Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1)
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Text versions:
Highlanders
Ethan de Groot, Jack Taylor, Angus Ta'avao, Oliver Haig, Mitch Dunshea, Te Kamaka Howden, Sean Withy (co-c), Lucas Casey, Folau Fakatava, Cameron Millar, Jona Nareki, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), Jonah Lowe, Caleb Tangitau, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Replacements: Henry Bell, Josh Bartlett, Rohan Wingham, Will Stodart, Veveni Lasaqa, Adam Lennox, Reesjan Pasitoa, Tanielu Tele'a
Crusaders
Finlay Brewis, George Bell, Seb Calder, Antonio Shalfoon, Jamie Hannah, Dom Gardiner, Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Leicester Fainga'anuku, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki
Replacements: Codie Taylor, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Tahlor Cahill, Corey Kellow, Kyle Preston, Taha Kemara, Will Jordan
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@SouthernMann deep down I think we'll lose by 7 - 12, Crusaders bench is incredibly strong, in saying that at least I'm happy with Jamie's selections, Casey, Millar & Wingham over Broughton, Robinson and Kautai at least shows npc form isn't forgotten by the time Super rolls around
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Happy to see Casey get a run. A shame about this injury toll before the season even begins though, hopefully they aren’t out too long.
Lavanini not quite up to pace fitness wise for JJ’s liking just yet.
Hoping the boys turn up and keep this close at the very least.
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If the game is close there will be a lot of points.
Our side reads like we won't be putting a lot of players into the rucks and will be running it every opportunity.
I expect Casey and Howden to be hanging out on the 10m lines, aiming to pun h through.
JRK will pop up a fair bit at first receiver.
Hopeful that we will try and drop Millar back for 50/22 opportunities.
Stoked for Oli Haig, he has been outstanding in the pre-season. Same with Wingham, he had to of had the highest workrate of any prop during the NPC.
Our handling will need to be top notch. With Ta'avao at tighthead, I can see us getting scrummed off the paddock.
That Crusaders bench is scary. Every one of their bench players is better than ours.
I expect the first half will be fairly hot and frenetic. If we can get some momentum that'd be our best chance. We don't want to be down by 10 with 30 minutes to play with the red and black bomb squad rolling on against our NPC level back up brigade.
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If the game is close there will be a lot of points.
Our side reads like we won't be putting a lot of players into the rucks and will be running it every opportunity.
I expect Casey and Howden to be hanging out on the 10m lines, aiming to pun h through.
JRK will pop up a fair bit at first receiver.
Hopeful that we will try and drop Millar back for 50/22 opportunities.
Stoked for Oli Haig, he has been outstanding in the pre-season. Same with Wingham, he had to of had the highest workrate of any prop during the NPC.
Our handling will need to be top notch. With Ta'avao at tighthead, I can see us getting scrummed off the paddock.
That Crusaders bench is scary. Every one of their bench players is better than ours.
I expect the first half will be fairly hot and frenetic. If we can get some momentum that'd be our best chance. We don't want to be down by 10 with 30 minutes to play with the red and black bomb squad rolling on against our NPC level back up brigade.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
If the game is close there will be a lot of points.
Our side reads like we won't be putting a lot of players into the rucks and will be running it every opportunity.
I expect Casey and Howden to be hanging out on the 10m lines, aiming to pun h through.
JRK will pop up a fair bit at first receiver.
Hopeful that we will try and drop Millar back for 50/22 opportunities.
Stoked for Oli Haig, he has been outstanding in the pre-season. Same with Wingham, he had to of had the highest workrate of any prop during the NPC.
Our handling will need to be top notch. With Ta'avao at tighthead, I can see us getting scrummed off the paddock.
That Crusaders bench is scary. Every one of their bench players is better than ours.
I expect the first half will be fairly hot and frenetic. If we can get some momentum that'd be our best chance. We don't want to be down by 10 with 30 minutes to play with the red and black bomb squad rolling on against our NPC level back brigade.
All I’d love to see is an attack that isn’t predictable one off runners and basic 10-12 plays, and a defence that doesn’t collapse inwards after 3-4 phases. If the Highlanders convert opportunities and show some staunch in defence, I don’t mind getting beaten by 12+ by what is a much better team
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
If the game is close there will be a lot of points.
