If they lose at home to the Force, then that's the season done.

FORCE (1-15): Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crepsigny, Carlo Tizzano, Vaiolini Ekausi, Nathan Hastie, Ben Donaldson, George Bridge, Hamish Stewart, Divad Palu, Darby Lancaster, Mac Grealy

Replacements: Nic Dolly, Sef Fa'agase, Misinale Epenisa, Franco Molina, Will Harris, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Kurtley Beale

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe

Assistant Referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr, Warwick Lahmert

TMO: Richard Kelly

@antipodean said in Highlanders v Force:

If they lose at home to the Force, then that's the season done.

It won’t be good, no, but it’s only week 4. It’s not all doom and gloom just yet.

Personally, I’m feeling pretty confident coming into this weekend. I like the rotation in the loosies and feel the addition of Taavao will be quite big for the team. A good chance to respond to last weekends underwhelming result.

@Landers92 just hope it's rotation as you say, would be a shame If we don't see Lucas Casey again as I like the cut of his Jib

So much for the famous hard arsed don’t piss me off Jamie Joseph. Terrible performance last week and not one player gets punished

@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Force:

So much for the famous hard arsed don’t piss me off Jamie Joseph. Terrible performance last week and not one player gets punished

To be hard arsed you have to drop players now? You can’t be hard arsed in your reviews and at training?

Challenging players and giving them a chance to respond from a poor performance is ok. If players disappoint again, then yes, by all means drop them from the 15/23. Unfortunately, the squad depth isn’t deep enough to flat out drop players after a bad game in week 3.

@Landers92 said in Highlanders v Force:

@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Force:

So much for the famous hard arsed don’t piss me off Jamie Joseph. Terrible performance last week and not one player gets punished

To be hard arsed you have to drop players now? You can’t be hard arsed in your reviews and at training?

Challenging players and giving them a chance to respond from a poor performance is ok. If players disappoint again, then yes, by all means drop them from the 15/23. Unfortunately, the squad depth isn’t deep enough to flat out drop players after a bad game in week 3.

Ah yes dropping players for terrible performances is a fairly standard thing to do and good for the team.

If thy can’t beat the 2nd/3rd worst team in the comp after replacing a few backs that were terrible last week, what has been going on with the squad for the past 2 years?

So, in theory, another poor game this weekend from a few key players. Then what, they get appropriately dropped the following weeks against the crusaders or hurricanes?

This is, and should be, th perfect match to for a few backs a kick up the arse for last week and bring them back fresh for two very big games in the following weeks.

As far as being hard arsed at training, rumours are Jospeh has been sulking most of the week.

@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Force:

So much for the famous hard arsed don’t piss me off Jamie Joseph. Terrible performance last week and not one player gets punished

Aren't there five changes in the starting line-up? That's 1/3rd of the players.

@Tim said in Highlanders v Force:

@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Force:

So much for the famous hard arsed don’t piss me off Jamie Joseph. Terrible performance last week and not one player gets punished

Aren't there five changes in the starting line-up? That's 1/3rd of the players.

Probably wasn’t specific enough. The backs were the main culprits last week and most of the forward changes seem to be naturally rotated. Casey was one of the better players on the park. Im not sure id call the changes in the forwards as wielding the axe

@jimmyb Reckon there’s a lot of things you can say about JJ but struggle to see being sulky as one of them?

@ScrumDog said in Highlanders v Force:

@jimmyb Reckon there’s a lot of things you can say about JJ but struggle to see being sulky as one of them?

Reports from a few players that he hasn’t said a word at team meetings or trainings, and I really mean a word. I’d call that sulking

I find it really hard to believe that he has simply stood there saying nothing.
A) That is totally unrealistic
B) He wouldn’t be able to help himself

@frugby said in Highlanders v Force:

I find it really hard to believe that he has simply stood there saying nothing.
A) That is totally unrealistic
B) He wouldn’t be able to help himself

Ok, the players are lying then. Take it as you will but I’m not pulling this out of my arse

@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Force:

@frugby said in Highlanders v Force:

I find it really hard to believe that he has simply stood there saying nothing.
A) That is totally unrealistic
B) He wouldn’t be able to help himself

Ok, the players are lying then. Take it as you will but I’m not pulling this out of my arse

That's true, you seem really objective about Joseph!
I'd say he has a right to be down, he came back to NZ and this isn't his first rodeo.
While you should be happy it is Rennie. I am. But I'd also have liked Joseph as HC if he could have brought Tony Brown back.

