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Highlanders v Rebels

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Rugby Matches
highlandersrebels
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  • Chris B.C Chris B.

    @siam I think there's been a decline in their weaponry.

    They've relied on having a forward pack that could compete gamely and a backline chock full of dynamite.

    Losing Fekitoa - and Sopoaga being off song - means there's that bit more defensive cover for the Smiths and Naholo. Not everyone in the backs is an absolute threat.

    Probably missing Halanukonuka at tighthead as well. Lomax currently isn't a patch on Siua as a scrummager. Can't recall who else they've lost but their prop rotation doesn't seem as good as it's been.

    SiamS Offline
    SiamS Offline
    Siam
    wrote on last edited by Siam
    #57

    @chris-b yeah I think you're right. Heaps fewer threats but wracking my brain only Fekitoa stands out as big losses but 2 new All Blacks and a similar tight five makes me wonder if there's some intangible missing.

    Nah bugger it, I blame Deans' (prodigy No.5 or is it 6?) 😁

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    • MajorPomM Offline
      MajorPomM Offline
      MajorPom
      wrote on last edited by
      #58

      Am I the only one starting to get a bit bored of Sumo commentary? Nothing that I can completely put my finger on, but at times I find it tiring to listen to. He sort of commentates like the players are his mates.

      I’d like to hear more of Lose, honestly, thought he did a fantastic job earlier this year.

      BonesB BovidaeB FrankF 3 Replies Last reply
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      • MajorPomM MajorPom

        Am I the only one starting to get a bit bored of Sumo commentary? Nothing that I can completely put my finger on, but at times I find it tiring to listen to. He sort of commentates like the players are his mates.

        I’d like to hear more of Lose, honestly, thought he did a fantastic job earlier this year.

        BonesB Online
        BonesB Online
        Bones
        wrote on last edited by
        #59

        @majorrage see that was the problem I had with him when he first came along (well to my memory). I quite like him now but he can be a bit familiar.

        taniwharugbyT 1 Reply Last reply
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        • BonesB Bones

          @majorrage see that was the problem I had with him when he first came along (well to my memory). I quite like him now but he can be a bit familiar.

          taniwharugbyT Offline
          taniwharugbyT Offline
          taniwharugby
          wrote on last edited by
          #60

          @bones tbf he probably gets to meet many of the players and maybe is mates with some of them?

          1 Reply Last reply
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          • DonsteppaD Offline
            DonsteppaD Offline
            Donsteppa
            wrote on last edited by
            #61

            On twitter he comes across as always defensive of the players first. Not necessarily a bad or a surprising thing, but ocassionally it grates.

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • MajorPomM MajorPom

              Am I the only one starting to get a bit bored of Sumo commentary? Nothing that I can completely put my finger on, but at times I find it tiring to listen to. He sort of commentates like the players are his mates.

              I’d like to hear more of Lose, honestly, thought he did a fantastic job earlier this year.

              BovidaeB Offline
              BovidaeB Offline
              Bovidae
              wrote on last edited by
              #62

              @majorrage said in Highlanders v Rebels:

              Am I the only one starting to get a bit bored of Sumo commentary? Nothing that I can completely put my finger on, but at times I find it tiring to listen to. He sort of commentates like the players are his mates.

              I’d like to hear more of Lose, honestly, thought he did a fantastic job earlier this year.

              Let's not get carried away here! I put Lose with TJ in my list of commentators I can't stand to listen to.

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              • BonesB Online
                BonesB Online
                Bones
                wrote on last edited by
                #63

                Lose used to be freakin awful, but lately I've noticed he seems to have matured really nicely, doesn't make stuff up any more and calls it as ya see it.

                Chris B.C boobooB 2 Replies Last reply
                1
                • MajorPomM MajorPom

                  Am I the only one starting to get a bit bored of Sumo commentary? Nothing that I can completely put my finger on, but at times I find it tiring to listen to. He sort of commentates like the players are his mates.

                  I’d like to hear more of Lose, honestly, thought he did a fantastic job earlier this year.

                  FrankF Offline
                  FrankF Offline
                  Frank
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #64

                  @majorrage
                  Sumo lacks something. Can't quite put finger on it.
                  Maybe its his voice, or how he over-eggs the kiwisms.
                  Just can't imagine him being the main commentator in big test matches.

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • BonesB Bones

                    Lose used to be freakin awful, but lately I've noticed he seems to have matured really nicely, doesn't make stuff up any more and calls it as ya see it.

                    Chris B.C Offline
                    Chris B.C Offline
                    Chris B.
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #65

                    @bones said in Highlanders v Rebels:

                    Lose used to be freakin awful, but lately I've noticed he seems to have matured really nicely, doesn't make stuff up any more and calls it as ya see it.

