Hurricanes vs Highlanders
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<p>The Chiefs were the favourites to beat the Highlanders, as were the Crusaders. Both teams by a significantly bigger amount than the slender margin the Canes have in terms of favourtism. The Highlanders will be going in with plenty of confidence. I suspect they will target Barrett's kicking game, TJ at the base of the ruck, the midfield defence and of course bombs away to Marshall at fullback. On attack, I also suspect it will be a big night for Fekitoa running hard lines at Barrett, and wouldn't be surprised if there's a number of inside balls for the wingers, against running at Barrett.<br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SouthernMan" data-cid="582555" data-time="1464156480"><p>The Chiefs were the favourites to beat the Highlanders, as were the Crusaders. Both teams by a significantly bigger amount than the slender margin the Canes have in terms of favourtism.<br></p></blockquote>
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Not sure that is accurate relating to the Crusaders game. Weren't the Highlanders paying shorter odds in the Crusaders game at kickoff time? -
<p>Barrett is a solid defender. He wouldn't be the player id be targeting. Id have my set plays targeting Aso if I was apart of the Highlanders coaching staff.</p>
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<p>I don't think it's about finding holes through Barrett, more making him tired and less effective on attack. A tired play maker isn't going to terrorize you on attack. <br><br>
As for the odds for the Highlanders Crusaders, pretty sure the Highlanders started off at $2.25 and only shortened to about $2.1</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SouthernMan" data-cid="582615" data-time="1464162057"><p>
I don't think it's about finding holes through Barrett, more making him tired and less effective on attack. A tired play maker isn't going to terrorize you on attack. <br><br>
As for the odds for the Highlanders Crusaders, pretty sure the Highlanders started off at $2.25 and only shortened to about $2.1</p></blockquote>
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Nah highlanders were favourites at kickoff. I remember because I bet on the saders at $1.95<br><br>
Just looked back through my texts to a mate and highlanders were $1.80. -
<p>The Highlanders did start off at $2.20. Absolutely positive on it, I found a tweet I made about it telling people to jump onto it (sadly I didn't, as I liked gambling a bit too much, so don't do it anymore).<br><br>
But that's the last I'll say on two week old odds.</p> -
<p>Lads, any news on why Wheeler is out of the 23? He will be missed from a Landers point of view.</p>
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<p>Does his replacement franklin do well in the set piece?</p>
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<p>Reddish apparently returning to the bench could be a useful half time replacement.</p> -
<p>Can't see the Canes getting within 14 let alone winning this even with them playing at home.</p>
<p>Hilghlanders would need a big slump in form to drop this one but with NZ derbys anything could happen. Looking at the table a draw would be the ideal result</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="582517" data-time="1464151658">
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<p>If the Canes are going to get up in this one they will have to win it through the middle. They will have to emulate something similar to the Crusaders tactics in the first 10 minutes against them a few weeks ago and suck their outsides in, earning the right to go wide. </p>
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<p>I give this quote 5 TSF stars....</p>
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<p>Me and my mate have been brainstorming all week actual tactics that can compete with Joseph's game plan which right now seems unstoppable.</p>
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<p>Finally we landed on what you have written. Win it by going up the guts.</p>
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<p>None of this spin it wide and beat them down the flanks with fancy foot work. </p>
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<p>Just honest hard toil, hard yards, hard nosed metres, the whole pack just running it up over and past the advantage line. Rinse and repeat.</p>
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<p>If the Canes want to win this will be won up front and through simple power running.</p>
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<p>That might not be exactly what you are saying as you want them to take a leaf out of the Saders book which was to switch back to the inside runner - but I agree with the general principle of not going wide too quickly.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="582624" data-time="1464164238">
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<p>Lads, any news on why Wheeler is out of the 23? He will be missed from a Landers point of view.</p>
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<p>Does his replacement franklin do well in the set piece?</p>
