Highlanders vs Blues

[Kirwan]

@kev the last two were NH coaches sure, but the forwards coach under Kirwan was Glen Moore.

I don’t think this is a provincial bias thing, Leon, Tana and Kirwan were the head coaches and if they wanted a different player it would have happened.

If you include the head coaches and the forward coaches we are looking and six coaches that have seen issues with Moulds and not trusted him.

Personally, if I think if you aren’t going to play him he should have been replaced in the squad. It’s the halfway house approach that is confusing.

[taniwharugby]

@Kirwan said in Highlanders vs Blues:

thats the thing, both Kirwan and Tana said good things about Moulds and his leadership yet neither gave him much time on the park, he is captain of his province too, I know he is a hard worker (training wise) so I have serious doubts it is anything related to his actual play, somewhere somehow he has pissed off the wrong person and is paying for it...

[Duluth]

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders vs Blues:

somewhere somehow he has pissed off the wrong person and is paying for it...

But the coach is in charge of selection

Three different coaches he pissed off?

[taniwharugby]

@Duluth why would coaches say good things about him if he pissed them off?

Why would they not play him if they think he is good enough?

Just strikes me as odd, not necessarily on MOulds (just seems I am vociferous on his defence cos he is from Northland, if Apisai wasnt shit I'd be backing his case too) the fact we have that many coaches that rate Parsons so highly...as I said last week, one of the highalnders coaches mentioned Parsons was always excellent, so is that some of the data they see we dont that shows he is a beast or something?

But even so, still doesnt explain why in this day and age of rugby, when the bench is important, Parsons is played for such huge minutes so often (when whoever is on the bench)

[Duluth]

@taniwharugby

Because the coaches (3 in a row) don't rate the 2nd/3rd choice hookers? Despite what they say in the media.
Why keep picking him in the squad? Well there's no one else and they have experimented with the 3rd hooker spot.

That seems like the most simple explanation.

Unless you have heard something else you haven't said on here?

[taniwharugby]

@Duluth none of that explains why you drop a hooker who plays well for 25mins for a guy who struggles almost everytime he takes the park...and dont even release him to play club rugby.

[Duluth]

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders vs Blues:

none of that explains why you drop a hooker who plays well for 25mins for a guy who struggles almost everytime he takes the park...and dont even release him to play club rugby.

The not releasing him part is simple. If someone turns an ankle on match day we need the third hooker in Dunedin

[Tim]

I just think that Parsons has become the Luke Whitelock of hookers - solid, high workrate, good leadership, not much physical impact in the looser phases.

[Kirwan]

Sweet, I like Lose as commentator. Been so nice without TJs negativity the past few games.

Amusing having the Imperial March for Parsons running out.

[kev]

@Tim Luke Whitlock is a miles better player and All Black than Parsons.

[Kirwan]

Some good play from Nonu early on, he looks super keen to impress

[Kirwan]

Bit slow there to clear defenders, lost a good opportunity

[African Monkey]

Highlanders defence looking solid so far.

[Kirwan]

Coltman with two good turnovers, but we are dominating. Need points to reflect that. Black with some nice touches

[African Monkey]

@Kirwan Yup, the Highlanders will gain confidence from weathering this storm.

[Stargazer]

Great tackle from Josh Ioane on Rieko Ioane.

That's an early sub at TH.

[Kirwan]

Great clearance from Ruru

[Kirwan]

Ha, miracle ball from Karl.

[Kirwan]

Huge D from the Blues.

[Bones]

Black looking the better bet for ten so far. Bit more limited than Ioane but not as error prone.