Hurricanes vs Highlanders
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<p>thehighlanders.co.nz</p>
<p><b>Hurricanes v Pulse Energy Highlanders - Westpac Stadium, Dunedin, Friday 27<sup>th</sup> May 7.35pm</b></p>
<p>Returning from their bye round Pulse Energy Highlanders Head Coach Jamie Joseph has made only two changes to his starting line-up that beat the Crusaders in round 12. Tom Franklin will start at lock for Joe Wheeler who drops out of the 23 for this week and Daniel Lienert-Brown, who was a late withdrawal for the Crusaders match, will start at loosehead.</p>
<p>Luke Whitelock had a standout game against the Crusaders and again keeps the in-form Liam Squire on the bench, while Mark Reddish is included in the match day team for the first time since round 7. The game will be massive for both sides as they are separated by a single point on the table, both clubs will be desperate to head into the June break with a win.</p>
<p>NZ rugby has designated round 13 as the “diversity round†. NZ Super Rugby teams will wear a range of brightly coloured laces to highlight diversity in rugby. It is a symbolic gesture to illustrate rugby is a game for everyone, no matter what size, shape, nationality, religion or gender. Joseph commented “our team is particularly diverse, I think we have at least six different nationalities in our squad, all with different backgrounds and cultures but it’s our love of the game that binds us together. That’s the beauty of rugby, it doesn’t discriminate, it’s come one, come allâ€</p>
<p>1. Daniel Lienert-Brown</p>
<p>2. Ash Dixon</p>
<p>3. Josh Hohneck</p>
<p>4. Alex Ainley</p>
<p>5. Tom Franklin</p>
<p>6. Elliot Dixon</p>
<p>7. Dan Pryor</p>
<p>8. Luke Whitelock</p>
<p>9. Aaron Smith</p>
<p>10. Lima Sopoaga</p>
<p>11. Patrick Osborne</p>
<p>12. Malakai Fekitoa</p>
<p>13. Matt Faddes</p>
<p>14. Waisake Naholo</p>
<p>15. Ben Smith (c)</p>
<p><b>Reserves</b></p>
<p>16. Greg Pleasants-Tate</p>
<p>17. Aki Seiuli</p>
<p>18. Siosiua Halanukonuka</p>
<p>19. Mark Reddish</p>
<p>20. Liam Squire</p>
<p>21. Fumiaki Tanaka</p>
<p>22. Marty Banks</p>
<p>23. Teihorangi Walden</p>
<p><b>Unavailable due to injury</b>: Liam Coltman (foot), Josh Renton (knee) Shane Christie (hamstring)</p>
<p><b>Head Coach:</b> Jamie Joseph <b>Assistant Coaches</b>: Tony Brown, Scott McLeod <b>Manager</b>: Paul McLaughlan</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="582447" data-time="1464144144">
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<p>I'm happy with Proctor at centre. I think hes been bloody strong. 2nd Five remains the concern for me. Both Laumape and Aso have shown glimpses of their potential but their consistency remains the worry.</p>
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<p>It will be interesting to see if Faddes can back up his strong performance against the Crusaders. He is a player on the rise and i'm looking forward to that battle with him and Proctor. </p>
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<p><strong>If the Canes are going to win on Saturday night Perenara has to outplay Smith.</strong> If Smith can get his bullets away on a consistent basis then the Canes will be in for a bloody long night.</p>
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<p>So you're putting your money on the Landers then?</p>
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<p>With the June tests in just a couple of weeks, I'm going to be cringing at every collision the A and B Smith's take.</p> -
<p>The Canes are favourites at the TAB but on form you would have to be a brave man to bet against the Highlanders with the way they destroyed the Crusaders. I am a brave man though and I will still back my Canes to get the job done!! :D</p>
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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> -
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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>
