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2014 Super Rugby: Highlanders v Blues (Round 2)
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<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 624385" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>Tu'ungafasi played in the loose-forwards at schoolboys level, but he played at prop at U20 level. He was part of a NZ front-row that got absolutely destroyed by the Welsh and South African front-rows at scrum time during the tournament. Here he is being murdered by Nicolaas Van Dyk (who currently plays for the Cheetahs) </p><p>[media=youtube]yp73T0jNVgs[/media] </p><p> Welsh TH Samson Lee did similar thing to him on several occasions too. Tu'ungafasi has improved his scrummaging, though I still think he is better on the TH side. He is very mobile for a prop and has a big work-rate - whether his scrummaging has improved enough for him to survive at Super Rugby level is anyones guess...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Kaino is still finishing playing for his club side in Japan. He is due back within the next few weeks though.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The problem was that he had the dropsies in round 1. And in round 2. And in round 3. And in round 4. And in round 5 etc. It wasn't just a few games, it was pretty epic - that sort of things is hard to get out of your head! I do agree that his handling looks to have improved out of sight over the last year or so, I'm just worried it might regress again. The main issue I have with Ioane now is they way he is used. When he is on he is used to hit the ball up in midfield almost every play. The good thing is that it straightens or attack a lot, the bad thing is it is highly predictable, and it means most of our backline becomes obsolete. I would much rather see him running with the ball much closer to the breakdown, making the 'hard-yards' which will provide us go-forward ball for the backs. It would be great to see him used down the blindside too - this would mean opposition sides would have to commit more players here (especially with Ioane improved off-loading skills), meaning the Highlanders have more room out wide. I don't mind him running at the opposition backline (Noakes in particular) occasionally, but I don't want to want it to be our sole attacking option (as it often becomes when he is on).</p><p></p><p>Looking at our forward pack I'm actually a bit worried about our lineout options. Thorn and Hoeata would be the shortest locking combination in the competition, and while both are ok at lineout time neither are standouts. Evans will probably be our main lineout target and should do a pretty good job - however if we sub him off for Ioane (which would be the logical choice) we will be very short of genuine lineout options.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 624385, member: 24910"] Tu'ungafasi played in the loose-forwards at schoolboys level, but he played at prop at U20 level. He was part of a NZ front-row that got absolutely destroyed by the Welsh and South African front-rows at scrum time during the tournament. Here he is being murdered by Nicolaas Van Dyk (who currently plays for the Cheetahs) [media=youtube]yp73T0jNVgs[/media] Welsh TH Samson Lee did similar thing to him on several occasions too. Tu'ungafasi has improved his scrummaging, though I still think he is better on the TH side. He is very mobile for a prop and has a big work-rate - whether his scrummaging has improved enough for him to survive at Super Rugby level is anyones guess... Kaino is still finishing playing for his club side in Japan. He is due back within the next few weeks though. The problem was that he had the dropsies in round 1. And in round 2. And in round 3. And in round 4. And in round 5 etc. It wasn't just a few games, it was pretty epic - that sort of things is hard to get out of your head! I do agree that his handling looks to have improved out of sight over the last year or so, I'm just worried it might regress again. The main issue I have with Ioane now is they way he is used. When he is on he is used to hit the ball up in midfield almost every play. The good thing is that it straightens or attack a lot, the bad thing is it is highly predictable, and it means most of our backline becomes obsolete. I would much rather see him running with the ball much closer to the breakdown, making the 'hard-yards' which will provide us go-forward ball for the backs. It would be great to see him used down the blindside too - this would mean opposition sides would have to commit more players here (especially with Ioane improved off-loading skills), meaning the Highlanders have more room out wide. I don't mind him running at the opposition backline (Noakes in particular) occasionally, but I don't want to want it to be our sole attacking option (as it often becomes when he is on). Looking at our forward pack I'm actually a bit worried about our lineout options. Thorn and Hoeata would be the shortest locking combination in the competition, and while both are ok at lineout time neither are standouts. Evans will probably be our main lineout target and should do a pretty good job - however if we sub him off for Ioane (which would be the logical choice) we will be very short of genuine lineout options. [/QUOTE]
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2014 Super Rugby: Highlanders v Blues (Round 2)
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