Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm
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@taniwharugby I hope they use next season to give Fakatava more game time. From what I've heard from the Highlanders coaches and Aaron Smith himself, they see Fakatava as the long-term replacement of Smith (at the Highlanders). If they want him to be good enough to do that, he must play more at SR level. He's only 20, so obviously they thought this year was too soon, but they shouldn't wait too long.
@Stargazer I hope so too...as awesome as Smith is and generally I want him to play every minute...there’ll be a huge whole if we don’t look to build an experienced replacement
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@taniwharugby I hope they use next season to give Fakatava more game time. From what I've heard from the Highlanders coaches and Aaron Smith himself, they see Fakatava as the long-term replacement of Smith (at the Highlanders). If they want him to be good enough to do that, he must play more at SR level. He's only 20, so obviously they thought this year was too soon, but they shouldn't wait too long.
@Stargazer I hope he moves to the Chiefs but if TTT starts actually getting played and Weber fucks off that'll make me even happier.
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@Bones If one team has exceeded expectations, it's the Highlanders! Not even half as bad as people predicted before the SR season kicked off, early this year. The coaches achieved a great transformation during lockdown. Good to see several players developing really well, now they're no longer in the queue behind the players that have left.
@Stargazer I was pretty happy with what was shaping up as a decent starting side in the off season, but with bizarre selections and injuries, I'm pretty bloody happy to see almost a completely different team show so well.
Smith, Frizzel, MMT and Dixon went next level.
Parkinson and Dickson showed what they can do and put themselves in contention for higher honours.
DHunt, Nareki and Joane got their mojo back.
Huge improvements from MHunt, Collins and McKay across the season.
Big props to Whetton and all the props for being real quiet achievers.
Good to see Tomkinson and Northlander getting valuable time and starting to look comfortable.
Cons being...wtf happened to our deadly midfield? Did they tag team maugers mum?
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@Chris Ben May is leaving, so probably him?
Ahh ok
@Chris said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@Stargazer said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@Chris Ben May is leaving, so probably him?
Ahh ok
He specifically said our old mate Ben May in that interview.
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@Tim said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
Dixon's timing and body position off the maul for his try were awesome.
Hah just seen it again...he spotted a halfback and went straight for him as quickly as possible...not sure he was expecting the prop to step in....
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Astounded the potential All Black laden Hurricanes couldn't beat the lowly Highlanders even without the usual home ground advantage. Sad.
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Astounded the potential All Black laden Hurricanes couldn't beat the lowly Highlanders even without the usual home ground advantage. Sad.
@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
Astounded the potential All Black laden Hurricanes couldn't beat the lowly Highlanders even without the usual home ground advantage. Sad.
Called it!
Had my canes mates on group chat talking about how they were smoking us, that was just before the try to draw even. Fun.
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There is something very odd about playing a game of code a few days after the winner of the comp was presented with, and proceeded to break, the trophy.
Pretty hard to get up for that
Not an excuse, as I really don't give a fuck about the Canes these days., but a genuine reason as to why I didn't drag the kids to the pub with their ipads while I watched this game tonight .
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There is something very odd about playing a game of code a few days after the winner of the comp was presented with, and proceeded to break, the trophy.
Pretty hard to get up for that
Not an excuse, as I really don't give a fuck about the Canes these days., but a genuine reason as to why I didn't drag the kids to the pub with their ipads while I watched this game tonight .
@voodoo said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
There is something very odd about playing a game of code a few days after the winner of the comp was presented with, and proceeded to break, the trophy.
Pretty hard to get up for that
Not an excuse, as I really don't give a fuck about the Canes these days., but a genuine reason as to why I didn't drag the kids to the pub with their ipads while I watched this game tonight .
You forgot to point a finger at bok.
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@voodoo said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
There is something very odd about playing a game of code a few days after the winner of the comp was presented with, and proceeded to break, the trophy.
Pretty hard to get up for that
Not an excuse, as I really don't give a fuck about the Canes these days., but a genuine reason as to why I didn't drag the kids to the pub with their ipads while I watched this game tonight .
You forgot to point a finger at bok.
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First thought: who the fuck thought it was a good idea for the team playing against another team who wears dark blue to change their yellow strip to a sort of medium bluey grey? It was ironic that the ref wore yellow to avoid a clash.
Second thought: I’m glad we didn’t have to suffer that shitty fake crowd noise for the whole comp. Some sports have done it really well where the sync is very close to what is happening. Regardless, it is a stupid idea. It would actually have been interesting to hear the players more than usual. Instead we got poorly synced cheers and fake ground announcements with the music that has no place at a rugby game. Do they not realise 99% of rugby around the world is played in front of very small crowds at local grounds?
Other than that i thought it was a good game. Hurricanes their own worst enemy in the first half. Highlanders were
Good. A much better season from them than many expected. If they can keep that team together and add a bit more depth in the midfield and outside backs they could build a good side.
Canes by contrast have been pretty underwhelming this year. Other than a couple of decent wins recently.
Their top players are just surrounded by too much mediocrity. Blackwell, Prinsep, May, RR, Tiatia, JGP, Fifita and Saffa wingers aren’t the sort of guys you build championship teams around.Lastly, I’ve flung plenty of shit Collin’s way when he has played 15. But he was very good in midfield today. Hopefully he stops getting picked at the back and can concentrate on 13.
