An intriguing game to kick off round 6.

Unfortunately it sounds like the Landers are going to be heavily depleted for this game due to either injury or resting because of heavy minutes by some players.

Anyone from the Landers care to name an expected 23? It’s hard to keep up with all the player movements.

For the Canes, Lakai, Lauaki, Mafileo and Proctor will come back into the fold. Lomax hurt his ankle so not sure if he’ll be available, Naholo might be available but not sure what injury he picked up for the Hunters last week.

I think two of Harkin, Fineanganofo, Sullivan Moorby and Barrett will take a seat this week after heavy mins in the first four games.

I think the Canes will run with something like the below.

1. Numia
2. Aumua
3. Lomax/Tosi
4. Delany
5. Dearns
6. Flanders
7. Kirifi
8. Lakai
9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Fineanganofo
12. Higgins
13. Proctor
14. Moorby
15. Barrett
16. Devery
17. Lauaki
18. Tosi/Mafileo
19. Walker-Leawere/Plummer/Shields
20. Iose
21. Enari
22. Cashmore
23. Rova

Assuming a few injuries this is the side I’d be rolling out against the Canes.

1. Ethan De Groot
2. Jack Taylor
3. Angus Taavo
4. Oli Haig
5. Josh Tengblad
6. Hugh Renton
7. Sean Withy
8. Lucas Casey
9. Folau Fakatava
10. Reesjan Pasetoa
11. Jona Nareki
12. Timoci T
13. Jonah Lowe
14. Xavier Tito Harris
15. Jacob Kneepkins
16. Soanne Vikenna
17. Daniel Lienert Brown
18. Sefo Kautaui
19. Will Stodart
20. TK Howden
21. Veveni Lasanga
22. Adam Lennox
23. Stanley Solomon

Give the young guns a shot. Who knows they might just surprise us all.

Gets me every time.

@handa457 I’d rather not throw Renton to the wolves like that after being out of top flight footy for so long, would like to see him eased in off the bench but you never know with the guys we have out.

Would personally keep Howden at 6, he’s been our most consistent forward this year along with EDG.

Don’t mind Tengblad being in the 23, will be interesting as Cribb is in the full squad and Tengblad a wider squad member so unsure how those rules will impact things. FWIW, I’ve been told it’s 2 loosies at lock this weekend.

I’d keep Tangitau in 14 and have XTH in 11 for Nareki. We need an actual 10 on the bench so I think we see Knewstubb in 22, unless management see Solomon as a 10 option which would be a massive ask.

Don’t feel too great leading into this Friday that is for sure, just hope the boost of being at home can keep us in it.

Side note: This will be the 4th game for the Landers against an NZ side. For the Hurricanes, it will be their 1st… the draw leaves a lot to be desired.

We need a statement win against a weakened Highlanders team. Our first NZ derby too so it's an important game for the Canes

Photos on Facebook suggest Henry Bell, Josh Tengblad, Hugh Renton, XTH, Sefo Kautaui, Jonah Lowe and Andrew Knewstubb are being added to the 23.

So assuming you’re right. Then Stodart at Lock, Broughton starting, with Tengblad and Renton off the bench seems likely. XTH in for Tangitau, Nareki seems to be starting. Knewstubb, Bell and Kauatui on the Bench.

@canefan could be just the game to triple captain Roigard or Higgins on Fantasy

@Grooter said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes:

@canefan could be just the game to triple captain Roigard or Higgins on Fantasy

No Love?

@Landers92 said in Highlanders vs Hurricanes:

Side note: This will be the 4th game for the Landers against an NZ side. For the Hurricanes, it will be their 1st… the draw leaves a lot to be desired.

A favoured start yes, but it means we have a very hard second half of the season. Hurricanes have been given the shit stick so many times before (mainly because of clashes with the Phoenix) so it is what it is.

@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:

1. de Groot
2. Taylor
3. Ta’avao
4. Haig
5. ?
6. ?
7. Withy
8. ?
9. Fakatava/Lennox
10. ?
11. ?
12. Tavatavanawai
13. Tele’a
14. Tangitau
15. ?
16. Vikena
17. Bartlett
18. Kautai
19. Tengblad
20. Casey
21. Lennox/Fakatava
22. ?
23. ?

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.

@frugby I was thinking this should be a rest week of sorts for Tangitau he's in for a big year after super hopefully, but then when you consider this is likely to be the Highlanders 3rd to last home game the fans in Dunedin do deserve too see the best on show

Clearly my eyesight is no good… miles off.

Renton is back, no locks selected… Warner Dearns will eat our lineout for breakfast

Highlanders

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

Hurricanes

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

Well 7-2 split, could be a good move with the Landers having a few forwards out.

@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