After seeing conversations kicking off about this game in the Highlanders thread, I felt it was a good time to start the conversation about this week's match.

The Highlanders have nothing to lose and will likely throw the ball around and chance their arm more than they would usually. The Canes will need to be on their game.

For different reasons it will be interesting to see what sort of teams both sides put out. @frugby has already mentioned there is going to be a raft of changes for the Highlanders including a debut for Stanley Solomon.

For the Canes, I can't see them steering too far away from their top side, but I wouldn't be surprised if Proctor, Fineanganofo and Harkin were all rested. Laidlaw mentioned that Fehi pulled up a little lame against the Blues so they will likely give him a spell to freshen up prior to the playoffs.

canes by a million

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

After seeing conversations kicking off about this game in the Highlanders thread, I felt it was a good time to start the conversation about this week's match.

The Highlanders have nothing to lose and will likely throw the ball around and chance their arm more than they would usually. The Canes will need to be on their game.

For different reasons it will be interesting to see what sort of teams both sides put out. @frugby has already mentioned there is going to be a raft of changes for the Highlanders including a debut for Stanley Solomon.

For the Canes, I can't see them steering too far away from their top side, but I wouldn't be surprised if Proctor, Fineanganofo and Harkin were all rested. Laidlaw mentioned that Fehi pulled up a little lame against the Blues so they will likely give him a spell to freshen up prior to the playoffs.

Our depth is excellent right now. And we are firing on all cylinders. Should do the business

Canes -36.5 is paying $4.40.

@frugby the thing the make me sad right....i dont think we'll look at this and say the only chance to to play smart, tackle our hearts out, blug the corners, pin them back and try and in 9-7...we'll still throw it around hoping to score more points than they do

@Kiwiwomble said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

@frugby the thing the make me sad right....i dont think we'll look at this and say the only chance to to play smart, tackle our hearts out, blug the corners, pin them back and try and in 9-7...we'll still throw it around hoping to score more points than they do

Think our season ultimately died against the Brumbies. We should have won that game, think mentally it took a lot out of the players, and since we have basically been nursing it through until the end of the season.

When you have nothing to hang onto, it is hard to anything but throw it around.

Team for our last run around of the season.

HIGHLANDERS STARTING XV

1. Ethan de Groot

2. Jack Taylor

3. Angus Ta’avao

4. Tomás Lavanini

5. Mitch Dunshea

6. Te Kamaka Howden

7. Lucas Casey

8. Hugh Renton (cc)

9. Nic Shearer

10. Cameron Millar

11. Jonah Lowe

12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc)

13. Jona Nareki

14. Xavier Tito-Harris

15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

IMPACT

16. Henry Bell
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown
18. Saula Ma’u
19. Oliver Haig
20. Sean Withy
21. Adam Lennox
22. Stanley Solomon ** (Super Rugby and Highlanders Debut)
23. Meihana Grindlay * (Highlanders Debut)

Unavailable due to injury:
Finn Hurley (Hamstring – 1–2 weeks)
Nikora Broughton (Knee – 2 weeks)

Season Ending:
Dylan Pledger (ACL)
Fabian Holland (Shoulder)
Josh Tengblad (Knee)
Reesjan Pasitoa (Ankle)
Josh Bartlett (Foot)
Caleb Tangitau (Achilles)

ok, not bad as it could have been

HURRICANES TEAM TO PLAY HIGHLANDERS (Hurricanes caps in brackets)

Siale Lauaki (14)
Asafo Aumua (86)
Pasilio Tosi (50th match)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (88)
Warner Dearns (11)
Devan Flanders (68)
Peter Lakai (47)
Brayden Iose (63)
Ereatara Enari (23)
Ruben Love (51)
Kini Naholo (34)
Jordie Barrett (122) – co-captain
Bailyn Sullivan (48)
Ngane Punivai (16)
Josh Moorby (50th match)

Jacob Devery (22)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (58)
Tevita Mafileo (66)
Tom Allen (debut)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (102) – co-captain
Jordi Viljoen (8)
Lucas Cashmore (4)
Jone Rova (11)
UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION

Tyrel Lomax (ankle): 1 week
Cam Roigard (calf): 1 week
Brett Cameron (knee): Expected to miss season
Harry Godfrey (knee): Expected to miss season
Riley Higgins (shoulder): TBC
Anaru Paenga-Morgan (concussion): 1-2 weeks
Drew Wild (shoulder): TBC
Josh Gray (calf): TBC

@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Team for our last run around of the season.

HIGHLANDERS STARTING XV

1. Ethan de Groot

2. Jack Taylor

3. Angus Ta’avao

4. Tomás Lavanini

5. Mitch Dunshea

6. Te Kamaka Howden

7. Lucas Casey

8. Hugh Renton (cc)

9. Nic Shearer

10. Cameron Millar

11. Jonah Lowe

12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc)

13. Jona Nareki

14. Xavier Tito-Harris

15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

IMPACT

16. Henry Bell
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown
18. Saula Ma’u
19. Oliver Haig
20. Sean Withy
21. Adam Lennox
22. Stanley Solomon ** (Super Rugby and Highlanders Debut)
23. Meihana Grindlay * (Highlanders Debut)

Unavailable due to injury:
Finn Hurley (Hamstring – 1–2 weeks)
Nikora Broughton (Knee – 2 weeks)

Season Ending:
Dylan Pledger (ACL)
Fabian Holland (Shoulder)
Josh Tengblad (Knee)
Reesjan Pasitoa (Ankle)
Josh Bartlett (Foot)
Caleb Tangitau (Achilles)

@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Team for our last run around of the season.

