Blues v Highlanders
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The haves and the have not
I know its only one game. But there does seem to be a gap opening up in rugby now even in New Zealand. Crusaders are full of talent. Blues are closing the gap. Whereas the Highlanders (and maybe Canes) are slipping behind. Then there is the gaps between NZ and Aussie sides. It will destroy SRP is something is not done about it. NZ could start by addressing the NZ situation. Unsure how it would be done though. But Crusaders winning again and 2 sides struggling to compete (MP and Highlanders) will even (further) harm NZ rugby
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@winger said in Blues v Highlanders:
@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@winger what? Highlanders played awful for large periods of the match and were still within a try with 5 minutes to go.
Get a grip.
Did you read the article. And as I said its only one game.
No, I responded to your post.
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@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@winger said in Blues v Highlanders:
@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@winger what? Highlanders played awful for large periods of the match and were still within a try with 5 minutes to go.
Get a grip.
Did you read the article. And as I said its only one game.
No, I responded to your post.
OK. But the article is the key.
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@winger said in Blues v Highlanders:
@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@winger said in Blues v Highlanders:
@bones said in Blues v Highlanders:
@winger what? Highlanders played awful for large periods of the match and were still within a try with 5 minutes to go.
Get a grip.
Did you read the article. And as I said its only one game.
No, I responded to your post.
OK. But the article is the key.
Not really if it's in the same tone as your post.
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@dan54 Hes well past it. He makes Hunt look like a world beater.
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There is something missing in the jigsaw. Hunt and Banks are really not up to it. A good ten and the Clan would be a different team I think. Although they can hold their own in most departments, they can't dominate anywhere to cover the obvious flaws.
Blues were quite good at taking the man out off the ball and being niggly. Part of the game plan to outmuscle the smaller team at the breakdown I think. Just a much better team all across the park unfortunately.
However, I honestly don't know why Clarke's name comes up in AB discussions to be honest. Positioning is poor, decision making isn't good, he looks for contact not space, .... I just can't see it. -
The player the Highlanders are really missing is Dixon. Coltman was back to being too inconsistent with his lineout throwing, so what used to be a strength of the Highlanders and the catalyst for many of their tries is now a weakness. The lineout just before HT being an example.
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@winger The Canes are in a healthy position, they are a young squad and have been able to pick up wins without a large chunk of their experience. They've got plenty of depth, the problem with the Canes is making sure the right players are on the park. We haven't even seen Perenara, Coles, Walden, Franks, Bird, Walker-Leawere, Howden, Roigard etc this year so I don't think you need to lump the Hurricanes in that bracket. If the Canes get all their experience back towards the end of the season they can beat anyone.
The Highlanders on the other hand, sheesh they really have no depth whatsoever. You know you're in trouble when you have Marty Banks on the bench. He's barely NPC level these days, let alone Super Rugby quality.
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@old-samurai-jack He was one of our best in the first 2 games. Don't think he was overly terrible yesterday either apart from getting the ball slapped out of his hands when he was about to score.
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@african-monkey He was good under the high ball, carried well, ran good lines, but did fuck up that try. He's having a good season.
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@tim He looks hungrier this year, which he needs to with the competition on the left wing (that doesn't include George Bridge). His work rate has improved a lot too, not that it was awful in previous years, but he's stepped up his game this year imo.
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@african-monkey said in Blues v Highlanders:
@tim He looks hungrier this year, which he needs to with the competition on the left wing (that doesn't include George Bridge). His work rate has improved a lot too, not that it was awful in previous years, but he's stepped up his game this year imo.
I think if he had scored that try, it would be a very different story, he well fucked that up, and was also very aggressive in going for contestables - he's made some excellent catches this year and is getting plenty of metres (led the team yestreday with 95 off 14 runs, 22 passes, 1 defender beaten, 1 clean break, and 1 offload). He also made 6 tackles and missed none (3 turnovers though, which is a concern but everyone was bad for that last night).
