Highlanders:
Following on from their round 10 win against the Blues, Head Coach Aaron Mauger has stuck largely with the same group.

In the forwards, the hard-working Shannon Frizell makes way for the Captain, Luke Whitelock, at six with Elliot Dixon retaining his spot at eight following some good form over the last few weeks.

In the backs, Patelesio Tomkinson, moves to the right wing to accommodate the return of Rob Thompson at centre and Matt Faddes moves to fullback to cover for the rested Ben Smith. The bench will have a six / two split with Dillon Hunt being included in the forwards mix, Kayne Hammington and Bryn Gatland will cover the backs.

Pulse Energy Highlanders v Sunwolves – 7.00pm (10.00pm NZT), Friday 26th April, Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo

Daniel Lienert-Brown
Liam Coltman
Tyrel Lomax
Jackson Hemopo
Tom Franklin
Luke Whitelock (C)
James Lentjes
Elliot Dixon
Aaron Smith
Josh Ioane
Tevita Li
Teihorangi Walden
Rob Thompson
Patelesio Tomkinson
Matt Faddes

Reserves

Ash Dixon
Sef Fa'agase
Siate Tokolahi
Josh Dickson
Shannon Frizell
Kayne Hammington
Bryn Gatland
Dillon Hunt

Unavailable due to injury: Liam Squire (knee), Waisake Naholo (knee), Marty Banks (foot), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (back), Season - Tevita Nabura (knee) Richard Buckman (achilles)

I wonder why they've moved Whitelock to 6. ABs request?
Also a 6-2 split on the bench, with Hunt finally getting a run; in the 23 jersey.

Again, no Fakatava :disappointed_face:
I also wish they'd give Josh McKay the 11 jersey instead of Li.

@Stargazer said in Sunwolves vs Highlanders Round 11:

I wonder why they've moved Whitelock to 6. ABs request?

god i fucking hope not

Bench is 5-3, Hammington, Gatland, Hunt?

I can't see it being an AB request, the ABs are not short of 6's, just short of one shouting I'M THE FUCKING GOD OF SIXES, MUTHA FUCKERS! like Kaino did

@Machpants No, it's 6-2. Hunt is a loosie.

@Stargazer Holy shit yeah, that confused me! I was conflating Saders Hunt! Man the Landers need to share some of their loose forwards around!

Absolutely puzzling with Hunt, I just don't see why the preference for Lentjes, let alone such a strong preference that Hunt gets next to no time.

@Bones Lentjes was good vs the Blues.

@taniwharugby said in Sunwolves vs Highlanders Round 11:

@Bones Lentjes was good vs the Blues.

Was good at tackling, not much else. Hunt is always good.

@Bones Hunt is a better attacking player, Lentjes a better defensive player.

@taniwharugby said in Sunwolves vs Highlanders Round 11:

@Bones Hunt is a better attacking player, Lentjes a better defensive player.

I'm far from convinced of that! Based on what?

@Bones my perception, and stats...
HUnt makes less tackles (on ave) with a higher miss rate...Hunt has made 0 turnovers so far this year, concedes more penalties (just on ave)

Hunt makes more carries and carries further and makes line breaks.

@Machpants said in Sunwolves vs Highlanders Round 11:

Bench is 5-3, Hammington, Gatland, Hunt?

I can't see it being an AB request, the ABs are not short of 6's, just short of one shouting I**'M THE FUCKING GOD OF SIXES, MUTHA FUCKERS!** like Kaino did

Vaea Fifita is just biding his time, you'll see.

@taniwharugby Yep I thought he was one of the best out there.

Ryohei Yamanaka, Gerhard van den Heever, Josh Timu, Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, Semisi Masirewa, Hayden Parker, Fumiaki Tanaka, Hendrik Tui, Dan Pryor (c), Grant Hattingh, Luke Thompson, Mark Abbott, Hiroshi Yamashita, Nathan Vella, Pauliasi Manu

Reserves: Shota Horie, Alex Woonton, Takuma Asahara, Tom Rowe, Ben Gunter, Kaito Shigeno, Yu Tamura, Jason Emery

Which team is the highlanders?

Ken Laban fukwit Highlanders front row are the talk of the rugby world fukin hell

@Chris He has surprisingly little knowledge of the game he has been commentating on for years.

@Stargazer yeah this is going to be painful listening to this bullshit

Dang lots if hate for Laban on the fern.

And my favourite Referee Ben O,Fukwit,useless,Crap

Sunwolves could be in for a serious touchup here. They look awful.

Awesome kick from Ioane.

Well according to Ken Laban we are witnessing the greatest front Row ever to be seen so the Sunwolves are doomed

Fuck me dead I picked the Sunwolves for the upset. Feels bad.

My biggest wish for this game is O’Fukwit gets mistaken for a Highlanders player with that shirt and gets smashed

One year ago (or was it two?), there were people (including in the media) saying that Faddes should be an All Black. I didn't see it then, and I certainly don't see it now. Why isn't Josh McKay playing?

@Stargazer yeah don’t understand that I rate McKay he has impressed every time he has been given a chance
Who touted Faddes being an Allblack on here his Mum and Dad

Laban you idiot a try ????

Can't make out whether the Highlanders are on fire or the Sunwolves are just crap...

Bs call from O'Keefe. If anything, the Japanese player obstructed Walden.

Sunwolves are crap

@Stargazer said in Sunwolves vs Highlanders Round 11:

Bs call from O'Keefe. If anything, the Japanese player obstructed Walden.

No way. Good call. Sunwolves player held.

@Victor-Meldrew Bit of both.

Li just not a finisher

If the Landers don't switch off in the 2nd half, it's going to be a monster score.

Is Coltman the 3rd best Hooker at the moment he has got to be pushing Harris Hard

Am I the only one who wishes Smith wouldn't point out to the Ref where the ball is in the ruck at every bloody ruck... ?

@Yeetyaah

Yeah, there's been some nice touches from the Landers players

Forward pass off the tap and go . Holy fuck.