Tasman vs Otago
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@SouthernMann said in Ta$man vs Otago:
@frugby said in Ta$man vs Otago:
R.E Otago, I'd imagine the following is the case:
- Sanders probably picked up a niggle/is still a little bit short on minutes so they want to give him another week in training
- I mentioned Dickson on the blindside. For this week, they probably looked at what they had and wanted to get their best players on the park
- PGS not playing for Naki this week due to the fact he was with the NZ XV, so imagine Lio-Willie is only allowed to play 20 minutes hence he is on the bench
- Millar and Faleafaga will be injured/aren't allowed to play for a particular reason... don't panic, the coaches don't seriously rate Leef above them!
- Hastie, no idea there, might be a reason linked to the two above. Could explain why Leef and McClea started last week.
- Interesting that Umaga-Jensen is on the bench, struggling for a reason on that one... perhaps there has been some illness going around, which could explain why the two young first fives are absent.
If all of the above is correct, that is probably the best team we could have picked IMO.
It will be exciting to see how Whaanga, Hurley and Te Hiwi go. Although, the idea of Levi Aumua barrelling down towards Hurley as the final line of defence is a bit scary. Gilbert could swap to the back a bit in D.
yeah....now i cant think about anything else...in saying that, the game he played for the HIghlanders in Queenstown, i was impressed with his defence on the line, coming out to make a few chop tackles on some big forwards....i live in hope
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@Chris said in Ta$man vs Otago:
@Chris-B
A pointer towards Crusaders selection maybe,Taine is rated highly by the Crusaders as a FB/MF option maybe as a First Five option now as well.Maybe - though I think Hunt and Parata might both still be injured - and Willy Havili probably with Tonga.
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@Chris-B said in Ta$man vs Otago:
@frugby Frizz wearing a false beard?
I did the same player-for-player exercise - for Otage - Withy, Gilbert and Nareki + one of the locks over PPP?
Yep, I actually was conservative and had Withy as a draw with Segner. It was more so Holland > PPP and I think there is an argument Dickson beats out Hicks, though neither a really blindside flankers.
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@Chris-B said in Ta$man vs Otago:
I did the same player-for-player exercise - for Otage - Withy, Gilbert and Nareki + one of the locks over PPP?
Probably pick Ma'u over your tighthead. Nothing between the two halfbacks. Gilbert and Nareki in the backs.
Out of the squad we named. Probably not the strongest 23 we could name in a perfect scenario.
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Only players unavailable for selection apparently are Lentjes, Timu and Haig.
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super weird...comment about off field issues was a throw away one...but maybe? millar was looking to start for the highlanders this year...and now he's not even in the 23?
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I don't think it is an off-field issue. There will be a reason for it, I'd suspect it will be some sort of injury/illness related which they are choosing not to disclose - too many players not involved who would be for it to be off field me thinks. Faleafaga doesn't drink for starters, so quite how something bad could happen there I don't know.
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There is the potential for it to be a bit of workload management. Players who have been injured, new like Sanders and have returned for NZ U20s just get a bit more time under their belts.
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Hastie is playing for the development side which is interesting - perhaps they actually rate him at 3, or maybe they just want him to get 70 minutes under his belt? The two 10s are unsighted, so it was awesome the ODT told everyone this morning why they weren't playing (LOL).
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@Kiwiwomble Absolutely nothing. Really quite frustrating... people pay for the service, why isn't the journo getting on the blower and asking. Would take five minutes.
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ironically....im liking what im seeing of Tavatavanawai
Hurley taken a couple of big hits so far
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Dickson isn;t a 6...he's just lumbering around like a lock, not showing the energy you'd want to see from a loosie
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and naholo gone....im a big naholo fan in general....but that was pure marketing thats just bit us in the bum
