@canefan said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes:
We need a statement win against a weakened Highlanders team. Our first NZ derby too so it's an important game for the Canes
Canes are going for 10 wins in a row against the Highlanders so it would be nice to make a statement, but I can also very easily see the Landers playing well. I'm expecting a bit of a dog fight for the most part.
@Canes4life said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes:
@canefan said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes:
We need a statement win against a weakened Highlanders team. Our first NZ derby too so it's an important game for the Canes
Canes are going for 10 wins in a row against the Highlanders so it would be nice to make a statement, but I can also very easily see the Landers playing well. I'm expecting a bit of a dog fight for the most part.
Yup. Typical derby
From what I can piece together:
This is what I got from looking from afar. Couldn’t see Cribb, and Stodart was off to the side so bench at best.
Might be Howden, Withy, Lasaqa, Broughton
Several of them having been doing extras, I expect Tito-Harris to be in the 23 - not sure if he starting. Jonah Lowe looked to be fit so expect him to be involved.
Clearly my eyesight is no good… miles off.
Renton is back, no locks selected… Warner Dearns will eat our lineout for breakfast
Ethan de Groot, Jack Taylor, Angus Ta'avao, Oliver Haig, Te Kamaka Howden, Sean Withy, Lucas Casey, Hugh Renton (co-c), Folau Fakatava, Reesjan Pasitoa, Jona Nareki, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), Jonah Lowe, Caleb Tangitau, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Replacements: Soane Vikena, Josh Bartlett, Sosefo Kautai, Tai Cribb, Veveni Lasaqa, Adam Lennox, Andrew Knewstubb, Tanielu Tele'a
Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi, Caleb Delany, Warner Dearns, Devan Flanders, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, Fehi Fineanganofo, Jordie Barrett (c), Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Callum Harkin
Replacements: Vernon Bason, Siale Lauaki, Tevita Mafileo, Hugo Plummer, Brad Shields, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Ereatara Enari, Bailyn Sullivan
Canes players unavailable for this game:
Tyrel Lomax (ankle): 1-3 weeks
Isaia Walker-Leawere (being a dumb fluffybunny): 1 week
Taine Roiri (hamstring): 4 weeks
Jai Tamati (ankle): 5-7 weeks
Brett Cameron (knee): Expected to miss season
Harry Godfrey (knee): Expected to miss season
Josh Timu (foot): 3-5 weeks
Ngane Punivai (hamstring): TBC
Kini Naholo (foot): 2-4 weeks
@DurryMexted risky if one of our backs goes down early.
Sucks to see Lomax out again. Assume he won't come back until after the bye now.
On the game itself, really looking forward to this one. Congratulations to Vernon Bason who will make his debut off the bench at hooker.
Unfortunate for the Landers with that locking crisis, but with 5 loosies on the park it's fairly obvious how they are going to look to play on Friday night. I'd say the Canes forwards will look to go through the Landers with their power game and big ball carriers, while the Landers will look to ultimately play at speed and contest everything at the breakdown.
Both backlines look full of firepower so I'm sure there will be plenty of meat pies.
Could be a long night. A real shame to be down so many at a position this early in the season. Sucks about Cam being out with concussion too, meanwhile the guy who put him out gets to start this week like nothing happened. Unreal
Same for Lavanini. The man who did the cheap shot for no reason that put him out, he gets to lace up and start this weekend as well. Mind boggling
We just don't have the depth to deal with the injuries we have in key positions.
Could be a weird backs against the wall kind of performance.
And the two playwrs we really want to see haven't been sighted yet. Give us a geeze of Solomon and Tito-Harris!
Withy continues to lead a charmed life. Why not Stodard at 6, Lasaqa at 7 and give Casey a bit of a break at 20.
Also, the chances of the Highlanders loosing this are high, why rush Lowe back? Give him another weeks rest. Nareki looks cooked, so let’s have him run into one of the bigger back lines in the comp.
@Bones said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes:
@jimmyb I'm now tempted to lay some down on a highlanders win.
The house?
@DurryMexted said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes:
Well 7-2 split, could be a good move with the Landers having a few forwards out.
That's a big bench indeed. A 6/2 split is more frequent. Maybe they would field 14 players in the starting team.