@nostrildamus said in Highlanders v Force:

@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Force:

@frugby said in Highlanders v Force:

I find it really hard to believe that he has simply stood there saying nothing.
A) That is totally unrealistic
B) He wouldn’t be able to help himself

Ok, the players are lying then. Take it as you will but I’m not pulling this out of my arse

That's true, you seem really objective about Joseph!
I'd say he has a right to be down, he came back to NZ and this isn't his first rodeo.
While you should be happy it is Rennie. I am. But I'd also have liked Joseph as HC if he could have brought Tony Brown back.

Well I don’t want to hijack the match day thread with my anti Joseph sentiments, which I believe are well founded. All I can say is I’m disappointed some players haven’t been given a kick up the arse and dropped this week.

De Crepsigny back for the Force which pushes Jeremy Williams back to lock and Molina onto the bench. Amosa back at hooker too. Imteresting to see Bridge and Palu effectively swap as well.

Harry Johnson-Holmes had a tough time last week against Abraham Pole, so he'll be in for an even harder time I feel against De Groot.

Highlanders get up at home here.

@jimmyb I dunno, the missus giving me the cold shoulder definitely equates to a kick up the arse.

@Bones well if Joseph did what I did last weekend and told the players they were behaving like their mothers, I’m sure they’d be absolutely terrified

@jimmyb said in Highlanders v Force:

@frugby said in Highlanders v Force:

I find it really hard to believe that he has simply stood there saying nothing.
A) That is totally unrealistic
B) He wouldn’t be able to help himself

Ok, the players are lying then. Take it as you will but I’m not pulling this out of my arse

no, but in a world where they have changed the definition of "literally" to also mean "figuratively"......is there a chance people have exaggerated, we dont have to jump to people are lying

"he hasnt said a word...literally!"

Purely on vibes, I think the Landers may snot the Force here.

Should be a good open game, and I just think our backs are way too good.

@frugby the Highlanders completely demolishing someone are too few and far between....would be nice for a change

Well I'm going to the game and haven't seen the Highlanders win in person for probably five or six years.

said in Highlanders v Force:

Purely on vibes, I think the Landers may snot the Force here.

Should be a good open game, and I just think our backs are way too good.

Just to build on this - I think we need to as well. I’m not sure a close win does much for anyone’s confidence, except for, “At least we didn’t lose”

The last time we played the force at home it ended up being one of the worst wins I have seen from teams I support. Only trumpeted by an Otago 6-3 win over Auckland by Otago in the 2003 NPC

@SouthernMann yeah shit, if I remember correctly the final score was 7-6 and it snapped a long losing streak. Here’s hoping its nothing like that this afternoon

Landers look like they’re switched on

That’s until Fakatava fucks it up

Jiiiiiim. Beast

Hate when they aren't even on the ball

Looked like a forward pass atnthenstart

Clearly incredibly flat

Really good awareness from Millar.

Is that the 3rd disrupted throw.already?

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Force:

Is that the 3rd disrupted throw.already?

Not good is it

Jeez. Line out truly struggling without Fabian. I would of thought Dunshea and Haig would be able to operate the line out sufficiently but apparently not

@jimmyb not when 2 are in good attacking positions

@Landers92 said in Highlanders v Force:

Jeez. Line out truly struggling without Fabian. I would of thought Dunshea and Haig would be able to operate the line out sufficiently but apparently not

Who ever is calling it is making it way too complicated

Some of the throws has been absolutely dogshite though

Fuck Taylor is good around the park. If he can sort that throwing he is one hell of a player. Still only 22 years old

Force have a good kicking game...

Gee that was pretty cynical