Brumbies v Highlanders

[frugby]

The Landers pretty much head to Australia with our season on the line I feel. If we can win 1/2, we come back to play the Drua, and should be able to square our record at 4 wins & 4 losses... that would leave some heavy lifting to do, with four games against the Chiefs & Crusaders in our last six, but we need to be beating these types of teams to make it in. You win two of those, take out Moana and it gets us to seven wins which is going to be the ballpark. If we can win both these games in Aussie, I think we are back on course for the playoffs.

We're going to have to switch things up, but not sure we get many back this week...

PROP:
Assuming fitness, Kautai definitely starts - hoping he is okay, because whatever happens, Ma'u needs to be on the bench. Wingham is an even worse scrummager, so this could be a real issue. de Groot gets a kick up the ass, but I've enjoyed Bartlett's impact late in games, so wouldn't tweak that.

HOOKER:
Vikena was much better, but thought Taylor was disappointing. Bell should get a run, and I think they'd probably start him, before bringing Vikena on for the last 30 minutes?

LOCK:
Has to be Dunshea and Holland

LOOSE FORWARD:
Howden reverts to the blindside, and then it is a question of what to do with the rest of it. Withy at seven, I don't think starting a pair of opensides really works, so Lasaqa drops to the bench. The prognosis on Renton hasn't been very good for weeks, and supposedly it shows no signs of changing. I'd start Stodart, because simply put we need some size. The other option is stick with Broughton, but he has been underwhelming.

HALVES:
Fakatava comes straight back in. Hastie reverts to the bench. Robinson starts, and Millar comes back onto the bench, because Faleafaga seems incapable of directing a backline

MIDFIELD:
Jimmy moves back to 12, Tele'a has been strong but might be due a partial rest? TUJ was okay, so I'd lean to start him at 13, with Tele'a on the bench, but would be happy with the other way around too

OUTSIDES:
Tangitau is obviously on the right wing, but the rest feels challenging. In terms of guys who are match fit and available, there's Manson, Gilbert & Nareki. I'd go Nareki on the left and Manson at fullback, because Gilbert just isn't cutting it at the moment, but suspect it will be Gilbert in 15.

I don't really see us winning, because our issues in the loose forwards and at fullback have reached breaking point, and we don't have the depth to counteract it. There was another loose forward looking player warming up last week, who was certainly bigger, but could not work out who it was. It didn't look like Tai Cribb, but I don't know who else is down here.

[Grooter]

@frugby yeah Brumbies back three have deadly pace, gonna need Manson out there with Tangitau. And yep if Sefo kautai is unavailable we will be in for a long night on Friday upfront

[Nogusta]

Tangitau hurt his groin on Saturday
Fingers crossed not too bad

[Landers92]

@frugby said in Brumbies v Highlanders:

PROP:
Assuming fitness, Kautai definitely starts - hoping he is okay, because whatever happens, Ma'u needs to be on the bench. Wingham is an even worse scrummager, so this could be a real issue. de Groot gets a kick up the ass, but I've enjoyed Bartlett's impact late in games, so wouldn't tweak that.

HOOKER:
Vikena was much better, but thought Taylor was disappointing. Bell should get a run, and I think they'd probably start him, before bringing Vikena on for the last 30 minutes?

LOOSE FORWARD:
Howden reverts to the blindside, and then it is a question of what to do with the rest of it. Withy at seven, I don't think starting a pair of opensides really works, so Lasaqa drops to the bench. The prognosis on Renton hasn't been very good for weeks, and supposedly it shows no signs of changing. I'd start Stodart, because simply put we need some size. The other option is stick with Broughton, but he has been underwhelming.

MIDFIELD:
Jimmy moves back to 12, Tele'a has been strong but might be due a partial rest? TUJ was okay, so I'd lean to start him at 13, with Tele'a on the bench, but would be happy with the other way around too

Was EDGs best game of the season, unlucky to be the one who wore the yellow card for team warning. Ma’u is usually a sound worker and scrummager so it was odd to see him struggle like he did, I guess it depends how you feel about Wingham and whether you’d roll him out there, I’d stick with Ma’u again and let him redeem himself, something about starting Wingham against the Brumbies front row scares the shit out of me.

