The Silver Fern

Lasaqa over Withy probably the other big headline. I don’t buy the nonsense that he isn’t starting because he was in Sydney.

If they wanted to start him, they would not have sent him.

@SouthernMann Jamie clearly wants it - guess it depends if NZR allows it. Probably explains why there is no injury cover for Haig.

@SouthernMann Any mention of Arscott?

@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:

@SouthernMann just to add to that list. Taniela Filimone who we signed from the NOLA Gold in the MLR didn’t play last week and isn’t named again this week. A strange signing but he has been training so makes me wonder if he’s in the WTG and being lined up with Otago. Would have thought he’d get a shot in pre season though.

Would have thought he would have got some minutes last week really. A strange deal all round

@Kiwiwomble Injured - believe it is the shoulder from the NPC

Team is out today. From what I observed when I drove past at training yesterday, expecting to see something along the lines of:

1. de Groot
2. Bell
3. Ma'u
4. Dunshea
5. Holland
6. Howden
7. Lasaqa
8. Renton
9. Fakatava
10. Millar
11. Nareki
12. Te Hiwi
13. Tele'a
14. Tavatavanawai
15. Gilbert

Manson, Hurley and Tangitau were training as the opposite back three, so that is a bit of a clue Gilbert will be in 15.

@SouthernMann Where the fringe players sit will be quite interesting.

I think there is a relatively clear pecking order at prop & lock. We know hooker is open season, but ideally by the end of the year the hope would be there is an established starter., because I would suggest that means one of them is on the fringes of the All Blacks.

Loose forward will be fascinating, particularly how they use Lasaqa. Michaels I get the feeling is on the outer, but you just never know.

Halfback too could be fascinating, because it seems they have five halfbacks training with them. I would suggest considering how highly rated Pledger is, that gives a clue at how Jamie rates the other two behind Fakatava (who has supposedly re-signed until 2027 though I take that with a grain of salt). Hastie is the one who they tried (unsuccessfully) to get rid of - not Arscott, though I think he is really just viewed as a solid number three. Will Lennox get a game? Will Pledger get a game? Should be fun to follow.

First five, Millar is obviously the starter, but what happens behind him will be interesting. I had heard that Robinson has been brought down with the intention of him being the 2nd choice. I've heard Faleafaga is looking at options in Japan after the Super Rugby season, and unless Millar gets injured I think his chances will be limited. However, what could be interesting is how the shape of the bench effects things. Will Hurley/Gilbert cover 10 on gameday?

Midfielders, the assumption is that Umaga-Jensen and Tele'a will be the starting midfield, but I honestly feel like it is open season here. Would not shock me to see Te Hiwi, Gilbert or Whaanga in there. If we are playing well this should become settled.

The wingers should be fun. I think it is going to be a classic case of competition for places bringing the best out of them. It was notable that Tavatavanawai spent time at centre in the MP game, so don't discount them doing that to get their best players on the park. I think ultimately if all four main wingers play to the best of their abilities, then Tangitau and Tavatavanawai are the starting pair, backed up by Nareki and Manson.

Fullback, I think they are hoping JRK is back middle of the season. This just seems to be the vibe. We'll know what the thinking is on Thursday. If Hurley has impressed on the training ground, then they might chuck him in, but they may decide that they actually have enough x-factor in the backline, and will instead opt for a safer option like Gilbert, which I could understand.

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:

Come on guys this is just another example of a sub standard NZ player looking a million bucks up north as the quality of rugby is so much poorer up there

Calling Jordie Barrett sub standard is wild. He has his flaws, but so does nearly every rugby player. The ABs issues are primarily at 10. A good first five covers the deficiencies of most sides.

Playing Beauden Barrett probably exaggerated our issues, but we were hardly an all conquering side with McKenzie running the cutter. If you dropped a prime Carter into the ABs last year they probably win a couple of tests they lost.

It may be unrealistic to expect another DC will come along, but at the very least there will be another very good first five come along by the time the Lions Tour comes around, because that is what has happened right through the history of NZ Rugby, and it would be bizarre if the trend did not follow.

That guy isn't McKenzie, nor Plummer or Perofeta. I am not convinced it is a Cam Millar or a Josh Jacomb either. I don't follow the age-grade stuff close enough, but there is bound to be some one come along. Until this happens though, the ABs will remain inconsistent, and our midfield/outside backs will be effected by this.

Manson with the game winner. He is going to be a good impact sub I reckon

26-21. Renton & Vikena both got a try, Tangitau was supposedly quite sharp.

Highlanders take the W

7-7 after the first period. Rolling Maul try seemingly scored by Vikena.

