Crusaders v Highlanders
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Massive game for both sides this, but more so the Crusaders.
From the Highlanders perspective, observing it at the game this group is just hanging on - a few of them are running on empty. We have to trust our squad here.
Dunshea is cooked, we've flogged him for 320 minutes because of a refusal to use other locks, meaning he has to stay on the park. We've backed ourselves into a corner now, but I'd be looking at 50 mins max out of him this week. Time to unleash Lavanini.
In the loose forwards, Howden was better last week, but I would be tempted to look at him off the bench, in an attempt to finish strongly. Lasaqa was very good, and I think has to keep his place, and I think Lucas Casey also comes straight back in. You can't play three opensides, so there is no room for Withy. Give Stodart a start in his actual best position. If Renton is fit, then I'd have him on the bench in a 6-2 split to provide some leadership at the end. I therefore have Withy missing out, unless Renton is unfit.
Halfback is a massive issue. Fakatava isn't playing well, Lennox is no better... and I don't think Shearer fixes your issue of a lack of accuracy. Fakatava's kicking was the best it has been, which is a positive, so reluctantly I'd stick with him. Personally thought Millar had his most polished game so far this season so I'd stick with him at 10.
In the midfield, Jimmy is at 12, so given the Crusaders frailties defending the midfield, we need pace with him. Lowe might well be done for the season, so by process of elimination, I think it is time to play Reesjan Pasitoa from the start in the midfield. I don't think Tele'a is the answer in a game like this, and neither are Whaanga, Te Hiwi or Grindlay.
Back three also quite intriguing. JRK was out of sorts again last week. Just looked really nervous, and I think a better team could give him hell. I'd give him the whole week off just to reset himself. Stanley Solomon therefore debuts at fullback. Nareki probably also in need of a rest, but I wouldn't debut two in the back three, so he stays in for this week with Tangitau.
I'd also tweak things up front to finish strongly. EDG, Taylor and Wingham to start, Bartlett, Vikena/Bell and Ta'avao to see it home.
Possible 23:
- de Groot
- Taylor
- Wingham
- Haig
- Dunshea
- Stodart
- Lasaqa
- Casey
- Fakatava
- Millar
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Pasitoa
- Tangitau
- Solomon
- Bell
- Bartlett
- Ta'avao
- Lavanini
- Howden
- Renton
- Lennox
- Tele'a
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Massive game for both sides this, but more so the Crusaders.
From the Highlanders perspective, observing it at the game this group is just hanging on - a few of them are running on empty. We have to trust our squad here.
Dunshea is cooked, we've flogged him for 320 minutes because of a refusal to use other locks, meaning he has to stay on the park. We've backed ourselves into a corner now, but I'd be looking at 50 mins max out of him this week. Time to unleash Lavanini.
In the loose forwards, Howden was better last week, but I would be tempted to look at him off the bench, in an attempt to finish strongly. Lasaqa was very good, and I think has to keep his place, and I think Lucas Casey also comes straight back in. You can't play three opensides, so there is no room for Withy. Give Stodart a start in his actual best position. If Renton is fit, then I'd have him on the bench in a 6-2 split to provide some leadership at the end. I therefore have Withy missing out, unless Renton is unfit.
Halfback is a massive issue. Fakatava isn't playing well, Lennox is no better... and I don't think Shearer fixes your issue of a lack of accuracy. Fakatava's kicking was the best it has been, which is a positive, so reluctantly I'd stick with him. Personally thought Millar had his most polished game so far this season so I'd stick with him at 10.
In the midfield, Jimmy is at 12, so given the Crusaders frailties defending the midfield, we need pace with him. Lowe might well be done for the season, so by process of elimination, I think it is time to play Reesjan Pasitoa from the start in the midfield. I don't think Tele'a is the answer in a game like this, and neither are Whaanga, Te Hiwi or Grindlay.
Back three also quite intriguing. JRK was out of sorts again last week. Just looked really nervous, and I think a better team could give him hell. I'd give him the whole week off just to reset himself. Stanley Solomon therefore debuts at fullback. Nareki probably also in need of a rest, but I wouldn't debut two in the back three, so he stays in for this week with Tangitau.
I'd also tweak things up front to finish strongly. EDG, Taylor and Wingham to start, Bartlett, Vikena/Bell and Ta'avao to see it home.
