The Silver Fern

That was a great watch, impressive stuff from both teams. Scrappy at the end which is expected but throughly enjoyed it.

Stands outs for the highlanders for me were Tangitau and Holland, both solid games all round. Nareki looked good, Gilbert looked comfortable in 15 and was solid and Tavatavawai did a great job in the 12 jersey for the first time.

All the new signings impressed, Lasaga looked a real threat with ball in hand too. Vikena some strong carries.

Holland playing the full 80 and Dunshea playing 70 stressed me out but glad they got through unscathed. Plenty to grow on but that was encouraging heading into week 1. Some hard choices to be made around selection next weekend.

Bring on the season.

@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.

@Kiwiwomble yeah hope it’s nothing serious with him. Will try and get some insight around that tomorrow

Tavatavanawai to start in the 12 jersey on Thursday. Very interesting. This could be fun

Tony Brown back in Dunedin and helping out with the team for a few weeks. Good to see

Marcus Rashford, welcome to the Villa. UTV

Don’t see any updates in here so will update for those who aren’t aware.

Rives Reihana out for roughly a month with an ankle injury.
Johnny McNicholl out for up to 8 weeks with a hamstring.
Quinton Strange still a few weeks away from his return.
Finlay Brewis and Seb Calder both had shoulder injuries in the opening 20 minutes against the Blues on Friday. Unsure of the extent but according to Stuff, Penney said Brewis’ is more significant.

@Bones said in Highlanders 2025:

Rather bemused at the discounting of Nareki - if he's playing to the best of his abilities, he's AB quality.

Agreed. Our best and most consistent back for years on end and all of a sudden he’s out of the 23… The joys of pre season conversations.

Week 1 can’t come soon enough.

Biggest takeaway from Fridays game is that there were no fresh injuries. Stand outs according to the ODT were Withy and Tavatavanawai.

@Kiwiwomble they can post highlight videos of the tries, but no regular score updates etc. Go figure

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.

@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2025:

Is Howden injured?

No Howden, Taine Robinson or Umaga Jenson. Other than JRK and Haig I think that’s everyone off the top of my head

Team for the first pre season game below.

1. JOSH BARTLETT
2. HENRY BELL
3. SOSEFO KAUTAI
4. LUI NAEATA
5. MITCH DUNSHEA
6. HUGH RENTON (Cc)
7. HAYDEN MICHAELS
8. NIKORA BROUGHTON
9. NATHAN HASTIE
10. CAMERON MILLAR
11. MICHAEL MANSON
12. JAKE TE HIWI
13. JOSH WHAANGA
14. CALEB TANGITAU
15. SAM GILBERT

Bench
DANIEL LIENERT-BROWN
SOANE MIKAELE VIKENA
ROHAN WINGHAM
JOSH TENGBLAD
FABIAN HOLLAND
MICHAEL LOFT
VEVENI LASAQA
SEAN WITHY
ADAM LENNOX
AJAY FALEAFAGA
JONA NAREKI
TANIELU TELE'A
TIMOCI TAVATAVANAWAI (Cc)
FOLAU FAKATAVA
FINN HURLEY
JACK SEXTON
JACK TAYLOR

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:

What will be interesting will be whether the Landers stream the Invercargill game on Waitengi Day.

They are trying to sort something out for that one. Whether it happens or not is another story

To add on to my comment further up. Moana will also not be streaming this Fridays game…

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:

@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:

Just been told the Highlanders won’t be streaming the game against Moana this Friday. Here’s hoping Moana are. Pretty disappointing to be honest, should be trying to get the countries eyes on super rugby before the season starts as promotion has been pretty poor so far leading up to this season.

Also the Wider training group isn’t far from being confirmed. They aren’t announcing it until after pre season finishes. Weird approach but I suppose that covers themselves with injuries etc.

No issue with the Landers not streaming the game. It should be the responsibility of the host team. I'm surprised Sky isn't interested. Get everything set up and run through at North Harbour stadium. Do we know what time kick off is? Surely the Landers will be aiming to fly there and back on the same day?

With the WTG, interested to see whether Lennox sticks around. Not sure who of the other lads apart from Haig are walking injured and need cover?

Yeah not saying it’s on the landers, just saying it’s pretty disappointing in general. It’s 2025, how hard can it be to set stuff like this up… anyway, that’s a complaint for another thread.

As far as details go, unsure, we only know it’s on Friday. Again, disappointing. Assuming it’s an afternoon kickoff.

Yeah Lennox would be nice to keep around, assuming Michael Loft may be offered one and then a bunch of local boys?

Just been told the Highlanders won’t be streaming the game against Moana this Friday. Here’s hoping Moana are. Pretty disappointing to be honest, should be trying to get the countries eyes on super rugby before the season starts as promotion has been pretty poor so far leading up to this season.

Also the Wider training group isn’t far from being confirmed. They aren’t announcing it until after pre season finishes. Weird approach but I suppose that covers themselves with injuries etc.

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:

Richie says no:

Jan 21

Blow for All Blacks as Mo’unga decides to stay in Japan

Exclusive: In-demand first-five Richie Mo'unga was in talks with NZ Rugby about an early return this year but they have fallen through, writes Patrick McKendry.

Bigger picture, this is much better for NZ rugby. Forces us into finding some more 10s, just a shame Plummer has already decided he’s going to leave.

Expecting to see some pretty disappointed Crusader fans that were adamant he was going to be back for the 2026 super season.

@Mauss said in All Blacks 2025:

Anybody have a clue who these two guys are that Jordan's talking to? I have a hunch about both but that hunch just seems unlikely so maybe I'm just not seeing who they actually are.

Funnily enough, the one on the right is Noah Hotham. He’s wearing the same top and hat a in a separate photo if you scroll a few more times. My guess for the one on the left is Darry.

Hotham has to be standing on a chair or something. Well done to the photographer for keeping us on our toes.