Highlanders 2025

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:

@frugby thats kind of what i meant, was kind of tapped up as one of the leader in the next generation, learnt under the master etc...and now we're talking about how he's got one more shot to get back in contention

I think this is a case of coach's preference. Personally I'd have him in the ABs as the number three, but they don't rate him. His ACL injury undoubtedly derailed him, but IMO he has shown more than enough to be in a squad like this. The 29 YO Finlay Christie is tried and failed at test level.

Man, I missed Fakatava not being in the squad completely. Should be there in my opinion as he is quick to the ruck and quick to clear, plus offers a point of difference in his close running and offloading game. Not a great super season for him, but he was still close to the top in several stats.

NZ is blessed with a lot of guys of similar ability/potential at halfback at the moment.

I'd say all of Fakatava, Christie, Funaki and Hotham are in a pretty similar boat (different skills but similar level overall), and then Ratima and Roigard are the two top dogs. Perenara's off so there's lots to play for next year.

You saw the best and worst of Fakatava in the Wellington-HB game. Near the goal-line he ignores an overlap to his right and attempts to score the try himself. HB did score a few phases later but it highlight's that Fakatava often tries to be too individualistic.

As I posted across in the AB XV thread incase anyone misses it, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has undergone neck surgery after sustaining a broken neck on the weekend and is to undergo another surgery later in the week. Hope that it’s not career threatening and he can recover to full health. Feel for the guy, could explain why he wasn’t named in the AB XV.

@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:

As I posted across in the AB XV thread incase anyone misses it, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has undergone neck surgery after sustaining a broken neck on the weekend and is to undergo another surgery later in the week. Hope that it’s not career threatening and he can recover to full health. Feel for the guy, could explain why he wasn’t named in the AB XV.

Ohh wow poor bugger I hope he recovers well.

@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:

As I posted across in the AB XV thread incase anyone misses it, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has undergone neck surgery after sustaining a broken neck on the weekend and is to undergo another surgery later in the week. Hope that it’s not career threatening and he can recover to full health. Feel for the guy, could explain why he wasn’t named in the AB XV.

ok, i had missed that, thanks for the info, the explains a lot

He rook that really bad hit in the back of the neck/ head from Shalfoon just before half time.

More amazing/ concerning thing is, the fact he came back on for a small patch after half time, after passing his H.I.A

Gutted for the lad. Hope he recovers well and we get to see him back in a landers and taranaki jersey in the future.

I'm crossing my fingers to say that as he was able to continue it is hopefully only a minor issue which could mean 6-8 weeks. Even if it is 2-3 months with full recovery that is sweet... but gee surely Shalfoon has been cited?

@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:

I'm crossing my fingers to say that as he was able to continue it is hopefully only a minor issue which could mean 6-8 weeks. Even if it is 2-3 months with full recovery that is sweet... but gee surely Shalfoon has been cited?

Haven't seen anything about a citing

It was an unusual challenge. JRK jumps high to take the ball and finishes on the ground. Shalfoon arrives a moment later and is just falling to the ground for no reason with his shoulder braced for impact

It's hard to see what he was trying to do other than go for an opportunistic cheap shot.

@Duluth

It looked like a cheap shot to me.

gutted for JRK had been playing some real quality rugby, in terms of a Landers perspective all 3 of the Fijian outside are injured. so depending on recovery time frames I think outsides such as Michael Manson, Jack Gray & Issac Hutchinson would be candidates to be injury cover. 2 of them are obviously possibly chances to be signed up the road.

Obviously, this is largely a moot point as the season is still five months away, but if the Highlanders were to play tomorrow, our only fit midfielders and outside backs would be Tele'a, J Whaanga, Tangitau, Hurley...

Gilbert, Te Hiwi, Umaga-Jensen, M Whaanga, Nareki, JRK, Tavatavanawai and Lowe are all injured.

@frugby Umaga Jenson played last weekend, did he get injured again? Ffs if so.

Manson:

He fielded a couple of calls about Super Rugby but is back to United States, where he will line up for Utah in Major League Rugby, where he was the competition’s top try scorer with 14 last year.

@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2025:

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Manson:

He fielded a couple of calls about Super Rugby but is back to United States, where he will line up for Utah in Major League Rugby, where he was the competition’s top try scorer with 14 last year.

This is one of the stumbling blocks NZ Rugby is facing with MLR. A good number of players at the level under Super Rugby are not available for Super Rugby because they've got multi-year contracts in the US. Believe the Highlanders encountered this with Henry Bell last year as well. This group of players can go well in the NPC, but unavailable for the next Super season.

To be honest by the looks of things so far I’m very disappointed with the Highlanders selectors/recruitment team. Seems like it’s going to be full of mediocre Otago players again sprinkled with some outsiders. Hope a few of, Semisi Tupou, Isaac Hutchison, Taumoefolau, Jack Gray, Manson and Joe Johnson get looked at for a squad spot.

@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2025:

To be honest by the looks of things so far I’m very disappointed with the Highlanders selectors/recruitment team. Seems like it’s going to be full of mediocre Otago players again sprinkled with some outsiders. Hope a few of, Semisi Tupou, Isaac Hutchison, Taumoefolau, Jack Gray, Manson and Joe Johnson get looked at for a squad spot.

Interesting comment. Not one I agree with. For a long time fans have complained the Highlanders were just a patch up job of bringing in players from elsewhere. That there needs to be more of a local focus. Which there clearly is. Medicore Otago players; the Otago players in the squad are Ma'u, Wingham, Bell, Holland, Stodart, Haig, Sanders (the second year of his contract), Arscott, Hastie, Faleafaga, Millar, Te Hiwi, Gilbert, Umaga-Jensen, Nareki and Hurley. Apart from Faleafaga, J Whaanga, Te Hiwi and Sanders (hopefully he will be gone). You'd say most are deserving pf their spots and there aren't obvious better options. J Whaanga is a long-term option. I don't want to see him on the wing. Needs to live on protein and gym sessions to become a long-term centre. Which of the Otago players are medicore and who should replace them. For example with your named guys, Taumoefolau plays for MP, Manson is going back to the States and Tupou is viewed as being behind Stodart as an 8 candidate. Interestingly Tupou is originally from OBHS and Stodart from Southland.

Going to be straight up honest here ..
Gilbert mid
Bell mid
Arscott mid
Sanders ass
Nareki Injury prone (waste of space)
Umaga-Jensen injury prone (but still excellent player)

@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2025:

Going to be straight up honest here ..
Gilbert mid
Bell mid
Arscott mid
Sanders ass
Nareki Injury prone (waste of space)
Umaga-Jensen injury prone (but still excellent player)

That is identifying players to be booted. What I asked was who is available to replace them. It is easy to say someone is shit. But more difficult to say this player is available fits into the needs of the club. Nareki is still a top Super player when available and injury free. Umaga-Jensen still does a job. Same with Gilbert, who has certainly slipped down the pecking order.