Super Rugby - June break matches

Stargazer

<p>The Highlanders v Crusaders game will be broadcasted live on Sky Sport 1.</p>
<p>Delayed on Rugby Channel at 5.00pm and replayed on Sky Sport 2 from 6.00pm.</p>

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="590268" data-time="1466503223">
<div>
<p>It's been 10 weeks since his injury, and the recovery time was 8 weeks, so he should be good to go now.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Hopefully it's not like his ITM Cup injury last year where 1 week turned into the whole season.</p>

Stargazer

<div><strong>Highlanders </strong>team to play the Crusaders:</div>
<div> </div>
<div>1. Aki Seiuli 2. Greg Pleasants-Tate 3. Josh Hohneck 4. Mark Reddish 5. Joe Wheeler 6. Gareth Evans 7. Shane Christie (C) 8. Luke Whitelock</div>
<div> </div>
<div>9. Te Aihe Toma 10. Marty Banks 11. Ryan Tongia 12. Rob Thompson 13. Jason Emery 14. Jack Wilson 15. Matt Faddes</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Reserves: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ross Geldenhuys, James Lentjes, Dan Pryor, Jamie Booth, Fletcher Smith, Teihorangi Walden, Michael Collins, Faasiu Fuatai, Hame Faiva, <strong>Tom Franklin</strong>, Siosiua Halanukonuka, Jackson Hemopo, Craig Millar</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Unavailable due to injury: Liam Coltman (foot), Alex Ainley (calf)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Unavailable due to International Commitments: Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo, Liam Squire, Elliot Dixon, Lima Sopoaga (All Blacks), Fumikai Tanaka (Japan). Patrick Osborne (Fiji)</div>

SouthernMan

<p>Interesting Manawatu halfback Jamie Booth is down with the Highlanders too.</p>

Stargazer

<div><strong>Melbourne Rebels</strong> Squad for exhibition match against Hurricanes:</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Cruze Ah Nau, Alofa Alofa*, Paul Asquith, Steve Cummins, Jack Debreczeni, Tom English, Colby Faingaâ€™a, Harley Fox*, Jamie Hagan, Reece Hodge, Mitch Inman, Sam Jeffries, Luke Jones, Pat Leafa, Ben Meehan, Tom Moloney, Sefa Naivalu, Jonah Placid, Jordy Reid, CulumRetallick, Fereti Saâ€™aga*, Siliva Siliva, Mick Snowden, NicStirzaker, Adam Thomson, Lopeti Timani</div>
<div> </div>
<div>*Uncapped Rebels </div>
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<div><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://melbournerebels.com/2016/06/22/rebels-name-extended-squad-for-hurricanes-trial/'>https://melbournerebels.com/2016/06/22/rebels-name-extended-squad-for-hurricanes-trial/</a></div>

Stargazer

<div><strong>Blues</strong> team to play the Northland Barbarians is:</div>
<div> </div>
<div>1 Sam Prattley (FR) 2 James Parsons (FR) (C) 3 Sione Mafileo (FR) 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti 5 Josh Bekhuis 6 Hoani Matenga 7 Kara Pryor 8 Joe Edwards</div>
<div>9 Billy Guyton 10 Piers Francis 11 Tevita Li 12 Matt McGahan 13 Michael Little 14 Matt Duffie 15 Melani Nanai</div>
<div> </div>
<div>RESERVES:</div>
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<div>Quentin MacDonald (FR), Matt Moulds (FR), Namatahi Waa (FR), Nic Mayhew (FR), Scott Scrafton, Brandon Nansen, Blake Gibson, </div>
<div>Bryn Hall, Will Talataina Mu, Matt Vaega, Afa Faâ€™atau, Lolagi Visinia</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://theblues.co.nz/4760-2/'>http://theblues.co.nz/4760-2/</a></div>

Chris B.

<p>Marty McKenzie having a horror start to the Oamaru game - first two kicks out on the full and the third gets charged. None under enormous pressure.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Rob Thompson fends off Havili and straight through for a try under the posts from close range.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's wet and muddy.</p>

Chris B.

