Highlanders 2024
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
If Harmon's weakness isn't his running game, then what is it? Tackling machine, great at the breakdown, if he is good at all this, then he must be better than Ardie, Cane and Dalton.
He got an opportunity too late. He is a very good player. Have the other guys done anything wrong, no, tough luck Harmon.
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I love Harmon, if I was selecting he's my AB openside
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A few interviews pre and post game from yesterday. Particularly impressed with Kenny Lynn. Think he is a great addition. https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/highlanders/landers-chat-highlanders-vs-hurricanes-preseason
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So one pre-season game to go then. I'd expect pretty much the best side to start the game and to play a good 60 minutes.
Blindside flanker I think it probably the main position of interest in the starting side. The way our attacking patterns were set up, I do wonder if maybe they are leaning towards using Haig to work in the wider channels.
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby not quite sure of the younger players in the Landers, but the bloke with the longish hair had a good game on Saturday. Was that Haig?
Yes. Played for the very good U20s side which one the Oceania thing in the COVID year. Didn't play NPC last year because the Highlanders ordered him to get an operation. Makes you wonder if they are happy to chuck him in at the deep end.
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I'm a massive Haig fan, but think they will start the year off with Withy. Haig can come off the bench.
I think back up first five, or a decision not to pick one could occur. Both Faleafaga and Millar could easily take the spot. However, I think they could be tempted to pick both CGB and Whaanga with Gilbert covering 10.
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Of all the young talent coming through at the Landers, after Holland, I think Haig has the highest ceiling.
I think they will be reticent to play Gilbert at 10, and will want to give Millar time in the saddle. They'd probably also rather have Gilbert go back to 15 in the case of an outside back injury, than have Gilbert go to 10 in the case of a Patchell injury.
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I wouldn't be surprised with Haig if he has a few big games whether we see stories popping up about him being eligible for Australia and England as well.
I want them to play Millar or Faleafaga. I just see the idea of having Whaanga and CGB on the bench as being quite tempting. CGB looked the best I've seen him in years.
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The highly-touted Gore-product competing to become the Highlanders' next 10
There were more players from Gore in the 2022 New Zealand Under 20s than there were from Auckland including Cam Miller.
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so, a question for those more closely connect to the region
i FEELS like we're getting more "local" (see anyone coming through the system south of the Waitaki) getting a sniff than we have in a long time
if true, do we think we're doing a better job developing them or a better job spotting them?
ie did the Highlanders spend too long looking at imports and just ignore local talent or was the talent just not there for a long time before?
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Highlanders 2024:
The highly-touted Gore-product competing to become the Highlanders' next 10
There were more players from Gore in the 2022 New Zealand Under 20s than there were from Auckland including Cam Miller.
This is the statement that concerns me with Millar... “My kicking is a strength. I think I play with good control and can manage a game. My biggest growth area is to become more of an attacking threat,” Millar told Rugby Pass.
He has shown himself to be an outstanding kicker. If he can't attack, he will just be another Noakes, Berquist, Parker or Arlidge. I really do hope he can add an attacking aspect to his game. There just isn't room in a Super side for a guy who is limited to kicking at 10. -
Jermaine Ainsley confirmed to be leaving for France at the end of the season.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
so, a question for those more closely connect to the region
i FEELS like we're getting more "local" (see anyone coming through the system south of the Waitaki) getting a sniff than we have in a long time
if true, do we think we're doing a better job developing them or a better job spotting them?
ie did the Highlanders spend too long looking at imports and just ignore local talent or was the talent just not there for a long time before?
Combination of things. Part of it I think is a little bit of luck, but part of it is a growth of resources.
de Groot, Wingham, G Bell, H Bell, Taylor, S Withy, Stodart, Haig, Michaels, Arscott, Hastie, Millar, Te Hiwi, J Whaanga & Hurley (+ a few others I have probably forgotten) all coming through Otago and Southland within a five year period feels about as good as we could expect/hope?
That's an average of 3 Super Rugby players a year each year for five years of players to either be from or schooled in the Otago/Southland region. That feels high.
That said, I think it is notable that in that group there are three boys from McGlashan (Bells + Whaanga), two from King's High (Hastie & Wingham... Q Holland and Pledger who hold NDCs also from there) and one from Gore High (Michaels).
The fact that you have high-level players coming from 4 schools rather than just Southland Boys and Otago Boys has to help your chances of producing more players, and this is something that feels relatively new. King's have obviously produced their fair share of players, but not as many as maybe they should have. Until Josh Timu made his Super Rugby debut in 2019, McGlashan had only ever had one Super Rugby player, by the end of this year that number is likely to be 5.
Having said that, the Highlanders are now doing a much better job, having essentially copied what the Crusaders do with their pathways, though our program is a little more centred with fewer players. The goal now, is pretty much to bring players through our U20s programme, with focus on taking the best local players and adding top talents from around the country.
This will still need to be topped up with the odd import like Tavatavanawai and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, but I think that is fine.
So to answer the question, Yes we are getting more local and yes we are doing a better job at developing talent rather than spotting. I think this method has coincided with an unusually good period of development, so whether we manage to keep bringing through as many players who are locally schooled time will tell, but most players now are likely to come through the U20 system.
