2014 Super Rugby: Highlanders vs Lions (Round 13)

[Jaguares]

15 Ben Smith
14 Richard Buckman
13 Malakai Fekitoa
12 Phil Burleigh
11 Jason Emery
10 Hayden Parker
9 Aaron Smith
8 Nasi Manu
7 Shane Christie
6 Elliot Dixon
5 Josh Bekhuis
4 Joe Wheeler
3 Ma'afu Fia
2 Ged Robinson
1 Chris King

15 Chrysander Botha
14 Courtnall Skosan
13 Lionel Mapoe
12 Stefan Watermeyer
11 Anthony Volmink
10 Marnitz Boshoff
9 Faf de Klerk
8 Warren Whiteley (c)
7 Derick Minnie
6 Jaco Kriel
5 Martin Muller
4 MB Lusaseni
3 Julian Redelinghuys
2 Robbie Coetzee
1 Schalk van der Merwe

 

[Darwin]

This is a game we should win. We haven't been very good at winning these sort of games over recent seasons though. Obviously the Highlanders will be tired after their trip to South Africa (and back), but this Lions side has faded pretty badly after a surprisingly strong start to the season. Not sure when the Highlanders side is named (maybe this afternoon) - I'm hoping to see Evans and Christie starting at 6 & 7, and would love to see Franklin finally given a shot (even on the bench with Bekhuis and Wheeler starting). Hopefully Sopoaga is fit, otherwise Parker will start at 10.

 

[Shaggy]

Lions team announced www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3824_9300552,00.html

15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Martin Muller, 4 MB Lusaseni, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Rudi Mathee, 20 Warwick Teckenburg, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 JW Jonker.

I see they are starting Boshoff and have benched Elton Jantjies ... Darwin, your boys will have to watch how many penalties they give away - I doubt he'll miss too many

EDIT - Highlanders named http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Weekend-teams-20110203

Highlanders:
15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Jason Emery, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 Shane Christie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Joe Wheeler, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Chris King

Substitutes: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Matias Diaz, 18 Kane Hames, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 TJ Ioane, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Trent Renata, 23 Gareth Evans

Looks like Sopoaga didn't recover in time, so Parker starts at 10, Shane Christie starts at Openside Flank, and a few changes in the front row too

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Man, it was a toss up between Whiteley and Ardie Savea in fantasy rugby for me. I went for Savea but hope the Lions do well-ish. Volmink and Kolbe (Stormers) are both livewires but I went with the backs in teams more likely to spread the ball. Erm.. I am a tad off topic here so..

Go Lions! - even if my head says Highlanders by plenty.

 

[Shaggy]

Man, it was a toss up between Whiteley and Ardie Savea in fantasy rugby for me. I went for Savea but hope the Lions do well-ish. Volmink and Kolbe (Stormers) are both livewires but I went with the backs in teams more likely to spread the ball. Erm.. I am a tad off topic here so..

Go Lions! - even if my head says Highlanders by plenty.

Hehe ... never count on a New Zealand team starting with the letter "H" to do what they should in my experience, mind you, there's one that starts with "B" that can be put in the same category ... now I'm going off topic

 

[Darwin]

Wow, I got 2/3 of my wishes this week (Christie starting and Franklin on the bench). Not too bothered with the changes in the front-row - Hames and Coltman are going well but are still inexperienced so could do with a rest (Robinson and Fia will both do solid jobs too). I still think Evans should be starting at 6, and I'm not convinced about using him on the bench. We already have Ioane on the bench covering the same positions (and offering more impact), so we would be much better off picking another back on the bench (if we have another fit back in the squad).

I'm sure Parker will do a solid job at 10. His goal-kicking is usually very good so we shouldn't really lose a lot in that regard, and I'm excited about the prospect on Ben Smith being able to counter-attack more from fullback this week (as I assume Parker will be defending up in the line). I'm not a fan of Burleigh, and I worry how he is going to go tackling Mapoe on the drift defense (I would have preferred to see Treeby again). It will be interesting to see how Emery goes on the wing. He is much better in the midfield, but given that we don't have a single specialist wing option available he is probably worth a shot. He will certainly have a challenge marking Skousan, who in my opinion is the most dangerous of the Lions backs.

