Hurricanes 2024
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@foobaNZ let's hope Cam is the only big injury we get this year. Losing him is enough of a blow but I think Perenara will step up and do a great job. He's defensively very strong and brings a truck load of experience as a title winner so knows the standard required to get the job done. He's also in the best shape of his life so that will also spur him on to succeed.
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@Canes4life Just wondering if we will see Judd (probably) be main back up, or Vijoen get a bit of time?
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@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2024:
@Canes4life Just wondering if we will see Judd (probably) be main back up, or Vijoen get a bit of time?
Ive been impressed with Judd. He looks like a quality HB. Esp after Booth last year
But Vijoen look even more impressive. One upside of the Roigard injury is we might see more of a player with his Smith like pass. I hope so.
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@Dan54 hopefully Vijoen, I think Judd's pass is far too slow these days. Though really green, Vijoen to me would provide a lot more zip off the bench. His pass is the closest thing to Aaron Smith's so that could help when the game opens up in the last 20.
One thing of note is that when Wellington won the NPC in 2022, Perenara started and Judd came off the bench so there is that experience there.
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@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes 2024:
Morgan just doesn't look like a title winning 10 to me. Can do a job during the regular season but in tight finals footy, in possibly wet weather, I get Garden-Bachop like shivers thinking about it.
I thought Morgan was complete and utter rubbish last year. Even at NPC level
But to be fair to him the only game time he's had this year (as a starter too) he was good. In my view better than any game Cameron's had so far. Although Cameron had his best game last week. But before then thought he was poor to only average
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Very good summary
Although I think you're being far too hard on O'Reilly. Canes should be thankful we have such a good backup who is performing very well.
First five. I still think Barrett would be very good here if needed so don't think this would be an issue if the coaches need to make this call. (Barrett and Higgins not Barrett and the can't pass PUJ)
Regarding the players or coaches who have impressed maybe unexpectedly.
IWL. Found yet another level after a big improvement last year)
Vijoen. Is he a future AB?
Tosi. In super condition and performing at a potential AB level
Jamie Mackintosh. I hoped for great stuff from Laidlaw and he hasn't disappointed. But JM has been wonderful. Especially after Gibbes. The best thing Gibbes did was step down as he was so clearly out of his depth (as was Holland). -
@Winger I really hope Higgins comes back onto the bench from next week. I hope despite Umaga-Jensen's selection on the bench against the Landers, he's not now regarded as higher in the pecking order. Higgins did a great job replacing Barrett and deserves to keep developing with mins off the bench. We know what PUJ can do and he's not as accurate as Higgins from what I've seen.
Hopefully Godfrey also gets more mins off the bench. Many of us see him as the future so why not give him time off the bench this year as he can cover first five, fullback and wing at a stretch.
Like you, I have been surprised at how good JM has been. Our scrum has been functioning at a very high standard and he should take plenty of credit for that. So happy Gibbes and Holland are in the past.
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@Canes4life Was interested to hear Reuben Love say he was taking this week's break to go to Aus , and (I think he meant) work with that sprint coach again. He certainly doing the extras and hope he reaps the rewards.
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@Dan54 yeah he's over there again working at Roger Fabri's academy. I know Tom Wright (Brumbies) who's also one of the form fullbacks in the comp was there in the off-season aswell doing the extras. Just shows that hard work pays off.
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Huge opportunity for Riley Higgins next season with Barrett missing Super 2025.
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Riley will be pleased. Proctor also had one of his best games at 2nd 5 so Canes should be well covered. As we seem to be at 8 with Savea out. Although his kicking will be missed. It's not a strength with Higgins
It's a decision that once again degrades super rugby though. Fortunately its only allowed for 1 year unlike Aust and SA.
It will be interesting to see the team vs FD. I would rest a lot of players (to be rested for the Brumbies match). Including JB. And start Kirifi, Lakai and Flanders to see how this combination goes.
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I quite relaxed about this by Jordie, can understand him wanting to try a bit diiferent etc. And the thing I really like, it's been done in negotiation with NZR etc, and even Razor has been involved making sure he not used every week etc no doubt. Let's face it Jordie has spoken a few times about going back to Ireland for a decent time after loving his time there as a kid.
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Honestly, I think it is great for these guys to get exposure to NH rugby and elite clubs. He will learn a huge amount and do something different and earn some decent money (of course he is doing that at the moment!). And it’s pretty cool for him to go back to Ireland after his time there as a kid.
When a player does a sabbatical, are they essentially getting double bubble from 2 contracts? Leinster and NZR?
I assume he would still have a NZR contract during this time but maybe a reduced contract like some type of retainer?
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I saw a podcast on YouTube with RL on it and the sprint coach. RL came across really well and seems a very level headed young man
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@sparky Riley is a different 12 to Jordie. Doesn’t have a big kicking game but he is very skillful and in my view is more of an attacking threat than Jordie. We won’t lose much with Jordie gone, we have great depth in the midfield so I’m all for Barrett taking a sabbatical if it means he sticks around longer.
I just hope Riley doesn’t look elsewhere knowing that Barrett has signed on long term.
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@Winger I would keep starting our best team over the next couple weeks. If we can bank wins against the Drua and the Brumbies away we could look to rest a few in our next home game against the Tahs. Brumbies is probably the most important one considering they are the closest to us on the table.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2024:
@Winger I would keep starting our best team over the next couple weeks. If we can bank wins against the Drua and the Brumbies away we could look to rest a few in our next home game against the Tahs. Brumbies is probably the most important one considering they are the closest to us on the table.
We don't want to lose momentum now. If we can get well ahead in any games perhaps they can run the subs sooner
