Highlanders 2024
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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.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Tavatavanawai is not without floors
I don't care how it happened, but it creased me
I'm hoping that the team is competitive when they lino up.
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2024:
@Bones said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Tavatavanawai is not without floors
I don't care how it happened, but it creased me
I'm hoping that the team is competitive when they lino up.
Carpet.
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The Highlanders might be looking for a new Prop. According to All.Rugby Jermaine Ainsley is leaving the Highlanders to sign with Lyon, their source - Le Progrès newspaper. Unless its for 2025?
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2024:
The Highlanders might be looking for a new Prop. According to All.Rugby Jermaine Ainsley is leaving the Highlanders to sign with Lyon, their source - Le Progrès newspaper. Unless its for 2025?
I looked at some badly translated French articles. It looks like the next French season. He's replacing a prop that leaves at the end of the current season.
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@Landers92 blues development player of the year last year. Some young competition. Love to see it.
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@Landers92 He started most of the Blues u20 games this year. You can see him score a try here from 3:20 mins.
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I saw a post on Insta by Tawa FC that Hugo Plummer (Wellington lock) is down with the Highlanders. Not sure in what capacity.
