SuperRugby: Highlanders v Blues. 20/04/2012

[Larksea]

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin - 07:35 GMT, 20/04/2012

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Highlanders: Tamati Ellison, Kade Poki, Phil Burleigh, Shaun Treeby, Hosea Gear, Mike Delany, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu, James Haskell, Adam Thomson, Jarrad Hoeata, Josh Bekhuis, Chris King, Andrew Hore, Jamie Mackintosh (capt). Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Ma'afu Fia, Doug Tietjens, Culum Retallick, Jimmy Cowan, Chris Noakes, Kurt Baker.

Blues side has been named with more changes, most interesting one being Luke Braid as captain:

Blues: Hadleigh Parkes, George Moala, Rene Ranger, Ma'a Nonu, Benson Stanley, Gareth Anscombe, Alby Mathewson, Peter Saili, Luke Braid (c), Chris Lowrey, Filo Paulo, Ali Williams, Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: James Parsons, Tevita Mailau, Liaki Moli, Daniel Braid, Piri Weepu, Michael Hobbs, David Raikuna.

Some changes forced by injury with Dan Braid not 100% and Mealamu injured

Very interesting to see Stanley and Ranger swap places, I think that is because with Anscombe on one side and Stanley on the other Nonu has been a big target for defences, with ranger there defenders with have two threats to contend with rather than just swarm Nonu, like the sharks did last weekend.

Anyway, go the highlanders!

Highlander side named, no time taken to get Delaney involved - he starts at 10! Good to see Phil Burleigh back starting but I'm sure they would rather have Ben Smith (one of the form backs in NZ) who is still on the injured list

still... looks like a strong side

 

[nickdnz]

I think the Blues will lose yet another game, and this squad doesn't impress.

Benson Stanley is not a winger. He's no where near quick enough, and his best attribute is his defense from midfield. If your going to move Stanley from midfield, then put him on the bench. A Nonu, Ranger midfield will be dangerous, but one of the biggest problems for the blues has been handling errors, and I think Ranger will struggle in that department. Short of Luke Braid, there isn't any of the looseforwards or locks that I rate. The one area I think the Highlanders will struggle with in the forwards is the scrum, but other than that I'd guess they will get a lot of posession, and when the Blues do get it, they'll make errors.

Why has Sherwin stowers not been used pretty much at all this season? Seems a waste of a player to be honest, especially as he covers fullback as well as wing and he's probably the quickest player around. The Blues back three look exceptionally run of the mill, which against Gear, Smith and Poki, could well be cut up.

 

[admartian]

Yeah, Benson Stanley on the wing is baffling.

I agree with nick that they should've just had him on the bench and maybe promoted a guy like Stowers.

We'll see. Friday is shaping up to be a good night in terms of sports for me; Kiwis, Super Rugby, and the Breakers.

 

[Larksea]

Does seem like Lam is rolling the Dice Every week, funny thing is even when he rolled a winner against the Bulls he kept runing the changes...

Part of me wants to see the dam blues win a game but not at the expense of the Highlanders.

Every week gets more and more desperate for the blues, coach and players are no longer playing to get into the play offs - but the stakes are even higher, they are playing for their reputations and carriers. That makes them even more dangerous.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

hopefully we are rested and can come out like we did in the first couple of weeks, losing streaks have to end sometime, not this week i hope

 

[TNT88]

Dam, who do you tip? The Highlanders don't look too flash this week. How will Delany go? Is he good on attack?

 

[nickdnz]

Dam, who do you tip? The Highlanders don't look too flash this week. How will Delany go? Is he good on attack?

I actually rate him higher than Slade, but I don't know what kind of form he's coming from.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

i'm assuming he was in some sort of form for us to bring him back and the afct he is starting over noakes who has done fantastically is a good sign

 

[admartian]

From what I've seen, Delany is just as fidgety as Slade when the pressure comes to him when running the ball.

 

[TNT88]

I'll go with the Highlanders then. Hopefully Thompson, Haskell and Manu rave some havok around the park and at the breakdown.

 

[Dizzy]

Maybe they're thinking of using Stanley on the wing for a defensive benefit. I'm gonna go Blues for this one by 2 pts.

 

[admartian]

I'll go with the Highlanders then. Hopefully Thompson, Haskell and Manu rave some havok around the park and at the breakdown.

Oh I think they will.
The Blues loosies haven't been good at fetching/retaining ball.

At the least, they'll pressure the Blues ruck and not give Mathewson/Anscombe/Hobbs/Weepu much time to distribute.

Who knows though. Maybe someone like Luke Braid might have a blinder and break out.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Blues for the upset, I reckon.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Only seen the 2nd half of this but it's been a good game.
Very scrappy/lots of mistakes, but entertaining enough.

1min or so for Blues to sneak the win. I would've taken the 3pts then gone for the DG to be honest.

 

[Draggs]

Well done Highlanders.
Scrappy affair but good win.

Delany looked pretty good, needs time but kicked very well.

 

[Mary7]

Just happy the Highlanders won!!

 

[Gena_ZA]

close one, good scrap

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Blues looked a lot better today. Particularly Nonu looked to have gotten back that extra gear that he hasn't shown at all this year so far. Hosea Gear really knows how to use his strength and speed to his teams benefit. If he continues on this path i can't see him left out of the AB's 11 jersey though the competition for the back three for the Ab's has always been fierce.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

What did I say? Delany made our first try with that pass and then kept the scoreboard ticking over

 

[smartcooky]

What did I say? Delany made our first try with that pass and then kept the scoreboard ticking over

Delany played well I thought. He's put himself into contention as a long-shot to play in the Black jersey again. Its very unlikely, but then, who could have predicted that the 4th choice All Black #10 would kick the winning penalty goal in last year's RWC Final.

As Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell once said... "You never know what events are to transpire to get you home."