Blues v Highlanders

[nzzp]

@Kirwan spot on. And consistent selections too, clarity about what the team needs from different positions

[Bones]

@nzzp said in Blues v Highlanders:

@Kirwan spot on. And consistent selections too, clarity about what the B team needs from different positions

Yes.

[Stargazer]

Josh Ioane ruled out of this game. NMS still not available either. Ngane Punivai cleared to play.

[Bones]

@Stargazer godammit. Blues B by a million.

[mariner4life]

@Bones said in Blues v Highlanders:

Oh great, Paul Williams.

Put your life savings on the blues.

You're not... you're not having a go at the ref are you?

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/121921892/super-rugby-aotearoa-blues-highlanders-seek-consistency-from-refs-at-breakdown

[Snowy]

@Bones said in Blues v Highlanders:

Oh great, Paul Williams.

Put your life savings on the blues.

Excuses in early?

[KiwiMurph]

Michael Collins to beat the Blues with a last minute play.

[Bones]

@mariner4life said in Blues v Highlanders:

@Bones said in Blues v Highlanders:

Oh great, Paul Williams.

Put your life savings on the blues.

You're not... you're not having a go at the ref are you?

You....you picked up on that? I see you got your serious mask on quicksmart once required.

Williams was the ref in round 1 wasn't he? Thought he was good but had to laugh when I messaged the old man and all he did was come back complaining about the ref and the highlanders terrible win percentage under him.

[mariner4life]

I'm super serious

[Bones]

@mariner4life said in Blues v Highlanders:

I'm super serious

I thought you Aussies were laid back too.

[mariner4life]

@Bones said in Blues v Highlanders:

@mariner4life said in Blues v Highlanders:

I'm super serious

I thought you Aussies were laid back too.

Not often enough

[Dice]

Heard on the news that they've sold over 20,000 tickets for this game so far.

[Kiwiwomble]

if you'd asked me a few weeks back i would have been happy with playing the blues at this point in the comp...now....i dont know, come out of the bye against a red hot Blues.... i can only hope three weeks in they will be a bit more tired

edit: just read we're still not expecting Josh Ioane back

[African Monkey]

Hope we go with our strongest available side for every fixture personally. No need to make changes at this stage.

[Stargazer]

Highlanders
1 Ayden Johnstone, 2 Ash Dixon, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 5 Josh Dickson, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Dillon Hunt, 8 Marino Mikaele Tu'u, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Mitch Hunt, 11 Jona Nareki, 12 Sio Tomkinson, 13 Rob Thompson, 14 Sam Gilbert, 15 Scott Gregory.

Reserves:
16 Liam Coltman, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Ngane Punivai

Unavailable due to injury: Nathan Vella (concussion), Nehe Milner-Skudder (shoulder), Josh Ioane (leg)

Season ending injuries: Sione Misiloi (foot), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (shoulder), James Lentjes (ankle), Tevita Nabura (back), Connor Garden-Bachop (back)

https://thehighlanders.co.nz/media-centre/news/1022-highlanders-team-to-play-the-blues

[mariner4life]

should be fun up front, but surely the class difference in the big numbers gets the Blues home

[Kiwiwomble]

@mariner4life said in Blues v Highlanders:

should be fun up front, but surely the class difference in the big numbers gets the Blues home

was going to say pretty much exactly the same thing...heart kind of sunk at 14 and 15

koroi was solid last game except the card...really surprised he hasn't even made the bench

[Duluth]

Same starting XV

Marchant gets a run from the bench ahead of Duffie. This is Marchant's last game

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Otere Black, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Alex Hodgman.

Reserves: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Marcel Renata, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Joe Marchant

---

Players not considered with injury: Karl Tu’inukuafe (leg strain), Jack Heighton (quad), Jared Page (pec), Stephen Perofeta (fractured foot), Blake Gibson (hamstring), Tom Robinson (knee). Season ending: Ray Niuia, James Tucker, Tanielu Tele’a.

---

https://blues.rugby/unchanged-starting-line-up-for-landers/

On the back of two straight wins, coach Leon MacDonald has resisted any change to his starting line-up for the third round of the Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa against the Highlanders.

The Blues will host the southerners at Eden Park on Saturday, with a 7.05pm kick-off.

MacDonald said a number of the squad have pressed hard for inclusion but the current group continued to prove themselves on the paddock.

The only change comes in the reserves where England international Joe Marchant is included in what will be his final match for the Blues before returning to his Harlequins club in London.

“The whole squad are training hard, and our current starters are getting tested at every training session, which is what we want,” said MacDonald.

“This group of 23 continue to do the business. They are developing well to the style of game we want to play and adapting positively to the new rule emphasis, which will lead to a more exciting and fluid game.

“It is the last game before our first bye which will give us the opportunity to reset for the next block of games.

“It is also Joe’s final hit-out with the team. He has been a popular and outstanding member of the team and we will miss him. He has contributed well on and off the field and we are confident he will return as a more complete footballer for the experience when he returns to Harlequins.”

MacDonald said that several players should return to play through club rugby in the coming two weeks and be available for selection for the Crusaders match after the bye.

The Blues prevailed over the Highlanders 33-26 at Eden Park last year while the tight battle between the two sides is evidenced with nine of last 17 clashes decided by seven points or less.

Fans are reminded that travel by AT trains and buses is included in your ticket, but that you need to plan with plenty of time as the Western Line trains (including Britomart to Eden Park) and some parts of the Eastern Line are not running. While buses will replace trains, these services will be limited. For more information on getting to the game:

[Frank]

@Duluth
Wonder when and if DC gets a run.