Highlanders 2022

Bovidae

@tim said in Highlanders 2022:

Maybe these coaches who spend half their time coaching a team overseas are a bad idea?

You would think that Brown has a reasonable idea of what he wants from a 1st 5. Cameron Millar has only just started playing for Otago so is still a long way from SR level. D'Angelo Leuila would have been available if McClutchie had already signed for MP. He has NPC and some international experience.

The problem was that Hunt is the guaranteed starter (and vice-captain) so it would be hard to convince an outsider to go there when they believe they have little chance of playing.

Stargazer

Injury updates in this article:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/128256820/winless-highlanders-say-they-need-no-extra-edge-for-aaron-maugers-return-with-moana-pasifika?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

The Highlanders are preparing for Friday’s clash against Moana Pasifika with almost a full deck of cards, with James Lentjes and Jermaine Ainsley available after missing the loss to the Crusaders, while All Black Shannon Frizell will also suit up despite his heavy workload this year.

“There is a plan in place for him that Brownie [Tony Brown] has organised with the All Blacks coaches, but this week he is going to be available,” Christie said.

Frizell’s rest might coincide with the much-awaited return of Billy Harmon. Christie said the No 7 had overcome his shoulder injury and was technically available to play. However, a bout of Covid-19 had set him back a week.

Instead, the home game against the Hurricanes on Saturday week could be the right time for Harmon’s first game of the campaign.

Christie also said that classy winger Denny Solomona – who was impressive off the bench against the Crusaders – was probably a week or two away from regaining full match sharpness.

“Once he gets his body right and he's at full fitness I think he's going to be a huge weapon for us,” Christie said of the 28-year-old.

“He was in quarantine for three weeks [when he returned to Aotearoa from England], He’s been training really hard for the last month.

“He lost 8kg in the first three weeks he was here, and he might just have a little bit more weight to lose and then try to get his rugby fitness right.”

Stargazer

Grooter

@stargazer good on Ash for being very instrumental to Folau, even helping him secure full time super contractFolau saying how canes wanted him for pre season back in 2019 makes me think of the same thing transpiring years earlier with Lima, Nug

Nepia

Well, we have confirmation that he's aiming for the ABs and not Tonga.

Dice

Who gets on?

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/04/05/the-mount-rushmore-of-highlanders/

I've got Goldie and the two Smiths. Still deciding on who gets the last spot.

Bovidae

Oliver or Randell.

Crucial

Cowan? Dixon?

taniwharugby

@dice Kronfeld.

Crucial

Did you see the Breakdown this week? Quiz question was who has played over a 100 for his province, a hundred for his franchise and 50 for the ABs.
It was Cowan.
No one else has achieved that.

Bovidae

Modern-day ABs play so little NPC now, that you would need to be of a certain era to even have a chance.

Dice

@taniwharugby I'm leaning towards him.

Bones

Ropati

SouthernMann

@dice said in Highlanders 2022:

Who gets on?

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/04/05/the-mount-rushmore-of-highlanders/

I've got Goldie and the two Smiths. Still deciding on who gets the last spot.

The two Smiths pick themselves. I'd chuck in Tony Brown for impact on and off the field. The lost spot, I'd have as a toss up between Kronfeld and Wilson. Leaning towards Kronfeld, just to have a forward in there.

Stargazer

@crucial said in Highlanders 2022:

Did you see the Breakdown this week? Quiz question was who has played over a 100 for his province, a hundred for his franchise and 50 for the ABs.
It was Cowan.
No one else has achieved that.

Not quite as much, but "Never was, but should have been an All Black" Ash Dixon has pretty impressive stats, too.
134 NPC games, of which 111 for Hawke's Bay
115 Super Rugby games, of which 100 for the Highlanders (possibly more Highlanders games, not sure about that number)
19 Māori All Blacks

Nepia

@southernmann said in Highlanders 2022:

@dice said in Highlanders 2022:

Who gets on?

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/04/05/the-mount-rushmore-of-highlanders/

I've got Goldie and the two Smiths. Still deciding on who gets the last spot.

The two Smiths pick themselves. I'd chuck in Tony Brown for impact on and off the field. The lost spot, I'd have as a toss up between Kronfeld and Wilson. Leaning towards Kronfeld, just to have a forward in there.

Kronfeld or Randell for me, it wouldn't be a Highlanders selection without at least one Bay boy in the team.

Dice

@crucial said in Highlanders 2022:

Did you see the Breakdown this week? Quiz question was who has played over a 100 for his province, a hundred for his franchise and 50 for the ABs.
It was Cowan.
No one else has achieved that.

Messam was pretty close. 183 for the Chiefs, 99 for Waikato and 43 for the All Blacks.

Crucial

@dice said in Highlanders 2022:

@crucial said in Highlanders 2022:

Did you see the Breakdown this week? Quiz question was who has played over a 100 for his province, a hundred for his franchise and 50 for the ABs.
It was Cowan.
No one else has achieved that.

Messam was pretty close. 183 for the Chiefs, 99 for Waikato and 43 for the All Blacks.

He was my answer when watching the show. Thought he’d be close
I also thought DC might also be close to being a 100 test, 100 Super, 50 provincial player but he only played 20 odd for Canterbury

Crucial

Mealamu and Nonu both 50, 100, 100 players

Crucial

Hore and Howlett both 50, 100, 50

The Silver Fern

Highlanders 2022