Blues v Highlanders
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So there will be some changes in the backs this week with RTS & Plummer probably injured
Who should start at 12 and who should be the cover is the big question?
Also, I thought Mark Telea struggled on defence in the weekend. It's probably time to look at some one else. Lam? JRK?
I assume the pack will remain relatively unchanged
The backs might be something like this?
9 Christie
10 Barrett
11 Clarke
12 Tele'a
13 Ioane
14 Lam
15 PerofetaNock, Tua, Sullivan
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Plummer was probably Leon's preferred 12 after RTS and he looks gone too.
Time for Tele'a or Tua to step up. I think both will likely be in the 23 next week.
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@dice Leon's a fan of Corey Evans. He may well leapfrog the both of them!
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@nogusta he certainly looks to have something special about him!
Purely from a Northland POV, I'd love Tua to get some decent gametime, seems he is starting to mature as a player the past couple of years and could really move his game to the next level, easy to forget he is still only 24.
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@nogusta said in Blues v Chiefs:
@dice Leon's a fan of Corey Evans. He may well leapfrog the both of them!
I'm unsure if he's ready for a derby game. In the couple of games for Auckland last year, he was tackling at 50% and had a low workrate.
If he does start next week, he'll be up against the form 12 in the comp at the moment.
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@taniwharugby yea I'm a fan of Tua as well and would like to see him get his chance
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Count me in with Tua. I think he's better suited to 12 than 13. I'd like to see him get first crack.
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Lam lined up at centre during the last 10 minutes. Didn't really need to do much during that period though.
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Also is Funaki injured?
I would like to see him get a run off the bench ahead of Nock
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three games in an already not looking forward to this...could be a real hiding
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@duluth said in Blues v Highlanders:
Also is Funaki injured?
I would like to see him get a run off the bench ahead of Nock
God, Nock has been so fucking terrible. We need Christie to be on for 70mins at least. Nock's kicking has gone massively backwards (hah that's like a pun).
Tele'a would be a good option for 12 IMO.
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Tele'a's distribution has always been a big work-on so it depends what type of game they want to play.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
Tele'a's distribution has always been a big work-on so it depends what type of game they want to play.
They have been using the 12 to set up the next play so far, he'd be great at that.
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Yeah, he'll run straight and he'll tackle. Tua offers more on attack but might be more risky
Then there's Evans. He didn't look ready in his brief NPC last year. But who knows, maybe he's kicking arse at training?
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@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
Tele'a's distribution has always been a big work-on so it depends what type of game they want to play.
They have been using the 12 to set up the next play so far, he'd be great at that.
It'd also be useful to have someone of his size to stop TUJ on the crashball. Particularly if Barrett is shying away from contact.
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@bobily2 said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
Tele'a's distribution has always been a big work-on so it depends what type of game they want to play.
They have been using the 12 to set up the next play so far, he'd be great at that.
It'd also be useful to have someone of his size to stop TUJ on the crashball. Particularly if Barrett is shying away from contact.
Let's not let one Cantab fan invent a fact. 40mins of rugby after a significant period away, and he brought calmness to the team and good kicking. Didn't see him Merhtsing out of tackles.
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@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
@bobily2 said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kiwimurph said in Blues v Highlanders:
Tele'a's distribution has always been a big work-on so it depends what type of game they want to play.
They have been using the 12 to set up the next play so far, he'd be great at that.
It'd also be useful to have someone of his size to stop TUJ on the crashball. Particularly if Barrett is shying away from contact.
Let's not let one Cantab fan invent a fact. 40mins of rugby after a significant period away, and he brought calmness to the team and good kicking. Didn't see him Merhtsing out of tackles.
I definitely thought he looked a bit hesitant. Admittedly that was on attack, and I'm extrapolating out to contact in general.
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Gutted for RTS. Thus far he's been very good given the early stage of his development.
I think Tele'a is next cab off the rank and he's played 12 with Reiko Ioane before. He's pretty serviceable at 12, strong in the carry and defends well. Not sure about his kicking game.
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Tele'a was rightly dropped after a dire performance off the bench against the Canes. Maybe MacDonald will ignore that, given he'd be going into midfield instead of on the wing, but I wouldn't be surprised if other guys are given a chance first.
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I know he made that bad decision to come off the wing and created an overlap. Was there anything else?
