Blues v Highlanders

[Landers92]

@frugby said in Blues v Highlanders:

Be intriguing to see how the Highlanders go about managing minutes... they'll want to keep guys fresh for the playoffs (should get there from here) so they'll either rest this week or v the Canes (or a mixture of both)... Even though I think the Blues are the best team in the competition, this feels like a (slightly) more winnable game given our momentum?

1. de Groot
2. Bell
3. Ainsley
4. Dunshea
5. Holland
6. Haig
7. Withy
8. Harmon
9. Fakatava
10. Millar
11. CGB
12. Gilbert
13. Te Hiwi
14. Tavatavanawai
15. Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
16. Taylor
17. Johnstone
18. Ma'u
19. Tucker
20. Broughton
21. Arscott
22. Faleafaga
23. Nareki

• This assumes Nareki and CGB are fit, and Tele'a is out

I like it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dermody rewards the starting forward pack from last weekend brings Harmon back in off the bench. Broughton was outstanding last week so that’s encouraging either way. The fan inside me though wants Harmon starting too.

Unsure how NZR are ruling the HIA’s but is it 1 or 2 weeks? If it’s 2 CGB is out.

With Nareki he was considering 3-4 weeks away with the hamstring and it’s only coming up 3 weeks(hammys are nothing to play with) so I think you could see Bogado/CGB(if fit) in the 23 jersey. If CBG or Nareki are no good then you have to think Hurley will get the 23 jersey.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Schools curtain raiser -

[Duluth]

Harmon is unlikely
https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/harmon-still-doubtful-starter-blues-clash

[Machpants]

@Landers92 said in Blues v Highlanders:

Unsure how NZR are ruling the HIA’s but is it 1 or 2 weeks? If it’s 2 CGB is out.

If the concussion is confirmed by the stage 2 or 3 tests, then it's 12 days

[Duluth]

On the Blues HIA, I hope we give RI another week off. Lam played well last week at 13 so there's no need to rush him back

There's a possibility one of the wings might need to take AB rest. So maybe we see Banks or Tangitau on the wing?

[Landers92]

@Duluth said in Blues v Highlanders:

Harmon is unlikely
https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/harmon-still-doubtful-starter-blues-clash

Him and also Tele’a in doubt. He would be a big loss. If out I guess you did what they did last week and have Gilbert at 12 and push Te Hiwi out one to 13.

[SouthernMann]

Highlanders unchanged.

[Duluth]

https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/team-naming-highlanders

1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
2 Kurt Eklund
3 Marcel Renata – 50th Blues appearance
4 Laghlan McWhannell
5 Sam Darry
6 Adrian Choat
7 Dalton Papali’i (c)
8 Akira Ioane
9 Sam Nock
10 Harry Plummer
11 Caleb Clarke
12 Corey Evans
13 Bryce Heem
14 AJ Lam
15 Cole Forbes

16 Soane Vikena
17 Mason Tupaea*
18 Angus Ta’avao
19 Josh Beehre
20 Cameron Suafoa
21 Taufa Funaki
22 Stephen Perofeta
23 Kade Banks*

Players not considered: Lucas Cashmore (hamstring), Finlay Christie (groin), Joshua Fusitu’a, (concussion protocol), Rieko Ioane (concussion protocol), Jordan Lay (ankle, season), Hoskins Sotutu (managing workload), Zarn Sullivan (knee), Mark Tele’a (managing workload), Patrick Tuipulotu (managing workload).

[Kiwiwomble]

[Tim]

@Duluth Congrats to Mahurangi's Kade Banks, I think he's their first Super Rugby player?

[Bovidae]

Is Ben Ake injured? Looking forward to seeing Mason debut.

[African Monkey]

Thought we would have seem Segner get a run.

@Bovidae thoughts on Mason Tupaea?

[Duluth]

https://thehighlanders.co.nz/news/highlanders-name-team-for-gordon-hunter-memorial-trophy-clash/

Injured/unavailable: Jonah Lowe (knee), Hugh Renton (ankle), Rhys Patchell (pec), Jona Nareki (hamstring), Matt Whaanga (shoulder), Ricky Jackson (hamstring), Billy Harmon (hand), Connor Garden-Bachop (HIA), Josh Timu (ankle)

[Bovidae]

@African-Monkey He has been through the NZ age-group teams (NZ Schools, U20s) and was in the Waikato squad last year without getting too many opportunities. He is a decent size and mobile. Still only 21. He played for the Chiefs Dev team this year too. It's obviously Tupaea's biggest game to date.

[Machpants]

I can't see anything but an easy blues win here

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Bovidae said in Blues v Highlanders:

Is Ben Ake injured?

This from Blues Insta -

"Introducing Mason Tupaea

He’s been brought in as injury replacement for Jordan Lay and Ben Ake and finds himself in line to debut this weekend against the Highlanders"

[Machpants]

Unfortunate timing for the pic

[Kiwiwomble]

@Machpants said in Blues v Highlanders:

I can't see anything but an easy blues win here

why? just because they have 6 current AB's plus a handfull more who might be in with the shout this year...because they're top of the table and we've managed one win over NZ position in 4 years....so narrow minded....

[Machpants]

@Kiwiwomble said in Blues v Highlanders:

@Machpants said in Blues v Highlanders:

I can't see anything but an easy blues win here

why? just because they have 6 current AB's plus a handfull more who might be in with the shout this year...because they're top of the table and we've managed one win over NZ position in 4 years....so narrow minded....

I'm so narrow minded my notepad is an inch wide

[Duluth]

Hopefully Suafoa subs on for one of the flankers. Suafoa and Ioane in the same trio could work given the Blues gameplan