Our side reads like we won't be putting a lot of players into the rucks and will be running it every opportunity.
I expect Casey and Howden to be hanging out on the 10m lines, aiming to pun h through.
JRK will pop up a fair bit at first receiver.
Hopeful that we will try and drop Millar back for 50/22 opportunities.
Stoked for Oli Haig, he has been outstanding in the pre-season. Same with Wingham, he had to of had the highest workrate of any prop during the NPC.
Our handling will need to be top notch. With Ta'avao at tighthead, I can see us getting scrummed off the paddock.
That Crusaders bench is scary. Every one of their bench players is better than ours.
I expect the first half will be fairly hot and frenetic. If we can get some momentum that'd be our best chance. We don't want to be down by 10 with 30 minutes to play with the red and black bomb squad rolling on against our NPC level back brigade.
All I’d love to see is an attack that isn’t predictable one off runners and basic 10-12 plays, and a defence that doesn’t collapse inwards after 3-4 phases. If the Highlanders convert opportunities and show some staunch in defence, I don’t mind getting beaten by 12+ by what is a much better team
@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
If the game is close there will be a lot of points.
Our side reads like we won't be putting a lot of players into the rucks and will be running it every opportunity.
I expect Casey and Howden to be hanging out on the 10m lines, aiming to pun h through.
JRK will pop up a fair bit at first receiver.
Hopeful that we will try and drop Millar back for 50/22 opportunities.
Stoked for Oli Haig, he has been outstanding in the pre-season. Same with Wingham, he had to of had the highest workrate of any prop during the NPC.
Our handling will need to be top notch. With Ta'avao at tighthead, I can see us getting scrummed off the paddock.
That Crusaders bench is scary. Every one of their bench players is better than ours.
I expect the first half will be fairly hot and frenetic. If we can get some momentum that'd be our best chance. We don't want to be down by 10 with 30 minutes to play with the red and black bomb squad rolling on against our NPC level back brigade.
All I’d love to see is an attack that isn’t predictable one off runners and basic 10-12 plays, and a defence that doesn’t collapse inwards after 3-4 phases. If the Highlanders convert opportunities and show some staunch in defence, I don’t mind getting beaten by 12+ by what is a much better team
We have a new defence coach, so we should see some changes in there.
A 12+ dedeat would be very bad for fan engagement, especially for ticket holders at the stadium. The club needs a win or an exciting close loss to keep fans coming back.
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@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
If the game is close there will be a lot of points.
Our side reads like we won't be putting a lot of players into the rucks and will be running it every opportunity.
I expect Casey and Howden to be hanging out on the 10m lines, aiming to pun h through.
JRK will pop up a fair bit at first receiver.
Hopeful that we will try and drop Millar back for 50/22 opportunities.
Stoked for Oli Haig, he has been outstanding in the pre-season. Same with Wingham, he had to of had the highest workrate of any prop during the NPC.
Our handling will need to be top notch. With Ta'avao at tighthead, I can see us getting scrummed off the paddock.
That Crusaders bench is scary. Every one of their bench players is better than ours.
I expect the first half will be fairly hot and frenetic. If we can get some momentum that'd be our best chance. We don't want to be down by 10 with 30 minutes to play with the red and black bomb squad rolling on against our NPC level back brigade.
All I’d love to see is an attack that isn’t predictable one off runners and basic 10-12 plays, and a defence that doesn’t collapse inwards after 3-4 phases. If the Highlanders convert opportunities and show some staunch in defence, I don’t mind getting beaten by 12+ by what is a much better team
We have a new defence coach, so we should see some changes in there.
A 12+ dedeat would be very bad for fan engagement, especially for ticket holders at the stadium. The club needs a win or an exciting close loss to keep fans coming back.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
If the game is close there will be a lot of points.
Our side reads like we won't be putting a lot of players into the rucks and will be running it every opportunity.
I expect Casey and Howden to be hanging out on the 10m lines, aiming to pun h through.
JRK will pop up a fair bit at first receiver.
Hopeful that we will try and drop Millar back for 50/22 opportunities.
Stoked for Oli Haig, he has been outstanding in the pre-season. Same with Wingham, he had to of had the highest workrate of any prop during the NPC.
