Midfield my only real concern in terms of players.
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@taniwharugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby Heremaia Murray was training with the Highlanders this year, I believe the Blues are not keen on him or simply dont have room, and with his current form, I expect the Highlanders will surely be considering him.
We would probably need to off load one of Jonah Lowe or Connor Garden-Bachop to open up and outside back spot. Lowe is certainly under contract for two more years, and Garden-Bachop wasn't listed as leaving. We may be interested, but, with six outside backs including those two signed, there doesn't appear to be any room at the inn.
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@SouthernMann yeah I am not sure who he was called in to cover for earlier this year.
I'd love for us to give him a run at 13, which is his preferred spot, but he is making a good go at wing.
