Otago v Auckland
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Holland, Haig, Miller, Gilbert, Bell need to stand up big time. Show some leadership and lead by example. Sometimes you need to grow up fast and now is the time for these guys
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@Nogusta said in Otago v Auckland:
Any idea who the next 10 option is?
Wiseguy Faiane might be a chance.
He trained on Monday.Still only 26
Just checked when he last played - 2020 was his last NPC game and 2017 was when he played his only NPC match for Auckland
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@KiwiInLondon said in Otago v Auckland:
Holland, Haig, Miller, Gilbert, Bell need to stand up big time. Show some leadership and lead by example. Sometimes you need to grow up fast and now is the time for these guys
i'll say it again, i just dont see what Gilbert offers at 12...and for all hurleys speed and nice touches...the 25min highlights i saw showed him getting manhandled multiple times, move gilbert back to 15, has a good boot and not often caught out of position...let his big frame get a head of speed up
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@Kiwiwomble said in Otago v Auckland:
@KiwiInLondon said in Otago v Auckland:
Holland, Haig, Miller, Gilbert, Bell need to stand up big time. Show some leadership and lead by example. Sometimes you need to grow up fast and now is the time for these guys
i'll say it again, i just dont see what Gilbert offers at 12...and for all hurleys speed and nice touches...the 25min highlights i saw showed him getting manhandled multiple times, move gilbert back to 15, has a good boot and not often caught out of position...let his big frame get a head of speed up
Gilbert is a major let down for me. Just never stamps what is his perceived authority on the game. I'd have him in the 23 jersey. At the moment, we don't hwve another option at 12. Hurley's tackle on Jack Taylor was top class. Wrapping him up right on the line. I want to see him kept on. Looks like we are down to two wingers at the moment with Kyan Rangitutia and Josh Whaanga. So can't move Whaanga into centre. Umaga-Jensen will be swapped straight into the 13 jersey.
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@SouthernMann i get what your saying about the good that hurley does....but i just feel its far outweighed by the bad...running into contact (as a 15 does often)...and actually being picked up more than once is not good...if he's going to stay he needs to stop playing like a small dog with big dog energy and play to his strengths...never get caught with the ball, work harder to connect with support and offload or kick
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The luckless Josh Timu limped off in the first half against Southland. The midfielder has played just half a dozen professional games in the last two years due to a horrid run of injuries.
He took a whack to the leg but it is not considered too serious and he should be available for Otago’s round three game against Bay of Plenty.
Star winger Jona Nareki took a blow to the head early in the first half and failed an HIA. He was back running at training yesterday but he has a seven-day stand-down and will not feature against Auckland.
Co-captain and powerhouse No 8 Christian Lio-Willie has a hamstring complaint and is another week away from a return to play.
Loosie Tom Sanders has concussion symptoms and is also out of contention.
Highlanders midfielder Jake Te Hiwi requires surgery on his wrist and is out for the season, while winger Jeremiah Asi has a crook shoulder and is also gone for the season.
But there is some good news on the injury front.
Halfback James Arscott, who rolled his ankle at training last week, is back in the mix for selection.
Blindside Oliver Haig has recovered from a head knock and his presence in the lineout will be warmly welcomed by Otago.
Robust midfielder Thomas Umaga-Jenson, who tweaked his knee in a club game, is another returnee. He put in the mahi at training yesterday and his return is timely given Timu’s absence.
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@Landers92 said in Otago v Auckland:
ODT has a new article out saying ‘Some welcome returns following spate of injuries’. That’s some good news at least. Hopefully that’s the bigger names back eg Lio-Willie and Haig, it’s behind a paywall so I’m unable to see it.
Arscott, Haig and Umaga-Jensen to return
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@reprobate said in Otago v Auckland:
The luckless Josh Timu limped off in the first half against Southland. The midfielder has played just half a dozen professional games in the last two years due to a horrid run of injuries.
He took a whack to the leg but it is not considered too serious and he should be available for Otago’s round three game against Bay of Plenty.
Star winger Jona Nareki took a blow to the head early in the first half and failed an HIA. He was back running at training yesterday but he has a seven-day stand-down and will not feature against Auckland.
Co-captain and powerhouse No 8 Christian Lio-Willie has a hamstring complaint and is another week away from a return to play.
Loosie Tom Sanders has concussion symptoms and is also out of contention.
Highlanders midfielder Jake Te Hiwi requires surgery on his wrist and is out for the season, while winger Jeremiah Asi has a crook shoulder and is also gone for the season.
But there is some good news on the injury front.
Halfback James Arscott, who rolled his ankle at training last week, is back in the mix for selection.
Blindside Oliver Haig has recovered from a head knock and his presence in the lineout will be warmly welcomed by Otago.
Robust midfielder Thomas Umaga-Jenson, who tweaked his knee in a club game, is another returnee. He put in the mahi at training yesterday and his return is timely given Timu’s absence.
Time to put a line through Timu and Sanders and just move on. Te Hiwi isn’t a real loss but in terms of depth it makes things tough. All of a sudden Ajay might see a lot of action at 12 at a pinch which isn’t exactly ideal.
Nareki out this week and Asi done for the season, all of a sudden only Hurley is the only healthy outside back from the initial squad that was named. How stupid do we look only naming 3 outside backs now…
Rangitutia can expect regular game time and you’d think there will be another outside back pulled into the squad. It just seems so disjointed and a mess.
Good to have Haig, Arscott and TUG back at least.
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@Kiwiwomble have to agree with you here. Hurley just doesn’t have a cool head. Have a watch of the highlights of Green Islands semi and final. Carries on like a dickhead. I have it on fairly good authority that he got an absolute bollocking in his post season review for the highlanders. Needs to get a better head on his shoulders.
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@Duluth said in Otago v Auckland:
@Nogusta said in Otago v Auckland:
Any idea who the next 10 option is?
Wiseguy Faiane might be a chance.
He trained on Monday.Still only 26
Just checked when he last played - 2020 was his last NPC game and 2017 was when he played his only NPC match for Auckland
Yup played one game against Waikato midweek well before he was ready, in a disastrous 2017 season, where we got flogged 57-10 by North Harbour, and only avoided relegation on the last day due to BOP doing us a favour and beating Waikato to send them down.
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From a Highlanders perspective, I'm really keen to see how Tangitau plays under the roof. Should be a weapon for us next season.
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@SouthernMann he was woeful against Wellington defensively last Friday and had some trouble under the high ball. I'm a Tangitau fan but will definitely have a few kinks to iron out defensively.
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@Canes4life said in Otago v Auckland:
@SouthernMann he was woeful against Wellington defensively last Friday and had some trouble under the high ball. I'm a Tangitau fan but will definitely have a few kinks to iron out defensively.
Which is to he expexted. Got stuff all time for the Blues. I'd expect the plan is to get him ready to be a starting player in 2026. Run him off the bench next year and replace one of the likely departing wingers when they go. There is a lot to like about what he can do. He just needs to fix the boring stuff.
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@Duluth said in Otago v Auckland:
Auckland have Christian Leali'ifano at 10
lol yeah the NPC is the bedrock of NZ rugby success.
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There shouldn't be any Aussies in this comp. I would've preferred Wiseguy Faiane.
At least it should only be for one week. Not sure how bad Sullivan and Harford's injuries are but Plummer will be back next week
