2014 Super Rugby: Highlanders v Western Force (Round 5)

[Jaguares]

 

[Shaggy]

Hmmmn ... could be interesting if the Force can transfer their home ground form, into good form playing away from home

... I think the lack of injuries for the Highlanders, combined with the home ground advantage, and that they are well rested, and playing with confidence at the moment, will mean that they will probably win this one

 

[nzlizard]

Yeah the Highlanders are looking great, they would have been disappointed having the bye last week after showing good form the 1st couple of weeks.

I read somewhere the Force have won the last 5 encounters between these teams.

No real concerns for the Highlanders injury wise, Force coming off a good home win so should be a cracker of a game. Highlanders should get home.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Highlanders v Western Force, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin – Saturday 15 March, 7.35pm (NZT)
1 - Kane Hames
2 - Liam Coltman
3 - Chris King
4 - Jarrad Hoeata
5 - Joe Wheeler
6 - John Hardie
7 - Shane Christie
8 - Nasi Manu (co-captain)
9 - Aaron Smith
10 - Lima Sopoaga
11 - Kurt Baker
12 - Shaun Treeby
13 - Malakai Fekitoa
14 - Richard Buckman
15 - Ben Smith (co-captain)
Reserves
16 - Ged Robinson
17 - Matias Diaz
18 - Craig Millar
19 - Josh Bekhuis
20 - Elliot Dixon
21 - Fumiaki Tanaka
22 - Hayden Parker
23 - Phil Burleigh
Unavailable due to injury
Brad Thorn (rib – 1 week), Patrick Osborne (ankle – 2 weeks)

i assume evans just getting a break rather than been dropped, thought he's been pretty good

nows where i get proved wring and baker has a shocker!

i still do get the feeling joesph doesn't want to field a completely full strength team though, no speed on that bench, no TJ for example

 

[Jaguares]

Highlanders v Western Force, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin â€" Saturday 15 March, 7.35pm (NZT)
1 - Kane Hames
2 - Liam Coltman
3 - Chris King
4 - Jarrad Hoeata
5 - Joe Wheeler
6 - John Hardie
7 - Shane Christie
8 - Nasi Manu (co-captain)
9 - Aaron Smith
10 - Lima Sopoaga
11 - Kurt Baker
12 - Shaun Treeby
13 - Malakai Fekitoa
14 - Richard Buckman
15 - Ben Smith (co-captain)

Who is the captain? You have two co-captains

 

[Kiwiwomble]

yes, two co-captains

 

[Draggs]

yes, two co-captains

So if Nasi wants a scrum and Ben wants a lineout, do they do Rock Paper Scissors?

 

[Kiwiwomble]

...would you argue with Nasi?

 

[Shaggy]

... The co-captain thing seems to have worked for the Chiefs over the last two years

Force
15.Jayden Hayward, 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Junior Rasolea, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. Nick Cummins, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 9. Alby Mathewson, 8. Ben McCalman, 7. Matthew Hodgson (captain), 6. Angus Cottrell, 5. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4. Sam Wykes, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 2. Nathan Charles, 1. Pekahou Cowan

Substitutes: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Tetera Faulkner, 18. Oli Hoskins, 19. Adam Coleman, 20. Brynard Stander, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Zack Holmes, 23. Marcel Brache

 

[Darwin]

Right, back from my holiday just in time to watch this match!

Overall I'm pretty happy with the Highlanders side. They have largely stuck with those players who have performed well over the first few weeks, and it is good to see Baker get a start on the wing (as he is an actual outside back...). Evans has played well but I do like the idea of dual openside with Christie and Hardie - my only real concern is at lineout time, as Evans is one of our best lineout jumpers...

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

"Is that the most bogan back three of all time?"

Classic.

 

[Darwin]

Impressive start by the Force...

Great linebreak by Buckman - the Force players seemed to take each other out!

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Great kick by Sopoaga, especially for a guy who only a few seasons ago struggled with even some of the more basic shots.

 

[Darwin]

Great kick by Sopoaga, especially for a guy who only a few seasons ago struggled with even some of the more basic shots.

Agreed. I have been surprised (but happy) with Sopoaga's goal-kicking this year.

Glen Jackson is hammering the Force that breakdown (rightly in my opinion...).

Arghh.. Intercept... 7 more points for the Force...

Try Treeby... nice move off the scrum.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Pretty *** for tat at the moment.

Force would be doing better if they held onto the ball instead of kicking it away...

 

[Darwin]

Pretty *** for tat at the moment.

Force would be doing better if they held onto the ball instead of kicking it away...

The seem to have no problem holding on the the ball when the are lying on the ground....

EDIT: Try McCalman.... weak tackle by Coltman.

Halftime: 21-16. Not the best game of rugby so far. I've been disappointed with the Highlanders defense, as it has been pretty good so far this season.

Our front-row has been industrious (and good in the scrums!), but Coltman has made two critical errors which have cost us 14 points. Nasi Manu has been quite prominent this week, which is good to see. Aaron Smith has looked sharp, as have Fekitoa and the two wings. Ben Smith has been very quiet - we need to get him into the game...

 

[austingtir]

Jeez the HL need to man up after they score a try they are just letting them back in every time with weak tackling. They can win this game easy the scrum is DOMINATING like crazy!

 

[Darwin]

Haha.... Cummins tackles himself into touch with the tryline open....

 

[austingtir]

That try before halftime could be a real killer for the HL's.

 

[Darwin]

Playing **** is what is really killing us

Oh FFS Coltman stuffs up the 2nd lineout in a row....