Brumbies v Highlanders (round 3)

[Stargazer]

I'm disappointed to see Hammington picked again, ahead of Fakatava. I know he's young but I can't wait to see him on the field.

[Machpants]

@Stargazer said in Brumbies v Highlanders (round 3):

Teariki Ben-Nicholas

Annoys the hell out of me that they put a forward in 23 rather than 21, and the two backs 22, 23!

well maybe not 'the hell', but it is stupid.

EDIT: maybe all the number 21 shirts are midget halfback sized? Saving some money

[Yeahtheboys]

@Machpants might be taking advantage of the fact that overseas teams might not know who he is? So they don’t realise it’s a 6-2 split. Other than that, OCD kills me

[Duluth]

Brumbies
Tom Banks, Solomone Kata, Tevita Kuridrani, Irae Simone, Tom Wright, Noah Lolesio, Joe Powell, Pete Samu, Will Miller, Rob Valetini, Murray Douglas, Darcy Swain, Allan Ala’alatoa, Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper

Reserves: Connal McInerney, Scott Sio, Tom Ross, Cadeyrn Neville, Lachlan McCaffrey, Ryan Lonergan, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead

---

Wallabies veteran James Slipper replaces Scott Sio at loosehead prop, Will Miller earns his first start for sidelined No 7 Tom Cusack (concussion) and lock Darcy Swain returns from injury.

Flanker Lachlan McCaffrey, prop Tom Ross and dynamic outside back Len Ikitau have all been named on the bench for their potential first games of the season.

[Machpants]

Highlanders will be struggling, but I hope they come good

[Jonty lean]

No fakatava

[Bones]

Tough on Faingaanuku, wasn't great last week though. Still I don't rate McKay so would rather he swapped with Collins and they stop this stupid 6-2 split which isn't required - to the extent they were slow to make forward changes last week.

[Stargazer]

@Bones I'd move Ioane to 10, Hunt to 15, Thompson to 12, Tomkinson to 13, and maybe Kuridrani on the wing? Or is he injured, too?

[Bones]

@Stargazer yeah not a bad idea, I don't recall ever seeing Hunt at 15 though...at least not that left an impression. Kinda interested to see how the 10/12 axis develops but as I said last week, we're a better side with Ioane in charge.

[KiwiMurph]

Ioane at 15 would be better than Ioane at 12. You could put either Tomkinson/Collins in the midfield and shift McKay to wing or bench.

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph McKay was terrible on the wing in the preseason game against the Crusaders. Couldn't make a tackle. He was Leicester Fainga'anuku's and Braydon Ennor's speedbump.

@Bones Hunt has played for the Crusaders at fullback (from the bench) a few times. Looked more than capable there. But yes, Ioane at 15 would be a good idea, too.

[Chris B.]

Pretty sure Mitch Hunt also played most of his first season with Ta$man at fullback, while Marty Banks played first five.

He was OK for a little guy, but no DMac.

I think 1st five is his best position.

[Duluth]

@KiwiMurph said in Brumbies v Highlanders (round 3):

Ioane at 15 would be better than Ioane at 12

I have a theory that we are about to see the re-emergence of genuine 2nd fives. Guys that can genuinely play 10 starting games at 12
Rugby is cyclical and it's been a while since we've seen it.

Maybe in a couple of years the starting 12's around the country are Ioane, Plummer, J Barrett, Havili etc

[Duluth]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/119526281/super-rugby-highlanders-enter-brumbies-graveyard-with-errors-on-their-mind

[KiwiMurph]

Rob Thompson out injured.

Collins to 13.

Walden to bench.

[Bones]

@KiwiMurph whaaaat! Walden isn't injured now?

Matchbox was cake last week anyway. Be good to see Tei get back on the pitch.

[KiwiMurph]

@Bones looked like he had been out til 3am....

[Bones]

@KiwiMurph said in Brumbies v Highlanders (round 3):

@Bones looked like he had been out til 3am....

Is there something behind that?

Also looked like he spent the off-season only lifting weights.

[KiwiMurph]

@Bones was a poor matchbox 20 joke. It's 3am he must be loooneeely...

[Bones]

@KiwiMurph said in Brumbies v Highlanders (round 3):

@Bones was a poor matchbox 20 joke. It's 3am he must be loooneeely...

Haaaaa shit sorry. My bad.