Highlanders v Drua
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Faleafaga at 10, Harmon at 8, Nareki back, Gilbert at 12, Te Hiwi 13, Hicks, CGB and M Whaanga on the bench. Interesting that de Groot and Harmon have been named co-captains. Whereas Sam Gilbert was named as the vice captain at the start of the year and seems to have been passed by big EDG
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Jone Koroiduadua, Tevita Ikanivere (c), Mesake Doge, Mesake Vocevoce, Isoa Nasilasila, Etonia Waqa, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Epeli Momo, Kemu Valetini, Iosefo Masi, Selestino Ravutaumada, Ilaisa Droasese
RESERVES: Zuriel Togiatama, Emosi Tuqiri, Samu Tawake, Leone Rotuisolia, Vilive Miramira, Peni Matawalu, Caleb Muntz, Taniela Rakuro
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Interesting that DLB has claimed back his bench spot. Based on performance this season I thought Ayden Johnstone had played a lot better than him, especially at set piece time. Hicks ahead of Tucker and Parkinson is also interesting, Parkinson well out of favor or just can’t get fit? Who knows.(edit: just saw Parkinson is listed as injured with a shoulder).
A shame about Millar being out but happy to see Ajay get another crack and put his name forward again. I’m sure he’s raring to go after seeing how Millar has been playing.
Big bounce back needed this week and I’m sure they are up for it with how the second half went last week. Make no mistake the Drua will be up for this as their playoff spot is on the line too. The conditions under the roof suit the Druas style down to a T, we will need to be on our A game. Up the landers.
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@SouthernMann I quite like DeGroot as VC/CoC. Has international experience. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gilbert string 2-3 sensible decisions together
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@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann I quite like DeGroot as VC/CoC. Has international experience. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gilbert string 2-3 sensible decisions together
It is just a very quiet backpedal. Made a bit of a big deal about him getting the VC role. About him being a leader. He is one of the players whose stocks have dropped the most over the season. Started as the backline leader and goal kicker. Now, he isn't in the top 15. De Groot will be the next long-term captain.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann I quite like DeGroot as VC/CoC. Has international experience. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gilbert string 2-3 sensible decisions together
It is just a very quiet backpedal. Made a bit of a big deal about him getting the VC role. About him being a leader. He is one of the players whose stocks have dropped the most over the season. Started as the backline leader and goal kicker. Now, he isn't in the top 15. De Groot will be the next long-term captain.
I said the other day I thought Harmon would stay for at least one more year, but makes you wonder if this has been done with next year in mind... particularly as having two forwards as co-captains is slightly odd. The only real time I can remember that was Clarke and Messam for the Chiefs.
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@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann I quite like DeGroot as VC/CoC. Has international experience. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gilbert string 2-3 sensible decisions together
It is just a very quiet backpedal. Made a bit of a big deal about him getting the VC role. About him being a leader. He is one of the players whose stocks have dropped the most over the season. Started as the backline leader and goal kicker. Now, he isn't in the top 15. De Groot will be the next long-term captain.
I said the other day I thought Harmon would stay for at least one more year, but makes you wonder if this has been done with next year in mind... particularly as having two forwards as co-captains is slightly odd. The only real time I can remember that was Clarke and Messam for the Chiefs.
Should be able to see as to who is making the on-field decisions on the weekend. I was the opposite to you, thinking Harmon is probably in his last few games for the Highlanders. His market value is as high as it will ever be to cash in and make some money for him and his family. It'll be sad to potentially see him go. It may also explain why we are playing Withy in his favoured position of openside when Harmon is available too.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann I quite like DeGroot as VC/CoC. Has international experience. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gilbert string 2-3 sensible decisions together
It is just a very quiet backpedal. Made a bit of a big deal about him getting the VC role. About him being a leader. He is one of the players whose stocks have dropped the most over the season. Started as the backline leader and goal kicker. Now, he isn't in the top 15. De Groot will be the next long-term captain.
