Hurricanes vs. Highlanders
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Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Waisake Naholo, Rob Thompson, Tei Walden, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, Dillon Hunt, Elliot Dixon, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Tyrel Lomax, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Reserves: Ash Dixon (co-captain), Aki Seiuli, Siate Tokolahi, Shannon Frizell, Marino Mikaele Tu'u, Kayne Hammington, Josh Ioane, Matt Faddes. -
Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Julian Savea, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Gareth Evans, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields (c), Sam Lousi, Murray Douglas, Ben May, Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves.
Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Fraser Armstrong, Jeff To'omaga-Allen, Michael Fatialofa, Reed Prinsep, Richard Judd, Ihaia West, Vince Aso.
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I assume that Murray Douglas is the lock who stood out during last Saturday's development game. It will be interesting to find out whether he can replicate that in the main squad. I can't remember him playing in the - forgettable - game v the Bulls, when he came on in the 61st minute.
Good to see JTA in the 23; not just for the Canes, but for the ABs as well.
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@cgrant It's in the article:
"Vaea's got a bone bruise on the shoulder. He probably could've played but we'll use this week as one of his [two] All Blacks down weeks," Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said. Murray Douglas will start alongside Sam Lousi in the second row, with Michael Fatialofa coming onto the bench. The other absentee from the team which beat the Crusaders 29-19 is bench forward Blade Thomson. He took a head knock in that game and is now going through the necessary recovery protocols. In long-term injury news, wing Nehe Milner-Skudder is making positive progress from shoulder surgery. He's back doing contact work and is being set to play against the Sunwolves on April 27.Fidow got injured against the Jaguares, so I assume he hasn't recoverd from that injury yet.
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they were just saying on the Radio, TJ is equal on 45 tries with Folou in Super rugby, both ahead of Julian (who started a year before TJ) 14 short of Howlett on 59.
Impressive for a 9 to sit that high.
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@bones said in Hurricanes vs. Highlanders:
Like the look of that lineup. Juicy match up between the FAB's at centre.
Hurricanes have probably selected too many Shield Snorters, landers to Pip them at the post.
If those two are to make the ABs, they might need to make it soon, because it's hard to see either making the ABs post World Cup with Thompson being 29 and Proctor being 28 in 2020.
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@dice said in Hurricanes vs. Highlanders:
@bones said in Hurricanes vs. Highlanders:
Like the look of that lineup. Juicy match up between the FAB's at centre.
Hurricanes have probably selected too many Shield Snorters, landers to Pip them at the post.
If those two are to make the ABs, they might need to make it soon, because it's hard to see either making the ABs post World Cup with Thompson being 29 and Proctor being 28 in 2020.
Yeah because those guys in their late 20s or over have really let us down in recent world cups. Especially in the 12/13 Jersey.
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@bones said in Hurricanes vs. Highlanders:
@dice said in Hurricanes vs. Highlanders:
@bones said in Hurricanes vs. Highlanders:
Like the look of that lineup. Juicy match up between the FAB's at centre.
Hurricanes have probably selected too many Shield Snorters, landers to Pip them at the post.
If those two are to make the ABs, they might need to make it soon, because it's hard to see either making the ABs post World Cup with Thompson being 29 and Proctor being 28 in 2020.
Yeah because those guys in their late 20s or over have really let us down in recent world cups. Especially in the 12/13 Jersey.
Tell that to the All Blacks. They rarely give players their debuts in their late 20s.
You'd think that in a new world cup cycle, it'd be even harder to get your first selection in your late 20s.
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@taniwharugby said in Hurricanes vs. Highlanders:
they were just saying on the Radio, TJ is equal on 45 tries with Folou in Super rugby, both ahead of Julian (who started a year before TJ) 14 short of Howlett on 59.
Impressive for a 9 to sit that high.
He's the best support player in the game. Other aspects of his game have and can be criticised but not that. In fact it's incredible how often he's able to get himself in those positions.
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@no-quarter not as sensitive as Rob Thomas is to m4l it seems.
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@dice wait so you're saying me labelling them as FAB's is futile and doesn't actually have any bearing on AB selection? Blast! I'll get back to my Dagg to first five project then, maybe tinker with my Ardie to 12 one.
In any case, saying they'd be those ages at the end of 2020 doesn't mean they're those ages now. Which would mean if they got selected this year they're not in their late 20s.
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In seriousness, Rob Thompson has had a cracking start to the season. I see little between him and the other contenders at this stage, he should be right in the mix.
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@no-quarter yeah, his ease in either 12 or 13 is great, there doesn't seem to be a drop off in performance if he's switching between the two. Great pace also, safe hands and decent vision/passing (he's no Nonu). Pretty similar player to ALB really.
On Procter - big fan of his defence and passing/vision at 13, it's the kind of game that would look great at AB level of reckon.
There's quite the queue though eh, but then you start to look at grandpa SBW looking well off his game, ALB losing his spark, Fekitoa gone and probably no chance of Crotty being injured...
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After ALB came from no where I wouldn't write off anyone. Crotty is constantly broken and getting old and SBW isn't going to be around forever. That leaves ALB, Goodhue, Laumape and Rieko.
Could easily see one or two of those guys getting broken, going overseas or just falling away in the next couple of seasons.
With ngatai leaving the only guys i can really see replacing them at this stage are Thompson, Proctor or Jordie and it wouldn't surprise me to see Jordie as part of the first choice back 3 soon. -
I like the look of:
9 A Smith, 10 B Barrett, 11 R Ioane, 12 N Laumape, 13 J Goodhue, 14 B Smith, 15 J Barrett -
@no-quarter said in Hurricanes vs. Highlanders:
I like the look of:
9 A Smith, 10 B Barrett, 11 R Ioane, 12 N Laumape, 13 J Goodhue, 14 B Smith, 15 J BarrettYep, that excites me
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@no-quarter
9. DMac 10. Dagg 11. Fifita 12. Ardie 13. Thompson 14. Jules 15. Collins.
