Highlanders:

1 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Siosuia Halanukonuka, 4. Alex Ainley, 5. Tom Franklin, 6. Gareth Evans, 7. Dillon Hunt, 8. Liam Squire
9 Aaron Smith, 10. Marty Banks, 11. Patrick Osborne, 12. Rob Thompson, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Ben Smith ( c )

Reserves

16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17. Aki Seiuli, 18. Siate Tokolahi, 19. Joe Wheeler, 20. Jackson Hemopo, 21. Kayne Hammington, 22. Fletcher Smith, 23. Matt Faddes

Unavailable due to injury: Shane Christie, Luke Whitelock, Elliot Dixon, James Lentjes, Dan Pryor, Lima Sopoaga, Richard Buckman (Out for the season: Jason Emery, Hayden Parker)

Great to see Thompson back in the lineup. He's the best 2nd 5 in the squad and forms a decent combo with Fekitoa.

What's the go with Elliot Dixon being injury?

@Stargazer It was a knee infection. Markings look like they're from the rug rats.

Always frustrating to lose a player because he didn't take care of his grazes after a game.

@Frye said in Highlanders v Stormers:

@Stargazer It was a knee infection. Markings look like they're from the rug rats.

Always frustrating to lose a player because he didn't take care of his grazes after a game.

Not sure whether you meant this seriously, but that was not the cause. In the comments to his instagram post, he responds to a remark by Josh Hohneck, saying that it was the same as what he had in 2015. In 2015, Hohneck had bursitis in his knee, which later became infected (see article below).

@Stargazer Ok fair enough. I just assumed it was foreign bodies. Guess it's just weak genes instead.

@Frye said in Highlanders v Stormers:

@Stargazer It was a knee infection. Markings look like they're from the rug rats.

Always frustrating to lose a player because he didn't take care of his grazes after a game.

Markings are dated and look to be tracking the area of swelling/infection.

Once you do a bursa through impact it can be prone to bursting again through the scar tissue. This I learned the hard way.

@Crucial Do you know how long that usually takes? I assume he's in hospital to have it "cleaned up"?

@Stargazer said in Highlanders v Stormers:

@Crucial Do you know how long that usually takes? I assume he's in hospital to have it "cleaned up"?

He was on RS Breakfast this morning:

Seems it was grazes and foreign bodies.

Stormers:
15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jano Vermaak,
8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Jan de Klerk, 4 Eben Etzebeth (vice-captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble.

Replacements:
16 Ramone Samuels, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Kobus van Dyk, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Shaun Treeby (DHL Stormers debut), 23 Bjorn Basson.

This game will be Eben Etzebeth's 50th game for the Stormers.

Terrible from Fekitoa. Released all the pressure by not being able to catch a simple ball. Not good enough.

some very agressive d by Stormers, up VERY flat and slowing things at the breakdown too

Terrible defence from the Highlanders there.
They look to lack a bit of intensity tonight.

Stormers FB Marais looking sharp!

Highlanders gonna have to tidy thier shit up

Fekitoa would fit it well at the Warriors, low % plays, lots of errors and the odd flash of brilliance.

Osbourne over after a nice build up.

Banks makes kicking goals look easy, 7-7

A Sumo classic "Banks, what can he do? He's turning into Beauden Barrett."

Maaayyte, you're dreaming.

But still enjoy your commentary

think he did a bit more than push him out of the way, thnk the ref got this right...

Shut up Justin.

Fuck off and shut up Marshall you floppy haired whiny little bitch

nice ball from Smith to Naholo!

@Stockcar86 said in Highlanders v Stormers:

Fuck off and shut up Marshall you floppy haired whiny little bitch

although I agree with your general sentiment, I agree with the comms on that one. Tough on the Stormers prop

Marshall and Sumo - try enjoying the try rather than incessantly whining like a jet engine. If I want to hear a whinging old goat I'll tune into Gus Gould.

@Tordah dunno, I think he could have done that much differently, sure spur of the moment to lift/push as he did when player on his shoulder, but many decisions we are getting are like that now.

another triumph of the defensive bomb...

why?

Marty Banks is a shit kicker 17-7

hate those maul tries, so much that could be pinged doesnt, another Highlanders try.

Finally that useless Banks gets a kick..2/4 tonight

24-7

sensational take by Smith

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Stormers:

hate those maul tries, so much that could be pinged doesnt, another Highlanders try.

Finally that useless Banks gets a kick..2/4 tonight

24-7

You could say that about most facets of the game. That aa pretty maul really badly defended

how the fuck was that 8 on his feet Jacko?

@mariner4life I know, but that one was at least 2 penalties I reckon.

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Stormers:

how the fuck was that 8 on his feet Jacko?

Was thinking the same. Pisses me off when the defender is allowed to fall over the tackle, push up off the ground and go at the ball.

what a ball from Osborne! Thompson in

@taniwharugby nah, only if you want to be pedantic I reckon

wow, 31-7 now...

8 phases and Stormers cant make any yards and ball goes loose...half time

Stormers look a bit rubbish. Highlanders a lot better than last week. Jackson all over the show as usual

@Tordah started off well for them, then the Highlanders seemed to wake up, nek minut 31-7

The Stormers are strange. They look alright for the most part, but shit they can ship some points