@SouthernMann We'll see. As far as we know he hasn't been playing rugby, which effectively puts him at a minimum, two years behind his peers in terms of physical development.

In his favour is that wing is probably the position which requires the least amount of skill. Still, it would be quite the story if he makes it from here.

@SouthernMann I reckon the chance of Fifita making it would have to be pretty minimal. Two years out the game probably kills any chance he has of making it in SR.

@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:

Jonah Lowe isn’t playing this game due to injury. Assuming he is still rehabbing last years injury? Pretty easy to forget he’s still in the squad these days.

I guess so. Nine months from when he did the original injury would be about now, so he probably isn't far off.

@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2025:

NZR will be reluctant to give dispensation for a young tight forward when he has yet to even play NPC.

I’m sure you’re right, but I guess the Highlanders may look to use this pre-season game as proof he can cope with the physicality.

@booboo I may need some

There might be some skull-duggery at play regarding the locking situation. The Highlanders wanted to pick Josh Tengblad in their squad this season but were denied by NZR… don’t be surprised if he sees the field this year.

Both Tengbald and Tayne Harvey are rated as future ABs internally (presumably along with Pledger) so could be a good crop coming through

@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2025 predictions:

@frugby said in Super Rugby 2025 predictions:

@Canes4life said in Super Rugby 2025 predictions:

@frugby said in Super Rugby 2025 predictions:

@mariner4life said in Super Rugby 2025 predictions:

you can pretty much pen in the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Reds and Brumbies to the finals, leaving one spot for most probably the Waratahs, the Highlanders and the Crusaders to fight for.

And the Waratahs get to host the Highlanders and the Crusaders, which i think gives them a little advantage.

Penning the Canes in is a big call when they don’t have a first five or Jordie Barrett… they may lack a little in the outsides too.

The Canes will be fine, Cameron wasn’t exactly special last year at 10, we only need someone steady with the talent outside our 10 in that backline. Roigard is back as well which will take huge pressure off whoever runs the cutter. Higgins will be the big mover in NZ rugby IMO at 12, Jordie not a huge loss with the depth we have.

Our pack is the strength this year and we have two AB tight head props which is gold. You’re a brave man for picking the Landers above the Canes and Saders but I expect that’s more heart than head. Over a whole season I just can’t see the Landers staying with the other Kiwi sides, they just don’t seem to quite have the star power to me.

The beauty of this year is everything will play out one way or another. A few of us will be happy and a few of us will be planning for 2026 pretty early on if things don’t go well.

I absolutely own heart over head, but I do seriously think that if Cashmore doesn't click, it will cost the Canes. Like or loathe Cameron, I suspect you won't realise how important he was until you are struggling on derby games with the lack of a first five.

No coincidence the Highlanders, and the Blues before them, have been the weakest NZ sides because they lacked a 10. Having Jordie I think would have helped off-set that somewhat, and even if Higgins has a big year, which I agree he will, he does not have the kicking game Jordie has, or perhaps more pertinently the experience. I also think if Kini Naholo picks up an injury, the Canes could be a little light in the outside backs.

I think the Crusaders lack of a 10 hurts them too - it is the most crucial position by a country mile.

For most of the season last year Roigard carried the Hurricanes in terms of decision making. There was a noticeable drop in Cameron's performance once Roigard got injured so with him back again I think he'll call most of the shots from the base of the scrum. All Cashmore needs to do (if he's the guy selected) is put us in the right areas. I would agree with you if Roigard wasn't there but I think someone will step up accordingly.

I think for most teams keeping key guys off the injured list is going to be vital.

Absolutely. I guess more my point is, the only team I actually think you can ink into the playoffs are the Blues. I genuinely believe they are the only side who where if everything goes wrong (ala the Crusaders last year) they will still make the top six.

The exciting thing about this season I think, is that there is actually jeopardy for every side, perhaps for the first time since the Super 15 was done away with after 2015. There is bound to be an Australian side his a little better than the others, but this promises to be a year where everyone beats everyone, and I think spots 4-8 will be decided by really fine margins.

Part of the reason I favour the Highlanders for a top six spot (outside of bias) is the way their draw is set-up. Some of this could obviously work against them, but I suspect playing the Waratahs away first-up will be about as easy as it gets to play them there. They avoid a trip to Queensland, play Moana Pasifika 2x, and avoid having to play the Blues 2x. They'll need to start fast, because the end to the season is brutal, but that is far easier than a hard start to the season.

Contrast that to the Chiefs for example, who play the Blues 2x, the Crusaders, the Brumbies and go to Fiji in their first five. There is a world where they lose all five (you wouldn't think they would), and as the Crusaders showed that is almost impossible to come back from.