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Highlanders 2013
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<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 531840" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>I would be very disappointed if the Highlanders didn't make the playoffs with the team they have compiled, but I don't think they favourites. On paper I think they are the second best NZ team now, marginally ahead of the Chiefs, but still behind the Crusaders. If you compare the Highlanders starting XV with the Crusaders I think the Crusaders have a very slight edge in the locks, an advantage in the loosies (even without McCaw), a clear edge in the halves, and a massive advantage in terms of goal-kicking ability. The only area where I think the Highlanders are better than the Crusaders is in the midfield.</p><p></p><p>In reality this team is very similar in strength to the Blues side at the start of last season, so having a successful season is far from guaranteed. The major area of concern for me going into next season is goal-kicking. Slade isn't an established goal-kicker at any level, and though Sopoaga looks to be improving in this regard, I'm not yet convinced he is a good enough goal-kicker at this level (though I would love to be proven wrong!). Probably the only good goal-kicker we will have in the squad will be Parker (who by all accounts will be signed) - given Slade will probably be injured by week 2 we should at least have a good goal-kicker on the bench! There are a few other areas of concern for me (e.g. TH prop, loose-forward depth etc), but it is hard to know how these will affect us till the season starts.</p><p></p><p>Oh, and the word around town is that Thomson has not re-signed for the Highlanders, and will be moving overseas....<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite3" alt=":(" title="Frown :(" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":(" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 531840, member: 24910"] I would be very disappointed if the Highlanders didn't make the playoffs with the team they have compiled, but I don't think they favourites. On paper I think they are the second best NZ team now, marginally ahead of the Chiefs, but still behind the Crusaders. If you compare the Highlanders starting XV with the Crusaders I think the Crusaders have a very slight edge in the locks, an advantage in the loosies (even without McCaw), a clear edge in the halves, and a massive advantage in terms of goal-kicking ability. The only area where I think the Highlanders are better than the Crusaders is in the midfield. In reality this team is very similar in strength to the Blues side at the start of last season, so having a successful season is far from guaranteed. The major area of concern for me going into next season is goal-kicking. Slade isn't an established goal-kicker at any level, and though Sopoaga looks to be improving in this regard, I'm not yet convinced he is a good enough goal-kicker at this level (though I would love to be proven wrong!). Probably the only good goal-kicker we will have in the squad will be Parker (who by all accounts will be signed) - given Slade will probably be injured by week 2 we should at least have a good goal-kicker on the bench! There are a few other areas of concern for me (e.g. TH prop, loose-forward depth etc), but it is hard to know how these will affect us till the season starts. Oh, and the word around town is that Thomson has not re-signed for the Highlanders, and will be moving overseas....:( [/QUOTE]
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