<p>Big Nadolo runs over three tacklers to get the Crusaders on attack. A few charges close to the line, penalty - Matt Todd take a quick tap and crshes over.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>7-7 after 25 minutes.</p>

Chris B.

<p>More mistakes by Marty McKenzie and the Highlanders go over through Emery, who ducks under a Havili (again) tackle.</p>

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="590775" data-time="1466652031">
<div>
<p>Marty McKenzie having a horror start to the Oamaru game - first two kicks out on the full and the third gets charged. None under enormous pressure.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Rob Thompson fends off Havili and straight through for a try under the posts from close range.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's wet and muddy.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>That try could only be scored because the officials missed several Highlanders players being in front of the kicker in the Crusaders half.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Agree about Marty McKenzie; it's easy to see why Mo'unga is starting every game and McKenzie doesn't get picked at 10.</p>

Chris B.

<p>14-7 at halftime.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Crusaders lineout has been very poor - they have Tupou at lock, Princep at 6 and Taufua at 8 - so Barrett the only good option. Both packs weighing in at well short of 800kgs!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Highlanders have looked a bit the better team, but lots of mistakes from both teams in the wet. They're both trying to play footy though.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Marty Banks looking the most assured on the park. McKenzie has been very ordinary - lots of involvement but his early kicking was awful and he's since been rag-dolled a couple of times. Havili with two bad misses.</p>

Chris B.

<p>Barrett, Todd, Taufua, Drummond, Fonotia and Nadolo among the best for the Crusaders.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Pleasants-Tate, Whitelock, Banks, Thompson, Emery and Faddes standing out for the landers.</p>

Chris B.

<p>McKenzie starts the 2nd half by kicking the ball out on the full - he's having a Ben Blair!</p>

Chris B.

<p>Tongia steps inside Matt Todd and finds a huge hole in the Crusaders first phase defence - runs 20 metres to score. Very poor.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>21-7</p>

Chris B.

<p>Mo-unga has left the field and McKenzie is first five. Crusaders get a penalty and he fails to find touch.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Jesus Christ!</p>

Chris B.

<p>...and to cap one of his least memorable rugby days he's hurt his knee and having to be stretchered off.</p>

broughie

<p>Marty Mckenzie is really not that good. He is erractic and inconsistent. Good enough for club rugby. Why Canterbury pick him up I have no clue. The fact that he is bounced from franchise to franchise says it all. </p>

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="590789" data-time="1466655734">
<div>
<p>Marty Mckenzie is really not that good. He is erractic and inconsistent. Good enough for club rugby. Why Canterbury pick him up I have no clue. The fact that he is bounced from franchise to franchise says it all. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Canterbury? He won't be playing Mitre 10 Cup for Taranaki this year?</p>

Chris B.

<p>My viewing got increasingly interrupted.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Out the corner of my eye, Thompson made a good breakout that led to a try to Toma (who I was increasingly starting to watch - looked sharp). Hunt got one back for the Crusaders from close range. Nadolo missed the conversion - 28-12.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And then I saw no more except the final score - Highlanders added a couple of tries to make it a bit of a towelling - 40-12. Will catch the last 20 minutes on replay.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Crusaders had a lot of possession, but looked less incisive than the Highlanders. I'm not too upset we don't have Matson as a Head Coach. Despite that he's got our backline looking a bit sharper this year, he doesn't seem to have a great eye for selection, or much innovation about him c.f. Tony Brown.</p>

taniwharugby

<p>By my count, 8 'Northland' debutants in the starting 15, 2 have played ITM Cup for other provinces; Breen - Otago and MAtich - Auckland....3 on the bench have played for Northland before.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="https://scontent-syd1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13524429_1316389991723595_4128013513025725152_n.jpg?oh=a1fae74b4653dd67cdde57179074972e&oe=57EEA90D" alt="13524429_1316389991723595_41280135130257"></p>

The Silver Fern

Super Rugby - June break matches