Our handling will need to be top notch. With Ta'avao at tighthead, I can see us getting scrummed off the paddock.
That Crusaders bench is scary. Every one of their bench players is better than ours.
I expect the first half will be fairly hot and frenetic. If we can get some momentum that'd be our best chance. We don't want to be down by 10 with 30 minutes to play with the red and black bomb squad rolling on against our NPC level back brigade.
All I’d love to see is an attack that isn’t predictable one off runners and basic 10-12 plays, and a defence that doesn’t collapse inwards after 3-4 phases. If the Highlanders convert opportunities and show some staunch in defence, I don’t mind getting beaten by 12+ by what is a much better team
We have a new defence coach, so we should see some changes in there.
A 12+ dedeat would be very bad for fan engagement, especially for ticket holders at the stadium. The club needs a win or an exciting close loss to keep fans coming back.
Fam engagement is a must and I really hope it’s affordable for a family of 4-5 to rock up most games
For a gameplan, I’d really love to see they’re smart enough to realise that Crusaders back three can’t catch a fucking cold and Millar peppers them with highballs all night
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
If the game is close there will be a lot of points.
Our side reads like we won't be putting a lot of players into the rucks and will be running it every opportunity.
I expect Casey and Howden to be hanging out on the 10m lines, aiming to pun h through.
JRK will pop up a fair bit at first receiver.
Hopeful that we will try and drop Millar back for 50/22 opportunities.
Stoked for Oli Haig, he has been outstanding in the pre-season. Same with Wingham, he had to of had the highest workrate of any prop during the NPC.
Our handling will need to be top notch. With Ta'avao at tighthead, I can see us getting scrummed off the paddock.
That Crusaders bench is scary. Every one of their bench players is better than ours.
I expect the first half will be fairly hot and frenetic. If we can get some momentum that'd be our best chance. We don't want to be down by 10 with 30 minutes to play with the red and black bomb squad rolling on against our NPC level back brigade.
All I’d love to see is an attack that isn’t predictable one off runners and basic 10-12 plays, and a defence that doesn’t collapse inwards after 3-4 phases. If the Highlanders convert opportunities and show some staunch in defence, I don’t mind getting beaten by 12+ by what is a much better team
We have a new defence coach, so we should see some changes in there.
A 12+ dedeat would be very bad for fan engagement, especially for ticket holders at the stadium. The club needs a win or an exciting close loss to keep fans coming back.
Fam engagement is a must and I really hope it’s affordable for a family of 4-5 to rock up most games
For a gameplan, I’d really love to see they’re smart enough to realise that Crusaders back three can’t catch a fucking cold and Millar peppers them with highballs all night
@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
If the game is close there will be a lot of points.
Our side reads like we won't be putting a lot of players into the rucks and will be running it every opportunity.
I expect Casey and Howden to be hanging out on the 10m lines, aiming to pun h through.
JRK will pop up a fair bit at first receiver.
Hopeful that we will try and drop Millar back for 50/22 opportunities.
Stoked for Oli Haig, he has been outstanding in the pre-season. Same with Wingham, he had to of had the highest workrate of any prop during the NPC.
Our handling will need to be top notch. With Ta'avao at tighthead, I can see us getting scrummed off the paddock.
That Crusaders bench is scary. Every one of their bench players is better than ours.
I expect the first half will be fairly hot and frenetic. If we can get some momentum that'd be our best chance. We don't want to be down by 10 with 30 minutes to play with the red and black bomb squad rolling on against our NPC level back brigade.
All I’d love to see is an attack that isn’t predictable one off runners and basic 10-12 plays, and a defence that doesn’t collapse inwards after 3-4 phases. If the Highlanders convert opportunities and show some staunch in defence, I don’t mind getting beaten by 12+ by what is a much better team
We have a new defence coach, so we should see some changes in there.
A 12+ dedeat would be very bad for fan engagement, especially for ticket holders at the stadium. The club needs a win or an exciting close loss to keep fans coming back.
Fam engagement is a must and I really hope it’s affordable for a family of 4-5 to rockĺ up most games
For a gameplan, I’d really love to see they’re smart enough to realise that Crusaders back three can’t catch a fucking cold and Millar peppers them with highballs all night
U13 kids go free. Which will ceetainly help get families along. Dunedin on the whole is a low wage economy and these sorts of kid focused pushes will help.
