Highlanders 2025
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if it was a betting option....id put some money on him getting pick in squads but being stuck behind incumbents, at best, he'll play in the third test if we've one the first two...and then never get picked again
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@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just wonder after Big Jim's game last week, if JJ didn't have a quiet word about staying calm etc.
The 50-22 kick he did was on the back of him taking a quick penalty, and think perhaps was a risky play for a few metres? If they just kicked penalty to touch they still got throw in etc. Perhaps not what the AB selectors would want??I get what you’re saying, but i thought he saw a chance and backed himself to execute. No different to Bender and Aaron Smith making similar plays over the years, I’m all for a player backing themselves.
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@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just wonder after Big Jim's game last week, if JJ didn't have a quiet word about staying calm etc.
The 50-22 kick he did was on the back of him taking a quick penalty, and think perhaps was a risky play for a few metres? If they just kicked penalty to touch they still got throw in etc. Perhaps not what the AB selectors would want??If he hadn't kicked a ball in a long time I'd agree. But, it was the second 50/22 in as many weeks. He tapped and went with the intention to kick. Fullback up, it was a smart play.
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Highlanders ran a new player draft for club rugby. Fun idea.
An interesting tidbit is that Faleafaga is now wearing Zingari kit, looks like he's changed from the Sharks
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just wonder after Big Jim's game last week, if JJ didn't have a quiet word about staying calm etc.
The 50-22 kick he did was on the back of him taking a quick penalty, and think perhaps was a risky play for a few metres? If they just kicked penalty to touch they still got throw in etc. Perhaps not what the AB selectors would want??If he hadn't kicked a ball in a long time I'd agree. But, it was the second 50/22 in as many weeks. He tapped and went with the intention to kick. Fullback up, it was a smart play.
I just thought it risky. He could of kicked that exact same kick from penalty marks without the risk of turning ball over if it didn't make 22.
Make it clear again, I loved it, but if he was in test match did it and turned ball over he would get crucified on here. All I suggesting is not what test coaches would be looking for I wouldn't think. -
@SouthernMann i saw that too! he's dead to me!
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@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just wonder after Big Jim's game last week, if JJ didn't have a quiet word about staying calm etc.
The 50-22 kick he did was on the back of him taking a quick penalty, and think perhaps was a risky play for a few metres? If they just kicked penalty to touch they still got throw in etc. Perhaps not what the AB selectors would want??If he hadn't kicked a ball in a long time I'd agree. But, it was the second 50/22 in as many weeks. He tapped and went with the intention to kick. Fullback up, it was a smart play.
I just thought it risky. He could of kicked that exact same kick from penalty marks without the risk of turning ball over if it didn't make 22.
Make it clear again, I loved it, but if he was in test match did it and turned ball over he would get crucified on here. All I suggesting is not what test coaches would be looking for I wouldn't think.I think you are reading a wee bit too much into a single play in week 2 of Super Rugby.
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@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just wonder after Big Jim's game last week, if JJ didn't have a quiet word about staying calm etc.
The 50-22 kick he did was on the back of him taking a quick penalty, and think perhaps was a risky play for a few metres? If they just kicked penalty to touch they still got throw in etc. Perhaps not what the AB selectors would want??If he hadn't kicked a ball in a long time I'd agree. But, it was the second 50/22 in as many weeks. He tapped and went with the intention to kick. Fullback up, it was a smart play.
I just thought it risky. He could of kicked that exact same kick from penalty marks without the risk of turning ball over if it didn't make 22.
Make it clear again, I loved it, but if he was in test match did it and turned ball over he would get crucified on here. All I suggesting is not what test coaches would be looking for I wouldn't think.Sure it had an element of risk, but excellent players make the difference in games. Had he waited and kicked a normal penalty he wouldn't have got the same distance with the kick as it would've been covered.
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I agree, I thought it showed excellent understanding of the laws. There was risk involved, but if no-one is back, it is just down to his execution.
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And he is VC isn't he, so has a bit of lattitude to make such decisions?
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@taniwharugby co-captain and at that point i think renton was off the field so he was Captain
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@Kiwiwomble meh, co-captain, VC, same same different
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@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders 2025:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just wonder after Big Jim's game last week, if JJ didn't have a quiet word about staying calm etc.
The 50-22 kick he did was on the back of him taking a quick penalty, and think perhaps was a risky play for a few metres? If they just kicked penalty to touch they still got throw in etc. Perhaps not what the AB selectors would want??If he hadn't kicked a ball in a long time I'd agree. But, it was the second 50/22 in as many weeks. He tapped and went with the intention to kick. Fullback up, it was a smart play.
