Highlanders v Brumbies

[Stargazer]

Highlanders
1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
2 Liam Coltman
3 Siate Tokolahi
4 Jackson Hemopo
5 Tom Franklin
6 Shannon Frizell
7 Dillon Hunt
8 Luke Whitelock
9 Aaron Smith
10 Lima Sopoaga
11 Tevita Li
12 Teihorangi Walden
13 Rob Thompson
14 Waisake Naholo
15 Ben Smith (cc)

Reserves
16 Ash Dixon (cc)
17 Aki Seiuli
18 Kalolo Tuiloma
19 Alex Ainley
20 Elliot Dixon
21 Kayne Hammington
22 Fletcher Smith
23 Matt Faddes

Not available: Thomas Umaga-Jensen (shoulder), Richard Buckman (neck), Liam Squire (thumb)

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Highlanders Name Team For Match Against The Brumbies

Pulse Energy Highlanders Head Coach, Aaron Mauger, has named a largely unchanged side to play the Brumbies under the roof on Saturday. Liam Coltman returns from injury and Tom Franklin is reinstated to the middle row allowing Alex Ainley into the starting 23 for the first time this season. Shannon Frizell is rewarded with his first start in the number 6 jersey after a number of eye-catching performances off the bench. In the backs, Teihorangi Walden returns to the midfield to partner with Rob Thompson and Matt Faddes returns to the bench. 

“Fair to say we have a good perspective of where we are at the moment as a team and over the last few weeks, we have taken some good learnings from our matches. The guys have come back fresh from the break and have trained well. Our training focus this week has been on using those recent learnings to solve a few issues that will allow us to perform come the weekend”, said Mauger.

[Machpants]

Great to see Sopoanga back

[Chris B.]

Interesting to see Frizzell getting a start. He's hard to stop with ball in hand, but his mobility will get tested at this level.

[Stargazer]

Only just tuned in. Who scored the Highlanders' try?

[Bones]

Merhts on Smith, brilliant "he perhaps offers a similar threat to McKenzie, without the animation"

[Bones]

@stargazer Sopoaga bulldozed over via a forward.

[Machpants]

Landers looking good 5-0

[Stargazer]

Ben Smith got owned there.

[gt12]

@stargazer

Shouldn’t have had to catch that. Who was the muppet who let it bounce?

[Stargazer]

Some Greek-Roman wrestling going on in the Landers half.

[Machpants]

Great turn over pocock but the previous ruck their 8 was lying over the ball - C'mon ref

[Bones]

Can you attack the tackle area from any angle? I thought you had to come from your side?

[hydro11]

@stargazer said in Highlanders v Brumbies:

Some Greek-Roman wrestling going on in the Landers half.

Refs need to clamp down on that. Holding off the ball is a real blight on the game.

[gt12]

@bones

That interpretation is confusing the fuck out of me, because it seems like you just have to have your head facing the oppo goal line, doesn’t seem to matter if you jump in from their side... (or jump up after they’ve driven over)

[Bones]

@gt12 well yeah Pocock clearly entered from the highlanders side and just wheeled his legs around, debatable whether he was even on his feet, yet ref sees no issue?

[Machpants]

Landers lacking accuracy in the finish otherwise.... Ben from accounts proves me wrong!

[Unite]

What a try!

[Stargazer]

Great try. You could see it coming from miles away. That pass from Smith to Coltman was very predictable, but the Brumboys didn't see it. Awesome run from BFA.

[gt12]

@bones

Yep, and the interpretation seems completely different to round 1. I’ve got no idea.

In another game, the first cleaner arrived, the tackler jumped up after they went over, then grabbed the ball. No penalty.

I don’t see how the law has changed.

Smith in!! Nice try.

[Machpants]

Worst clean out attempt ever by the hooker