Highlanders v. Blues

[ranger]

question, if he was a write off and seeing as the season hasn't kicked off yet (offically) could we draft in someone else? no idea who is even out there...mmmm Tony Brown?

anyway, I would say Lima Sopoaga into first five and Robbie covering both first five and fullback, no point having a specialist first five and leaving him on the bench at the expense of fullback

I doubt there would be any takers from overseas even if they were able to bring in another player, the highlanders will probably just have to manage with what they have now, unless they are able to coax David Holwell..

And Lima is only 19. You would have to be completely bonkers to put the pressure of being the starting number 10 on a teenager, especially in a struggling franchise. Robbie Robinson played 10 in the ITM cup this year so its not like hes exclusively a 15 at this stage. He will be the favourite to wear 10, with Smith or Baker at 15. That would leave probably Lynn to step up to 13.

Lima will get the last 15 minutes of most games and probably start the last few once the Highlanders are out of the championship race

 

[Amobokoboko]

I dunno bates? losing to a junior blues team?

It was meant sarcastic ;-)

But seriously, I hope MacKintosh and his squad can pull some tricks out of their sleeves ( have some Highlanders in my super sport squad.)

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I cant find the quote now i need it but Jamie has said they will be going with Lima, if he's not good enough to play then he would only be in the wider training squad and didn't he play for the lions at first five last year just like robbie did for southland?

Robbie is there as a fullback first and only as first five cover

the problem is Baker is still injured so not an option at full back so with our first choice first five and one of our first choice full back outs then prob make sense for Robbie to be covering both.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Gus Collins has retired (again)

Sai'ili is another up and coming backrower.

Payne would be fullback, not Williams (has has taken up an overseas contract)

 

[ranger]

I cant find the quote now i need it but Jamie has said they will be going with Lima, if he's not good enough to play then he would only be in the wider training squad and didn't he play for the lions at first five last year just like robbie did for southland?

Robbie is there as a fullback first and only as first five cover

the problem is Baker is still injured so not an option at full back so with our first choice first five and one of our first choice full back outs then prob make sense for Robbie to be covering both.

Its not a matter of whether he is good enough. He is simply far too young to start, why wont people realise that if you just throw young first fives into the fire they burn.. If Jospeh does decide to start the season with Lima at 10 it just confirms to me why he shouldn't have got the job.

Also, yes Lima played first five last year like Robinson, but unlike Robinson Lima is only 19! He hasn't even been to the U20 WC before. Everyones talking up Bleyendaal (who is a year and a half older and a hell of a lot more experienced) and look how he is being managed. Hes the 3rd string first five, in the squad to learn from the other players and will only be given opportunities very late in the piece. Thats how it should be done.

The Highlanders also have Ben Smith and George Pisi to cover fullback.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

sorry, dont know who George Pisi is, not in our squad as far as i know and without kurt baker smith will be fullback with robbie covering him.

of course it was never than plan for Lima to be first choice, he is there us understudy, not just to learn and watch, and part of being the understudy is to step up when needed.

the wider training group is for those learning their trade hence why teams like the saders have serval teenages.

he would have been managed in a similar way if all was well, alternating with Robbie for the last 20 mins im sure...but things aint right and we need him

Regardless, it is not up to you or I to decide, its up to those with more knowledge of what the players up capable of, i hope he starts as he looks exciting and i hope he stars although i hope he doesn't have to for too long

 

[ranger]

sorry, dont know who George Pisi is, not in our squad as far as i know and without kurt baker smith will be fullback with robbie covering him.

of course it was never than plan for Lima to be first choice, he is there us understudy, not just to learn and watch, and part of being the understudy is to step up when needed.

the wider training group is for those learning their trade hence why teams like the saders have serval teenages.

he would have been managed in a similar way if all was well, alternating with Robbie for the last 20 mins im sure...but things aint right and we need him

Regardless, it is not up to you or I to decide, its up to those with more knowledge of what the players up capable of, i hope he starts as he looks exciting and i hope he stars although i hope he doesn't have to for too long

George Pisi.. Samoan international.. brother of Tusi and Ken. Former Blues fullback. Played for North Harbour until this season when he transfered to Taranaki..
Anyway its my understanding that he has been picked up to cover Kurt Baker, freeing up Robinson to play 10.

