Highlanders 2025
-
Injury update:
Finn Hurley (Quad / Season End)
Hayden Michaels (Hamstring / TBC)
Soane Vikena (AC Joint / 1-2 weeks)
TK Howden (Hamstring / 1-2 weeks)
Mitch Dunshea (Knee / 1-2 weeks)
Caleb Tangitau (Groin 1-2 weeks)
Sean Withy(Suspension 3 weeks, down to 2 with World Rugby's Coaching Intervention Programme) -
@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Given the performance from Taneila Filimome tonight I wonder if he gets a full contract next year? Certainly space available for him.
Tail Crib presumably in the mix too.
Needs to learn his defensive positioning. Got caught up in the midfield way too much.
-
Was an interesting performance especially with the returning guys and the lads who have had limited game time.
Oli Haig: Looking like he has done a lot of gym work while off with a broken foot. Looked gassed though. Playing a full 80 coming back from a broken foot isn't ideal. Was good in the tight, got exposed by the Drua a few times covering 20m outwide by himself. Will have benefited from the run.
Cam Millar: not too worried about his shit goal kicking. It is the best part of his game. It'll come right. More concerned about him being bossed around in contact, having the ball stripped, and missing tackles when defending out on the wing. If he is our guy. We need to plan our style around his limitations.
JRK: Awesome he came back against a physical side, and didn't look nervous. Looked back to his normal playing self. Just a bit of rust around some of his field kicking.
Hugh Renton: Such a strong glue like player. From a sheer talent perspective doesn't match what the other squads have. He is, however, just what we need as a follow me type of leader. Has been missed. Was a tough shift having a play a full 80.
Filimone: Looks a decent squad option going into next year. Probably not someone you want starting week in and out. Does winger basics well. Got caught out a few times.
Henry Bell: Showed himself as a very enthusiastic provincial level hooker. Couple of bad misses defensively. Jack Taylor had his best game off the bench. Hopefully Vikena is back again to start next week.
Tai Cribb: a lot shorter than I hoped.
Stodart had his best game. Showed his well capable of starting at lock.
I won't be sad to see the back of DLB at the end of the season. Hopefully.
From what I can see Landers that played club rugby yesterday were Loft, Wingham, Te Hiwi, Hastie, Robinson, Manson (four tries), Josh Whaanga, Faleafaga and Jonah Lowe
Will be a tough one up in Hamilton next week!
-
@SouthernMann Based on last night, Cribb doesn't look like any sort of actual option for the future.
-
Potential team v the Chiefs?
- de Groot
- Vikena (Bell)
- Kautai
- Stodart
- Holland
- Haig
- Lasaqa
- Renton
- Fakatava
- Millar
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Tele'a
- Tangitau (Filimone)
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
- Taylor
- Bartlett
- Ma'u
- Dunshea
- Howden (Loft)
- Broughton (Umaga-Jensen)
- Hastie
- Gilbert
I'd go for the 6-2 split personally... we still need to work out a platform to finish games strongly, because our second half drop-offs are noticeable. Renton and Haig were both gassed, part of which will be due to a lack of game time.
-
JRK has a seriously high ceiling... as I have been saying, the core of this side is actually really well put together. Keep the majority of this squad together, and naturally we'll get better. We have six derbies (including Moana) to end the season, and I would wager we win half of them.
-
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann Based on last night, Cribb doesn't look like any sort of actual option for the future.
I wouldn’t be too harsh on the bloke, he’s not long turned 21. Talented yes. Will he establish himself as a super rugby lock, who knows. But I definitely wouldn’t write him off yet.
-
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann Based on last night, Cribb doesn't look like any sort of actual option for the future.
I wouldn’t be too harsh on the bloke, he’s not long turned 21. Talented yes. Does he establish himself as a super rugby lock, who knows. But I definitely wouldn’t write him off yet.
Definitely not writing him off, more just meaning exactly as I say. Whatever the case, unless he puts some serious weight on, he definitely is not a lock.
-
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 Wonder how many years he has to run in Japan? Still only 30, he could be a good pickup.
The sad thing is if you aren't an All Black and you are in and around 30. NZ rugby isn't for you. Our game is for young blokes and All Blacks (and DLB).
-
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 Wonder how many years he has to run in Japan? Still only 30, he could be a good pickup.
The sad thing is if you aren't an All Black and you are in and around 30. NZ rugby isn't for you. Our game is for young blokes and All Blacks (and DLB).
Really depends what motivates a guy I suppose. Some do stay/come back, but as you say that is rare.
-
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 Wonder how many years he has to run in Japan? Still only 30, he could be a good pickup.
The sad thing is if you aren't an All Black and you are in and around 30. NZ rugby isn't for you. Our game is for young blokes and All Blacks (and DLB).
Really depends what motivates a guy I suppose. Some do stay/come back, but as you say that is rare.
Plan for the rule not the exception. It is why there is risks around recruiting guys in their late 20s wanting a final push for higher honours. You get a few good years out of them, but can't build a team around them.
For most players, 'rugby' is going to be the most they will ever they will ever earn. They need to maximise. Even with the best intentions money makes the world go around.
-
@SouthernMann I know someone who is well versed on Japanese clubs and he explained a guy like Fakatava (2) ABs caps or Jona Nareki NZ 7s are unlikely to be sought after as often as they're in the same tier Limit as internationals Smith, TJP, Kolbe, Cane etc. It's why Hansen is keen the Josh Dicksons, Joey Manu, Tom Robinsons, Blair Ryalls.
-
@Grooter said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann I know someone who is well versed on Japanese clubs and he explained a guy like Fakatava (2) ABs caps or Jona Nareki NZ 7s are unlikely to be sought after as often as they're in the same tier Limit as internationals Smith, TJP, Kolbe, Cane etc. It's why Hansen is keen the Josh Dicksons, Joey Manu, Tom Robinsons, Blair Ryalls.
Yeah. Three categories. Category A, B and C. Category B players are non capped players who could be eligible players. C players are the likes of Smith and Kolbe. If clubs plan well category B players eventually become category A players.
Guys like Fakatava are more likely to go to Europe. Seems they are more open to having capped guys.
-
@Grooter said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann I know someone who is well versed on Japanese clubs and he explained a guy like Fakatava (2) ABs caps or Jona Nareki NZ 7s are unlikely to be sought after as often as they're in the same tier Limit as internationals Smith, TJP, Kolbe, Cane etc. It's why Hansen is keen the Josh Dicksons, Joey Manu, Tom Robinsons, Blair Ryalls.
It's why Mitch Drummond hasn't been a target in Japan either, due to playing 20 mins for the ABs in 2018, so it's not worth investing in him, a big reason why he has stayed put (told to me by someone very close to him)
Crusaders player, I know, but same sort of example.
-
@SouthernMann I’ve got a mate who’s a former Highlander who I spoke to about Dickson a few months back. The general gist was that the Japan deal had come from left field and it was only the death of his brother which motivated him to take it.
I certainly got the vibe that he only took the deal initially because he wanted to get out of Dunedin because of how hard his brothers loss had hit him. But equally that family commitments meant it wouldn’t be a long time he’d be away.
-
just read Hayden michaels and Faleafaga are both out for the rest of the season
