Highlanders 2024
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@Crazy-Horse you're not "wrong" in my mind...but i do think there is more too it, obviously natural talent is part of it...but i also do think a lot can change now its his job to work on it...and the extent of how much needs to be worked on might have really only come out during this season NPC is a step up from school boy stuff....lets give him and any other young guy enough time to reach their full potential
Sure, but I think equally he'd be better off shifting position before it is too late. From what I have seen, I'd be pretty confident in saying that unless injuries ruin him, Cam Millar will be the better first five of the two, because he seems to control the game better, and has a much better kicking game. There is a gap at 12 for both Otago and the Highlanders, and I really think Faleafaga could own it... but here is the other thing - and it is a little bit grim.
It might just be that Faleafaga isn't quite as good as Highlanders fans want him to be. Probably a bit of a red flag that he wasn't ever used at 10 by the NZ U20s or U19s, despite Kemara hardly being a world-beater.
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@Kiwiwomble I have never seen him play so not commenting specifically on him.
I have wondered for a while about this, but I wonder if the recent plethora of NZ kickers with pop gun distance has something to do with the change to drop punting. Is drop punting supposed to be more accurate? Longer? Both?
I know other factors were in play ( eg warmer temp), but I noticed during the French game in the first half BB was using the spiral and he was getting longer than usual distance.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@Crazy-Horse you're not "wrong" in my mind...but i do think there is more too it, obviously natural talent is part of it...but i also do think a lot can change now its his job to work on it...and the extent of how much needs to be worked on might have really only come out during this season NPC is a step up from school boy stuff....lets give him and any other young guy enough time to reach their full potential
Sure, but I think equally he'd be better off shifting position before it is too late. From what I have seen, I'd be pretty confident in saying that unless injuries ruin him, Cam Millar will be the better first five of the two
look, i agree cam millar looks better, as a former forward i love having a 10 that can plug the corners....but you'be also hit the nail on the head...he's already looking a little injury prone
@Crazy-Horse i know im only talking about club rugby....but i am always surprised how few back actually practice their kicking, and not just for goal, kick offs or for touch....people just dont seem interested, i as a forwards coach has to tell a few of the back to come to training early to work on the technique
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@Crazy-Horse you're not "wrong" in my mind...but i do think there is more too it, obviously natural talent is part of it...but i also do think a lot can change now its his job to work on it...and the extent of how much needs to be worked on might have really only come out during this season NPC is a step up from school boy stuff....lets give him and any other young guy enough time to reach their full potential
Sure, but I think equally he'd be better off shifting position before it is too late. From what I have seen, I'd be pretty confident in saying that unless injuries ruin him, Cam Millar will be the better first five of the two
look, i agree cam millar looks better, as a former forward i love having a 10 that can plug the corners....but you'be also hit the nail on the head...he's already looking a little injury prone
I guess the fact it is the same ankle at least gives me some hope, that it is a little bit like the Fakatava situation, where it never recovered properly the first time. Fingers crossed, that getting this surgery fixes it for good, and after a good pre-season, he can command that 10 jersey.
He hasn't yet shown the fragility of a TUJ, who in the space of two years had done everything from knees to shoulders.
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@frugby To be accurate Faleafaga was the main 1st 5 for the NZ U19s last year. Byron Smith was the other 1st 5 in the squad. Both Kemara and Godfrey were unavailable for selection. As I've said before, Faleafaga's defence will need to improve to be a 2nd 5. Two of the tries Japan U20s scored were through his missed tackles while playing at 12.
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby To be accurate Faleafaga was the main 1st 5 for the NZ U19s last year. Byron Smith was the other 1st 5 in the squad. Both Kemara and Godfrey were unavailable for selection. As I've said before, Faleafaga's defence will need to improve to be a 2nd 5. Two of the tries Japan U20s scored were through his missed tackles while playing at 12.
Could be wrong, but I remember Faleafaga playing 13. That was obviously only in a few matches. His defence has certainly improved, but at the end of the day, if you can't defend, you won't make it to the top top level whatever the position.
