Critical for Drua to win this, and Force have their strongest lineup this year.

@frugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@Landers92 said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@Landers92 said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

You'd think with Hurley. Even if there is an early back three injury Gilbert will go on. Looks like he really was the last outside back standing in the squad

im thinking i would have been tempted to have gone 6/2 split just too have bigger bodies and changed gameplan to suit

And it looks like Parkinson, Hicks, Sanders and the unplayed Hayden Michaels were all available

Will be interesting to see how many are playing club on the weekend. Hicks is clearly out of favor but I would have had Paripari ahead of Tucker personally, he could have been massive off the bench. Just hope PPP can get the injuries behind him because there is huge potential there and with Dunshea, Holland and him, that’s a great locking trio moving forward.

I have a feeling we won't see Parkinson in a Highlanders jersey again. He has been playing club rugby. There are rumours of two lock spots being available for next year. Oli Haig and Hugo Plummer have been selected ahead of him at lock. Resds like he is on the shelf and his ticket is booked out of Dunedin

It would be a real shame because as we know, when he’s fit and firing he’s as absolute weapon. Unfortunately, staying healthy is the best ability one can have and he doesn’t seem to have that.

Hopefully he isn’t leaving in the off season as I feel if he moved to another franchise he could really kick on to higher honours. Here’s hoping some good competition for the jersey takes him to another level, imo he’s levels above Will Tucker.

Parkinson quite simply has never recovered from that major knee injury. At the time it was between him and Lord for that ABs spot, they went with Lord - perhaps unfairly at the time, and the weekend Lord made his debut against the USA, Parkinson fucked his knee up playing for Ta$man.

Still limps and lumbers around. He has been absolute shite this season, barring about one half vs someone (can't remember who).

He'll go overseas is my guess, would another franchise want him?

Yeah too right, hasn’t he had a bad shoulder injury too? Pretty rough luck for both lads. I saw Lord was ruled out for the rest of this season again with another injury so that locking position is wide open for the taking.

@Canes4life said in Blues vs Hurricanes:

I swear they’ve worn Black far more than yellow this year. It’s annoying.

I don't have an issue with 2 jerseys. Now I consider yellow and black as being the Canes colors. So as long as the team sticks with these 2 colors I'm fine. Anything else though. Like grey or whatever

Can you pick a semi-unproven lock on just a handful of minutes for the All Blacks? Assuming he's fit for the Test season and only out for Super Rugby, that is.

I'd still lean towards 'yes' but obviously wouldn't be too surprised to see Razor and co opt for someone with more games under their belt this year.

@African-Monkey said in Waratahs v Brumbies:

@NTA Has he just been out of favour with the Rebels?

Was wondering wht happened to him.

Not really sure but this is what our franchises should be doing: making the best talent available.

Only took us losing 10 front rowers for any of this to make sense.

Some Argie bloke coming as well

JOC's first game of the season

Also that strengthens the u20 side:

Kiss made a twin decision to bring O’Connor into the 23-man squad and free 20-year-old Harry McLaughlin-Phillips to join the Australian Under-20s on the Sunshine Coast. McLaughlin-Phillips is now likely to play against the New Zealand Under-20s at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday.

The point that DH has been moved to yet another position and was at least as good in his first go as all of the other specialists in the squad says a lot.
Ist Five depth is not in a happy place in NZ at the moment .........but if they are all about the same it keeps things even.

This ended up being a game where having a 6:2 split became an advantage due to the early injuries to Finau and Ah Kuoi.

Did they say why Fusitu’a was a late withdrawal?

@Machpants said in Moana Pasifika v Highlanders:

MP 15 been very good

He’s David Havili’s brother. William Havili is the best player in the MP backline this year in the absence of their stars they lost to the Highlanders (Tavatavanawai) and Crusaders (Aumua). The MP forwards have been a bit better this year but they’ve lacked a killer punch in the backs that they had with Aumua & Tavatavanawai. If only those guys had this year’s MP forwards giving them front-foot ball, MP would’ve had a few more wins.

@Gunner said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

@Gunner said in Hurricanes vs Waratahs:

I like seeing Aussie teams being smashed off the park by NZ teams as much as the next man… but gee super rugby is a boring, predictable competition.

Wouldn’t it be great to see 5 high quality, competitive games of rugby each week. Hell I’d even settle for one blowout a week and take 4 good games.

It’s been nothing but predictable for the most part this year. Have you even been watching Super Rugby?

Aussies just need to get better playing away.

Of course I’ve been watching.

Yes, the Canes being top and Crusaders being shit is not predictable.

My point is there are big blowouts every week, and most games you know who’s going to win, which in my opinion is boring.

My tips would say otherwise

Very good skills in diabolical conditions

Winger will rue showboating for his try. Could easily have gone at least 5m closer to the sticks.

@Bones

add in the 'bad passes' maybe?

That was 13 (Highlanders) v 12

I think Telea’s got a tight leg. He seemed unwilling to go into top gear.

@Bones Yeah fairly common place 😂

@KiwiMurph said in Waratahs v Chiefs:

@Machpants he got penalised for his late hit on Lynagh

Still happy with 25% haha

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Crusaders v Rebels:

@Crazy-Horse I would start either him or Papalii at 7 if Ardie is at 8 (which he will be).

I could be wrong but I think he’s been playing plenty at 7 in Japan. I’m intrigued to see where Razor likes him.