Highlanders 2024
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Is it only up from here? The big questions for the Highlanders to answer in 2024
No Super Rugby team has had the turnover in talent that the Highlanders have had heading into the 2024 season.
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I am fascinated to see what Patchell can do. I expect he will have Gilbert outside him as a big 12 and a second playmaker. Tele'a will add some size to the midfield as well. Same with Tavatavanawai. The forward pack should lay a decent platform. If we can secure a couple of wins against NZ sides at home. That is an improvement. Same with beating all the overseas teams.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Same with beating all the overseas teams.
Highlanders would be over the moon if they could do this. Brumbies should be in the mix at the pointy end as usual and Reds are a team to watch with new coach Les Kiss at the helm.
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@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders 2024:
Highlanders would be over the moon if they could do this. Brumbies should be in the mix at the pointy end as usual and Reds are a team to watch with new coach Les Kiss at the helm.
I'll say at least once.
I think breaking down the season. If we can beat MP at home, Brumbies at home, Rebels away, Reds away, Force at home, MP away, Fijian Dura at home. One or two of the games against NZ sides. That'll be eight or nine wins. Would be very happy with that season.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
I am fascinated to see what Patchell can do. I expect he will have Gilbert outside him as a big 12 and a second playmaker. Tele'a will add some size to the midfield as well. Same with Tavatavanawai. The forward pack should lay a decent platform. If we can secure a couple of wins against NZ sides at home. That is an improvement. Same with beating all the overseas teams.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
I am fascinated to see what Patchell can do. I expect he will have Gilbert outside him as a big 12 and a second playmaker. Tele'a will add some size to the midfield as well. Same with Tavatavanawai. The forward pack should lay a decent platform. If we can secure a couple of wins against NZ sides at home. That is an improvement. Same with beating all the overseas teams.
Hearing Gilbert will play 12 as expected. Telea'a 13. JRK will play fullback to start with.
Not a foregone conclusion as to who starts in 14, wouldn't be shocked if they begin with Bogado. They rate him highly.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
I am fascinated to see what Patchell can do. I expect he will have Gilbert outside him as a big 12 and a second playmaker. Tele'a will add some size to the midfield as well. Same with Tavatavanawai. The forward pack should lay a decent platform. If we can secure a couple of wins against NZ sides at home. That is an improvement. Same with beating all the overseas teams.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
I am fascinated to see what Patchell can do. I expect he will have Gilbert outside him as a big 12 and a second playmaker. Tele'a will add some size to the midfield as well. Same with Tavatavanawai. The forward pack should lay a decent platform. If we can secure a couple of wins against NZ sides at home. That is an improvement. Same with beating all the overseas teams.
Hearing Gilbert will play 12 as expected. Telea'a 13. JRK will play fullback to start with.
Not a foregone conclusion as to who starts in 14, wouldn't be shocked if they begin with Bogado. They rate him highly.
I wouldn't mind the point of difference with what Bogado brings to the table. Lanky fellow and nearly 100kg. If that is the case, I wouldn't be surprised if Gilbert is the back up 10 in the 23. With Tavatavanawai being a 25 minute winger and Te Hiwi/Whaanga/Timu covering the midfield off the bench.
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@bobily2 said in Highlanders 2024:
If the Highlanders brought over Tavatavanawai to only play him off the bench, they'd deserve every loss they get
The Crusaders got Levi Aumua to sit on the bench.
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@bobily2 said in Highlanders 2024:
The Crusaders can afford to play him off the bench
If the coaches believe Bogado can offer more as a starter is that a bad thing. If Tavantananawai is seen to be a player who can expose tired defences, should that be taken advantage of? It is a tactical game, where using players at the right time is important.
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Yes, I'd say it is a bad thing if they think Bogado offers more as a starter - I don't think we've seen anything that would suggest they're right (which is not to say Bogado is bad, but more that Tavatavanawai is very good).
I need to update my code before I can do some 2023 stat comparisons, but Tavatavanawai performs very well on every attacking measure. He made 72 tackle breaks last season. This is a ridiculous number, though not for him. He made 73 tackle breaks from 83 carries in 2022 - that means nearly each time he touches the ball he breaks a tackle (on average).
I'd say, based on this, he's pretty consistently exposing defenses that aren't yet tired, as well as those that are tired.
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@bobily2 said in Highlanders 2024:
If the Highlanders brought over Tavatavanawai to only play him off the bench, they'd deserve every loss they get
It's not that simple. There will be plenty of gametime to go around, if the coaches feel Bogado is looking a million bucks, more than happy to pick him.
I think it is nice that from the outside looking in, for the first time since 2019 we actually have some depth in the outside back department.
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Like every team we will need to use our whole squad. We can't just roll out the same 23 every week.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@bobily2 said in Highlanders 2024:
If the Highlanders brought over Tavatavanawai to only play him off the bench, they'd deserve every loss they get
The Crusaders got Levi Aumua to sit on the bench.
I like it that you think the Landers have the same rizz as the evil empire.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2024:
I like it that you think the Landers have the same rizz as the evil empire.
I don't. My point is just that no player is guaranteed game time.
As for bringing in players. I'm sure the plan for Tavatavanawai was discussed with him prior to him signing.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@gt12 said in Highlanders 2024:
I like it that you think the Landers have the same rizz as the evil empire.
I don't. My point is just that no player is guaranteed game time.
As for bringing in players. I'm sure the plan for Tavatavanawai was discussed with him prior to him signing.
Speculation time, but if it wasn't 'you'll get first crack on the wing', I'd wonder why he gave up starting for Moana Pasifika to get a cold ass on the Landers bench.
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People reading way too much into this. The Landers basically have 4 main players for the 3 back three positions, and with the make-up of the squad, I would suggest quite often all four will make the matchday 23.
Tavatavanawai is not without floors, and don't forget Bogado isn't some mug. He is a promising up and comer, who went to the World Cup with Argentina. He was actually quite good last year too until he got injured.
On the face of things, we would expect to see the Jona, Jim & Jacob back three get first crack, it was more a comment of, I would not be surprised if Bogado gets first crack. A little bit of it will probably come down to form in pre-season.