Also, its not only the wider training squad that is used to help players learn the trade.. Like Bleyendaal for instance. The Highlanders had to offer Lima a full contract because thats the only way they could be sure to sign him. If he was only offered a wider training squad spot then he wouldnt have gone to the Highlanders. The plan would have been to slowly ease him into Super rugby, not to just throw him in the deep end and see what happens. I can't see them changing this plan at all. Just because hes talented doesn't mean he is ready to start in a super rugby side. 19 remember.

Just look at what happens when players are put in similar positions.. Jimmy Gopperth, James Arlidge, Dan Kirkpatrick..

 

[Kiwiwomble]

havent heard anything about pisi, friends on the inside? has it been announced offically? would be good although poki was cover for baker so not sure we would get another one, will be interesting and of course in that case things would be different re robbie

I agree with everything you have said re blooding young talent, please dont think otherwise, i just think we have had a couple of big injury blows and from everything i have heard Lima is rated above Robbie at first five and as plan A is out the window, for a few weeks at least ,and plan B is Lima and because I believe this will happen i am right behind him.

I would like to see tony brown in there, there is someone to but a wing around Lima and show him a thing or two but i doubt he is even in dunners yet

 

[nickdnz]

Am I the only one here who thinks Lima is over rated? Yes he's young, but he hardly impressed me for Wellington this season. At best he seemed solid. I'd easily have Robinson or even Brown in as a replacement for Slade. I think the Highlanders will really struggle for the next few weeks.

 

[ranger]

havent heard anything about pisi, friends on the inside? has it been announced offically? would be good although poki was cover for baker so not sure we would get another one, will be interesting and of course in that case things would be different re robbie

I agree with everything you have said re blooding young talent, please dont think otherwise, i just think we have had a couple of big injury blows and from everything i have heard Lima is rated above Robbie at first five and as plan A is out the window, for a few weeks at least ,and plan B is Lima and because I believe this will happen i am right behind him.

I would like to see tony brown in there, there is someone to but a wing around Lima and show him a thing or two but i doubt he is even in dunners yet

Yeah im not sure if it has been officially announced.. Pisi has just been playing his rugby in Taranaki and its a very small place. The word around here is that Poki was brought in primarily to cover the wing. But now with Slade out they need fullback cover and Pisi is first on the list. I wasn't really aware that it wasn't official though and it could fall through.

Also, the issue of easing Lima in is only one issue, the other is that it probably isnt in the Highlanders best interests either.. If he chokes (which is highly likely) then that isnt great for the Highlanders chances.. Most of the time you can just tell by looking at a player whether he is composed enough to handle a huge jump (guys like Mehrtens, Holwell, Barrett to some extent that always look calm and collected) Lima doesnt look like one of those guys.

Am I the only one here who thinks Lima is over rated? Yes he's young, but he hardly impressed me for Wellington this season. At best he seemed solid. I'd easily have Robinson or even Brown in as a replacement for Slade. I think the Highlanders will really struggle for the next few weeks.

He underwhelmed for Wellington but i have played with and against the guy on quite a few occasions i can say that he is capable of much more than he showed. He looked like he was suffering from a bit of nerves, especially due to the caliber of players on his side. He has some of the quickest feet i have seen on a rugby player but he never really looked to run himself or create his own opportunites. But then again, if you are 18 and have Hosea Gear and Ma'a Nonu outside you, you would probably be more inclined to give them the attacking chances than to hog it yourself.

He played solidly for Wellington, but when he matures he can be a very destructive player. He was dynamite in the Wellington club competition and beat the Australian schools team almost by himself (keeping Gareth Anscombe on the bench and Beauden Barrett out of the squad entirely). He was definitely worth the money the Highlanders spent on him talent wise

 

[Sam Owen]

I only saw little of Lima and that little bit I saw was very good.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

i guess the issue is unless pisi (or some other cover coughtonybrowncough) comes in we dont have many choices, even coming from the bench to replace robbie he is going to get more game time than was planned

there would not be a soul on earth that would say these things were good for the highlanders

whats michael hobbs doing???

 

[markshaw]

Hopefully he plays well I wish him the best as a New Zealander, Sucks that slades out hope he comes back earlier and cements his spot in the ABS ahead of bloody Donald...

 

[Larksea]

Michael Hobbs had a serious back injury and had surgury in the US and is studying during what will be a long recovery period.

And Paul Williams has gone overseas so I dont think he wil be playing for the blues this year.

I really hope to see ben smith play at 12 along side Colin slade some time.