Maybe if the Highlanders want a bit of size they could try tempting this SA-born lock away from the UK https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/player/437
He apparently cut 20 kgs to get down to his trim 145kg 2m frame.
Reds
Match thread
Highlanders
Red V Highlanders game thread carrying on the Chiefs Vs Highlanders thread with more all black coach and player selection discussion. How good.
STARTING XV
Ethan de Groot
Jack Taylor
Rohan Wingham
Will Stodart
Mitch Dunshea
Te Kamaka Howden
Sean Withy (CC)
Lucas Casey
Adam Lennnox
Cameron Millar
Jona Nareki
Timoci Tavatavanawai (CC)
Jonah Lowe
Caleb Tangitau
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
IMPACT: 16. Soane Vikena, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Sosefo Kautai, 19. Oliver Haig, 20. Veveni Lasaqa, 21. Folau Fakatava, 22. Reesjan Pasitoa, 23. Tanielu Tele'a
Unavailable due to injury: Saula Ma’u (shoulder - 5 weeks), Finn Hurley (foot - 6 weeks), Andrew Knewstubb (quad - 1 week)
In:
Vikena, Stodart (starting), Lennox (starting), DLB.
Out: Bell, Bartlett, Haig (bench), Fakatava (bench),
Tito-Harris off the injured list should play for the Bravehearts
Aidan Ross, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight (c), Harry Wilson, Louis Werchon, Carter Gordon, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell
Replacements: Josh Nasser, George Blake, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Hamish Muller, Vaiuta Latu, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Filipo Daugunu
Cam Millar should really own his opposite this game, what I'm just meaning is Millar has played plenty of rugby lately started in 13 straight npc games and is clearly the landers only viable 10, Gordon on the other hand only recently returned to Union and does have internal competition at the Reds
@Grooter said in Reds v Highlanders:
Cam Millar should really own his opposite this game, what I'm just meaning is Millar has played plenty of rugby lately started in 13 straight npc games and is clearly the landers only viable 10, Gordon on the other hand only recently returned to Union and does have internal competition at the Reds
Haha.
Come on dude.
An international experienced 10 v a decent NPC 10. Gordon everyday
yeah, even those of us that like Millar arn't expecting him to boss many other, kick his goal, dont shovel too much shit, play it safe, dont aim too high
@Grooter said in Reds v Highlanders:
Cam Millar should really own his opposite this game, what I'm just meaning is Millar has played plenty of rugby lately started in 13 straight npc games and is clearly the landers only viable 10, Gordon on the other hand only recently returned to Union and does have internal competition at the Reds
Didn’t take long for even more similar discussions around Millar to start up either. Jesus Christ these highlanders related threads are getting repetitive 
@Landers92 just doing my part to stay on topic 
earlier there was something about some random Hurricanes midfielder being in the sights of Scotland, god knows how that even came about in a Reds v Highlanders thread
@frugby said in Reds v Highlanders:
DLB for Bartlett is a real puzzler for me... and I just don't like Stodart at lock.
Seems like Stodart is pigeonholed as a lock. If they saw him as an eight you would have expected to have seen him replace Casey at halftime last week.
Lavanini must have arrived in absolutely shit nick. Still unseen in the main side.
@SouthernMann said in Reds v Highlanders:
@frugby said in Reds v Highlanders:
DLB for Bartlett is a real puzzler for me... and I just don't like Stodart at lock.
Seems like Stodart is pigeonholed as a lock. If they saw him as an eight you would have expected to have seen him replace Casey at halftime last week.
Lavanini must have arrived in absolutely shit nick. Still unseen in the main side.
From what I’ve heard, they seriously underestimated how unfit he’d be. I think his last professional game was last June? He is 33 and probably has what, 1-2 more good years if he’s lucky?
@jimmyb said in Reds v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Reds v Highlanders:
@frugby said in Reds v Highlanders:
DLB for Bartlett is a real puzzler for me... and I just don't like Stodart at lock.
Seems like Stodart is pigeonholed as a lock. If they saw him as an eight you would have expected to have seen him replace Casey at halftime last week.
Lavanini must have arrived in absolutely shit nick. Still unseen in the main side.
From what I’ve heard, they seriously underestimated how unfit he’d be. I think his last professional game was last June? He is 33 and probably has what, 1-2 more good years if he’s lucky?
I'm ok with it as long as he is working as a behind the scenes mentor for our other locks.
Someone with that much test experience will be invaluable for Josh Tengblad and even Fabian. If he is providing it the advice. I thought Oli Haig was great at lock last week.
@SouthernMann said in Reds v Highlanders:
@jimmyb said in Reds v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Reds v Highlanders:
@frugby said in Reds v Highlanders:
DLB for Bartlett is a real puzzler for me... and I just don't like Stodart at lock.
Seems like Stodart is pigeonholed as a lock. If they saw him as an eight you would have expected to have seen him replace Casey at halftime last week.
Lavanini must have arrived in absolutely shit nick. Still unseen in the main side.
From what I’ve heard, they seriously underestimated how unfit he’d be. I think his last professional game was last June? He is 33 and probably has what, 1-2 more good years if he’s lucky?
I'm ok with it as long as he is working as a behind the scenes mentor for our other locks.
Someone with that much test experience will be invaluable for Josh Tengblad and even Fabian. If he is providing it the advice. I thought Oli Haig was great at lock last week.
Makes sense to me. Guess it’s felt more with the loss of Holland
@jimmyb said in Reds v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Reds v Highlanders:
@frugby said in Reds v Highlanders:
DLB for Bartlett is a real puzzler for me... and I just don't like Stodart at lock.
Seems like Stodart is pigeonholed as a lock. If they saw him as an eight you would have expected to have seen him replace Casey at halftime last week.
Lavanini must have arrived in absolutely shit nick. Still unseen in the main side.
From what I’ve heard, they seriously underestimated how unfit he’d be. I think his last professional game was last June? He is 33 and probably has what, 1-2 more good years if he’s lucky?
That's what, 10-12 games with his propensity to be carded?
Josh Bartlett looks ro be warming up and in playing kit.
Could de Groot be scratched? Birth of his child?
@SouthernMann said in Reds v Highlanders:
Josh Bartlett looks ro be warming up and in playing kit.
Could de Groot be scratched? Birth of his child?
You can see him in the huddle that was just on screen I think
I can forgive the handling errors
Humidity is above 90%
NH want us to play TRC at this time of year.....