Highlanders v Rebels

[Duluth]

Michael Collins, Josh McKay, Rob Thompson, Josh Ioane, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, James Lentjes, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Jack Whetton, Jesse Parete, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown

Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone, Jeff Thwaites, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Dillon Hunt, Kayne Hammington, Tei Walden, Scott Gregory

---

McKay on the wing
Whetton in for Dickson (shoulder injury)
TBN replaces the overrated Frizell
Some rotation in the front row
Gregory and the criminal Selby-Rickit might debut from the bench.

Still sticking with the Hunt/TJ combo

[Jonty lean]

No fakatava again he's a better player than hammington he has more skill set

[Stargazer]

@Duluth
McKay was terrible on the wing in the preseason game against the Crusaders. Even more a speedbump than Nareki. Terrible on defence.

Frizell is probably getting one of his mandatory ABs rest days.

Also on the bench for his debut is Thwaites, who's returning from the injury ward.
Josh Dickson has taken his place there with a shoulder injury.

Obviously, I agree with @Jonty-lean about Fakatava.

[Bones]

Oh fuck the fuck off you fucking cunting fucks!

[Stargazer]

Match Highlanders v Rebels @ Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Date Friday 28 February
Kick-off 19:05 local
Referee Paul Williams
AR1 James Doleman
AR2 James Munro
TMO Chris Hart

[Duluth]

Rebels
Dane Haylett-Petty (c), Andrew Kellaway, Tom English, Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Matt To’omua, Ryan Louwrens, Isi Naisarani, Richard Hardwick, Angus Cottrell, Matt Philip, Gideon Koegelenberg, Jermaine Ainsley, Anaru Rangi, Matt Gibbon

Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Cameron Orr, Cabous Eloff, Ross Haylett-Petty, Rob Leota, Frank Lomani, Michael Wells, Andrew Deegan

---

To’omua returns from injury

[Machpants]

Fakatavaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[mariner4life]

@Machpants the sleeping (small) giant of NZ rugby...

[Duluth]

The probably accurate TSF stats for the Highlanders v Rebels

Relatively one-sided as you'd expect

Rebels did win the game last year though: 24-19 (in Melbourne)

[KiwiMurph]

@Duluth In the game last year the Highlanders rested some ABs and Bryn Gatland had a nightmare.

[Duluth]

Ha, I didn't think sky would schedule Bernadine Oliver-Kerby and Marshall to cover the same match

[mariner4life]

god i used to loooove Bernadine

[Machpants]

What a cripple fight so far

[98blueandgold]

Right there is example of how inept we are on attack. Break to the half way then make about 3 more meters on 5/6 phases before turnover!

[Machpants]

@98blueandgold said in Highlanders v Rebels:

Right there is example of how inept we are on attack. Break to the half way then make about 3 more meters on 5/6 phases before turnover!

And defence. Utter shit

[KiwiMurph]

great defense in the 10/12 channel.....

[westcoastie]

I reckon theres been a couple of forward passes, a couple of knock-ons, at least once joining the ruck from the side all missed against the Rebels in the first 10min.

[Machpants]

Fuck sake we had one victory in NZ for Oz sides last few years. Chiefs shit the bed, now Landers are playing like donkeys.

[Duluth]

The Rebels deserve plenty of credit, they are playing well. Good lines/offloads etc

[Machpants]

@westcoastie said in Highlanders v Rebels:

I reckon theres been a couple of forward passes, a couple of knock-ons, at least once joining the ruck from the side all missed against the Brumbies in the first 10min.

Brumbies are getting missed lots. Considering this is the rebels giving the Highlanders a rogering, no lube