@Duluth said in Highlanders 2024:

In general I think all the teams should put more up on social media/youtube.

Yep, a good portion of the Warriors hype train is down to social media, for some reason rugby has been useless at it.

Highlights from Petone's win over OBU on Saturday.

Petone's side featured a raft of current/former Super Rugby and NPC players including Harry Godfrey, Riley Higgins, Ngani Punvai, Losi Filipo, TJ Clarke, Belgium Tuatagaloa and Kaliopasis Uluilakepa. Petone also have Brad Shields, Peter Lakai and Logan Henry in their ranks so pretty stacked if all those players were available at the same time.

It is interesting that the cost is so closely related to the opponent, IME ABs games are not. The pricing might be a bit different, but really it is about the ABs.

@sparky

What have you seen of Taylor so far?

Vai’i shouldn’t even be in the squad, let alone starting

Ignoring the predictable winner out front, I've enjoyed the tussle for the third podium position and those trying to get that solitary point for coming 10th. But that's been F1 for as long as I've been watching.

As to the size, this is a good indication of the problem; so much easier to block:

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Had a great afternoon in Cardiff watching Wales lose to France. Scoreline did not reflect the match.

Some very good skills on show. Also some abject ordinariness.

club rugby has started again so all good with the world, we yelled and screamed at the ref...we bemoaned lost opportunities due to skill level...but end the end got to spend the day standing in the sun with mates and then had a few beers with the guys we were calling names not long before

I won't start a new thread but Thames Valley and King Country will be playing in the curtain-raiser for the Chiefs-Hurricanes game in May.

Chiefs Country teams to play curtain raiser at FMG Stadium Waikato Chiefs Country teams to play curtain raiser at FMG Stadium Waikato

Chiefs Country provincial unions of Thames Valley and King Country will face off at FMG Stadium Waikato on the 24th of May in a curtain raiser to the Gallagher Chiefs clash against the Hurricanes.

When is he going to get a crack at Super Rugby, he might have got a better shot at the Highlanders or staying in Christchurch, surely has to be better than what the Saders are fielding at 10.

Jay Renton signs with Houston

djcoilrugby  /  Apr 19 Houston SaberCats Adds Jay Renton - djcoilrugby Houston SaberCats Adds Jay Renton - djcoilrugby

Houston SaberCats The Houston SaberCats signed New Zealand scrumhalf Jay Renton for the remainder of the 2024 Major League Rugby season.

It was a gloomy autumn afternoon, but watching the game updates and checking other reports, there was some excellent matches this afternoon!

Only one game was separated by more than 5 points, and 3 teams remain unbeaten.

The big game between Mid Northern and Moerewa/United Kawakawa ended in a draw, from what I saw, MUKK lead for 75 odd minutes, and at 1 point were 9 points clear, but in the end it was a MUKK penalty at the death that saw the game end 26-26.

I went along to Kamo v Sharks, 1st half Kamo were heading into a stiff breeze and was almost 20 minutes before they opened the scoring through young wing Jacob Lowther, they stretched thier lead further after #8 Jarvaiyas Mangu busted several tackles before out pacing the cover defence to put them out to 12-0.

The Sharks hit back almost immediately with a nicely worked try to fullback Josiah Povey, the unsuccessful kick would see the half end 12-5.

The Sharks, despite turning to face the wind hit back soon after the restart to tie things up at 12 all.

Kamo then made some great in roads through thier pack, and after going close a couple of times, prop Iose Brown stepped a defender and scored next to the uprights to put Kamo back in front.

The Sharks werent done, as they hit back soon after, they also had several chances with bruising lock Inoke Tavatu shrugging defenders aside as he stormed toward the line, then somehow, Kamo's 6 Harry Lowther bought him down just short, before they ended up scoring several phases later to again, draw level.

Now inside the final 10, with the scores tied up at 19-19, Kamo won a penalty about 25 out, right in the middle of the field, and for some reason, they went for the corner...now they did win 2 further consecutive penalties at the lineout maul, then at a scrum, only to turn around and concede a dumb penalty to allow the Sharks off the hook.

However, playing into the wind, the Sharks were unable to clear too far, and further waves of attack lead to the visitors making an error giving Kamo a scrum 5m out, from there Jayden Laupepe, thier normal fullback playing 9 crashed over his opposite to score the match winner, and with other results, go to the top of the table.

For Kamo, Ben Monaghan played very well, carried strongly, tackled and was a good target in thier lineout, Blake Hohaia did well playing at FB, while young Jacob Lowther showed some glimpses of class on the wing.

The Sharks who field a pretty decent sized forward pack were unable to utilise that advantage, even with big Inoke Tavatu and hard running midfielder Jone Mateiwai hitting the ball up, they were often met and bought down. Tavutu was also very busy at breakdowns and made some crucial tackles.

Fullback Josiah Povey showed good pace and looked dangerous when he got the ball, while young Lucas Payne showed his extreme pace on occasion, sadly, usually only chasing kicks rather than with ball in hand.

In the other games:

Wellsford managed to come from behind to stop Hikurangi OBM comfortably accounted for Hora Hora Waipu nabbed thier first win of the season

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George had his best result in quite a while in the Giro d'Abruzzo - coming in 3rd in the GC, 2nd in the KotM, and 2nd in the final stage.

Solid throughout.

Behind Lutsenko and Sivakov, but ahead of Adam Yates, Ulissi, Pozzivivo and a few other decent names...and everyone else.

@Donsteppa Slater is a serial offender in this regard.

I read his biography (or autobiography) years ago. He's got some mental health issues that partially derailed his playing career.

Will we see this at the masters😂🐯🐅 - Follow @golfmemesz for more -... Will we see this at the masters😂🐯🐅 - Follow @golfmemesz for more -...

Will we see this at the masters😂🐯🐅 - Follow @golfmemesz for more - #golf #sports #golfmemes #golfswing #tigerwoods. shelly.shells386 · Original audio

@Tim A Crusaders player landed on his ankle. I don't know if it was the same ankle that he twisted in pre-season but I don't think it is too serious.

Pereira telling Herb that he'll deal with the low blow

@antipodean Utah has recently approved a sales tax increase to contribute up to $900 million for a new arena or a remodeled arena for the NHL team/Utah Jazz. The Owner of the NHL team is the same guy who owns the Utah Jazz.

@Winger Was listening to him doing the comments during the radio commentary of one of the Hurricanes games earlier this year. Very insightful and astute in both his description and reasoning behind what had just happened and why along with predicting, accurately in a lot of cases, what was going to happen from a restart in play. Gave reasons why as well and was well worth listening too. Hopefully he will be in the chair tonight.

Auckland club rugby teams for the weekend: Facebook link