Highlanders 2025
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Highlanders latest social media post below.
INJURY UPDATE: Oliver Haig
Haig has sustained a fracture in his right foot which will require surgery this week and is expected to be able to return to play in 10 weeks.
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Highlanders latest social media post below.
INJURY UPDATE: Oliver Haig
Haig has sustained a fracture in his right foot which will require surgery this week and is expected to be able to return to play in 10 weeks.
One thing the Highlanders have been really good at compared to the other NZ teams has been providing injury updates. That's a big loss for the Landers but I guess it opens up opportunity for the likes of Howden to stake his claim. I've got a feeling he will be an All Black eventually and he will be the one the Canes let get away.
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Massive loss at six, although off-set by Howden. The bigger loss is the juggling act we are doing at lock. Haig would have dropped into lock should one of Holland or Dunshea got injured. Now it is Stodart, and at a pinch Howden or Naeata. I wouldn't be surprised if Josh Tengblad has to play a lot earlier for the Landers than planned.
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Massive loss at six, although off-set by Howden. The bigger loss is the juggling act we are doing at lock. Haig would have dropped into lock should one of Holland or Dunshea got injured. Now it is Stodart, and at a pinch Howden or Naeata. I wouldn't be surprised if Josh Tengblad has to play a lot earlier for the Landers than planned.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Massive loss at six, although off-set by Howden. The bigger loss is the juggling act we are doing at lock. Haig would have dropped into lock should one of Holland or Dunshea got injured. Now it is Stodart, and at a pinch Howden or Naeata. I wouldn't be surprised if Josh Tengblad has to play a lot earlier for the Landers than planned.
Howden can slot in there if need be, he jumped in there towards the end of a few games for the Canes and didn't go badly, you just lose a bit of height but gain more mobility.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Massive loss at six, although off-set by Howden. The bigger loss is the juggling act we are doing at lock. Haig would have dropped into lock should one of Holland or Dunshea got injured. Now it is Stodart, and at a pinch Howden or Naeata. I wouldn't be surprised if Josh Tengblad has to play a lot earlier for the Landers than planned.
Howden can slot in there if need be, he jumped in there towards the end of a few games for the Canes and didn't go badly, you just lose a bit of height but gain more mobility.
@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Massive loss at six, although off-set by Howden. The bigger loss is the juggling act we are doing at lock. Haig would have dropped into lock should one of Holland or Dunshea got injured. Now it is Stodart, and at a pinch Howden or Naeata. I wouldn't be surprised if Josh Tengblad has to play a lot earlier for the Landers than planned.
Howden can slot in there if need be, he jumped in there towards the end of a few games for the Canes and didn't go badly, you just lose a bit of height but gain more mobility.
And I think that is one of the likely solutions. At 50 or 60 minutes. A lock goes off. Withy goes to six. Lasaqa comes on and Howden goes to lock. Stodart also likely to be on the bench. Or Broughton
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Massive loss at six, although off-set by Howden. The bigger loss is the juggling act we are doing at lock. Haig would have dropped into lock should one of Holland or Dunshea got injured. Now it is Stodart, and at a pinch Howden or Naeata. I wouldn't be surprised if Josh Tengblad has to play a lot earlier for the Landers than planned.
@SouthernMann Tengbald is very highly thought of, but this is a year too soon.
I’m guessing a lock will come in as injury cover?
At my first look, I think the Drua game at home is a likely return date.
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Massive loss at six, although off-set by Howden. The bigger loss is the juggling act we are doing at lock. Haig would have dropped into lock should one of Holland or Dunshea got injured. Now it is Stodart, and at a pinch Howden or Naeata. I wouldn't be surprised if Josh Tengblad has to play a lot earlier for the Landers than planned.
Howden can slot in there if need be, he jumped in there towards the end of a few games for the Canes and didn't go badly, you just lose a bit of height but gain more mobility.
And I think that is one of the likely solutions. At 50 or 60 minutes. A lock goes off. Withy goes to six. Lasaqa comes on and Howden goes to lock. Stodart also likely to be on the bench. Or Broughton
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
Massive loss at six, although off-set by Howden. The bigger loss is the juggling act we are doing at lock. Haig would have dropped into lock should one of Holland or Dunshea got injured. Now it is Stodart, and at a pinch Howden or Naeata. I wouldn't be surprised if Josh Tengblad has to play a lot earlier for the Landers than planned.
