Hurricanes v Highlanders

[Stargazer]

I must have missed something; who is Dillon Hunt? Never heard of him.

It's a strong Highlanders backline; their weakness will definitely be in the forwards.

[mariner4life]

@Stargazer it is? Are they standout NPC players? Because i don't know who the 10 is, the 12 is solid but unspectacular, the 13 has tits for hands, and the 14 is a midfielder who looks out of place in the outside backs. Good 9 though, and the 11 is going alright this year.

[Stargazer]

@mariner4life 10 is probably the only exception, but the rest are good or excellent players.

Edit: Feki can be good, he's shown it; just not this season yet.
Bucky has repeatedly shown in 2015 (when Naholo was injured) that he can be great at the wing. I think Thomson deserves more credit, too.

[Tim]

@mariner4life said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

@Stargazer it is? Are they standout NPC players? Because i don't know who the 10 is, the 12 is solid but unspectacular, the 13 has tits for hands, and the 14 is a midfielder who looks out of place in the outside backs. Good 9 though, and the 11 is going alright this year.

Maybe if they had a superstar like Whetu Douglas at 8 then the backs would be getting the ball to make them shine.

[Stargazer]

@Tim Or just have a better front row, but those damn injuries aye?

[KiwiMurph]

To me Tevita Li so far looks the exact same player he has been at the Blues - the odd nice run, the odd missed tackle, decent involvement but not a gamebreaker. About a millions times better outside back player than Michael Collins though.

[Bovidae]

Is Ainley rested or injured? He's the type of grizzled veteran you need in these games.

I've never heard of Dillon Hunt either but I see he's Auckland-born and was in the NZ U20s in 2015. Must have been a replacement player.

[Stargazer]

Highlanders:

Unavailable due to injury: Liam Squire, Shane Christie, Ash Dixon, Dan Pryor, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo, Alex Ainley, Adrian Smith, Josh Dickson, James Lentjes, Siosuia Halanukonuka, Patrick Osborne

(Out for the season: Jason Emery, Hayden Parker)

Edited to add:
http://thehighlanders.co.nz/our-news/latest-news/813-pulse-energy-highlanders-to-play-hurricanes-in-wellington

The Highlanders have obvioulsy not updated the list, considering Halanukonuka is in the starting line-up

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer Halanukonuka is named in the team?

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Yup, just edited my post when yours came through.

[Stargazer]

Late change to the Highlanders line-up: Siate Tokolahi will come into the Highlanders XV at tighthead prop & Guy Millar takes place on the bench. So no Halanukonuka.

[Rancid Schnitzel]

Fast paced game so far.

And BB misses a kick. Let Jordie kick Beauden.

[Rancid Schnitzel]

Nice work by the forwards there. Ardie looking good at 8.

[Mattasaurus]

Landers d is good...but good simple footy from canes.

[Mattasaurus]

Great goosey

[Rancid Schnitzel]

What a waste of time.

[Stargazer]

About Ardie at no.8. I'm wondering whether Hansen and co. have asked the Canes to play Ardie at 8? Just like they have, according to the media, asked the Saders to play Tamanivalu at wing? Because, maybe, they want another option for the ABs no. 8.?

[Mattasaurus]

Fuck iff thats okay... great technique.....but would've liked to see the earlier tackle

[Nepia]

Good decision by Gardner.

[Rancid Schnitzel]

@Stargazer said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

About Ardie at no.8. I'm wondering whether Hansen and co. have asked the Canes to play Ardie at 8? Just like they have, according to the media, asked the Saders to play Tamanivalu at wing? Because, maybe, they want another option for the ABs no. 8.?

Yeah maybe. He looks very comfortable there. Well so far anyway.....