Possible 23:
- de Groot
- Taylor
- Wingham
- Haig
- Dunshea
- Stodart
- Lasaqa
- Casey
- Fakatava
- Millar
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Pasitoa
- Tangitau
- Solomon
- Bell
- Bartlett
- Ta'avao
- Lavanini
- Howden
- Renton
- Lennox
- Tele'a
@frugby said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Massive game for both sides this, but more so the Crusaders.
From the Highlanders perspective, observing it at the game this group is just hanging on - a few of them are running on empty. We have to trust our squad here.
Dunshea is cooked, we've flogged him for 320 minutes because of a refusal to use other locks, meaning he has to stay on the park. We've backed ourselves into a corner now, but I'd be looking at 50 mins max out of him this week. Time to unleash Lavanini.
In the loose forwards, Howden was better last week, but I would be tempted to look at him off the bench, in an attempt to finish strongly. Lasaqa was very good, and I think has to keep his place, and I think Lucas Casey also comes straight back in. You can't play three opensides, so there is no room for Withy. Give Stodart a start in his actual best position. If Renton is fit, then I'd have him on the bench in a 6-2 split to provide some leadership at the end. I therefore have Withy misses out, unless Renton is unfit.
Halfback is a massive issue. Fakatava isn't playing well, Lennox is no better... and I don't think Shearer fixes your issue of a lack of accuracy. Fakatava's kicking was the best it has been, which is a positive, so reluctantly I'd stick with him. Personally thought Millar had his most polished game so far this season so I'd stick with him at 10.
In the midfield, Jimmy is at 12, so given the Crusaders frailties defending the midfield, we need pace with him. Lowe might well be done for the season, so by process of elimination, I think it is time to play Reesjan Pasitoa from the start in the midfield. I don't think Tele'a is the answer in a game like this, and neither are Whaanga, Te Hiwi or Grindlay.
Back three also quite intriguing. JRK was out of sorts again last week. Just looked really nervous, and I think a better team could give him hell. I'd give him the whole week off just to reset himself. Stanley Solomon therefore debuts at fullback. Nareki probably also in need of a rest, but I wouldn't debut two in the back three, so he stays in for this week with Tangitau.
I'd also tweak things up front to finish strongly. EDG, Taylor and Wingham to start, Bartlett, Vikena/Bell and Ta'avao to see it home.
Possible 23:
- de Groot
- Taylor
- Wingham
- Haig
- Dunshea
- Stodart
- Lasaqa
- Casey
- Fakatava
- Millar
- Nareki
- Tavatavanawai
- Pasitoa
- Tangitau
- Solomon
- Bell
- Bartlett
- Ta'avao
- Lavanini
- Howden
- Renton
- Lennox
- Tele'a
Big call on Solomon but I'd love to see it.
The Landers can't afford too many more injuries in the backs. Is that two halfbacks you've got on the bench?
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JRK is fine, you don’t swap him out this week. Teams are very wary of him now that he isn’t an unknown.
Stats from ODT against the Force:
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (109m, five defenders beaten), Jona Nareki (94m), Caleb Tangitau (60m and two tries) and Timoci Tavatavanawai (57m, nine defenders beaten and two turnovers won) doing their thing.
You don’t change that back 3 this week, if anything you bring in Solomon or Tito Harris in for Nareki next week for some rotation and rest.
I’d keep it as is but the only change being at 8. Broughton out for either Casey, Withy or Stodart, whoever doesn’t start out of them can bring impact off the bench. Luckily for us, there are plenty of options in the loose, especially if Renton is good to go as well.
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JRK is fine, you don’t swap him out this week. Teams are very wary of him now that he isn’t an unknown.
Stats from ODT against the Force:
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (109m, five defenders beaten), Jona Nareki (94m), Caleb Tangitau (60m and two tries) and Timoci Tavatavanawai (57m, nine defenders beaten and two turnovers won) doing their thing.
You don’t change that back 3 this week, if anything you bring in Solomon or Tito Harris in for Nareki next week for some rotation and rest.
I’d keep it as is but the only change being at 8. Broughton out for either Casey, Withy or Stodart, whoever doesn’t start out of them can bring impact off the bench. Luckily for us, there are plenty of options in the loose, especially if Renton is good to go as well.
@Landers92 said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
JRK is fine, you don’t swap him out this week. Teams are very wary of him now that he isn’t an unknown.