Sadly, three of the teams biggest on the field selling points will be unavailable with Holland, Pledger and Hurley. Those three along with Tangitau, JRK and Jim are the guys people turn up to watch. Last year I went down to the last game of the season and the big Dutchman was just swamped with kids.
Yeah I'm 100% on board with peppering that back three. Fihaki will be attacking us with 50/22s as well.
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Crusaders by +100…seasons gone
Who else do we have injured? Find it weird we have someone from the WTG straight in to start for the first game
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Crusaders by +100…seasons gone
Who else do we have injured? Find it weird we have someone from the WTG straight in to start for the first game
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Crusaders by +100…seasons gone
Who else do we have injured? Find it weird we have someone from the WTG straight in to start for the first game
Unavailable due to injury:
Saula Ma’u (shoulder - 8 weeks)
Xavier Tito-Harris (hamstring - 2 weeks)
Stanley Solomon (shoulder - 2 weeks)
Finn Hurley (foot - 5 weeks)
Andrew Knewstubb (quad - 2 weeks)Along with Renton slowly returning through the development side.
Season Ending: Dylan Pledger (ACL), Fabian Holland (Shoulder)
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Massive missed opportunity not to play this on the Saturday when most of the students arrive.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Crusaders by +100…seasons gone
Who else do we have injured? Find it weird we have someone from the WTG straight in to start for the first game
Unavailable due to injury:
Saula Ma’u (shoulder - 8 weeks)
Xavier Tito-Harris (hamstring - 2 weeks)
Stanley Solomon (shoulder - 2 weeks)
Finn Hurley (foot - 5 weeks)
Andrew Knewstubb (quad - 2 weeks)Along with Renton slowly returning through the development side.
Season Ending: Dylan Pledger (ACL), Fabian Holland (Shoulder)
@Landers92 said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Crusaders by +100…seasons gone
Who else do we have injured? Find it weird we have someone from the WTG straight in to start for the first game
Unavailable due to injury:
Saula Ma’u (shoulder - 8 weeks)
Xavier Tito-Harris (hamstring - 2 weeks)
Stanley Solomon (shoulder - 2 weeks)
Finn Hurley (foot - 5 weeks)
Andrew Knewstubb (quad - 2 weeks)Along with Renton slowly returning through the development side.
Season Ending: Dylan Pledger (ACL), Fabian Holland (Shoulder)
Imo the biggest loss immediately is Saula Ma’u. Outside of DeGroot, the rest of the front rowers are v poor scrummagers.
Pledger and Holland are big losses but they also have an All Black half back and a 91 test Argentinian lock to bring in. If there are no more injuries in the locks, the team can’t point to injuries for any failures
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@frugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Massive missed opportunity not to play this on the Saturday when most of the students arrive.
I suspect they’re probably sharing FB with whatever events are on for o week
@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@frugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Massive missed opportunity not to play this on the Saturday when most of the students arrive.
I suspect they’re probably sharing FB with whatever events are on for o week
That is not how it works.
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@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@frugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Massive missed opportunity not to play this on the Saturday when most of the students arrive.
I suspect they’re probably sharing FB with whatever events are on for o week
That is not how it works.
@frugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@frugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Massive missed opportunity not to play this on the Saturday when most of the students arrive.
I suspect they’re probably sharing FB with whatever events are on for o week
That is not how it works.
Really? They contract out the training and matches to the highlanders do they not? And operate it as an event space as well? The Highlander’s don’t get priority?
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@frugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@frugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Massive missed opportunity not to play this on the Saturday when most of the students arrive.
I suspect they’re probably sharing FB with whatever events are on for o week
That is not how it works.
Really? They contract out the training and matches to the highlanders do they not? And operate it as an event space as well? The Highlander’s don’t get priority?
@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@frugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
@frugby said in Highlanders v Crusaders (round 1):
Massive missed opportunity not to play this on the Saturday when most of the students arrive.
I suspect they’re probably sharing FB with whatever events are on for o week
That is not how it works.
Really? They contract out the training and matches to the highlanders do they not? And operate it as an event space as well? The Highlander’s don’t get priority?
No, there is no o-week events in the Stadium