Howden can slot in there if need be, he jumped in there towards the end of a few games for the Canes and didn't go badly, you just lose a bit of height but gain more mobility.
And I think that is one of the likely solutions. At 50 or 60 minutes. A lock goes off. Withy goes to six. Lasaqa comes on and Howden goes to lock. Stodart also likely to be on the bench. Or Broughton
Yeah that would work well considering JJ usually likes to pay up tempo towards the back end of games anyway.
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Interestingly his replacement is Taranaki’s Michael Loft as per ODT. Haven’t heard of him before thoughts from those who have?
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@SouthernMann Tengbald is very highly thought of, but this is a year too soon.
I’m guessing a lock will come in as injury cover?
At my first look, I think the Drua game at home is a likely return date.
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann Tengbald is very highly thought of, but this is a year too soon.
I’m guessing a lock will come in as injury cover?
At my first look, I think the Drua game at home is a likely return date.
It is a rock and hard place with U20 injury replacement players. The layer under Super players don't stay in NZ. Who is the 2m tall NZ lock currently without contract that we can bring in into the team? If no one, we just utilise who we have locally. That's Tengblad.
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Interestingly his replacement is Taranaki’s Michael Loft as per ODT. Haven’t heard of him before thoughts from those who have?
@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Interestingly his replacement is Taranaki’s Michael Loft as per ODT. Haven’t heard of him before thoughts from those who have?
Think you’ve misunderstood that article. Loft been with the team throughout all of pre season so isn’t a straight replacement for Haig, although I can see how that article looks that way. It will be interesting to see if anyone else is given a call to fill a spot for a bit.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann Tengbald is very highly thought of, but this is a year too soon.
I’m guessing a lock will come in as injury cover?
At my first look, I think the Drua game at home is a likely return date.
It is a rock and hard place with U20 injury replacement players. The layer under Super players don't stay in NZ. Who is the 2m tall NZ lock currently without contract that we can bring in into the team? If no one, we just utilise who we have locally. That's Tengblad.
@SouthernMann Slightly unsure how it works. Could we offer an injury replacement contract to say Hugo Plummer, who is currently on a wider training group contract.
Fischli is the other one who springs to mind.
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If Plummer is back down south that works perfectly. Fischli is not the solution I want to see.
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Jamie has said they won’t be bringing anyone in as injury cover at this stage for Haig. Howden will be used there when needed and will be using the local guys they already have in camp.
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Jamie has said they won’t be bringing anyone in as injury cover at this stage for Haig. Howden will be used there when needed and will be using the local guys they already have in camp.
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Jamie has said they won’t be bringing anyone in as injury cover at this stage for Haig. Howden will be used there when needed and will be using the local guys they already have in camp.
Didn't mention Hugo Plummer in the stand up either. Talked about Fabian, Mitch Dunshea and TK. Then went on about local guys. Which suggests they will look at Tengblad or even Reuben Palmer
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Jamie has clearly got a plan in mind… I could be wrong, but suspect Howden was brought down here very much with playing lock in mind.
We have 10 loose forwards on the books, including Loft. I do wonder if the fact no replacement coming in bodes well for JRK returning (very hopeful here!)
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Pre-Season action is just over a week away, but I would guess Joseph has a good idea of what he is going to do by now for Round One:
- de Groot
- Vikena (?)
- Ma’u
- Dunshea
- Holland
- Broughton (?)
- Withy
- Renton (cc)
- Fakatava
- Millar
- Nareki (?)
- Umaga-Jensen
- Tele’a
- Tavatavanawai
- Hurley (?)
- Taylor
- Bartlett
- Kautai
- Howden
- Lasaqa
- Arscott
- Robinson
- Tangitau
Hooker, I expect Taylor to be used as an impact sub, so it’ll be either Vikena or Bell to start. Jamie will have the idea in his head
Prop, if DLB or Wingham are in for R1 we could be in for a world of hurt up front this season
Lock, if Howden is covering lock, he might be used from the bench to start the year? Haig’s injury may have changed the situation
Loose Forward, if Howden is on the bench, and Haig is injured, I wonder if we see Broughton at 6? Renton is a lock to play 8, and with his lack of out and out size, wonder if Jamie sees Broughton as more of a natural blindside? I expect Withy to start, though who knows here. My one guarantee is Michaels won’t be near the 23, as both Lasaqa and Loft have been brought in. We will see a 6-2 split at some stage, but I suspect not to start the year.
