Moana Pasifika v Highlanders

[Landers92]

I’m taking not taking Moana lightly. First home game for them in North Harbour and culture round, they will be up for it big time.

My prediction below, taking injury and suspension into consideration. I don’t think we rotate much at all, they are a physical side so think speed, specifically at loose forward will be key.

Reason for picking the same locking pair is we have a bye next week, 3 weeks in a row they should be able to handle. Stodart and Naeata providing cover there.

1. Bartlett
2. Taylor
3. Kautai
4. Holland
5. Dunshea
6. Renton
7. Withy
8. Broughton
9. Fakatava
10. Robinson
11. Tangitau
12. Tavatavanawai
13. Tele’a
14. Gilbert
15. Hurley

Bench
16. Bell
17. EDG/Jack Sexton
18. Wingham
19. Stodart
20. Lasaqa
21. Hastie
22. Millar
23. Could be a 6/2 about but will list both. Umaga Jenson or Naeata

If reports are true Howden still 2/3 weeks away.

Thought about giving Renton a run off the bench but keeping him in the starting XV due to being a CC.

[frugby]

@SouthernMann I don’t have an issue with a few changes, but the front row injuries make it problematic. If de Groot is out, then IMO two proper locks are necessary or else it all of a sudden becomes a very lightweight pack. Broughton might get a run at 8 also, so Howden could start at 6?

Jim needs to play, so if TUJ plays then Tele’a gets a rest, which is okay because he has played 280 minutes in the past four weeks, and is injury prone.

[frugby]

@Landers92 I’ve heard Howden was back running so I think it’ll either be this week or after the bye.

[Landers92]

@frugby yeah he’s back at training. Landers release last week had that time frame on him. Hamstrings are niggly so just play it safe and bring him back after the bye imo.

[Bovidae]

The MP scrum is much stronger this year, particularly when the subs come on. Bartlett and Wingham will be tested.

[handa457]

My proposed lineup would be

1. Josh Bartlett
2. Henry Bell
3. Sefo Kauitau
4. Mitchell Dunshea
5. Will Stodart
6. Lui Naeeta
7. Sean Withy
8. Hugh Renton
9. Folau Fakatava
10. Taine Robinson
11. Caleb Tangitau
12. Timcoi T
13. Tanelea Telea
14. Sam Gilbert
15. Finn Hurley
16. Soanne Vikenna
17. EDG / Jack Sexton
18. Rohan Wingham
19. Fabian Holland
20. Lasaqua
    21 . Nathan Hastie
21. Cam Millar
22. Thomas Umunga Jensen

I Think Prop / Hooker split will be a challange. Despite his amazing game last week I'd probably opt for Bell and Vikenna just based on experience given we'll be rolling out two possibly three inexperienced props this week.

I'd put big Fabian Holland on the bench, and give Will Stodart a run. Mitchell Dunshea had a 10 minute yellow card week one, and twenty minutes off the field last week. So I'd rest Fabian who's played more minutes.

I'd want big Lui Naeeta Starting and some Bruisers off the brench so it's Lasaqua who gets the nodd for bench spot this week.

Midfield stays unchanged. But TUJ comes onto the bench for his first game back. We really want some big bodies to bend the line in the last 20.

[African Monkey]

@Bovidae said in Moana Pasifika v Highlanders:

The MP scrum is much stronger this year, particularly when the subs come on. Bartlett and Wingham will be tested.

Sadly our defence hasn't improved.

[DurryMexted]

I might be out of the loop, but has Cam Millar slipped down the pecking order behind Taine Robinson? Not long ago it was him vs Jacomb to get an ABs call up?

[frugby]

@DurryMexted Certainly seems that way... JJ might just be sending him a message though. Still a good player, and I expect by the end of the season he will win the jersey back - probably the first time he has to deal with positive competition though (generally has been a race to the bottom in his career)

[Grooter]

@handa457 personally I would keep Jack Taylor in the 23, the lad really reminds me of a young Dane coles

[handa457]

@Grooter It's a tough call. Based on form absolutely. But just wonder given injuries if we might benefit from having the experience of Bell in the 23 this week over him. Like if you've got potentially three props making their season debuts at once, having Bell might make sense. However if EDG is in the mix I've probably throw caution to the wind and go with Taylor.

[SouthernMann]

@frugby said in Moana Pasifika v Highlanders:

@DurryMexted Certainly seems that way... JJ might just be sending him a message though. Still a good player, and I expect by the end of the season he will win the jersey back - probably the first time he has to deal with positive competition though (generally has been a race to the bottom in his career)

I think plenty of people in Otago/Southland want Millar to succeed. Everyone was surprised when he got surpassed by effectively one of the final players added to the squad.

Robinson's playing style is far more suited to how Joseph wants the backline to run. He plays a bit tougher. Is a bigger and has been involved in some pretty big plays.

If he maintains the standard he has exhibited for the first couple of weeks, he deserves to keep the spot.

Millar has proven himself to be a very good game manager and kicker. Which makes him perfect to be a potential game closer.

[SouthernMann]

ODT articles states EDG and Ma'u likely to be available for Friday. I hope they take a very cautious approach with both.

[frugby]

@SouthernMann Good news. I’d personally have them both on the bench with Bartlett and Kautai to start… six day turnaround so the tight forwards will be feeling it

[SouthernMann]

I'd personally swap out the entire tight forward starting group. With most of the starters on the bench

[Dan54]

I would genuinely not be surprised if MP sneak this one on Friday. I have a funny feeling the Clan may just be a bit worn out after Saturday night, and even mentally could be not quite there?

[SouthernMann]

@Dan54 said in Moana Pasifika v Highlanders:

I would genuinely not be surprised if MP sneak this one on Friday. I have a funny feeling the Clan may just be a bit worn out after Saturday night, and even mentally could be not quite there?

While they are 11th, and winless this is a marker game for the Landers. Due to the reasons you've outlined.

We should win this. Everything points to us winning it. For the first time this season we will be picked by the pundits. Makes it the perfect banana skin game.

Showing we can turn up, get it done is what we need to do. This is up to Joseph to show he can balance a big game, the drain mentally and physically, to get the side up. Using his squad, rotating the players as required.

That's why I'd make the changes I suggested.

[ploughboy]

be an interesting team to pick.
a must win game for the clan

[gt12]

@DurryMexted said in Moana Pasifika v Highlanders:

I might be out of the loop, but has Cam Millar slipped down the pecking order behind Taine Robinson? Not long ago it was him vs Jacomb to get an ABs call up?

For Highlander’s / Otago NPC nerds.

He was miles away and he’s further now.

[Mr Fish]

Since when could pro players not back up after just two games at the start of the season? Regardless of the effort put in in the second half of last weekend's game, basically every player from the Blues game should be able to front again this weekend.

And we're still yet to see anything to suggest that Moana are anything but a very average side. They've lost both their matches this year and shipped plenty of points in the process.

If the Highlanders are making changes, it should be so they can give some easy minutes to squaddies because Moana is one of the few games where they can afford to blood new players, not because they're knackered after just two matches to start the season.