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I am pretty sure Faleafaga has only played at 10 and 12 for sides I have seen him named in. In terms of hookers. This is getting a bit nervy for the 'Landers. We are a bit stuck there at the moment. Bell has been good in a strong forward pack. Taylor needs more time. I'm just not sure who the right bloke is. I'm worried it may just be give Ricky Jackson another chance.
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@SouthernMann The Highlanders should probably have kept Marshall for another season.
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann The Highlanders should probably have kept Marshall for another season.
Maybe, but I like the ambition. I liked Rhys Marshall, but like our other hookers he was rubbish last season. Was dropped for Leni Apisai at a couple of points...
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
In terms of hookers. This is getting a bit nervy for the 'Landers. We are a bit stuck there at the moment. Bell has been good in a strong forward pack. Taylor needs more time. I'm just not sure who the right bloke is. I'm worried it may just be give Ricky Jackson another chance.
More likely they'd go back to Rhys Marshall I'd think... but, I reckon it'll be someone from overseas who we haven't even considered. SHOTA HORIE.
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Shota Horie is bloody older than me!
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann The Highlanders should probably have kept Marshall for another season.
If the solution to a problem is a previous problem then it is not the solution.
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@SouthernMann Rhys Marshall hasn't been a problem for the Highlanders, this year. He was easily the Highlanders' best hooker.
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann Rhys Marshall hasn't been a problem for the Highlanders, this year. He was easily the Highlanders' best hooker.
Hardly say easily. They were all rubbish. As I say, he was legitimately dropped for Leni Apisai which is not a ringing endorsement for any player.
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If I'm being more serious, the list of local options:
Ben Strang (SOU)
Ricky Jackson (OTA)
Ben Funnell (CAN)
Quentin MacDonald (TAS)
James O'Reilly (WEL)
Josh Southall (WEL)
Kianu Kereru-Symes (HBA)
Jacob Devery (HBA)
Rhys Marshall (WAI)
Ioane Moananu (COU)
Shilo Klein (NHA)Nobody from
Auckland
Counties
Manawatu
Bay of Plenty
TaranakiI don't like these local options at all, so I think it is safe to assume we will grab someone from Overseas.
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann Rhys Marshall hasn't been a problem for the Highlanders, this year. He was easily the Highlanders' best hooker.
Just because the other two were rubbish doesn't mean he was that great. He is also quite injured at the moment.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
If I'm being more serious, the list of local options:
Ben Strang (SOU)
Ricky Jackson (OTA)
Ben Funnell (CAN)
Quentin MacDonald (TAS)
James O'Reilly (WEL)
Josh Southall (WEL)
Kianu Kereru-Symes (HBA)
Jacob Devery (HBA)
Rhys Marshall (WAI)
Ioane Moananu (COU)
Shilo Klein (NHA)Nobody from
Auckland
Counties
Manawatu
Bay of Plenty
TaranakiI don't like these local options at all, so I think it is safe to assume we will grab someone from Overseas.
Out of that group I'd probably go for Ben Funnell or the cooker O'Rielly
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
If I'm being more serious, the list of local options:
Ben Strang (SOU)
Ricky Jackson (OTA)
Ben Funnell (CAN)
Quentin MacDonald (TAS)
James O'Reilly (WEL)
Josh Southall (WEL)
Kianu Kereru-Symes (HBA)
Jacob Devery (HBA)
Rhys Marshall (WAI)
Ioane Moananu (COU)
Shilo Klein (NHA)Nobody from
Auckland
Counties
Manawatu
Bay of Plenty
TaranakiI don't like these local options at all, so I think it is safe to assume we will grab someone from Overseas.
Out of that group I'd probably go for Ben Funnell or the cooker O'Rielly
Neither of whom would be an improvement on Marshall. The fact they were happy to clean the house with the hookers says to me they were pretty confident in being able to get a good hooker from off-shore, because I'm pretty sure they didn't envisage Bell or Taylor being the starting hooker in 2024.