As Shaggy points out discipline will be a key for the Highlanders, as Boshoff doesn't often miss. I'm picking the Highlanders by 10-15 (Ben Smith with a couple of tries), but I'm not overly confident....

 

[Shaggy]

Wow, I got 2/3 of my wishes this week (Christie starting and Franklin on the bench). Not too bothered with the changes in the front-row - Hames and Coltman are going well but are still inexperienced so could do with a rest (Robinson and Fia will both do solid jobs too). I still think Evans should be starting at 6, and I'm not convinced about using him on the bench. We already have Ioane on the bench covering the same positions (and offering more impact), so we would be much better off picking another back on the bench (if we have another fit back in the squad).

I'm sure Parker will do a solid job at 10. His goal-kicking is usually very good so we shouldn't really lose a lot in that regard, and I'm excited about the prospect on Ben Smith being able to counter-attack more from fullback this week (as I assume Parker will be defending up in the line). I'm not a fan of Burleigh, and I worry how he is going to go tackling Mapoe on the drift defense (I would have preferred to see Treeby again). It will be interesting to see how Emery goes on the wing. He is much better in the midfield, but given that we don't have a single specialist wing option available he is probably worth a shot. He will certainly have a challenge marking Skousan, who in my opinion is the most dangerous of the Lions backs.

As Shaggy points out discipline will be a key for the Highlanders, as Boshoff doesn't often miss. I'm picking the Highlanders by 10-15 (Ben Smith with a couple of tries), but I'm not overly confident....

I think the inclusion of Burleigh indicates that the Highlanders intend to kick more ... maybe some shallower kicks for the likes of Ben Smith to run on to ... maybe the extra loose forward cover is there because one of the starting loose forwards might be carrying an injury (perhaps Shane Christie), or that they intend to play at a very fast tempo, so they'll ring the changesat the 50 minute mark

... it's hard to go past the Highlanders at home, so I'll pick the home team ... with Fekitoa scoring at least one try

 

[Darwin]

I think the inclusion of Burleigh indicates that the Highlanders intend to kick more ... maybe some shallower kicks for the likes of Ben Smith to run on to ... maybe the extra loose forward cover is there because one of the starting loose forwards might be carrying an injury (perhaps Shane Christie), or that they intend to play at a very fast tempo, so they'll ring the changesat the 50 minute mark

... it's hard to go past the Highlanders at home, so I'll pick the home team ... with Fekitoa scoring at least one try

Yep, with Burleigh included there will be a bit more kicking, and we will probably play a bit wider too (as unlike Treeby he is a good passer). I don't think playing wider is necessarily a good thing - our more direct approach (attacking around the fringes / in the midfield) has been pretty effective this season, I don't want us to go back to the 'side-to-side' style of last season. My biggest issue with Burleigh has always been his defense though - if he makes most of his tackles this match I will be happy!

 

[Shaggy]

Yep, with Burleigh included there will be a bit more kicking, and we will probably play a bit wider too (as unlike Treeby he is a good passer). I don't think playing wider is necessarily a good thing - our more direct approach (attacking around the fringes / in the midfield) has been pretty effective this season, I don't want us to go back to the 'side-to-side' style of last season. My biggest issue with Burleigh has always been his defense though - if he makes most of his tackles this match I will be happy!

Maybe, but I think the wider, side to side stuff has it's place ... try to tire out those big Lions forwards, then exploit that If/when it happens

 

[Darwin]

Maybe, but I think the wider, side to side stuff has it's place ... try to tire out those big Lions forwards, then exploit that If/when it happens

The problem is the Lions forward pack isn't actually very big - indeed I imagine the Highlanders will have a big advantage in terms of size. Both of their props are reasonably small, the locks are averaged sized (for locks). The Lions loose-forward trio is tiny - they are all are listed at under 100kgs - in contrast Christie is the smallest of the Highlanders loosies at 107kgs! I don't think the Lions will be too worried about playing an expansive game - indeed I think they are probably better suited to the style than the Highlanders.