Stick with Vikena and Taylor. I’m not starting Bell after not playing at all for the last month or so… recipe for disaster, at most he gets a bench spot over Taylor.

Agree we can’t run 2 7’s again, the balance isn’t there. TK back to 6 and Withy 7. Agree on giving Stodart a hoon at 8.

No need to rest Tele’a at all, one of our most solid and reliable players and quite frankly need him out there. If possible, move Jim back to 12 but if our outsides are injured it might pay to keep Jim at 11 just to have our best players out there(Personally, not something i want to do).

We really need Renton back for loose forward balance and forward leadership, like I posted in the Reds thread it’s really fine margins and having him out there would be very beneficial.

[frugby]

@Landers92 Someone else said it the other day, but last I heard Renton is just struggling with his body big time... a real week to week thing.

[Bones]

Thought TUJ had a pretty solid outing for his first game back, would be good to see if he can build on that before he's injured out of the season.

[handa457]

I heard Broughton took a knock on the weekend so unsure if he'll be eligible based on that. Assuming worst case scenario given injuries I'd run with a 23 like this. Kauitau is confirmed to be elligable for this week.

1. Ethan De Groot
2. Henry Bell
3. Sefo Kauitau
4. Fabian Holland
5. Mitchell Dunshea
6. TK Howden
7. Sean Withy
8. Will Stodart
9. Folau Fakatava
10. Taine Robinson
11. Timcoi T
12. Thomas Umunga Jensen
13. Tanelea Telea
14. Jona Nareki / Michael Mason
15. Sam Gilbert
16. Soanne Vikenna
17. Josh Bartlett
18. Saula Ma'au
19. Lui Naeeta / Hayden Michaels
20. Venevui Lasaqua
21. Nathan Hastie
22. Cam Millar
23. Michael Mason / Jake Te Hiwi

• . I think starting Bell who's a fantastic srummager is a wise move this week. Our Bench has lost us the last few games so having Vikenna as impact would be useful. Ma'au is a big body and probably needs some confidence back. Kauitau will be itching to play his old team so I'd start him.
• . Lock and Looseforwards need some mongeral and bulk so Stodart at eight and Howden at six makes sense. Holland, Dunshea and Withy are no brianers, while I'd probably opt for Lasaqua as impact and then a big body off the bench too. Bit torn between given Michaels a shot late in the game or Naeeta. I'd be tempted to for the mongeral and give Michaels a shot. Maybe even both and give Venevui the week off.
• . Fakatava and Robinson are no brainers in the halves. Assuming Millar is back in the mix but if not I'd rather Gilbert cover 10 and we drop Falefaga. We loose games when he comes on.
• . I'm a bit unsure if Nareki is even elligable for selection this week. If he is - then he slots right in. If not next cab off the rank is Mason. Big Jim goes to the wing if Tangitau is injured. But if he's fit I'd push him to 12 and drop TUJ to the bench for impact. Assuming Tangitau is injured then I think we try and have Big Jim, Gilbert and Nareki as our back three and then Mason on the bench to break open the game with Jim slotting into 12 at about the sixty minute Mark. But I could live with Jake Te Hiwi coming into the mix too given lack of remaining depth we have in that position.

[Landers92]

@handa457 yeah Broughton was playing in pain last week holding his ribs, he’s being managed at the moment.

No point having Lasaqa and Michaels on the bench, they are both specialist 7s.

6. Howden
7. Withy
8. It’s whoever os healthy at this point which looks most likely to be Stodart.

Bench. Lasaqa
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Naeata in 19 covering lock and 6.

[SouthernMann]

We are in a growing pains period.

Hurley should be retained

The hookers stay.

