The Silver Fern

@Stargazer You can add Hunt's missed touchfinders to that.

@Bones said in Force v Highlanders:

@SBW1 said in Force v Highlanders:

Surely something can be done to help them out.

It's rugby. A couple of years ago it was the chiefs, for close to a decade it was the blues.

We're all getting a bit too dramatic when a team has an off season, even though it's regular as clockwork.

No helping out needed, the pendulum will swing, right?

i get what your saying but i dont think its that simple, some teams definitely have longer or higher highs, even when it was the blues you could see the potential, it was more of a "why aren't they better" kind of deal, huge population, major city more attractive to live in even had several all blacks that just weren't firing at super level.....dunedin cant claim those things when trying to attract new players

@nostrildamus said in Highlanders v Hurricanes:

@Dan54 said in Highlanders v Hurricanes:

@nostrildamus said in Highlanders v Hurricanes:

@Dan54 said in Highlanders v Hurricanes:

@Bones said in Highlanders v Hurricanes:

@Dan54 said in Highlanders v Hurricanes:

Carlos also must of noticed him, is all I meant,

It's worrying you find it notable a coach noticed players in his own team. But informative.

It's worrying that you posting about teams and thinking Carlos is part of coaching group.. lol You know he's got nothing to do with Canes and lives in Hamilton don't you? Is backs coach for Blues women's team, and was tied up with MLR coaching last year.

Lives in Hamilton? Sigh. Then he is dead to me and I can't defend his judgement..

Lol mate he been up there for a fair while, his family was still there when he was helping at Canes, although he was keen on getting them down to Paraparaumu, but son was pretty happy at college at Hamilton.

Paraparaumu-now that I understand.
Hamilton is just a bit too happening for me.

To be fair he never thought of going home to Levin.Lol

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I think that fair, showed some spark in midfield, hope he didn;t get injured at the end there

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more seriously...how good were the jerseys, hoops looked great and we stuck with wearing maroon in southland, the only time i was happy for both teams to be wearing change strips

@Steven-Harris said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

Dawai has been good

His best game for the Highlanders I thought. Not a big sample size so far though. 🙂

@Crazy-Horse I think he still has the class, but his lack of pace is now a hindrance and wonder if he is at that point where he is making decisions based on what he used to be able to do, but his mind hasnt quite adjusted to what his body isn't able to do it now...

I said last year I'd be surprised if his window in the ABs hadn't passed him by.

@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Blues:

@gt12 said in Highlanders v Blues:

Choat on the other side making 13

Choat was bloody good.

Party at the front and party at the back, he has it all going on.

Just want to say; I called it a good 18 months ago when I said Sam Gilbert looked a good midfield option. Dermody saying he sees him as a viable midfielder.

@kiwi_expat said in Preseason: Highlanders v Crusaders:

@SouthernMann said in Preseason: Highlanders v Crusaders:

@Stargazer said in Super Rugby 2023:

@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2023:

Jack Taylor

He was in the NZU19 squad, but I can't remember him. He didn't play for Southland in the NPC, did he? A bit young, I guess. Good for the future.

He would be 19 I'd reckon still. Or may be just 20. In 2021 he penned a three year deal with the Highlanders. He started in the Southland trial, de Groot played in prior to his return to the All Blacks.

Crazy thing is that this guy isn't even slated for a professional contract until 2024/25.

Highlanders have such a small catchment that they rarely if ever produce homegrown talent. By way of comparison NZ has 5 million people, and 250,000 of them live in the Highlanders region. The Blues have close to 2 Million.

The last few years have been a major turnaround for them, with seven of the NZ U20 squad coming from the Otago Southland Region. Of those seven, five were offered professional Highlanders contracts, and they're the year ahead of Jack Taylor.

He hasn't even cracked the NZ U20 team (though he has represented the NZ U19 size). Based off what we're seeing he's absolutely got the goods to be playing Super Rugby next season, as does Finn Hurley and Will Stodart the other two U19 representatives.

Also loved seeing James Arscott have a ripper of a game today. From memory he missed out on the NZ U20 side a few years ago, and I'm stoked he's making waves. Rohan Wingman is another I've felt slipped under the national radar. Our talent identification down South is really turning this team around.

Yeah I hope Wingham gets a good run with Otago this year. Could have a decent 1-2 punch with Abraham Pole. Then eventually the same with the Highlanders and de Groot. Going to be interesting to see how these young loose forwards are managed and given gametime. Stodart, Withy, Haig and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa all at Otago. While Hayden Michaels who has a fulltime for the Highlanders in 2024 is with Southland. It is quite a group of loosies. Otago also has a bit of a conundrum over its 10/15s with Miller, Hurley, Faleafaga, Ioane, Koroi and Gilbert competing for spots. Does Otago loan say Hurley and Stodart down to Southland to ensure they get gametime? A lot of the young players are focused in those positions, it is important they get a decent run to showcase their skills.

@Canes4life the point is, whoever replaces them isn't going to be worse.

My takeaway was the ball skills of Sotutu is key. Can't just rush up on Barrett because he may not be the playmaker.

I have finally skimmed through a viewing of this game. The Chiefs were completely dominated in the tackle so the backs were always on the back foot. Losing both 1st 5s by HT didn't help the Chiefs but I don't think it would have mattered.

Noah Hotham was definitely the most influential player on the field.

Te Hiwi was one of the form midfield backs in the tournament so deserves selection for the NZ U20s IMO.

A Smith-Fakatava combo offers a nice contrast. Fakatava used to run too often and tried to take on the opposition by himself, but he has learnt to temper his enthusiasm and when he has a snipe. That makes him a much more dangerous halfback.

@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders v Waratahs:

@Machpants only concern with that is that the broadcasters love more ‘finals’ because they rate higher and they can sell to advertisers.

Yeah it's never going to happen but the comp would be much better