Highlanders 2025
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@frugby ive been a huge critic....but i also hugely respect players that visibly work on their game and he is making much better decisions like not playing like hes bigger than he is whilst at the same time improving his strength and technique so when he does have to take down bigger guys he can
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The Highlanders are clearly impressing a few people, even getting a feature article by Nick Bishop at RugbyPass:
Jamie Joseph could lead the Highlanders to the promised land and himself to the All Blacks job
There are hallmarks of Joseph's 2015 Super Rugby champions in his newly assembled crop of a decade later.
Nothing too insightful - including some strange references to Scott Gregory and Mitch Hunt as 'old dependables' - but it's nice to see the clear bounce back of the franchise recognized.
Has anyone heard an update on Saula Ma'u's injury? Tighthead depth might be the one clear weakness the team still has. Kautai has been a great addition but I'm not sure Wingham is quite ready for regular minutes at this level.
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@Mauss said in Highlanders 2025:
Has anyone heard an update on Saula Ma'u's injury? Tighthead depth might be the one clear weakness the team still has. Kautai has been a great addition but I'm not sure Wingham is quite ready for regular minutes at this level.
Saula is back training this week so doesn’t seem to be anything too serious which is a good sign. Whether he plays or not this coming Friday though is up in the air.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Daniel Lienert Brown suspended for three games with a chance to reduce to two through training programme.
Bender has said EDG & Ma’au are looking like they’re available for selection this weekend.
Unsurprising really... Zero mitigation etc.
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Injury status update.
Oliver Haig (foot / 7 weeks )
Jonah Lowe (ACL / 4 weeks )
Jona Nareki (ankle / 2 weeks)
JRK (neck / 7 weeks)
Josh Whaanga (back / 1 week)Whaanga popping up this week but good to see nobody else added.
Anyone know if there’s a development game this weekend?
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Injury status update.
Oliver Haig (foot / 7 weeks )
Jonah Lowe (ACL / 4 weeks )
Jona Nareki (ankle / 2 weeks)
JRK (neck / 7 weeks)
Josh Whaanga (back / 1 week)Whaanga popping up this week but good to see nobody else added.
Anyone know if there’s a development game this weekend?
Back three will be a good conversation when we have
Lowe, JRK and Nareki back. JRK and Nareki would have been first stringers. Hurley and Tangitau/Gilbert have got a good few rounds to keep them out.Same with Haig in the loosies. I'm a massive fan. Hope he can work his way back in.
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If you would have drawn up the backline halfway through the NPC. It would have only had Tele'a and Fakatava in the spots they are currently occupying
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@SouthernMann some good depth in the backs once everyone is back healthy. Something we haven’t had for years
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Just wonder after Big Jim's game last week, if JJ didn't have a quiet word about staying calm etc.
The 50-22 kick he did was on the back of him taking a quick penalty, and think perhaps was a risky play for a few metres? If they just kicked penalty to touch they still got throw in etc. Perhaps not what the AB selectors would want?? -
@Dan54 i for one love the tempo, much preferred to a committee meeting followed by a limp kick for 15m gain, keep turning them around. I think it makes a difference as captain...he's setting the gameplan, everyone else should be looking to him
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
@Dan54 i for one love the tempo, much preferred to a committee meeting followed by a limp kick for 15m gain, keep turning them around. I think it makes a difference as captain...he's setting the gameplan, everyone else should be looking to him
Not suggesting I don't like it in any way mate. Just not sure coaches or anyone will want it in test arena? I can imagine how quickly he would get called an idiot if he did it in test and missed touch. Just not percentage play?
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@Dan54 no worries, didn't mean to be so blunt sorry
i actually wouldn't mind a bit more hustle on the international stage, if the person thats going to make the decision is capable why not quickly bang a penalty downfield before the defence can actually set, the 50/22 was great, and its not his first, but i think the intent was to keep the game unstructured and at the other end of the field
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@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
@Dan54 i for one love the tempo, much preferred to a committee meeting followed by a limp kick for 15m gain, keep turning them around. I think it makes a difference as captain...he's setting the gameplan, everyone else should be looking to him
Not suggesting I don't like it in any way mate. Just not sure coaches or anyone will want it in test arena? I can imagine how quickly he would get called an idiot if he did it in test and missed touch. Just not percentage play?
Have you never seen B Barrett play for the ABs?
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Is the rumour true Big Jim wants to play for the ABs?
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@nostrildamus i kind of assume if you're uncapped internationally and you commit to a NZ franchise then you want to play for the AB's, but maybe not
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@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2025:
Is the rumour true Big Jim wants to play for the ABs?
It has been reported he's turned down Fiji numerous times to keep chasing an ABs opportunity
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if it was a betting option....id put some money on him getting pick in squads but being stuck behind incumbents, at best, he'll play in the third test if we've one the first two...and then never get picked again
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@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just wonder after Big Jim's game last week, if JJ didn't have a quiet word about staying calm etc.
The 50-22 kick he did was on the back of him taking a quick penalty, and think perhaps was a risky play for a few metres? If they just kicked penalty to touch they still got throw in etc. Perhaps not what the AB selectors would want??I get what you’re saying, but i thought he saw a chance and backed himself to execute. No different to Bender and Aaron Smith making similar plays over the years, I’m all for a player backing themselves.
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@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just wonder after Big Jim's game last week, if JJ didn't have a quiet word about staying calm etc.
The 50-22 kick he did was on the back of him taking a quick penalty, and think perhaps was a risky play for a few metres? If they just kicked penalty to touch they still got throw in etc. Perhaps not what the AB selectors would want??If he hadn't kicked a ball in a long time I'd agree. But, it was the second 50/22 in as many weeks. He tapped and went with the intention to kick. Fullback up, it was a smart play.