I said the other day I thought Harmon would stay for at least one more year, but makes you wonder if this has been done with next year in mind... particularly as having two forwards as co-captains is slightly odd. The only real time I can remember that was Clarke and Messam for the Chiefs.
Should be able to see as to who is making the on-field decisions on the weekend. I was the opposite to you, thinking Harmon is probably in his last few games for the Highlanders. His market value is as high as it will ever be to cash in and make some money for him and his family. It'll be sad to potentially see him go. It may also explain why we are playing Withy in his favoured position of openside when Harmon is available too.
We are playing Withy at 7 when Harmon is available because we have to play Harmon at 8 to get our best possible forward pack on the field with Renton being out. I wouldn’t read too much into that.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann I quite like DeGroot as VC/CoC. Has international experience. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gilbert string 2-3 sensible decisions together
It is just a very quiet backpedal. Made a bit of a big deal about him getting the VC role. About him being a leader. He is one of the players whose stocks have dropped the most over the season. Started as the backline leader and goal kicker. Now, he isn't in the top 15. De Groot will be the next long-term captain.
I said the other day I thought Harmon would stay for at least one more year, but makes you wonder if this has been done with next year in mind... particularly as having two forwards as co-captains is slightly odd. The only real time I can remember that was Clarke and Messam for the Chiefs.
Should be able to see as to who is making the on-field decisions on the weekend. I was the opposite to you, thinking Harmon is probably in his last few games for the Highlanders. His market value is as high as it will ever be to cash in and make some money for him and his family. It'll be sad to potentially see him go. It may also explain why we are playing Withy in his favoured position of openside when Harmon is available too.
Originally signed on a two year deal for 2021 and 2022... I thought logically maybe he signed a three-year deal given that Lentjes was due to leave and Withy was so young, and as he was so good we were keen to lock him in?
If he doesn't leave this year though, you'd think it would be next.
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@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann I quite like DeGroot as VC/CoC. Has international experience. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gilbert string 2-3 sensible decisions together
It is just a very quiet backpedal. Made a bit of a big deal about him getting the VC role. About him being a leader. He is one of the players whose stocks have dropped the most over the season. Started as the backline leader and goal kicker. Now, he isn't in the top 15. De Groot will be the next long-term captain.
I said the other day I thought Harmon would stay for at least one more year, but makes you wonder if this has been done with next year in mind... particularly as having two forwards as co-captains is slightly odd. The only real time I can remember that was Clarke and Messam for the Chiefs.
Should be able to see as to who is making the on-field decisions on the weekend. I was the opposite to you, thinking Harmon is probably in his last few games for the Highlanders. His market value is as high as it will ever be to cash in and make some money for him and his family. It'll be sad to potentially see him go. It may also explain why we are playing Withy in his favoured position of openside when Harmon is available too.
Originally signed on a two year deal for 2021 and 2022... I thought logically maybe he signed a three-year deal given that Lentjes was due to leave and Withy was so young, and as he was so good we were keen to lock him in?
If he doesn't leave this year though, you'd think it would be next.
My feeling is I'd be very surprised if he is there next year. He will be 30 at the end of this year. His AB window is now goooone. While as a 7/8 he is probably on par with Lakai (for example), he is a decade older. Rhe AB management may have informed him it is unlikely he will be in their plans either. He probably has three to four good years of rugby left in him to make bank. He has been in career best form for a couple of years and will be an easy sell for his managers to overseas clubs.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann I quite like DeGroot as VC/CoC. Has international experience. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gilbert string 2-3 sensible decisions together
It is just a very quiet backpedal. Made a bit of a big deal about him getting the VC role. About him being a leader. He is one of the players whose stocks have dropped the most over the season. Started as the backline leader and goal kicker. Now, he isn't in the top 15. De Groot will be the next long-term captain.