Backs, I think most of the starters sort themselves. Nareki ahead of Tangitau to start with unless pre-season form changes something. Hurley in 15, unless they decide he isn’t ready.
Be intriguing to see fullback throughout pre-season though, because we’ll play roughly 160 minutes of rugby. Hurley will play half of that in 15 you would think, and Millar will play half of it at 10. Faleafaga is out the picture, Robinson is the backup 10, so how they piece together where he plays will be interesting. I suspect Manson or Nareki might get a run at the back?
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A Paul Cully article says that Haig broke his foot in a maul at training.
de Groot was not considered for captain as Joseph wants him to focus on his own game to win back his AB jersey without any responsibility. He isn't part of the leadership group at the moment either.
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A Paul Cully article says that Haig broke his foot in a maul at training.
de Groot was not considered for captain as Joseph wants him to focus on his own game to win back his AB jersey without any responsibility. He isn't part of the leadership group at the moment either.
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2025:
A Paul Cully article says that Haig broke his foot in a maul at training.
de Groot was not considered for captain as Joseph wants him to focus on his own game to win back his AB jersey without any responsibility. He isn't part of the leadership group at the moment either.
Yup that’s all accurate although I’ll add to that. Jamie Joseph’s media session yesterday explained it. He said EDG will work his way back in from the AB’s rest and be back in that leadership group once he returns.
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Pre-Season action is just over a week away, but I would guess Joseph has a good idea of what he is going to do by now for Round One:
- de Groot
- Vikena (?)
- Ma’u
- Dunshea
- Holland
- Broughton (?)
- Withy
- Renton (cc)
- Fakatava
- Millar
- Nareki (?)
- Umaga-Jensen
- Tele’a
- Tavatavanawai
- Hurley (?)
- Taylor
- Bartlett
- Kautai
- Howden
- Lasaqa
- Arscott
- Robinson
- Tangitau
Hooker, I expect Taylor to be used as an impact sub, so it’ll be either Vikena or Bell to start. Jamie will have the idea in his head
Prop, if DLB or Wingham are in for R1 we could be in for a world of hurt up front this season
Lock, if Howden is covering lock, he might be used from the bench to start the year? Haig’s injury may have changed the situation
Loose Forward, if Howden is on the bench, and Haig is injured, I wonder if we see Broughton at 6? Renton is a lock to play 8, and with his lack of out and out size, wonder if Jamie sees Broughton as more of a natural blindside? I expect Withy to start, though who knows here. My one guarantee is Michaels won’t be near the 23, as both Lasaqa and Loft have been brought in. We will see a 6-2 split at some stage, but I suspect not to start the year.
Backs, I think most of the starters sort themselves. Nareki ahead of Tangitau to start with unless pre-season form changes something. Hurley in 15, unless they decide he isn’t ready.
Be intriguing to see fullback throughout pre-season though, because we’ll play roughly 160 minutes of rugby. Hurley will play half of that in 15 you would think, and Millar will play half of it at 10. Faleafaga is out the picture, Robinson is the backup 10, so how they piece together where he plays will be interesting. I suspect Manson or Nareki might get a run at the back?
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Loose Forward, if Howden is on the bench, and Haig is injured, I wonder if we see Broughton at 6? Renton is a lock to play 8, and with his lack of out and out size, wonder if Jamie sees Broughton as more of a natural blindside? I expect Withy to start, though who knows here. My one guarantee is Michaels won’t be near the 23, as both Lasaqa and Loft have been brought in. We will see a 6-2 split at some stage, but I suspect not to start the year.
As it stands, Loft is just down there as an extra right now. Michael’s being a full squad player would be in ahead of him. If he isn’t then that’s a little concerning.
6 is a question mark, Broughton is the shortest of the bunch you listed but adds a lot around the field in terms of speed and a dynamic style of play. Set piece is where we will feel the loss of Haig the most so I hope they keep Howden at 6 as often as they can and hope one of these young guys step up at lock in the mean time. Withy has played a lot of 6 so if someone fills the 7 role well I wouldn’t be surprised to see him plugged in there. Personally I’d love him to have a full season at 7.
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If Haig is our top six. Injury free. You replace him with the most similar player. Who is TK Howden, or Will Stodart. Both offer lineout options, and are big lads. Playing Broughton at six, as an injury replacement for several rounds mixes up on the planned dynamic. Doesn't make sense.
