Highlanders

1 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2 Liam Coltman, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Elliot Dixon, 7 Dillon Hunt, 8 Luke Whitelock
9 Aaron Smith, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 11 Tevita Li, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 13 Rob Thompson, 14 Ben Smith (CC), 15 Fletcher Smith

Reserves
16 Ash Dixon (CC), 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Kalolo Tuiloma, 19 Alex Ainley, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 James Lentjes, 22 Kayne Hammington, 23 Sio Tomkinson

The Pulse Energy Highlanders face a significant challenge in the John Mitchell coached Bulls on Saturday. 

The resurgent Bulls are currently second in the South African conference and have already beaten the Hurricanes at Loftus this season. 

Head Coach, Aaron Mauger, has rung in a few positional changes for the first leg of a two-game South African tour. Co-Captain, Ben Smith, moves to the right wing in place of Waisake Naholo and utility back, Fletcher Smith, takes the number 15 jersey. 

Tyrel Lomax will start at tighthead with regular tighthead, Siate Tokolahi, having been ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury. There will also be a six forward, two back split with loose forward James Lentjes returning for the first time this season and midfield back Patelesio Tomkinson making his way on to the bench. 

Mauger is comfortable with the team’s work this week “the guys have travelled well and we have had a good training week in preparation to face the challenges the Bulls will present on Saturday, both teams will be looking to keep the momentum of their season going.” 

Aaron Mauger's a bit irrelevant in this one.

This is Mitchell vs Hammett.

Should be a cracking game @Nepia.

Clearly it's the game of the round.

I don't keep up on domehead's journey so didn't even remember/realise he was coaching the Bulls.

Smith on the wing. ABs this year?

@98blueandgold said in Bulls v Highlanders:

Smith on the wing. ABs this year?

To make way for Jordie at fullback?

Aaron Smith still needs his mandatory 2 games rest, right? The Reds game might be the only option before the international break.

Good to see Lentjes back. Actually looking forward to seeing how F Smith goes at fullback.

Awesome try. Aaron Smith dots down, but the credit has to go to Fletcher Smith. 7 - 0 Landers

Landers scrum needs attention tho

Fark me penalty try and YC ! FFS stupidity - just as I was about to talk up Fletcher Smith too

Fletcher Smith will spent 10 minutes in the bin. Penalty try to the Bulls.

Don't know whose pass was intercepted, but this was a very easy try they gave away to the Bulls. 14 - 7 after 31 minutes.

Aside from the solitary try, there's been some pretty dumb decisions made and penalties given away by the Landers this half

@shadowtrooper Yeah, disappointing. Lucky not to concede another try just before the break.

@shadowtrooper said in Bulls v Highlanders:

Aside from the solitary try, there's been some pretty dumb decisions made and penalties given away by the Bulls this half

Fixed

@stargazer since when is having Jesse Kriel in the opposing team "luck"

2nd half starts Pretty much like the 1st...A Smith & F Smith combine for a brilliant run in under the sticks

Great try by the Smiths. Sops converts. Landers now lead 20 -14

Frizell and Lentjes have come on.

Jackson is a fucken cheat

62 minutes played, and Aaron Smith already replaced by Hammington. Why so early?

@sidbarret wow, no talk even

Try Jesse Kriel. It's 26 all with the kick to come.

Pollard was never going to miss that kick. Bulls lead 28 - 26 with less than 4 minutes to play.

@stargazer poor option from the HL prop to come in

Time's up and the Bulls give away a penalty. Kickable. Pressure is on Sopoaga now.

The kick is good and the Highlanders win! Wow; didn't expect that.

Landers showed some good goal line defence but they were very lucky not to concede a yellow card when the ball was right on their line and they weren't letting go

@tordah I did not agree with that call

All up the Bulls should have won, but the only backs that should get paid are Pollard and Gellant.

@tordah it was Sap who was the man offending

Surprised they didn't hook Lomax earlier. He was being dominated by his opposite at scrum time for most of the game and doesn't look to be Super Rugby quality just yet. Really don't see what all the hype about him was about.

Sopoaga played well apart from kicking the ball away with 3 minutes to go when his team was 2 points behind.

Pollard was outstanding. Controlled that game beautifully and was easily the best player on the field. He's definitely world class.

@sidbarret said in Bulls v Highlanders:

Jackson is a fucken cheat

@sidbarret said in Bulls v Highlanders:

@sidbarret wow, no talk even

Bit surprised their hasn't been comment on Hometown Jacko giving the penalty try.

Looked yellow and penalty for sure, but "probable try"? He still had to off load to a supporting player with two defenders there from memory. Always a dubious call so can see why there aren't any complaints but I wouldn't have given it.

Oh, and Sid, the problem with Jackson is that he really isn't very good.

@taniwharugby have been keeping an eye on Darmacena at the Rebels,I wonder if we have missed a trick after watching Fletcher Smith

Was Northland after Fletcher Smith?

I think Waikato will be happy with his signing as the starting 1st 5.

@bovidae word is, he came up, spent some time looking at facilities, spoke with coaches, players etc...was ready to sign on dotted line but heard Dale MacLeod (who had got him up here) was being pushed out the door, he chose not to...

So him alongside Solomon Alaimalo (who MacLeod got up here) Northland lost due to them pushing MacLeod out...which given all the good I had heard he was doing devlopment-wise and getting our players in front of Super coaches and from anyone who dealt with Macleod, sounded like a big mistake letting him go.

@snowy Jackson had the option not to call that a PT, but it was flagrant that very few people would complain about that one.

In the second half a number of 50-50 s went the Highlander's way, with very wide gates being allowed in defence and a number fortuatious could not roll away quicker calls going their way.

But the second last penalty the Highlanders kicked was one of the worst calls you'll see this season. The bulls loose head (who was fantastic in this game) counter rucked perfectly coming straight over the ball from right behind the ruck. Jackson pulled a bs penalty right out of his ass, which ultimately decided the game.

Your last comment is both true and partly the reason for my annoyance. Jackson is a very poor ref, inaccurate with his calls and inconsistent with what he expects from the players. Yet despite that he has moved up the ranks to find himself on the elite panel where he simply doesn't belong.

@taniwharugby Dale McLeod has signed with Southland as part of their coaching staff,wishing him all the best..hope it does not come back to bite us.

@sidbarret Yeah but it's still a penalty to the Highlanders. Hands in the ruck. Ball never moved so half back can't pick it up. Right result wrong offence