I said the other day I thought Harmon would stay for at least one more year, but makes you wonder if this has been done with next year in mind... particularly as having two forwards as co-captains is slightly odd. The only real time I can remember that was Clarke and Messam for the Chiefs.
Should be able to see as to who is making the on-field decisions on the weekend. I was the opposite to you, thinking Harmon is probably in his last few games for the Highlanders. His market value is as high as it will ever be to cash in and make some money for him and his family. It'll be sad to potentially see him go. It may also explain why we are playing Withy in his favoured position of openside when Harmon is available too.
We are playing Withy at 7 when Harmon is available because we have to play Harmon at 8 to get our best possible forward pack on the field with Renton being out. I wouldn’t read too much into that.
If I was Harmon and thought my best chance of playing international rugby was at openside. I'd be pissed, as the captain, getting shunted around positions. The second best player in the pack too. If it was potentially my last year in the team and was setting up the side for the future, with a team first focus, I wouldn't care where I was playing and would be doing the right thing. Like he has been. Harmon has been awesome. Sadly, like Ash Dixon he played his best rugby later in his career.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann I quite like DeGroot as VC/CoC. Has international experience. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gilbert string 2-3 sensible decisions together
It is just a very quiet backpedal. Made a bit of a big deal about him getting the VC role. About him being a leader. He is one of the players whose stocks have dropped the most over the season. Started as the backline leader and goal kicker. Now, he isn't in the top 15. De Groot will be the next long-term captain.
I said the other day I thought Harmon would stay for at least one more year, but makes you wonder if this has been done with next year in mind... particularly as having two forwards as co-captains is slightly odd. The only real time I can remember that was Clarke and Messam for the Chiefs.
Should be able to see as to who is making the on-field decisions on the weekend. I was the opposite to you, thinking Harmon is probably in his last few games for the Highlanders. His market value is as high as it will ever be to cash in and make some money for him and his family. It'll be sad to potentially see him go. It may also explain why we are playing Withy in his favoured position of openside when Harmon is available too.
Originally signed on a two year deal for 2021 and 2022... I thought logically maybe he signed a three-year deal given that Lentjes was due to leave and Withy was so young, and as he was so good we were keen to lock him in?
If he doesn't leave this year though, you'd think it would be next.
My feeling is I'd be very surprised if he is there next year. He will be 30 at the end of this year. His AB window is now goooone. While as a 7/8 he is probably on par with Lakai (for example), he is a decade older. Rhe AB management may have informed him it is unlikely he will be in their plans either. He probably has three to four good years of rugby left in him to make bank. He has been in career best form for a couple of years and will be an easy sell for his managers to overseas clubs.
Food for thought. Has Harmon done enough in a short space of time, that if he had already signed overseas, the Highlanders would say this is his final home game?
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@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann I quite like DeGroot as VC/CoC. Has international experience. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gilbert string 2-3 sensible decisions together
It is just a very quiet backpedal. Made a bit of a big deal about him getting the VC role. About him being a leader. He is one of the players whose stocks have dropped the most over the season. Started as the backline leader and goal kicker. Now, he isn't in the top 15. De Groot will be the next long-term captain.
I said the other day I thought Harmon would stay for at least one more year, but makes you wonder if this has been done with next year in mind... particularly as having two forwards as co-captains is slightly odd. The only real time I can remember that was Clarke and Messam for the Chiefs.
Should be able to see as to who is making the on-field decisions on the weekend. I was the opposite to you, thinking Harmon is probably in his last few games for the Highlanders. His market value is as high as it will ever be to cash in and make some money for him and his family. It'll be sad to potentially see him go. It may also explain why we are playing Withy in his favoured position of openside when Harmon is available too.
Originally signed on a two year deal for 2021 and 2022... I thought logically maybe he signed a three-year deal given that Lentjes was due to leave and Withy was so young, and as he was so good we were keen to lock him in?
