Blues v Highlanders

[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

[frugby]

@Machpants said in Blues v Highlanders:

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

We'll see. People said the same thing about the Crusaders last week... never underestimate confidence, momentum and belief.

Blues resting a shit ton of players will only increase the belief I think.

Blues probably still get it done, but I'd expect it to be close.

[Kiwiwomble]

@frugby did they? i think the closest i saw was things like "crusaders will finally wake up"

[KiwiMurph]

@Machpants said in Blues v Highlanders:

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

Not so sure

New 8-9-10 combo for Blues

Breaking up Blues midfield combo

Sotutu, Telea etc not playing.

Think this one could get tight

[Duluth]

From the ODT

Dermody said Harmon was well off being considered for selection this week.

The nasty cut on his palm he sustained in Tonga had since got infected, and the star loose forward needed time to come right.

Centre Tanielu Tele’a is named despite failing an HIA test against the Crusaders.

Tele’a got a ‘‘whack to the face’’ and his smart mouthguard sent an alert for him to be checked at halftime, Dermody said.

He failed the initial HIA protocol — involving a memory test — so had to be replaced. But he passed the second stage of the protocol two days later, and again 24 hours after that, so can play this week

[Landers92]

Stephen Perofeta, Bryce Heem and Marcel Renata all late withdrawals for the blues.

[SouthernMann]

That $7.50 looking tasty for the Highlanders

[Machpants]

Well done ofa, playing League?

[Damo]

Both teams usual strip is blue. What madness is this that one of the teams is using an alternate strip to avoid a clash.

That is not the Super Rugby way.

[Damo]

Highlanders are on an unprecedented win streak.