Ben Smith (cc), Richard Buckman, Sio Tomkinson, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Tevita Li, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock (cc), James Lentjes, Jackson Hemopo, Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Tyrel Lomax, Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Tom Franklin, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Marty Banks, Waisake Naholo
Li clearly has evidence of the coaches committing some heinous crime. Otherwise, why would they keep committing this crime on Landers fans?
Does the Tongan have AB stand downs even though he wasn't on the EOYT?
Good to see Buckman back although bummer from a HB point of view that both Mikaele Tu'u and Fakatava weren't selected.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@gt12 The fact that Naholo is on the bench is a tad odd.
It could be a case of, let’s see how much we can get out of Buckman as a starter with Naholo being insurance.
Just on the Landers bench, looks quite good with experience and impact.
@ACT-Crusader Forecast atm is for wet weather so some of these selections may be around who suits the conditions better.
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@Nepia Quietly happy not to see Frizell in there. He has been one of the standout forwards so far this year.
He's been living up to some of the hype the selectors gave him last year - although he's been noticeable for the stuff another player they don't like does ....
I'm actually cheering for the Highlanders in this one even if they've dropped a couple of HB boys out of the team.
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
He's been living up to some of the hype the selectors gave him last year - although he's been noticeable for the stuff another player they don't like does ....
Frizell runs onto the ball.
@antipodean said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
He's been living up to some of the hype the selectors gave him last year - although he's been noticeable for the stuff another player they don't like does ....
Frizell runs onto the ball.
Oh yeah, I forgot that when all the other excuses were used up that running onto the ball was the new one.
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@antipodean said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
He's been living up to some of the hype the selectors gave him last year - although he's been noticeable for the stuff another player they don't like does ....
Frizell runs onto the ball.
Oh yeah, I forgot that when all the other excuses were used up that running onto the ball was the new one.
Excuse for what? Frizell does run onto the ball rather than taking it standing still. And he has been a standout forward three rounds in.
@antipodean said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@antipodean said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
He's been living up to some of the hype the selectors gave him last year - although he's been noticeable for the stuff another player they don't like does ....
Frizell runs onto the ball.
Oh yeah, I forgot that when all the other excuses were used up that running onto the ball was the new one.
Excuse for what? Frizell does run onto the ball rather than taking it standing still. And he has been a standout forward three rounds in.
Who said he wasn't?
But the other guy (who's name we can't mention) pretty much out ran everybody in last years Super comp yet not running on to the ball is an issue?
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@antipodean said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@antipodean said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
He's been living up to some of the hype the selectors gave him last year - although he's been noticeable for the stuff another player they don't like does ....
Frizell runs onto the ball.
Oh yeah, I forgot that when all the other excuses were used up that running onto the ball was the new one.
Excuse for what? Frizell does run onto the ball rather than taking it standing still. And he has been a standout forward three rounds in.
Who said he wasn't?
But the other guy (who's name we can't mention) pretty much out ran everybody in last years Super comp yet not running on to the ball is an issue?
I'm as much a fan of Akira as the next bloke, but he's not what we look for in a blindside, so he's behind our captain who clearly doesn't want to move positions (although he should).
The other issue for Akira is the way he plays Super Rugby isn't anywhere near as effective in Test rugby.
@antipodean said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
The other issue for Akira is the way he plays Super Rugby isn't anywhere near as effective in Test rugby.
I'm not so sure that is true any more. There could be an argument that the way Read plays test rugby isn't as effective any more.
Late 2019 should tell us.
Pointless argument aside, Frizzel Fry has definitely stepped it up this year.
@mariner4life said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
I'm not so sure that is true any more. There could be an argument that the way Read plays test rugby isn't as effective any more.
Read isn't the rangy, hard hitting number 8 he used to be. Even accounting for injury he should move to where his physical capabilities are best utilised to get a mobile number 8 in.
Small wonder the coaches are looking for those qualities in the merry-go-round that is the AB blindside. They're looking for the perfect player to replace Kaino and Read,
If the 6N has shown us anything, good backrows aren't taking the ball standing still. They're hard running.
@antipodean said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@antipodean said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@antipodean said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
@Nepia said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:
He's been living up to some of the hype the selectors gave him last year - although he's been noticeable for the stuff another player they don't like does ....
Frizell runs onto the ball.
Oh yeah, I forgot that when all the other excuses were used up that running onto the ball was the new one.
Excuse for what? Frizell does run onto the ball rather than taking it standing still. And he has been a standout forward three rounds in.
Who said he wasn't?
But the other guy (who's name we can't mention) pretty much out ran everybody in last years Super comp yet not running on to the ball is an issue?
I'm as much a fan of Akira as the next bloke, but he's not what we look for in a blindside, so he's behind our captain who clearly doesn't want to move positions (although he should).
The other issue for Akira is the way he plays Super Rugby isn't anywhere near as effective in Test rugby.
I never said Akira should be ahead of Read either. Just pointing out the Tongan gets plaudits for the Akira style stuff. I'm happy to admit that the selectors punt last year on the Tongan is looking to be a good one but I don't think he plays the tight style of 6 that's implied.
I don't believe in the not effective for test rugby - this was said about Kaino and Messam etc.
Chase Tiatia, Jordie Barrett, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Vaea Fifita, Liam Mitchell, James Blackwell, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles, Chris Eves
Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Fraser Armstrong, Ben May, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Reed Prinsep, Richard Judd, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Vince Aso