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First thought: who the fuck thought it was a good idea for the team playing against another team who wears dark blue to change their yellow strip to a sort of medium bluey grey? It was ironic that the ref wore yellow to avoid a clash.
Second thought: I’m glad we didn’t have to suffer that shitty fake crowd noise for the whole comp. Some sports have done it really well where the sync is very close to what is happening. Regardless, it is a stupid idea. It would actually have been interesting to hear the players more than usual. Instead we got poorly synced cheers and fake ground announcements with the music that has no place at a rugby game. Do they not realise 99% of rugby around the world is played in front of very small crowds at local grounds?
Other than that i thought it was a good game. Hurricanes their own worst enemy in the first half. Highlanders were
Good. A much better season from them than many expected. If they can keep that team together and add a bit more depth in the midfield and outside backs they could build a good side.
Canes by contrast have been pretty underwhelming this year. Other than a couple of decent wins recently.
Their top players are just surrounded by too much mediocrity. Blackwell, Prinsep, May, RR, Tiatia, JGP, Fifita and Saffa wingers aren’t the sort of guys you build championship teams around.Lastly, I’ve flung plenty of shit Collin’s way when he has played 15. But he was very good in midfield today. Hopefully he stops getting picked at the back and can concentrate on 13.
@pukunui said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
Other than a couple of decent wins recently.
Well they knocked over the Saders, only team to do so, and broke a years old winning streak doing it. They are where you'd expect a team with a crap tight five and no decent 10
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@pukunui said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
Other than a couple of decent wins recently.
Well they knocked over the Saders, only team to do so, and broke a years old winning streak doing it. They are where you'd expect a team with a crap tight five and no decent 10
@Machpants said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@pukunui said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
Other than a couple of decent wins recently.
Well they knocked over the Saders, only team to do so, and broke a years old winning streak doing it. They are where you'd expect a team with a crap tight five and no decent 10
I thought we'd come last, and IIRC before the season started I was not the only one on here that thought so. We exceeded my expectations
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@Machpants said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@pukunui said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
Other than a couple of decent wins recently.
Well they knocked over the Saders, only team to do so, and broke a years old winning streak doing it. They are where you'd expect a team with a crap tight five and no decent 10
I thought we'd come last, and IIRC before the season started I was not the only one on here that thought so. We exceeded my expectations
@canefan said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@Machpants said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@pukunui said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
Other than a couple of decent wins recently.
Well they knocked over the Saders, only team to do so, and broke a years old winning streak doing it. They are where you'd expect a team with a crap tight five and no decent 10
I thought we'd come last, and IIRC before the season started I was not the only one on here that thought so. We exceeded my expectations
Really? I thought everyone defaulted to the Highlanders as last. But yeah the more glaring issue that was cited for the canes (10) turned out to be pretty decent at this level.
People going on about crap tight five and 10 are just being lazy rehashing old lines. JGB ended the season very well and is a positive, not a negative. He creates plenty of space and sets the attack well but mud sticks.
Crap tight five? Lomax, Scrafton, Coles, Aumua are all either ABs or have been touted for higher honours. Blackwell and May get a lot of stick but they perform a role well.
Main problem seemed to be a team where not everyone was on the same page and bit part players trying too hard (e.g. Aso today). When Jordie didn't boss the game, the Canes struggled.
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@canefan said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@Machpants said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@pukunui said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
Other than a couple of decent wins recently.
Well they knocked over the Saders, only team to do so, and broke a years old winning streak doing it. They are where you'd expect a team with a crap tight five and no decent 10
I thought we'd come last, and IIRC before the season started I was not the only one on here that thought so. We exceeded my expectations
Really? I thought everyone defaulted to the Highlanders as last. But yeah the more glaring issue that was cited for the canes (10) turned out to be pretty decent at this level.
People going on about crap tight five and 10 are just being lazy rehashing old lines. JGB ended the season very well and is a positive, not a negative. He creates plenty of space and sets the attack well but mud sticks.
Crap tight five? Lomax, Scrafton, Coles, Aumua are all either ABs or have been touted for higher honours. Blackwell and May get a lot of stick but they perform a role well.
Main problem seemed to be a team where not everyone was on the same page and bit part players trying too hard (e.g. Aso today). When Jordie didn't boss the game, the Canes struggled.
@Bones said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@canefan said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@Machpants said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
@pukunui said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - now at 3:05pm:
Other than a couple of decent wins recently.
Well they knocked over the Saders, only team to do so, and broke a years old winning streak doing it. They are where you'd expect a team with a crap tight five and no decent 10
I thought we'd come last, and IIRC before the season started I was not the only one on here that thought so. We exceeded my expectations
Really? I thought everyone defaulted to the Highlanders as last. But yeah the more glaring issue that was cited for the canes (10) turned out to be pretty decent at this level.
People going on about crap tight five and 10 are just being lazy rehashing old lines. JGB ended the season very well and is a positive, not a negative. He creates plenty of space and sets the attack well but mud sticks.
Crap tight five? Lomax, Scrafton, Coles, Aumua are all either ABs or have been touted for higher honours. Blackwell and May get a lot of stick but they perform a role well.
Main problem seemed to be a team where not everyone was on the same page and bit part players trying too hard (e.g. Aso today). When Jordie didn't boss the game, the Canes struggled.
Unfortunately the role Blackwell and May perform is “jersey filler”. Meanwhile a guy like IWL is sitting in the stands watching.
