Hurricanes v Highlanders
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Highlanders naming an out and out B team with a few starters sprinkled in. I understand the reasoning but I was wanting us to name our strongest team to build momentum and continuity going into next week.
Looks like we are banking on the Drua to beat the Rebels so we can hold on to 6th spot.
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So with top spot still on the cards for the Canes I think we need to play our best team against the Landers. I watched the Chiefs game again and couldn't see what injury Delany picked up around the 60 min mark, hope taking him off was just precautionary.
Lomax is likely to come back into the mix next week and I hear Aumua is close to selection. Not too sure about Shields and Kirifi. Would be great to get those guys some mins before we hit the playoffs. If we can solidify home advantage and have a full squad to pick from (other than Roigard) I think we've got every chance to go all the way.
There will be some eagerness to rest Numia and Lakai because of their workloads lately so they might be given a spell, Love may also take a seat this week to rest his knee. Otherwise I expect Laidlaw to pick our strongest squad.
The team likely for the Landers based on the above would probably look like the below.
- Rakete-Stones
- O'Reilly
- Tosi
- Sangster
- Walker-Leawere
- Flanders
- Kirifi
- Iose
- Perenara
- Cameron
- Naholo
- Barrett
- Proctor
- Moorby
- Godfrey (if Love is ruled out)
- Aumua (bring him back via the bench if fit)
- Mafileo
- Lomax (bring him back via the bench if fit)
- Delany (bring him back via the bench if fit)
- Shields
- Judd
- Sullivan
- Rayasi
So, Judd was available. Jordi offers a lot more as a reserve option so hope he gets a good amount of game time
https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-celebrate-heritage-round-as-week-15-arrives
Unavailable: Cam Roigard, Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Delany, Brad Shields
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For those that don't want to scroll through instagram
Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi, James Tucker, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Brayden Iose, TJ Perenara, Brett Cameron, Salesi Rayasi, Jordie Barrett (c), Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Ruben Love
RESERVES: James O'Reilly, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tevita Mafileo, Justin Sangster, Peter Lakai, Jordi Vijoen, Riley Higgins, Bailyn Sullivan
@Duluth said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
For those that don't want to scroll through instagram
Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi, James Tucker, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Brayden Iose, TJ Perenara, Brett Cameron, Salesi Rayasi, Jordie Barrett (c), Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Ruben Love
RESERVES: James O'Reilly, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tevita Mafileo, Justin Sangster, Peter Lakai, Jordi Vijoen, Riley Higgins, Bailyn Sullivan
Upvote for the Instagram swipe.
Great to see Aumua back. -
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@KiwiMurph this week
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@Canes4life Excellenct. Fitting for a day game too.
@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@Canes4life Excellenct. Fitting for a day game too.
Yeah but mind you it's pretty much dark by 5pm these days.
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And top news out of Greater Wellington Regional Council. Bus replacements for the game
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And top news out of Greater Wellington Regional Council. Bus replacements for the game
@SouthernMann why do they always plan this shit when big games are on? They did it for a big Phoenix game as well. Muppets.
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So, Judd was available. Jordi offers a lot more as a reserve option so hope he gets a good amount of game time
https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-celebrate-heritage-round-as-week-15-arrives
Unavailable: Cam Roigard, Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Delany, Brad Shields
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@Bovidae Tucker coming back gives Sangster somewhat of a rest. Man I hope we don't end up playing the Saders in a quarter with the likes of Shields, Delany and Lomax likely to go in cold.
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@SouthernMann why do they always plan this shit when big games are on? They did it for a big Phoenix game as well. Muppets.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann why do they always plan this shit when big games are on? They did it for a big Phoenix game as well. Muppets.
Just a real pain in the arse to get there and back home again. Then they talk about having links from Petone north on the train. Well that's not going to help getting to the game.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann why do they always plan this shit when big games are on? They did it for a big Phoenix game as well. Muppets.
Just a real pain in the arse to get there and back home again. Then they talk about having links from Petone north on the train. Well that's not going to help getting to the game.
@SouthernMann other option if you live in the Hutt and have a car is to drive to EB ferry and ferry across. I suppose that only works if you're not drinking and have a car. Public transport is bloody painful these days, I try and avoid it at all costs if I can.
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@SouthernMann other option if you live in the Hutt and have a car is to drive to EB ferry and ferry across. I suppose that only works if you're not drinking and have a car. Public transport is bloody painful these days, I try and avoid it at all costs if I can.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann other option if you live in the Hutt and have a car is to drive to EB ferry and ferry across. I suppose that only works if you're not drinking and have a car. Public transport is bloody painful these days, I try and avoid it at all costs if I can.
Big fan of a ferry. But, it is just as faffy as the other options. I live about five minutes from a train station, so normally very convenient. Great for work and back during peak hours. It is just weekends that suck. Looks like I'll just hope my mate I'm going with will be driving back home. Nothing beats stuffing around with transport after rolling out a B team and getting flogged.
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Out of curiosity I thought it would figure out the average age of the Highlanders forwards, backs and team overall. Will put them below for anyone who takes any interest in that stuff.
Starting Forwards average age: 25
Starting Back average age: 23.8
Starting XV average age: 24.5(24.4666 if you want to get technical).For anyone interested, the average age of the bench this weekend is 24.8.
This might be our youngest Highlanders starting XV we have ever named. If it isn’t then it has to come close to it but it definitely is in recent times.
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@sparky hopefully the latter, same with Shields and Delany.
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To follow on my message above. The Hurricanes average age of the starting XV is 26.33. Mid to late 20s is known as your peak years so I think it’s no coincidence as to why the canes are playing how they are.
It also backs up the point that the Highlanders are still another 2 or so years away from being top of the table contenders but trending in the right direction.
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To follow on my message above. The Hurricanes average age of the starting XV is 26.33. Mid to late 20s is known as your peak years so I think it’s no coincidence as to why the canes are playing how they are.
It also backs up the point that the Highlanders are still another 2 or so years away from being top of the table contenders but trending in the right direction.
@Landers92 Take Perenara and Shields out of that squad and that average age would drop a bit. Canes have mostly a very young but experienced squad which will set them up for a few years yet.
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@Landers92 Take Perenara and Shields out of that squad and that average age would drop a bit. Canes have mostly a very young but experienced squad which will set them up for a few years yet.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@Landers92 Take Perenara and Shields out of that squad and that average age would drop a bit. Canes have mostly a very young but experienced squad which will set them up for a few years yet.
No Shields, it’s Devan Flanders who is 24.
Same could be said about Jermaine Ainsley and Billy Harmon for the Highlanders but my point stands on age average. Majority of Canes starting XV is 25+. Still in a great place around 26.3.
I just went full rugby nerd mode there and thought it was all pretty interesting.