HIGHLANDERS STARTING XV

1. Ethan de Groot

2. Jack Taylor

3. Angus Ta’avao

4. Tomás Lavanini

5. Mitch Dunshea

6. Te Kamaka Howden

7. Lucas Casey

8. Hugh Renton (cc)

9. Nic Shearer

10. Cameron Millar

11. Jonah Lowe

12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc)

13. Jona Nareki

14. Xavier Tito-Harris

15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

IMPACT

16. Henry Bell
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown
18. Saula Ma’u
19. Oliver Haig
20. Sean Withy
21. Adam Lennox
22. Stanley Solomon ** (Super Rugby and Highlanders Debut)
23. Meihana Grindlay * (Highlanders Debut)

Unavailable due to injury:
Finn Hurley (Hamstring – 1–2 weeks)
Nikora Broughton (Knee – 2 weeks)

Season Ending:
Dylan Pledger (ACL)
Fabian Holland (Shoulder)
Josh Tengblad (Knee)
Reesjan Pasitoa (Ankle)
Josh Bartlett (Foot)
Caleb Tangitau (Achilles)

Wow that's really mixing it up for an end of season fling. Daring to rotate your 9s!!!

Even the Highlanders should be able to account for these kids. I don't care how good they are

The only one with an up-to-date photo is Kirif!

edit - although that shot of chubby Mafileo looks relatively recent...

Be good to see if Casey can back his game up from last week

Good to see a few must have passed a late fitness test. Finally some debuts. Have to wonder why it took so long.

@brodean said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Be good to see if Casey can back his game up from last week

trying to convince my self to be happy with a couple of good performances from guys like casey on the slim chance we see them in black

@ARHS not upset by this. At the beginning of the season I felt Fakatava could still be an all black. Now I’m gutted we’re keeping him and losing Shearer.

@handa457 said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

@ARHS not upset by this. At the beginning of the season I felt Fakatava could still be an all black. Now I’m gutted we’re keeping him and losing Shearer.

You fuckers broke him after we fixed him at the Magpies.

@brodean said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Be good to see if Casey can back his game up from last week

Playing a different position this week at 7

Bunch of us who went to uni in Otago in the late 1990s-early 2000s are gathering in Wellington for this game. We're not ruling out leaving at half time...

@Smudge said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Bunch of us who went to uni in Otago in the late 1990s-early 2000s are gathering in Wellington for this game. We're not ruling out leaving at half time...

Good idea - beat the rush to the pub!

Of note from the JJ presser. Mentioned Solomon or JRK will be the 10 back up if required

@Smudge said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Bunch of us who went to uni in Otago in the late 1990s-early 2000s are gathering in Wellington for this game. We're not ruling out leaving at half time...

I'm leaning towards not going...

@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

@Smudge said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Bunch of us who went to uni in Otago in the late 1990s-early 2000s are gathering in Wellington for this game. We're not ruling out leaving at half time...

I'm leaning towards not going...

Due to my super efficiency, we've already bought the tickets (12 of us going - 10 guys and 2 kids). So we might as well soak up some of that sunk cost.

@Smudge said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

@Smudge said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Bunch of us who went to uni in Otago in the late 1990s-early 2000s are gathering in Wellington for this game. We're not ruling out leaving at half time...

I'm leaning towards not going...

Due to my super efficiency, we've already bought the tickets (12 of us going - 10 guys and 2 kids). So we might as well soak up some of that sunk cost.

If I don't head along it'll be the first time since COVID that I have missed a game here.

I'm happy with 100% winning attendance record this year. Don't want to tarnish it.

Has Grindlay been injured?

Otherwise this is now the second franchise where has got next to no gametime. Doesn't speak highly of his work on the training paddock if so.

@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Has Grindlay been injured?

He is only a WTG player so probably not considered unless injuries.

@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Has Grindlay been injured?

Otherwise this is now the second franchise where has got next to no gametime. Doesn't speak highly of his work on the training paddock if so.

Not sure it's training that's holding him back. more ability. he a local boy and I a little surprised he really in any squads.

@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Has Grindlay been injured?

Otherwise this is now the second franchise where has got next to no gametime. Doesn't speak highly of his work on the training paddock if so.

Has been ripping up club rugby. Expecting him to get a full contract next year.

I thought Nareki was banned?

I hope the Canes lose this after IWL and Rova get stupid yellow cards.

Nareki was two weeks - down to one with ‘tackle school’

the hundreds of posts poiting out when tangitau got knocked out without ramifications might have help the "tackle school" option

@Kiwiwomble a TMO school would make a hell of a lot more sense

@Dan54 said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Has Grindlay been injured?

Otherwise this is now the second franchise where has got next to no gametime. Doesn't speak highly of his work on the training paddock if so.

Not sure it's training that's holding him back. more ability. he a local boy and I a little surprised he really in any squads.

From memory he had an excellent season in 2023 when Taranaki won. From what I recall he had a very high workrate and was an accurate defender and had an excellent game in the final. What is it you don't like about his ability?

He went well for Naki in 2023, just had feeling NPC was his level. Mind you I never really noticed him at Super so I may being a bit harsh. He was playing for Southern here in Hawera, and not sure I noticed him as outstanding etc. It could well be I have never watched him hard enough .

@Dan54 said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Mind you I never really noticed him at Super so I may being a bit harsh.

You've never noticed him because has never played

@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

@Dan54 said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Mind you I never really noticed him at Super so I may being a bit harsh.

You've never noticed him because has never played

Think he came on for Blues once.

Jordie Barrett out tonight

@zedsdeadbaby said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:

Jordie Barrett out tonight

Rova starts and Proctor comes onto the bench.

Highlanders starting front row will now be on the bench as well. A clear tactic to target Rakete-Stones and Devery who have been the weaker prop and hooker for the Canes this season.

@Canes4life I don't know if that front row news is bait... really?