Highlanders v Crusaders
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Might as well kick this off, have to say NMS being chosen for the poster is a bit weird, will be surprised if he starts
bit of a guess as who i'd start...im pretty bad at forgetting obvious people though
- Daniel Lienert-Brown
- Ash Dixon
- Siate Tokolahi
- Manaaki Selby-Rickit
- Josh Dickson
- Shannon Frizell
- James Lentjes
- Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
- Aaron Smith (c)
- Josh Ioane
- Jona Nareki
- Thomas Umaga-Jensen
- Fetuli Paea
- Ngatungane Punivai
- Solomon Alaimalo
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@kiwiwomble said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
Might as well kick this off, have to say NMS being chosen for the poster is a bit weird, will be surprised if he starts
It's the blue steel
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@kiwiwomble said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
bit of a guess as who i'd start...im pretty bad at forgetting obvious people though
- Daniel Lienert-Brown
- Ash Dixon
- Siate Tokolahi
- Manaaki Selby-Rickit
- Josh Dickson
- Shannon Frizell
- James Lentjes
- Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
- Aaron Smith (c)
- Josh Ioane
- Jona Nareki
- Thomas Umaga-Jensen
- Fetuli Paea
- Ngatungane Punivai
- Solomon Alaimalo
I suspect that Tomkinson will start at 12, with Michael Collins at 13. Fetuli Paea got injured during the preseason game against the Canes, so may not be available. And for some reason they seem to like Tomkinson, despite him being a card magnet.
The rest of your list may be spot on.
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@stargazer yeah, last i heard it was being reported a sprain...so i hoped
I think your right, i just dont get it, even Gilbert seemed to do well in the midfield, although i have only watched the highlights
I'm fine with Collins, more than likely wil just be quite if Sio is inside him
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At the start of the pre-season Brown seemed pretty clear that he wanted to have Umaga-Jensen and Paea starting in the midfield. I hope if Paea is fit, he gives those two a go. I think starting Collins and Tomkinson would be a step backwards if the other two were available.
I've also been impressed with Garden-Bachop and wouldn't mind seeing him thrown into the deep end. I'd like to see him entered into the ongoing Highlander's fullback idol, with Alaimalo on the right wing. Those two could then be interchangeable.
I think the forward pack generally picks itself. But, I'd like to see both Hugh Renton on the bench.
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@southernmann ts been pretty clear Alaimolo came down to play 15, i'd like to not piss him off too early and let him have that or at least fight it out with NMS
does Garden-Bachop play midfield? if so he could be a good option ahead of Sio
i dont get why we dont see Sio on the wing more, his crash ball might be really effective out there and less of a liability in defence than 12. when he does make a break he never passes it so may as well make im a finisher
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@kiwiwomble said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
does Garden-Bachop play midfield? if so he could be a good option ahead of Sio
Just because he's named on the right wing doesn't mean he wouldn't play a fair bit of fullback. Plus, he signed a three year contract, he should do what he is told and is best for the team. I can't even see NMS even in the conversation for the fullback gig. Out of games he's played I'd put him behind Garden-Bachop, Alaimalo and Hunt. Great for depth and for our players to learn off. Just doesn't seem to have it anymore. We signed 30-year-old NMS, not the game changer he was a few seasons ago.
I thought Scott Gregory looked fairly sharp when he had a bit of a run in the midfield.
There's plenty of depth across the back 5, but, I have a feeling Tony Brown will look at some of the more explosive options. We aren't going to grind out victories.
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@southernmann i agree re Gilbert
Alaimolo got a release to leave the Chief early, supposedly so he could play FB, which kind of proves the contracts dont mean much and i wouldnt be surprised if there is some sort of condition he plays primarily at FB, we need a good fullback so maybe lets take an easy win and concentrate other areas on concern
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@southernmann said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
I thought Scott Gregory looked fairly sharp when he had a bit of a run in the midfield.
that is where he has played most of his rugby up until last year, he has played most of his worst rugby at NPC and Super at FB.
He is quick enough to cover wing, but mid-field is where he must go if he is to make claims for a starting spot.
Alaimalo has moved from Tasman and now Chiefs in his pursuit to play FB.
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Fuck I hope the Landers win. Be nice to see the poosaders go down in round one.
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@yeetyaah said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
Fuck I hope the Landers win. Be nice to see the poosaders go down in round one.
@yeetyaah said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
Fuck I hope the Landers win. Be nice to see the poosaders go down in round one.
At least you will be happy this weekend it might be the only 2 weekends the Chumps don’t lose.Bye’s are handy that way.
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this on the office facebook page, only 4 people out of position
this "prediction" cant be based on the preseason so i wonder what it is based on
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Is Tomlinson available to play? I just assumed he’d be on some sort of suspension. 😀
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@kiwiwomble Those predicted lineups are way off for all 5 teams with injured players included etc. They are just a random attempt at a lineup to generate some 'buzz'.
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It was still uncertain how long centre Fetuli Paea would be out with the ankle injury he suffered in Alexandra. He was sporting a moon boot as a precaution.
