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[2014 Super Rugby] New Zealand conference
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<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 610058" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>If we pick the following side we will <strike>win</strike> <strike>make the playoffs</strike> <strike>be competitive</strike> not get last:</p><p></p><p>1. Chris King (unless we can develop Diaz on the LH side).</p><p>2. Liam Coltman</p><p>3. Ma'afu Fia (Diaz is again the wildcard)</p><p>4. Brad Thorn</p><p>5. Josh Bekhuis (only experience gets him the nod over Franklin)</p><p>6. Gareth Evans (lacks a bit of physicality, but should suit the Highlanders "style")</p><p>7. John Hardie</p><p>8. Nasi Manu</p><p>9. Aaron Smith</p><p>10. Hayden Parker (50:50 over whether to start him or Sopoaga. Sopoaga offers more with his running/distribution game, but Parker is far more solid and a much better goal-kicker)</p><p>11. Kurt Baker (Popoali'i is the other option, but I feel Baker's massive work-rate will be a big asset when we have Osbourne on the other wing, who can be brilliant but has a poor work-rate).</p><p>12. Shaun Treeby (I would like to see Fekitoa developed at 12 though)</p><p>13. Jason Emery (Time for him to step up, otherwise Fekitoa should get a crack).</p><p>14. Patrick Osbourne</p><p>15. God</p><p></p><p>16. Brayden Mitchell</p><p>17. Matiaz Diaz (if he can cover LH adequately, otherwise Kane Hames).</p><p>18. Tom Franklin</p><p>19. TJ Ioane / Shane Christie</p><p>20. Fumiaka Tanaka</p><p>21. Lima Sopoaga</p><p>22. Buxton Popoali'i / Malakai Fekitoa / Winston Stanley</p><p></p><p>The front row looks ok (at best) - we need to get a lot out of Diaz. I'm not convinced Hames is a Super Rugby player, but he did look ok for Bay of Plenty this year. There are plenty of options at lock - I'm hoping Hoeata doesn't get much gametime this season (I think it would be best if we kept 15 players on the field). Even when he doesn't get sent off he spends most of the match attempting to intimidate the opposition rather than playing rugby.</p><p></p><p>I'm hoping to see Evans good a good crack in the 6 jersey this season, as I feel he will suit the Highlanders expansive style (he has many of the same skills as Adam Thomson). I could handle seeing Ioane in the 6 jersey (though he is probably more valuable on the bench), though I'm still not convinced having him doing 20 hit-ups a game in the midfield is necessarily a good tactic (at least it stops us going side to side <em>ad naseum</em> I guess). I will be incredibly ****** off if Joseph continues to play a lock (Hoeata/Wheeler) at 6 again this season. If you have a forward oriented game plan having a tighter option at 6 can be a fine tactic, but if your "game-plan" involves passing the ball from touchline to touchline as quickly as possible it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that playing a lock at 6 is a pretty stupid idea. We actually have good back-up for Hardie this season in the form of Shane Christie, and Elliot Dixon is a solid back-up for Manu at 8 - hopefully it will mean we are able to rest our top loose forwards at times this season.</p><p></p><p>I have discussed the 10 options previously - Tony Brown just needs to pick the 10 that best suits the Highlanders game plan and stick with him. Hopefully that 10 doesn't happen to be Willie Ripia as he is a rubbish signing. </p><p></p><p>Midfield is pretty open. I would like to see Fekitoa and Emery given as much game-time as possible (perhaps even partnered together) as they are most talented midfielders in the squad. Treeby runs straight and hard but is very limited, Burleigh has a good passing/kicking game but offers little individually with a ball in hand and is a weak link on defense, while Winston Stanely have never really lived up to his initially promise. He is big and strong but seems to have issues with his handling at times and I'm not convinced about his distribution game. I have no idea how the Highlanders selectors think we are going to get through a season with only 4 outside backs, but there is not much we can do about it now. I'm hoping Kurt Baker gets a better deal than he did last time he was with the Highlanders....</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 610058, member: 24910"] If we pick the following side we will <strike>win</strike> <strike>make the playoffs</strike> <strike>be competitive</strike> not get last: 1. Chris King (unless we can develop Diaz on the LH side). 2. Liam Coltman 3. Ma'afu Fia (Diaz is again the wildcard) 4. Brad Thorn 5. Josh Bekhuis (only experience gets him the nod over Franklin) 6. Gareth Evans (lacks a bit of physicality, but should suit the Highlanders "style") 7. John Hardie 8. Nasi Manu 9. Aaron Smith 10. Hayden Parker (50:50 over whether to start him or Sopoaga. Sopoaga offers more with his running/distribution game, but Parker is far more solid and a much better goal-kicker) 11. Kurt Baker (Popoali'i is the other option, but I feel Baker's massive work-rate will be a big asset when we have Osbourne on the other wing, who can be brilliant but has a poor work-rate). 12. Shaun Treeby (I would like to see Fekitoa developed at 12 though) 13. Jason Emery (Time for him to step up, otherwise Fekitoa should get a crack). 14. Patrick Osbourne 15. God 16. Brayden Mitchell 17. Matiaz Diaz (if he can cover LH adequately, otherwise Kane Hames). 18. Tom Franklin 19. TJ Ioane / Shane Christie 20. Fumiaka Tanaka 21. Lima Sopoaga 22. Buxton Popoali'i / Malakai Fekitoa / Winston Stanley The front row looks ok (at best) - we need to get a lot out of Diaz. I'm not convinced Hames is a Super Rugby player, but he did look ok for Bay of Plenty this year. There are plenty of options at lock - I'm hoping Hoeata doesn't get much gametime this season (I think it would be best if we kept 15 players on the field). Even when he doesn't get sent off he spends most of the match attempting to intimidate the opposition rather than playing rugby. I'm hoping to see Evans good a good crack in the 6 jersey this season, as I feel he will suit the Highlanders expansive style (he has many of the same skills as Adam Thomson). I could handle seeing Ioane in the 6 jersey (though he is probably more valuable on the bench), though I'm still not convinced having him doing 20 hit-ups a game in the midfield is necessarily a good tactic (at least it stops us going side to side [I]ad naseum[/I] I guess). I will be incredibly ****** off if Joseph continues to play a lock (Hoeata/Wheeler) at 6 again this season. If you have a forward oriented game plan having a tighter option at 6 can be a fine tactic, but if your "game-plan" involves passing the ball from touchline to touchline as quickly as possible it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that playing a lock at 6 is a pretty stupid idea. We actually have good back-up for Hardie this season in the form of Shane Christie, and Elliot Dixon is a solid back-up for Manu at 8 - hopefully it will mean we are able to rest our top loose forwards at times this season. I have discussed the 10 options previously - Tony Brown just needs to pick the 10 that best suits the Highlanders game plan and stick with him. Hopefully that 10 doesn't happen to be Willie Ripia as he is a rubbish signing. Midfield is pretty open. I would like to see Fekitoa and Emery given as much game-time as possible (perhaps even partnered together) as they are most talented midfielders in the squad. Treeby runs straight and hard but is very limited, Burleigh has a good passing/kicking game but offers little individually with a ball in hand and is a weak link on defense, while Winston Stanely have never really lived up to his initially promise. He is big and strong but seems to have issues with his handling at times and I'm not convinced about his distribution game. I have no idea how the Highlanders selectors think we are going to get through a season with only 4 outside backs, but there is not much we can do about it now. I'm hoping Kurt Baker gets a better deal than he did last time he was with the Highlanders.... [/QUOTE]
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