I just thought it risky. He could of kicked that exact same kick from penalty marks without the risk of turning ball over if it didn't make 22.
Make it clear again, I loved it, but if he was in test match did it and turned ball over he would get crucified on here. All I suggesting is not what test coaches would be looking for I wouldn't think.I think you are reading a wee bit too much into a single play in week 2 of Super Rugby.
Ok, but that's the highlight that keeps getting played of Big Jim to show he should be an AB it seems.
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@antipodean said in Highlanders 2025:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just wonder after Big Jim's game last week, if JJ didn't have a quiet word about staying calm etc.
The 50-22 kick he did was on the back of him taking a quick penalty, and think perhaps was a risky play for a few metres? If they just kicked penalty to touch they still got throw in etc. Perhaps not what the AB selectors would want??If he hadn't kicked a ball in a long time I'd agree. But, it was the second 50/22 in as many weeks. He tapped and went with the intention to kick. Fullback up, it was a smart play.
I just thought it risky. He could of kicked that exact same kick from penalty marks without the risk of turning ball over if it didn't make 22.
Make it clear again, I loved it, but if he was in test match did it and turned ball over he would get crucified on here. All I suggesting is not what test coaches would be looking for I wouldn't think.Sure it had an element of risk, but excellent players make the difference in games. Had he waited and kicked a normal penalty he wouldn't have got the same distance with the kick as it would've been covered.
He didn't have to wait, my point was he could of kicked same kick from penalty spot, even quicker with less risk is all. The great thing I think they should of been highlighting was his earning the penalty to start with.
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@Dan54 i get what your saying, your not wrong but kicking quickly from the mark is a little tough with so many bodies around so he would have had to wait for them to clear/retreat, he taps, runs 5-8m to get clear and then bangs it in behind the retreating defence, a set defence would definitely have been able to pick that off as it takes a bounce
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@ploughboy maybe if it had gone dead, but i think if it had stopped in the field of play we would have been up and probably force a clearance from deep in their red zone
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@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders 2025:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Dan54 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just wonder after Big Jim's game last week, if JJ didn't have a quiet word about staying calm etc.
The 50-22 kick he did was on the back of him taking a quick penalty, and think perhaps was a risky play for a few metres? If they just kicked penalty to touch they still got throw in etc. Perhaps not what the AB selectors would want??If he hadn't kicked a ball in a long time I'd agree. But, it was the second 50/22 in as many weeks. He tapped and went with the intention to kick. Fullback up, it was a smart play.
I just thought it risky. He could of kicked that exact same kick from penalty marks without the risk of turning ball over if it didn't make 22.
Make it clear again, I loved it, but if he was in test match did it and turned ball over he would get crucified on here. All I suggesting is not what test coaches would be looking for I wouldn't think.I think you are reading a wee bit too much into a single play in week 2 of Super Rugby.
Ok, but that's the highlight that keeps getting played of Big Jim to show he should be an AB it seems.
Well l would also hope the AB selectors put things in context - he's the vice captain of the Highlanders so him taking the initiative of doing something like that can be taken as relevant for his role at the Highlanders as a leader of the team and an understanding that his role in the ABs would be slightly different
if the AB selectors looked at that play as vice captain of the Highlanders trying to capture momentum in a week 2 game and were worried about his decision making at test level we have a serious fucking problem with our selectors.....
I recall Aaron Smith doing something similar often for the Landers
Roigard often does similar aggressive plays for the Canes
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Good players see opportunities and take them. It is what sets them apart.
There are plenty of what ifs on the rugby field, and in big moments in our game.
A lot of them had a safer option available. A lower percentage play.
Even in that game.
What if Fabian Holland hadn't won the lineout. Getting the Landers out of trouble.
What if Hurley's chip and chase didn't go his way.
What if Jim's 50/22 bounced infield.
They did go the players ways, because they were calculated risks. That they all train for.
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@ploughboy said in Highlanders 2025:
big jim was a hero for pulling it off but he hadnt he would have been a chump.
That is exactly what I saying, and all I say, I not sure that particular act will earn him credits from test coach. Geez he had bloody good all round game' Not anti Big Jim in least, I made comment about him being picked for ABs at 12 after just 2 games, and said I think they will take risky play etc and as usually conservative it may well count against him.