Japanese loose forward Kazumi Himeno has completed his isolation and had started his preparation for the side but was not ready to be considered for selection.
He was unlikely to play in the Highlanders back-up squad game at the weekend but they were keen to have him involved as soon as they could.
Is that the new name of the development team "Bravehearts"? And who are they playing?
Lineouts a huge work-on for the Highlanders ahead of season opener
Lining out against the Crusaders in Friday's opening game of the Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021 season would be a good test for the Highlanders.
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Highlanders v Crusaders
Friday 26 February, 7.05pm
Forsyth Barr Stadium, DunedinReferee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant 1: Mike Fraser
Assistant 2: James Doleman
TMO: Brendon Pickerill -
@stargazer not new, been used for a few years at least
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@kiwiwomble Never seen it before. I only know them as Highlanders development squad or Bravehearts.
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@stargazer maybe i got lost, you know them as Bravehearts?
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@kiwiwomble I know the Highlanders development team as (Highlanders) Bravehearts.
I think the Blues development team is called Blues 'A'. Not sure about the Chiefs. The Hurricanes development team is called the (Hurricanes) Hunters. I think, the Crusaders now call theirs Crusaders Development (it used to be Crusaders Knights).
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@chris hahaha you really are holding down the Crusaders fan stereotype.
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@stargazer ok, i get where i got confused, i thought you were asking if "Bravehearts" was a new name...which made the following conversation very confusing
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@kiwiwomble Haha, I think you missed the bit that I bolded in the quote that I posted!
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@stargazer definitely, bold text doesn't show up on my comp very clearly
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@yeetyaah said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
@chris hahaha you really are holding down the Crusaders fan stereotype.
Yep I would hate to disappoint
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Highlanders team named to play Crusaders;
Really stoked to see Hugh Renton make the bench. He's been awesome in pre-season. A little disappointed to see TUJ not make the team, but hopefully he will get his chance when Tomkinson gets suspended. I'm rather excited to see what our back three can do and interesting to see that Hunt's early season and Mitre 10 Cup form got him the 10 spot ahead of Ioane.
1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
2 Ash Dixon (cc)
3 Siate Tokolahi
4 Josh Dickson
5 Jack Regan
6 Shannon Frizell
7 Billy Harmon
8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
9 Aaron Smith (cc)
10 Mitch Hunt
11 Jona Nareki
12 Patelesio Tomkinson
13 Ngatungane Punivai
14 Connor Garden-Bachop
15 Solomon AlaimaloReserves
16 Liam Coltman
17 Josh Hohneck
18 Jeff Thwaites
19 Bryn Evans
20 Liam Squire
21 Folau Fakatava
22 Josh Ioane
23 Hugh Renton -
@southernmann What's the word on Jack Regan? Is he NZ eligible?
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Squire on the bench ahead of Lentjes is odd.
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The 6:2 bench (of previous seasons) must have been Brown's idea.
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what the hell kind of dirt has Sio got on the Landers management?
interesting Hunt gets the nod, Ioane really seemed to spark things when he came on, maybe an 80 min game plan? maybe planning or really speeding things late in the game with fatatava and Ioane
no selby-rickit?
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@kiwiwomble said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
maybe planning or really speeding things late in the game with fatatava and Ioane
With no specialist openside cover?
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@duluth
...more backline focused -
I wonder if Josh Ioane is receiving a bit of tough love after last season and his issues with drinking and weight.
I get the sense Highlanders could be chopping and changing their midfield throughout the season.
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@kiwimurph i really wish we'd settle for a few games, we saw Collins got much better after three or four games there last year
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fuck it...just reading Fetuli Paea is out for the season
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Jack Regan isn't NZ eligible. I'm pretty sure he only came prior to the Dunedin Club Rugby season last year.
I'm thinking that Squire was always going to make the bench, the selection of Hugh Renton over Lentjes would have been the tight call. I'd say that Renton will be providing the openside cover off the bench.
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@kiwiwomble said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
no selby-rickit?
If fit, he has missed out to a 36 yr old.
And both Regan and Renton aren't part of the original squad.
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@southernmann said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
I'd say that Renton will be providing the openside cover off the bench.
Ahh. I wasn't looking for openside cover in number 23
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@bovidae said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
@kiwiwomble said in SRA 2021 Round 1: Highlanders v Crusaders:
no selby-rickit?
If fit, he has missed out to a 36 yr old.
And both Regan and Renton aren't part of the original squad.
you'd think he must have a niggle...surely...i mean im not a huge fan of the guys...but he can play some good code
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The first-round selections always have a few odd picks. Could be little injuries the coaches want to get sorted. Could be the players came back to training unfit and are still catching up. Could be rewarding preseason form/training efforts.
I'd expect to see the likes of Selby-Rickitt, Lentjes, etc to get start getting selected in a few weeks, especially if the Highlanders drop a game or two. Tomkinson will likely stay around, but maybe TUJ or Collins will come into the midfield to replace Punivai too.
