The Silver Fern

@Damo Exactly. You're making do with what you have and just defeated a team that's just come off giving the powerhouse of the competition an absolute hiding, so yeah, I'd be pretty happy grinding out a tough win, which makes next weeks game in Tonga even bigger.

@antipodean I'm going from this year's form, he's been one of the best players for the Brumbies and one of the top fullbacks in the comp. Wright's screwed up plenty of times in the past but is this the year he's finally matured? Who knows but I'd have him in the mix for sure.

Darby Lancaster is another young gun winger playing really well for the Rebels. He could also be in the mix. The Wallabies aren't short of outside back options.

Lakia, Iose and um ... Lomax in his 100th game

But a number of others would have been worthy too. Great situation to be in when a few years back it was in some games Savea and sometimes Barrett and no one else

@cgrant said in Highlanders v Hurricanes:

@Dan54
Tosi is the one who has stepped up very significantly this year. Last year, he could not scrum. Now, he is a beast at scrum time. And he is very effective in the loose, making the hard yards and he also has good hands. He is the second best THP in NZ, IMO. I would be delighted to see him get a call for the ABs.

Couldn't agree more mate!

@Kiwiwomble said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

@frugby i saw it as he arrived at the same time as someone else who just happened to be further back so he was put offside by his own player, i think if he was the only one there it would have been fine, so yellow if we'd had penalties/warning in the lead up but if neither a penalty and a warning maybe

I think though, the referee is saying that he has illegally slowed the ball down after a line break. Considering location on the field, by rule that is a fair yellow card.

The better question, as you say is whether he actually came in from the side. As I say, probably just. Sort of came in on the 45 and crept around, which sometimes you'll get away with, but generally not after a fast break, as the referee's always seem to decide that you were never onside, even if the ruck moves after you are already on the ball.

Highlanders 73-10

They're into the 5th/6th payoff

@Bones said in Highlanders v Brumbies:

@frugby said in Highlanders v Brumbies:

Certainly in the past, I think that has been the weakness of his game compared to say Cane?

I seriously think you've been watching someone else and confusing them for Harmon. The only noticeable thing about Harmon when he first hit the scene was his support play and running.

Have too agree, hard running was often the first thing i listed under his name

@gt12 how did the Sam Gilbert slander work out for you 😉

All jokes aside, hard fought win. Think we should be glad to take that win and get home to regroup and take on the brumbies next week. As someone in the season thread suggested, Expect a couple changes to freshen up. I just hope we stick with Patchell as it is definitely working, injecting Ajay in late has also looked good the last 2 weeks.

We are in a pretty decent place, better than I thought we would be after 3 weeks anyway. Promising start to the season is nice for a change!

Darry "looks like medial ligament, didn't look good"

I love how he sells this dummy so well Broughton gets double teamed, compete stitch up!

Any injuries, more importantly

@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.

Shitty game.. move along

Have the Blues changed up their attack in the last 2-3 matches? The backs seem to be aligned deeper and there seems to be more forwards doing pick and goes or running lines very close to the breakdown.
As mentioned in the press conference it was working in the first half before the errors/frustration/whatever

@Bovidae said in Highlanders v Reds:

Super Rugby Pacific refereeing officials believe there was indeed foul play by the Highlanders in the tackle which broke the neck of Reds lock Connor Vest, but that it wasn’t Shannon Frizell at fault, and no yellow card was warranted.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/132180622/referees-admit-fault-in-brokenneck-tackle-but-shannon-frizell-in-the-clear

I don't see a single quote admitting fault. Quality Stuff journalism again.

@Bones said in Highlanders v Rebels:

@NTA said in Highlanders v Rebels:

I loved how Hardwick was pulled off his feet in a neck roll, but we don't seem to penalise that any more

I've been interested to see how much pulling there's been at the breakdown this year. I thought that was a penalty offence? Even against Australians I think.

The neck rolls and pulling players into your side of the ruck is a blight

@Kiwiwomble I think the things he didn't do were the problem. It allowed the Brumbies to target their defence out wider, and you played too much at times.

@Stargazer said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

@Frank I can write my opinion when I want to. Deal with it! It being a minority opinion doesn't make it more fluffing than when you read most other threads where posters say something positive about a player. I'm passionate about my team and players. I also rather look at the positives than the negatives (if present). You should try it sometimes. Much better than the constant moaning on the Fern by a bunch of GOM.

Nah, being a GOM is way more fun.

@Stargazer You can add Hunt's missed touchfinders to that.

@Bones said in Force v Highlanders:

@SBW1 said in Force v Highlanders:

Surely something can be done to help them out.

It's rugby. A couple of years ago it was the chiefs, for close to a decade it was the blues.

We're all getting a bit too dramatic when a team has an off season, even though it's regular as clockwork.

No helping out needed, the pendulum will swing, right?

i get what your saying but i dont think its that simple, some teams definitely have longer or higher highs, even when it was the blues you could see the potential, it was more of a "why aren't they better" kind of deal, huge population, major city more attractive to live in even had several all blacks that just weren't firing at super level.....dunedin cant claim those things when trying to attract new players