Highlanders 2019 Discussion

[SouthernMann]

@98blueandgold said in Highlanders 2019 Discussion:

@southernmann I do agree that our recruitment has been great but and agree that we will always find the gold nuggets. My worry is

1. Unlike other franchises our ITM cup teams are not a pathway to Super Rugby.
2. How much of that was Joseph? With the leaders slowly leaving will our culture which has been our strength continue?

Putting on my negative hat 😀

Interestingly enough I was yarning to one of the players at the start of last year, and he was heaping praise on Aaron Mauger. Saying he had bits to do with him at Canterbury, but his development and man management was fantastic since arriving at the Highlanders.

I think processes are in place to maintain some recruitment consistency.

[pukunui]

Marty Banks to do a beaver at the 2019 RWC and kick the winning drop goal in the final!
Good signing for the Highlanders and the ABs given the gap from Mounga to the next guy at the moment.
AB Frizzel to continue riding the pine.

[cgrant]

I am quite surprised they took Fa'agase over Tuiloma who fared quite well during the 2018 SR. Isn't he an Australian ?

[Stargazer]

@cgrant It's in the footnote in the picture with the team naming: Tuiloma is unavailable due to long-term injury. The same applies to Aki Seiuli.

[Tim]

@stargazer That's a pity. Seiuli looks like a quality player.

[cgrant]

@stargazer
Thanks. I didn't notice it when I read the list.

[Yeetyaah]

@tim Yeah he was a different style of prop, but a good one at that. Met him in the octagon in Duns one night out, quality guy as well.

[cgrant]

I would have taken Selby-Rickitt instead of Dickson. Same type of lean locks but Selby-Rickitt is looking more athletic. He was the standout forward in a weak Stags pack.

[Yeetyaah]

@cgrant Saw a video on the Stags FB page that Selby-Rickit has signed a development contract with the landers coming into the full squad in 2020, he said he wants to build muscle first.

[cgrant]

This is good news. Thanks for the information.

[Yeetyaah]

Promised a kiwi derby in Invers but gets the Waratahs instead
(stuff.co.nz/southland-times/100808988/Highlanders-commit-to-2019-Kiwi-derby-match-in-Invercargill-after-taking-Chiefs-game-to-Fiji-this-year)

[Nepia]

@yeetyaah Personally I prefer seeing NZ teams v Oz/SA teams than Kiwi derbies so I'd be happy with that if I lived in Invercargill.

[Siam]

Get what you're bloody well given.

Start making a few more Goldies again and then we'll see

[Duluth]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/110112432/highlanders-to-unleash-giant-pari-pari-parkinson-use-jackson-hemopo-at-no-6

[Nepia]

@Duluth I hope so ... I like the look of Hemopo more so than the Tongan. Request from the AB selectors maybe?

[Bones]

@Nepia probably makes sense when you have a lock that big! Geez, where did he come from? Although does that mean Squire to 8? I can't see that happening, which would probably mean him and Tongan on the bench.

[Nepia]

@Bones said in Highlanders 2019 Discussion:

@Nepia probably makes sense when you have a lock that big! Geez, where did he come from? Although does that mean Squire to 8? I can't see that happening, which would probably mean him and Tongan on the bench.

Like many of @Chris-B's Ta$man-ians he's another North Island poach.

Yeah, I assume Squire is number 1 still and Hemopo will be the back up.

[Bones]

@Nepia well he better be starting somewhere.

[Tim]

@Bones Auckland

[Chris B.]

@Bones We do not discriminate in Ta$man. We do not say, "he is from Auckland and therefore a worthless fellow". We make concessions for the disadvantaged and give opportunities.

We are a charitable people.

We send missionaries to the unenlightened, even though they are regularly faced with heathen ingratitude.

We do our best to raise others toward our standards - as best as they are able!