Stats from ODT against the Force:
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (109m, five defenders beaten), Jona Nareki (94m), Caleb Tangitau (60m and two tries) and Timoci Tavatavanawai (57m, nine defenders beaten and two turnovers won) doing their thing.
You don’t change that back 3 this week, if anything you bring in Solomon or Tito Harris in for Nareki next week for some rotation and rest.
I don’t think the stats tell the whole story at all with JRK. He dropped it cold hot on attack twice, hardly caught a high ball and looked generally nervy.
He definitely got better as the game went on, but just think he’d benefit from a freshen up.
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Can't see that team rolling out.
We do need to rotate our squad a bit tgough. Will need to work out which of the next two games we want to target. Crusaders away or Canes at home.
Centre will be the point of interest for me, same with lock.
If Lowe is out. Tele'a and his defensive frailties comes in.
Pasitoa won't go from being our back up 10 to 13.
From the Joseph comments it sounds as if Lavanini will come in. Give Dunshea the week off.
If JRK needs a rest, I'd think we will be more likely to see Andrew Knewstubb at fullback than Solomon. Solomon and Tito-Harris play, one starts and the other off the bench. Give one of Nareki or Tangitau a rest.
Withy will be back.
Bell or Vikena. Who cares.
Halfback, give Nic Shearer a run?
Casey comes in.
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Basically the Highlanders have two choices here. Run the gauntlet, take some gambles on sticking with the same crew and hope they don't break OR bank on fresh players offering a higher level of performance.
The other main concern is the lineout. Lavanini for Dunshea doesn't fix that... heck I am not sure Lavanini and Dunshea fix that. Are they brave enough to chuck Tengblad in? He has been the elected warmup lock for most of the season I notice - they must be thinking about it.
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@george33 said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
Stuff saying Hannah, Gardiner, Kemara added to the injury list after Blues game.
Can't believe I'm saying this, but Gardiner is a loss. He's impressed me of late, starting to use that big frame of his on attack and defence. Hannah is too due to the Crusaders being light on locks, noy something I thought I'd ever say with how blessed they usually are in that area.
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I'm not too worried about the lineout against the Crusaders. The Canes and Dearns is a different story though. With the injures the Crusaders have, they don't have mych firepower there
@SouthernMann said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
I'm not too worried about the lineout against the Crusaders. The Canes and Dearns is a different story though. With the injures the Crusaders have, they don't have mych firepower there
Let's hope you play your best team this week and then give your squad a bit of a breather next week.
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Kemera and Gardiner both Head Knocks.
Hannah has a knock to the knee, I am not sure how bad it is he maybe still able to play.
Cahill maybe back if his ribs have settled down probably need a needle.
We might see Mathis get a runoff the bench this week. As Kellow will start for Gardiner, -
Kemera and Gardiner both Head Knocks.
Hannah has a knock to the knee, I am not sure how bad it is he maybe still able to play.
Cahill maybe back if his ribs have settled down probably need a needle.
We might see Mathis get a runoff the bench this week. As Kellow will start for Gardiner,@Chris can’t help feel what a massive loss Tom Christie is to both Canterbury and Crusaders rugby the number of vital turnovers he get would always happen at crucial times in a tight game
He was outstanding for Canterbury in the NPC before he left for Newcastle the consummate professional right to the end. -
@Chris can’t help feel what a massive loss Tom Christie is to both Canterbury and Crusaders rugby the number of vital turnovers he get would always happen at crucial times in a tight game
He was outstanding for Canterbury in the NPC before he left for Newcastle the consummate professional right to the end.@Steven-Harris said in Crusaders v Highlanders:
@Chris can’t help feel what a massive loss Tom Christie is to both Canterbury and Crusaders rugby the number of vital turnovers he get would always happen at crucial times in a tight game
He was outstanding for Canterbury in the NPC before he left for Newcastle the consummate professional right to the end.Can't disagree with that mate, although I think Kellow should be starting he is good around the breakdown.
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Big scrap at Crusader's training today between Sykes-Martin and Tucker.
This is normally a good thing, but does it have the same impact when it's two wider squad members and not necessarily big dogs within the team.
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@mikey2002 Lasaqa being dropped to the bench would be a pisstake.
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The big Argie makes his long awaited debut.
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The big Argie makes his long awaited debut.
@SouthernMann could be wrong but I feel like Lasaqa and Casey haven't been on the field at the same time together really, would like too see it eventually from an entertainment perspective, like I find the Canes most enjoyable when Lakai & Iose are in that lineup
