Highlanders vs Hurricanes pre-season

[Kiwiwomble]

@Stargazer I think I agree re Paea and sio, althought I haven't seen loads of Paea. You also have Punivai outside them and you basically have three kind of tall strong bloke in a row and then little old NMS and Nareki the other way

I like pictures

[Machpants]

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes pre-season:

Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ngatungane Punivai, Fetuli Paea, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (c), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Billy Harmon, Shannon Frizell, Jack Regan, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown.

Interesting Front Row, back three lack a bit of pace....

[Stargazer]

@Kiwiwomble Interesting to see they have cloned Hugh Renton! :grinning_face:

[Kiwiwomble]

@Machpants Paea is at 13, Nareki is the other wing

@Stargazer always on the cutting edge down south, we have roof on our stadium don't ya know

[Tim]

Is this one being televised?

[Stargazer]

@Tim Yes, Sky Sport 1.

[Machpants]

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes pre-season:

@Machpants Paea is at 13, Nareki is the other wing

@Stargazer always on the cutting edge down south, we have roof on our stadium don't ya know

My point being it starts at 15 not 1, not how it should be done. Press man must be a back

[Stargazer]

@Machpants Or from the NH.

[Stargazer]

For who, just like @Kiwiwomble and me, like pictures:

[Machpants]

@Stargazer said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes pre-season:

@Machpants Or from the NH.

That's even worse, 15-9, 1-8. WTF?

[Nepia]

When did Hugh Renton sneak onto the Highlanders playing roster?

[Stargazer]

@Nepia I only discovered that when he was named in the Landers' squad for the preseason game against the Crusaders, last week. Didn't see him any of the preseason training photos.

[Bones]

Starting highlanders backline better not be the one that starts the season proper....

Be interesting to see if NMS actually has anything to offer, but I won't be holding my breath.

[Bovidae]

@bones said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes pre-season:

Starting highlanders backline better not be the one that starts the season proper....

Based on the performances in Temuka it looks like 10 and 15 are the only positions that are really up for grabs. 1st 5 will depend on Ioane's fitness and fullback could be Alaimalo, CGB or even Hunt.

[Bones]

@bovidae said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes pre-season:

@bones said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes pre-season:

Starting highlanders backline better not be the one that starts the season proper....

Based on the performances in Temuka it looks like 10 and 15 are the only positions that are really up for grabs. 1st 5 will depend on Ioane's fitness and fullback could be Alaimalo, CGB or even Hunt.

Michael Collins come on down...

[Bones]

That last comment was tongue in cheek.

[Kiwiwomble]

@bones we’re all happy to hear, he did a interview the other day where he said he was concentrating on midfield

https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/collins-eyes-up-spot-in-highlanders-midfield/

"At the moment I think it suits me a bit better," he said....always did mate

I don’t think the midfield is locked in either, we’ve got a group of guys that have been with us for a while and not really shone and some new guys

[Bones]

@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes pre-season:

@bones we’re all happy to hear, he did a interview the other day where he said he was concentrating on midfield

I don’t think the midfield is locked in either, we’ve got a group of guys that have been with us for a while and not really shone and some new guys

Hey at least Mauger's gone, so we won't end up with Ioane and Fakatava in the midfield!

I think Collins is a good foil if they're going to persist with Tomkinson.

[Kiwiwomble]

@bones wouldn’t mind seeing 12. Collins 13.Paea

[Bovidae]

Going to be ~30C at kickoff.