It's certainly a bad mark against his ability to cover midfield and wing from the bench. Not sure how much it affects his chances at 12 though
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So maybe Heem is available? The Blues posted this on instagram yesterday. There was another post showing Karl T training too
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@duluth was an earlier one yesterday with Evans training too...
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The ODT putting the boot in:
You can go a long way with relentless optimism. Now the Highlanders just need to add some ball-handling, accuracy and try-scoring.
Highlanders know areas they need to improve - Evans
You can go a long way with relentless optimism. Now the Highlanders just need to add some ball-handling, accuracy and try-scoring.
No new injuries for the Highlanders from last weeks game
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@duluth Ouch!
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It does not get any easier for the Highlanders, who head to Whangarei on Friday to play the talented Blues..
I wish! -
@machpants said in Blues v Highlanders:
It does not get any easier for the Highlanders, who head to Whangarei on Friday to play the talented Blues..
I wish!North Harbour, Whangarei -- all the same side of the bridge eh, all the same
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@nzzp all but empty stadium at EP, NHS or OP, same same
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@taniwharugby said in Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp all but empty stadium at EP, NHS or OP, same same
Coronavirus crowd restrictions or not it won't make any difference to the total attendance at NHS anyway.
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@mr-fish pretty harsh to drop a guy only playing 4 and a bit minutes. Same thing last year. Tele'a played 5 minutes in the opener against the Canes then wasn't sighted for pretty much the rest of the season. Admittedly a bad defensive read on Saturday but zero comms between Ioane Perofeta and Plummer at the back with that try. A lot of other 1 off errors/discrepancies in the game that led to other tries. Still I'd be very surprised if he gets the nod at 12. McDonald has shown the last cpl of years with his selections that he doesn't trust Telea in the midfield.
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@nogusta said in Blues v Highlanders:
@mr-fish pretty harsh to drop a guy only playing 4 and a bit minutes. Same thing last year. Tele'a played 5 minutes in the opener against the Canes then wasn't sighted for pretty much the rest of the season. Admittedly a bad defensive read on Saturday but zero comms between Ioane Perofeta and Plummer at the back with that try. A lot of other 1 off errors/discrepancies in the game that led to other tries. Still I'd be very surprised if he gets the nod at 12. McDonald has shown the last cpl of years with his selections that he doesn't trust Telea in the midfield.
He's pretty physical and that will be pretty helpful against an opponent pushing 110kgs.
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@mr-fish said in Blues v Highlanders:
Tele'a was rightly dropped after a dire performance off the bench against the Canes. Maybe MacDonald will ignore that, given he'd be going into midfield instead of on the wing, but I wouldn't be surprised if other guys are given a chance first.
Wild guess but I suspect the coaching group will be looking for someone who can combat TUJ first and foremost. Your backline can still function with a skip pass.
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@kiwiwomble is Paea injured?
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@kiwimurph i have no idea, hope not, i think he's been solid and i think some stability in the midfield would be a nice change
edit: Injured: Andrew Makalio, Josh Timu
doesn't look like it, just needs a rest i guess
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Not listed as injured:
Injured: Andrew Makalio, Josh Timu
Highlanders named for Gordon Hunter Memorial match | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership
The Highlanders have named their fourth team of the DHL Super Rugby Pacific season. They will play the Blues on Friday at 7:05pm at North Harbour Stadium, Albany.
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Interesting team, nice to see Vikena back.
And, we might see Sullivan at 10 to finish, assuming they don't want BB to play 80.
Edit: Nock is lucky, he's been pants.
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@higgins said in Blues v Highlanders:
@taniwharugby said in Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp all but empty stadium at EP, NHS or OP, same same
Coronavirus crowd restrictions or not it won't make any difference to the total attendance at NHS anyway.
who are the backs?
I can only see the forwards
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@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
@higgins said in Blues v Highlanders:
@taniwharugby said in Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp all but empty stadium at EP, NHS or OP, same same
Coronavirus crowd restrictions or not it won't make any difference to the total attendance at NHS anyway.
who are the backs?
I can only see the forwards
Boomer.
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@gt12 said in Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:
@higgins said in Blues v Highlanders:
@taniwharugby said in Blues v Highlanders:
@nzzp all but empty stadium at EP, NHS or OP, same same
Coronavirus crowd restrictions or not it won't make any difference to the total attendance at NHS anyway.
who are the backs?
I can only see the forwards
Boomer.
ah NOW there's a second image. I even went to blooyd insta ya kids get off my lawn
