Cheetahs v Highlanders

[Stargazer]

Highlanders

1 Daniel Lienert-Brown 2. Liam Coltman 3. Siosuia Halanukonuka 4. Joe Wheeler 5. Tom Franklin 6. Liam Squire 7.Dillon Hunt 8.Luke Whitelock (c)
9 Aaron Smith 10. Marty Banks 11. Patrick Osborne 12. Rob Thompson 13. Malakai Fekitoa 14. Waisake Naholo 15. Matt Faddes

Reserves

16 Ash Dixon 17. Aki Seiuli 18. Siate Tokolahi 19. Elliot Dixon 20. Gareth Evans 21. Kayne Hammington 22. Fletcher Smith 23. Richard Buckman

Great to see Ash Dixon back in the 23! Richard Buckman is also back!

[Stargazer]

Injured All Black Lima Sopoaga won't feature during the Highlanders' two-match tour of South Africa. 

Sopoaga, one of a bunch of All Blacks under an injury cloud ahead of the looming British and Irish Lions tour, hasn't played since pinging a hamstring against the Blues in round three. 

The 26-year-old was initially given a six-eight week prognosis, and Highlanders coach Tony Brown was last week hopeful the pivot would return against the Bulls in Pretoria Sunday week (NZT). 

However, speaking from Bloemfontein on Thursday morning (NZT), Brown said Sopoaga was still "at least" two weeks away. 

Brown named Richard Buckman on the bench as cover on Wednesday (NZT), but on Thursday said the utility was "in doubt" to play.

Buckman missed the team's last two games with an achilles injury, which Brown said was still playing up. 

"Not sure who will come into the team as yet. We're still looking at that, we will see how [Buckman] pulls up tomorrow."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/92203542/highlanders-firstfive-eighth-lima-sopoaga-wont-play-in-south-africa

[Bones]

So we can gather that Buckman is in line for an AB callup and Sopoaga is going to be preferred to Cruden?

[Hooroo]

When is this being played? On the Superrugby website is says 5th May @ 0500hrs

[KiwiMurph]

@Hooroo Tomorrow (Saturday) morning 5am NZ time.

[Tordah]

two minutes in, both teams throwing the ball around, both spectators in the stadium enjoying themselves

[Stargazer]

That was a great try. Unfortunately, scored by the wrong team.

[Tordah]

@Stargazer said in Cheetahs v Highlanders:

That was a great try. Unfortunately, scored by the wrong team.

Highlanders deserved that after their shit decision making at the maul. Thought Aaron Smith was a bit smarter

[Stargazer]

Uh oh, they're taping Squire's wrist. Someone, go tell him he's not allowed to get injured before the Lions tour.

[Tordah]

Judging by the first 15 minutes, the Highlanders should be relegated to the Aussie conference

[Stargazer]

That was the first good scrum from the Highlanders.

[Stargazer]

And now Squire is off. Geez.

[Stargazer]

Finally, a try for the Landers!

[Tordah]

everything looks like in slow motion compared to the Hurricanes game earlier

[Stargazer]

@Tordah Was just saying that to the missus. It's like they all have weights tied to their legs.

[Stargazer]

Looked forward to me.

[Tordah]

wow, , clear forward pass and the ref says it's fine

[Stargazer]

@Tordah This is one of SA's worst refs. Fortunately, he did see the obstruction.

[Tordah]

but then he rules obstruction against the Cheetahs, weird. Clear forward pass, not so clear obstruction

edit: i'll take that back, clear obtruction also

[African Monkey]

Harsh yellow on Faddes.