Highlanders 2026
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Good article in the ODT this morning with injury updates:
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Jim is not far away and has resumed full contact training. Just needs to get his loads up (I guess that has him touch & go for R1)
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Hugh Renton will have his first full block of training next week (I guess that makes him unlikely to be a starter in R1?)
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Saula Ma’u is still a few weeks away after dislocating his shoulder for Otago.
Given no mentions to the others not missing, think we can assume they are small niggles
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The guy who I have kept thinking of after this game has been Reesjan Pasitoa. I think he can be our first five.
I would like to see him get a decent chance in our next pre-season. Make him kick for touch. Kick at goal. See if he can nail those. I just think inside the attacking half he will create more opportunities.
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Paywalled article on Pasitoa.
Few key points
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Wants to play first five
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Doesn't plan on returning to Australia
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Trained between 10 and 12 prior to Christmas. Solely at 10 after Christmas.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
Paywalled article on Pasitoa.
Few key points
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Wants to play first five
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Doesn't plan on returning to Australia
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Trained between 10 and 12 prior to Christmas. Solely at 10 after Christmas.
I like it’s a 2 year deal he’s signed and not just a 1 year stop gap type thing.
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I think people are getting way too far ahead of themselves with Pasitoa.
It’s like Robinson from last year all over again.
Everyone to a T on here calling for Lennox’s head (Which in itself is an overreaction), yet then are quite happy to say Millar was poor?
What do you expect him to do, work miracles?
I actually thought he was reasonable given the circumstances.
Pasitoa presents an option up the back pocket if Millar doesn’t work, but it should not be the first option.
FWIW, if Jim isn’t ready next week, I think it is highly likely you’ll see him at 12 anyway.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
I think people are getting way too far ahead of themselves with Pasitoa.
It’s like Robinson from last year all over again.
Everyone to a T on here calling for Lennox’s head (Which in itself is an overreaction), yet then are quite happy to say Millar was poor?
What do you expect him to do, work miracles?
I actually thought he was reasonable given the circumstances.
Pasitoa presents an option up the back pocket if Millar doesn’t work, but it should not be the first option.
FWIW, if Jim isn’t ready next week, I think it is highly likely you’ll see him at 12 anyway.
Nah.
Nothing like Robinson, who had never played Super before last year. Wasn't even a starting player for his NPC team.
Pasitoa has not been plucked from obscurity. He has been in rated highly and in high performance systems for several years. Was wrecked by injuries and lost confidence.
If, he can show that he can drive the team around with the boot he should be seen as a very strong option to start.
I think only one person said Millar was poor. I thought he was serviceable. Which reflects his skillset. It was a tough half into the wind.
JJ and the coaching staff have never been big fans of Cam. By going off previous selections. It is highly unlikely that he will be around next year. He also doesn't suit how the rest of the backline plays.
No one will.complain if Cam is starting in round 1. I just think it is worthwhile giving Pasitoa another run to see whether his kicking and game management is sufficient. His running, passing and vision seems at a higher level.
He has also played more Super than Millar.
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Come Round One, I really hope we can get our bench right. We struggled to close games out last year, so that is an area to sharpen up.
I just think Vikena is unselectable, so Bell gets the nod in 16, with Bartlett in 17. I favour Ta'avao and Lavanini to come on as finishers at 18 and 19. Lasaqa is a ball of energy, so I think on reflection I'd have him in 20.
In those early rounds, I suspect a 5-3 split might be favoured, given various guys coming back from injuries/building up fitness.
Lennox did not cover himself in glory, but other than being energetic, I didn't think Shearer was particularly sharp either, with some fairly loose passing. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt to take 21. Depending on Jim's level of fitness, I would not mind seeing him build up his loads off the bench in 22, with Pasitoa starting at 12, and covering first five. Tito-Harris looks the business to me, so I'd have him in 23.
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Everything seems to hinge on 10.
I think if you’re starting Millar you’re playing a slower tactical bruising game and a 6 - 2 Split with Lasanga, Haig & Lavinini on the bench makes sense with Lennox & Pasetoa (or Lowe if Big Jim is out and Pasetoa is midfield cover)
If you’re playing Pasetoa at 10 you want a faster power bench of Veveni, Lavinini, Shearer, Millar & Tito Harris.
I’m leaning towards our starting midfield being Telea and Lowe for round 1 and Big Jim out.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2026:
Everything seems to hinge on 10.
I think if you’re starting Millar you’re playing a slower tactical bruising game and a 6 - 2 Split with Lasanga, Haig & Lavinini on the bench makes sense with Lennox & Pasetoa (or Lowe if Big Jim is out and Pasetoa is midfield cover)
If you’re playing Pasetoa at 10 you want a faster power bench of Veveni, Lavinini, Shearer, Millar & Tito Harris.
I’m leaning towards our starting midfield being Telea and Lowe for round 1 and Big Jim out.
The tactics need to reflect a game plan that can beat the Crusaders. Playing a faster power bench will just be a lite version of what the Crusaders do.
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It is fair that who starts at 10 will determine what the bench make up will be. Pasitoa starts, then Millar does not make the match day 23. Robinson or Knewstubb become the bench 10 option, due to their ability to cover fullback as well.
We should get an idea by who will be paired with Fakatava against MP on the weekend.
Jonah Lowe would be my guess for the 23 jersey. Due to his ability to cover multiple positions.
If Lennox can regain some form and show the ability to play halfback that it seemed he lost during his Taranaki season, then he could be a bench option.
With Jim's injury being to his arm, there shouldn't be any fitness problems. Should come straight into the starting side.
The front row is a major concern at the moment. Ma'u out for several weeks still. We will be facing a lot of teams that may demolish us upfront.
Forwards will be a bit of a mystery while it is still unclear about Renton.
The replacmement lock may not be one of Dunshea or Lavanini. It could be someone like Haig or Stodart. With them also covering 6/8. With a regular rotation of the three prinary locks.
What I could see is:
De Groot
Taylor
Kautai
Dunshea/Holland/Lavanini
Holland/Lavanini/Dunshea
Howden
Withy
Renton/StodartFakatava
Pasitoa
Nareki
Jim
Tele'a
Tangitau
JRKBell
Bartlett
Ta'avao
Haig/Stodart
Lasaqa
Shearer
Robinson/Knewstubb
Lowe -
I tend to agree with you.
I’ve been thinking about Millar and where the problems seem to lie. There’s a lot of truth in what people are saying about a poor half from the nine impacting the ten. But equally, if you’re a good ten, you need to turn up in the pressure moments, and we’ve really yet to see that from Millar at Super Rugby level. Yes, poor ball impacts you, but a good ten has to get past that and grab his opportunities, and there’s nothing I’m seeing that shows he’s better than Pasetoa. Who came into the game, made good runs, and controlled the flow of the game well.
The scoreline says it best. We bled close to thirty points while Millar was on the field. That wasn’t all on him, but we only bled seven while Pasetoa was on, and he looked like the better player. We’ll see more next week, but everyone keeps excusing Millar, and frankly, I’m a bit over it. He just isn’t kicking on, and if he can’t turn up in a pre-season game, then he’s probably not going to win us a quarter or semi-final (or even get us to one).
Knewstubb sounds like he’s training the house down, brings a bit of experience, and outperformed Millar in the NPC final. I’d be eyeing up a Pasetoa–Knewstubb combo going forward, especially if Pasetoa is looking to commit to the deep south for a while. If the reports of Millar looking overseas are true, we might as well put our eggs in the basket of a couple of guys who will stick around.