If he doesn't leave this year though, you'd think it would be next.
My feeling is I'd be very surprised if he is there next year. He will be 30 at the end of this year. His AB window is now goooone. While as a 7/8 he is probably on par with Lakai (for example), he is a decade older. Rhe AB management may have informed him it is unlikely he will be in their plans either. He probably has three to four good years of rugby left in him to make bank. He has been in career best form for a couple of years and will be an easy sell for his managers to overseas clubs.
F
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Drua:
@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Drua:
@SouthernMann I quite like DeGroot as VC/CoC. Has international experience. Plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gilbert string 2-3 sensible decisions together
It is just a very quiet backpedal. Made a bit of a big deal about him getting the VC role. About him being a leader. He is one of the players whose stocks have dropped the most over the season. Started as the backline leader and goal kicker. Now, he isn't in the top 15. De Groot will be the next long-term captain.
I said the other day I thought Harmon would stay for at least one more year, but makes you wonder if this has been done with next year in mind... particularly as having two forwards as co-captains is slightly odd. The only real time I can remember that was Clarke and Messam for the Chiefs.
Should be able to see as to who is making the on-field decisions on the weekend. I was the opposite to you, thinking Harmon is probably in his last few games for the Highlanders. His market value is as high as it will ever be to cash in and make some money for him and his family. It'll be sad to potentially see him go. It may also explain why we are playing Withy in his favoured position of openside when Harmon is available too.
Originally signed on a two year deal for 2021 and 2022... I thought logically maybe he signed a three-year deal given that Lentjes was due to leave and Withy was so young, and as he was so good we were keen to lock him in?
If he doesn't leave this year though, you'd think it would be next.
My feeling is I'd be very surprised if he is there next year. He will be 30 at the end of this year. His AB window is now goooone. While as a 7/8 he is probably on par with Lakai (for example), he is a decade older. Rhe AB management may have informed him it is unlikely he will be in their plans either. He probably has three to four good years of rugby left in him to make bank. He has been in career best form for a couple of years and will be an easy sell for his managers to overseas clubs.
Food for thought. Has Harmon done enough in a short space of time, that if he had already signed overseas, the Highlanders would say this is his final home game?
Good thought. Generally when players are leaving/heading offshore we have heard about it by the end of the super season. 9 times out of 10 it’s leaked by the club they have signed with.
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Have a mate who manages some stuff at Christchurch airport, they’ve had to send some staff down to Dunedin to help out tomorrow because the Drua have a charter flight from Fiji and are landing into Dunedin airport at around 11.30am to go straight to the stadium and play. Their flight leaves again about 80mins after the game.
I thought that was pretty interesting and extremely poor planning by either the Drua or super rugby. How does that happen at this level?!
Anyway, huge advantage for the Landers because that kind of stuff throws off any kind of normal preparation and pre game routines players have. Let’s hope it works in the Landers favor.
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@Landers92 Fuck me that is rather sad,poor buggers, no wonder they struggle away from home so much.
What do they do when they go to Perth? Turn up half an hour before the game to go with the 4/5 hour time difference?
Obviously doing things this way is cheaper than paying for accommodation.
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@African-Monkey said in Highlanders v Drua:
@Landers92 Fuck me that is rather sad,poor buggers, no wonder they struggle away from home so much.
What do they do when they go to Perth? Turn up half an hour before the game to go with the 4/5 hour time difference?
Obviously doing things this way is cheaper than paying for accommodation.
Yeah mate I thought that bit of info was really interesting. Maybe not worthy of a post in here but thought I’d share it anyway haha
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@Landers92 I found it interesting for what it's worth haha. Crazy tough preparation and it shows the difficulties the PI nations still have financially. Most teams spend about 2 days for overseas fixtures (maybe longer in Perth).
Still, like the Jaguares said with their tough schedule when they were in it and I'm sure the Drua will say the same, they're just happy to be there.