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<p>Reddish apparently returning to the bench could be a useful half time replacement.</p>
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Franklin is the Highlanders premier lock. Big engine, great in the lineout and keeps going all day.<br><br>
Joey has been out and out dropped, his discipline has been a bit rubbish recently and deserves a kick up the arse.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="crusadersfan" data-cid="582625" data-time="1464164354">
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<p>Can't see the Canes getting within 14 let alone winning this even with them playing at home.</p>
<p>Hilghlanders would need a big slump in form to drop this one but with NZ derbys anything could happen. Looking at the table a draw would be the ideal result</p>
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<p>So your saying the Highlanders are going to win by 14 or more. That's a bit insane wouldn't you think. Canes at home at nearly full strength bar Broadhurst and Skudder are not going to go down without a fight. They have a fair chance of winning this game. You only have to go back to Napier last year where the Canes put 56 points on the Highlanders pretty comfortably. If they get it right it could be 14 or more the other way.</p> -
If saying the Highlanders are 14 points better is absurd, then bring up the Napier game is ridiculous. That game was a complete anomaly. Let's look at the two teams this Hurricanes team is with out Ben Franks, James Broadhurst, Ma's Nonu, Conrad Smith and Nehe Milner Skudder. This team is a shadow of the side that took the paddock in Napier that night. Plus they were riding on the emotion of Jerry Collins' death. While the Highlanders rested Ben Smith, Aaron Smith and Mala Fekitoa. They had already decided they would lose before running out on the paddock.
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<p>There was only 1 point in it down in Dunedin at the beginning of the season and we had just conceded 50 to the Bumbies. Very close this one in my eyes. </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="582624" data-time="1464164238">
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<p>Lads, any news on why Wheeler is out of the 23? He will be missed from a Landers point of view.</p>
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<p>Does his replacement franklin do well in the set piece?</p>
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<p>Reddish apparently returning to the bench could be a useful half time replacement.</p>
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<p>Wheeler's discipline was pretty disappointing lately. I suppose this is why he isn't considered for this big occasion. Moreover, it gives Reddish the opportunity to play against his former mates, back on his own turf.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="582671" data-time="1464171755">
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<p>So your saying the Highlanders are going to win by 14 or more. That's a bit insane wouldn't you think. Canes at home at nearly full strength bar Broadhurst and Skudder are not going to go down without a fight. They have a fair chance of winning this game. You only have to go back to Napier last year where the Canes put 56 points on the Highlanders pretty comfortably. If they get it right it could be 14 or more the other way.</p>
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<p>Currently overseas and havent seen every game I must admit but the form the Highlanders are in I honestly cant see the Canes getting close. I wouldnt put my money on the Canes taking this but the way the Highlanders dismantled the Chiefs and Crusaders they should make easy pickings of the Canes.</p>
<p>If they were playing in dunedin I would expect a 20 point margin</p> -
<p>I think the Crusaders/Highlanders/Chiefs/Canes are all very evenly matched teams. You can say "if the Highlanders play like they did against the Chiefs/Crusaders then they will dismantle the Canes". But what if the Canes play like they did against the Lions? And what if the Highlanders play like they did against the Reds?</p>
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<p>Games between these teams come down to who puts it together on the night, can go either way IMO. Landers should be slight favourites but I wouldn't put my house on either result.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="crusadersfan" data-cid="582703" data-time="1464198866">
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<p>Currently overseas and havent seen every game I must admit but the form the Highlanders are in I honestly cant see the Canes getting close. I wouldnt put my money on the Canes taking this but the way the Highlanders dismantled the Chiefs and Crusaders they should make easy pickings of the Canes.</p>
<p><strong>If they were playing in dunedin I would expect a 20 point margin</strong></p>
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<p>As opposed to the 1 point margin when they <em>did </em>play in Dunedin?</p>
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<p>Should be a cracking game - all of the NZ derbies this year have produced some fantastic rugby.</p>
