SuperRugby: Blues v Highlanders. 26/05/2012

[Draggs]

Eden Park, Auckland - 07:35 GMT, 26/05/2012

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[Larksea]

hmmm it's a tough one.....

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

vBookie Blues-Highlanders

vBookie added

 

[Larksea]

that's pretty good odds for the Landers to win by more than 7, wish I had dumped the last of my vcash on that!

Blues: Hadleigh Parkes, David Raikuna, Francis Saili, Michael Hobbs, Sherwin Stowers, Gareth Anscombe, Alby Mathewson; Peter Saili/Luke Braid, Luke Braid/Daniel Braid, Steven Luatua, Filo Paulo, Liaki Moli, Tevita Mailau, James Parsons, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Tom McCartney, Angus Ta'avao, Ali Williams, Daniel Braid / Peter Saili / Dany Pryor, Piri Weepu, Ma'a Nonu, Lachie Munro

lam has spun his selection wheel of failure again and it seems most of his All Blacks landed on the big numbers!!!

 

[donmcdazzle]

That looks like an awful backline to me, they'd be a bad backline in ITM cup let alone Super rugby.. yeesh. You'd have to think the Highlanders will smash them.

 

[Larksea]

Blues have to find two wins from somewhere to avoid their worst season ever. They got the highlanders, Chiefs, Force, Brumbies

Surely this would have to go down as the worst because any other season would have been shorter.

But looking at that list they need to target the force game though I wouldn't back them to win it, they obviously are not targeting the highlanders looking at that team.... They dont have a **** show against the chiefs then they need to somehow throw absolutely everything they have at the brumbies

What a nightmare, I bet everyone involved with the blues just wants this season to be over. Tuned in last weekend thinking the Blues would somehow lift to play the Crusaders and they got their pants pulled down...

 

[Larksea]

Highlanders: Ben Smith, Kurt Baker, Tamati Ellison, Phil Burleigh, Hosea Gear, Chris Noakes, Jimmy Cowan, Nick Crosswell, Tim Boys, Adam Thomson, Hoani MacDonald, Jarrad Hoeata, Ma'afu Fia, Andrew Hore, Jamie Macintosh (capt). Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Bronson Murray, Josh Bekhuis, Scott Fuglistaller, Aaron Smith, Mike Delany, Kenny Lynn

Nokes and Cowan to start, interesting move I guess it's a chance for smith & Delany to have a breather, would be great to see Jimmy have a blinder against the blues. Manu injured so Croswell moves to #8

 

[Kiwiwomble]

and Nokes has been great (IMO), I like the idea of bringing in the old head (Delany) later in the game to close it out

 

[Larksea]

someone dumped their vretirement fund on the highlanders.. pretty safe bet lol

 

[Kiwiwomble]

someone dumped their vretirement fund on the highlanders.. pretty safe bet lol

you trying to jinx us?!?!

 

[Darwin]

A must win game for the Highlanders if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Can't say I understand Lams selection policy (does anyone?), but it is good to see the likes of Luatua, Francis Saili, and Parsons given a chance.

Surprised to see Bekhuis on the Highlanders bench for a second week in a row - would have like to see him start alongside Hoeata. Good to see Kurt Baker get a start for the Highlanders, as I feel he has been under-used this year.

 

[Hairy Scot]

I would love to see a forward sort out Jimmy Cowan.
The little nark could start a fight in an empty room.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Interesting start so far.

 

[Darwin]

Good try by Gear, well setup by Baker...

EDIT: and another for Gear, this time setup by Ben Smith.

 

[big ginger 8]

That was quick.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Another for Gear. Great start to the second half.

 

[Muzzy]

who the hell is the Hadley Parks guy and why has he been starting every game ahead of Lachie Munro? Dude is terrible

I thought the Blues were starting the game a lot better than their previous games, but still screwing up at times and its costing them, Mathewson's kicking has been very poor, but Weepu hasn't been any better this year.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Happy to see Gear get's some tries (Hattrick?).
How is Nonu doing this season? If SBW leaves the Chiefs we could opt for Nonu

 

[big ginger 8]

Happy to see Gear get's some tries (Hattrick?).
How is Nonu doing this season? If SBW leaves the Chiefs we could opt for Nonu

Only two so far.

 

[Darwin]

who the hell is the Hadley Parks guy and why has he been starting every game ahead of Lachie Munro? Dude is terrible

I thought the Blues were starting the game a lot better than their previous games, but still screwing up at times and its costing them, Mathewson's kicking has been very poor, but Weepu hasn't been any better this year.

Parkes is a journeyman 12/13 originally from Manawatu (played for Auckland last season). He is slow, has average positional sense, and is limited (at best) on attack. He is still twice the player Munro is, as he can tackle, and doesn't crack when the slightest amount of pressure is applied to him....

EDIT: Munro on now for Stowers.

Good to see Aaron Smith on for the Highlanders..