                    I'd guess it's a case of "absence makes the heart grow fonder". I'm not sure how he'd stand up to be listened to every week, but on past form - not that well.

                    Sumo has grown on me since he started and I'm not worried that he'll likely be Nisbo's successor as No. 1 caller for the big matches.

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • M Offline
                      M Offline
                      Machpants
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #66

                      He's like the funny side kick type, not main info commentator for me

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                      • BonesB Bones

                        Lose used to be freakin awful, but lately I've noticed he seems to have matured really nicely, doesn't make stuff up any more and calls it as ya see it.

                        boobooB Offline
                        boobooB Offline
                        booboo
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #67

                        @bones said in Highlanders v Rebels:

                        Lose used to be freakin awful, but lately I've noticed he seems to have matured really nicely, doesn't make stuff up any more and calls it as ya see it.

                        He's actually not bad as a play by play commentator, but hopeless as a comments man. Don't give him time to think.

                        Although I am huge fan of Sumo. Sorry @MajorRage

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • Chester DrawsC Offline
                          Chester DrawsC Offline
                          Chester Draws
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #68

                          If Lose would lose the "out of Napier Boys High", like they were horses, it would go a long way.

                          He pronounced the Polynesian names well, which is good.

                          He goes on about those from "The Kingdom of Tonga" which is less good (Piers Francis is from the "Kingdom of England And Wales" but apparently only one kingdom is important).

                          taniwharugbyT 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • Chester DrawsC Chester Draws

                            If Lose would lose the "out of Napier Boys High", like they were horses, it would go a long way.

                            He pronounced the Polynesian names well, which is good.

                            He goes on about those from "The Kingdom of Tonga" which is less good (Piers Francis is from the "Kingdom of England And Wales" but apparently only one kingdom is important).

                            taniwharugbyT Offline
                            taniwharugbyT Offline
                            taniwharugby
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #69

                            @chester-draws although he pronounces non- Maori/Island names like they are now and then....

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                            • African MonkeyA Online
                              African MonkeyA Online
                              African Monkey
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #70

                              Willie Lose is a poor mans Ken Laban. He's not bad, but Ken Laban is on another level.

                              StargazerS 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • African MonkeyA African Monkey

                                Willie Lose is a poor mans Ken Laban. He's not bad, but Ken Laban is on another level.

                                StargazerS Offline
                                StargazerS Offline
                                Stargazer
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #71

                                @african-monkey I find Laban the worst of the worst. I've lost count of the number of times he got his facts wrong, including names (and schools). Sometimes, I think he just makes things up and hopes nobody notices. What also gets to me, when he's commentating on schoolboys' games, is when a player makes a handling or other error on his way to the try line, the ref blows his whistle, gives a penalty to the other side or disallows the try and then he says "ohhh, but he deserved it". As soons as I hear his voice, I press the mute button. He annoys me even more than Justin Marshall.

                                African MonkeyA 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • StargazerS Offline
                                  StargazerS Offline
                                  Stargazer
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #72

                                  I guess they didn't take the loss very well ...

                                  https://twitter.com/samworthingtown/status/1018405371579269120

                                  1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • MN5M Online
                                    MN5M Online
                                    MN5
                                    wrote on last edited by MN5
                                    #73

                                    They're all various degrees of crap in my opinion. Actually I quite like Ken 2nd man play Laban. Lose is ok too.

                                    I wonder if Nisbo actually makes an effort to be as bland as he is or if it's a gift.

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                                    • StargazerS Stargazer

                                      @african-monkey I find Laban the worst of the worst. I've lost count of the number of times he got his facts wrong, including names (and schools). Sometimes, I think he just makes things up and hopes nobody notices. What also gets to me, when he's commentating on schoolboys' games, is when a player makes a handling or other error on his way to the try line, the ref blows his whistle, gives a penalty to the other side or disallows the try and then he says "ohhh, but he deserved it". As soons as I hear his voice, I press the mute button. He annoys me even more than Justin Marshall.

                                      African MonkeyA Online
                                      African MonkeyA Online
                                      African Monkey
                                      wrote on last edited by African Monkey
                                      #74

                                      @stargazer I knew you would bite haha. I just love his pronunciation of names tbh it's beautiful to listen to.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • KiwiMurphK Online
                                        KiwiMurphK Online
                                        KiwiMurph
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #75

                                        I quite like Laban.

                                        My issue with Lose is when he starts yelling when someone scores a try. I understand it is good to get excited for big plays but the guy literally starts yelling into the microphone - dial it back a bit.

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