I certainly don't mind playing a wider more expansive style if executed correctly (e.g. by the AB's). Last year the Highlanders spent the whole season going from side to side completely forgetting that the aim of the game is to go forward!

 

[Shaggy]

The problem is the Lions forward pack isn't actually very big - indeed I imagine the Highlanders will have a big advantage in terms of size. Both of their props are reasonably small, the locks are averaged sized (for locks). The Lions loose-forward trio is tiny - they are all are listed at under 100kgs - in contrast Christie is the smallest of the Highlanders loosies at 107kgs! I don't think the Lions will be too worried about playing an expansive game - indeed I think they are probably better suited to the style than the Highlanders.

I certainly don't mind playing a wider more expansive style if executed correctly (e.g. by the AB's). Last year the Highlanders spent the whole season going from side to side completely forgetting that the aim of the game is to go forward!

Wow ... I guess I do that stuff that you're meant to do before you post ... er, what's it called? ... are yeah ...research

... I guess I just assumed they were a traditional, big, South African pack ... in that case, spinning it wide probably isn't that great of an idea, and maybe concentrating on the middle is.

Maybe they should save the expansive stuff for a couple of weeks, until they get their one fit winger back (Kurt Baker)

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Christie has been ruled out, Hardie replaces him in the XV and Ioane comes onto the bench.

 

[Darwin]

Christie has been ruled out, Hardie replaces him in the XV and Ioane comes onto the bench.

Bit of a blow for the Highlanders. Hardie is a good player, but Christie has been immense for us this season. Hopefully we can survive this match without him.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

emery on one wing, buckman on the other and burliegh and parker in the middle...i think we can expect both smith and fekitoa to be double teamed as the rest of the backline aint going to breaking many tackles

like all those guys...just not in the same backline

fairly sure we talked about exactly this point before the season Darwin...no outside back cover! we have the best running rugby stadium in the world...and almost no one that can make the most of it, god i wish we had signed ihaia west, this we would be great in that 12 jersey

 

[Darwin]

emery on one wing, buckman on the other and burliegh and parker in the middle...i think we can expect both smith and fekitoa to be double teamed as the rest of the backline aint going to breaking many tackles

like all those guys...just not in the same backline

fairly sure we talked about exactly this point before the season Darwin...no outside back cover! we have the best running rugby stadium in the world...and almost no one that can make the most of it, god i wish we had signed ihaia west, this we would be great in that 12 jersey

Yep, it is rather frustrating (especially the fact it was blatantly obvious that we didn't have enough outside back cover at the start of the season). At least this week we didn't start Stanley at centre and move Fekitoa to the wing (or play Burleigh on the wing)! Of all of our centre options I think Emery is the best option to use on the wing. He has very good acceleration, and has a deceptive ability to break tackles (despite being a midget). While obviously I would prefer a specialist wing (2 specialist wings would be ideal!), I don't mind seeing Emery given a shot there.

 

[Darwin]

Highlanders playing pretty well so far. Buckman scored a good try, and Parker has been controlling the game well at 10 (it is nice to have a 10 that can tackle for a change too!).

Losing two forwards (Bekhuis & Hardie) in the 1st 20 mins isn't ideal though....

EDIT: BUCKMANNN!!!!!!! Who was that fool who claimed he wasn't a wing

 

[Shaggy]

Geez, if the Highlanders manage to make it to the playoffs, they'll be lucky to field a fit team ... They're starting to get hit with a lot of injuries.

A pretty impressive half from the Highlanders ... A bit more effort required from Richard Buckman though

 

[Darwin]

Highlanders need to be a bit more clinical. My solution is give the ball to Ben Smith.

EDIT: Stupid play by King. Completely unnecessary, and gives the Lions a chance to get back in the game..

 

[Patchey]

Highlanders need to be a bit more clinical. My solution is give the ball to Ben Smith.

EDIT: Stupid play by King. Completely unnecessary, and gives the Lions a chance to get back in the game..

That is a solution to all of life's problems.

 

[Darwin]

So apparently you are allowed to throw forward passes now..... incompetent ref

EDIT: Of FFS this is pathetic defense by the Highlanders... start playing rugby you idiots