Ma'u was the big problem. Will likely be given a shot at redemption.

Changing half the team, isn't the right move.

Naeata is all but goooone. I highly doubt we ever see him again.

Big toss up whether big Jim goes back to 12. The toss up there is whether he is better at 12 than on the wing. I think the question asked the other way, of is TUJ a better 12, than big Jim is a winger, the answer could be yes. Then it is the toss up between the two at 12.

[Bones]

Pretty concerning how poor Mau was. Don't recall him being that bad before, plus he's a bloody huge lump. What happened?

[SouthernMann]

@Bones said in Brumbies v Highlanders:

Pretty concerning how poor Mau was. Don't recall him being that bad before, plus he's a bloody huge lump. What happened?

Yeah that was what concerned me more than Hurley's catching and kicking. The scrum problems lost us the game. He wasn't just struggling. He got his arse handed to him. A 130kg seasoned prop shouldn't have got smacked around like that.

[Bones]

@SouthernMann said in Brumbies v Highlanders:

@Bones said in Brumbies v Highlanders:

Pretty concerning how poor Mau was. Don't recall him being that bad before, plus he's a bloody huge lump. What happened?

Yeah that was what concerned me more than Hurley's catching and kicking. The scrum problems lost us the game. He wasn't just struggling. He got his arse handed to him. A 130kg seasoned prop shouldn't have got smacked around like that.

Up against Faagase and Hodgman too. Not exactly names that typically strike fear into SR level tightheads I imagine.

[SouthernMann]

@Bones said in Brumbies v Highlanders:

@SouthernMann said in Brumbies v Highlanders:

@Bones said in Brumbies v Highlanders:

Pretty concerning how poor Mau was. Don't recall him being that bad before, plus he's a bloody huge lump. What happened?

Yeah that was what concerned me more than Hurley's catching and kicking. The scrum problems lost us the game. He wasn't just struggling. He got his arse handed to him. A 130kg seasoned prop shouldn't have got smacked around like that.

Up against Faagase and Hodgman too. Not exactly names that typically strike fear into SR level tightheads I imagine.

Faagase spent two years at the Highlanders too. Mostly holding tackle bags and playing club rugby. Strange to turn into an absolute destroyer

[frugby]

Tangitau is fine. Just a knock, has trained so far this week.

No update on Broughton, Hurley or Renton… Nareki is fit.

[Grooter]

In the landers social post Bell, DLB and Fakatava? are wearing the purple training kit usually indicates they'll be playing. Tanielu Tele'a is in the silver kit tho, would be a shame if he's rested.

[SouthernMann]

@Grooter said in Brumbies v Highlanders:

In the landers social post Bell, DLB and Fakatava? are wearing the purple training kit usually indicates they'll be playing. Tanielu Tele'a is in the silver kit tho, would be a shame if he's rested.

Looked like Cam Millar in silver kit too.

[frugby]

Renton travelling so he should be back.

[frugby]

DLB kitted up is interesting… can Bartlett cover tighthead?

[Landers92]

Squad for Brumbies.

EDG out. Broughton out. Taylor out. Arcott out. Hurley out. Tele’a rotated to the bench. A welcome back to Nareki and DLB.

Loft and Lennox to debut.

1. DLB
2. Vikena
3. Ma’u
4. Holland
5. Dunshea
6. Howden
7. Lasaqa
8. Withy
9. Hastie
10. Robinson
11. Nareki
12. Tavatavanawai
13. Umaga-Jenson
14. Tangitau
15. Gilbert

Bench
16. Bell
17. Bartlett
18. Kautai
19. Stodart
20. Loft
21. Lennox
22. Faleafaga
23. Tele’a

[Duluth]

Brumbies

James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Nick Frost, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Rory Scott, Rob Valetini, Harrison Goddard, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright

Replacements: Liam Bowron, Blake Schoupp, Rhys van Nek, Cadeyrn Neville, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Klayton Thorn, Jack Debreczeni, Ollie Sapsford