V Highlanders

[Donny osmond]

Is it just me or is this a pretty underwhelming team?

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[Donny osmond]

Should add, I'd be delighted for them to prove me wrong. I'd also be delighted for them to grind out a 3-0 victory.

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[zer0]

Highlanders side:

1. Daniel Lienert-Brown
2. Liam Coltman
3. Siate Tokolahi
4. Alex Ainley
5. Jackson Hemopo
6. Gareth Evans
7. Dillon Hunt
8. Luke Whitelock (C)
9. Kayne Hammington
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Tevita Li
12. Teihorangi Walden
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Waisake Naholo
15. Richard Buckman

16. Greg Pleasants-Tate
17. Aki Seiuli
18. Siosuia Halanukonuka
19. Josh Dickson
20. Jimmy Lentjes
21. Josh Renton
22. Marty Banks
23. Patrick Osborne

Sopoaga and Naholo were released from the All Blacks, but Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Liam Squire are unavailable. Five others -- mostly forwards -- are tied up with the Maori. The backline should be much more threatening than their Crusader counterparts.

EDIT: There'll also be no haka, but something else instead. Though they're being tight lipped over exactly what that something is.

[16th man]

Is it just me or is this a pretty underwhelming team?

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Pretty much the start of the split between the test 23 and the dirt trackers. You wouldn't expect many of those players to be featuring against the Maori or ABs now barring them putting in an amazing performance, or an injury to someone more in favour.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Highlanders side:

1. Daniel Lienert-Brown
2. Liam Coltman
3. Siate Tokolahi
4. Alex Ainley
5. Jackson Hemopo
6. Gareth Evans
7. Dillon Hunt
8. Luke Whitelock (C)
9. Kayne Hammington
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Tevita Li
12. Teihorangi Walden
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Waisake Naholo
15. Richard Buckman

16. Greg Pleasants-Tate
17. Aki Seiuli
18. Siosuia Halanukonuka
19. Josh Dickson
20. Jimmy Lentjes
21. Josh Renton
22. Marty Banks
23. Patrick Osborne

Sopoaga and Naholo were released from the All Blacks, but Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Liam Squire are unavailable. Five others -- mostly forwards -- are tied up with the Maori. The backline should be much more threatening than their Crusader counterparts.

EDIT: There'll also be no haka, but something else instead. Though they're being tight lipped over exactly what that something is.

Scarfies to have a huge sofa burning session pre match?

[Stom]

Is it just me or is this a pretty underwhelming team?

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Pretty much the start of the split between the test 23 and the dirt trackers. You wouldn't expect many of those players to be featuring against the Maori or ABs now barring them putting in an amazing performance, or an injury to someone more in favour.

Indeed. But I hope Joseph is in the first XV, we need his handling and footwork, as well as his defense.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Is it just me or is this a pretty underwhelming team?

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Pretty much the start of the split between the test 23 and the dirt trackers. You wouldn't expect many of those players to be featuring against the Maori or ABs now barring them putting in an amazing performance, or an injury to someone more in favour.

Agreed. Other than Warburton (who needs game time to give Gatland some excuse to start him), a start for this match is the kiss of death for your chances to starting a test.

And for the most part I'd agree with that. Of this XV I think I'd only start Joseph (not big enough for Gats though) and maybe, just maybe Warburton (but at 6).

[Sandydragon]

If Gatland is going to play Sexton and Farrell together, then I strongly suspect he will keep Teo, purely for the bulk he brings.

[Digby]

It doesn't feel right to name Biggar days after a failed HIA

[Sandydragon]

It doesn't feel right to name Biggar days after a failed HIA

Agreed. It does feel a bit odd.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Is it just me or is this a pretty underwhelming team?

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Pretty much the start of the split between the test 23 and the dirt trackers. You wouldn't expect many of those players to be featuring against the Maori or ABs now barring them putting in an amazing performance, or an injury to someone more in favour.

Agreed. Other than Warburton (who needs game time to give Gatland some excuse to start him), a start for this match is the kiss of death for your chances to starting a test.

And for the most part I'd agree with that. Of this XV I think I'd only start Joseph (not big enough for Gats though) and maybe, just maybe Warburton (but at 6).

JJ is a fantastic player but he was poor on all fronts in his only appearance so far.

[Numbers]

Is it just me or is this a pretty underwhelming team?

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Pretty much the start of the split between the test 23 and the dirt trackers. You wouldn't expect many of those players to be featuring against the Maori or ABs now barring them putting in an amazing performance, or an injury to someone more in favour.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, I think Warburton will feature in the test side of he plays well, I think Sinckler should be on the bench for the tests.

I can see the Highlanders winning this one.

[ALunpg]

It certainly is the last option for a few to put their name in the 1st Test team..Sinkler certainly can put his name on the bench .

Warburton will have to play at his best to even get a sniff at the test side and honestly ..I dont think Gatland will let anything stand in his way

Joseph and Nowell and Seymour hopefully will settle down and produce performance that do them justice.

For a few it is the last chance saloon to work their way into the 1st Test reckoning and for a few they will be playing Tuesdays for the next few weeks.

[Mikey Brown]

Who are we currently viewing as the frontrunners the Test back 3?

I feel like Watson is there somewhere. Is that it?

[skidger]

Who are we currently viewing as the frontrunners the Test back 3?

I feel like Watson is there somewhere. Is that it?

I think everyone of them is the running apart from Nowell. I bet that defensive performance will have really scared off Gatland. Seymour,Watson,North.....actually all of them are in the running imo.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Who are we currently viewing as the frontrunners the Test back 3?

I feel like Watson is there somewhere. Is that it?

I'm pretty sure it will be North, Watson and 1/2p with Williams on the bench. I'd probably choose Seymour Watson and Williams.

[Digby]

North to defend Vs the wife beater 'cause North is big. Then it's Halfpenny Vs Watson at 15 and for all Watson has done well ball in hand I think they might well opt for Halfpenny's more mature game, and either way that seems reasonable. If Watson doesn't make 15 he's up against Williams for the wing/bench spot, before the tour I'd have supposed it'd be Williams starting whereas on tour it might be Watson is just edging the race.

Seymour needs to pull many rabbits out of the hat, and it might be Gats doesn't even want to give him a hat, but at least he's ahead of Nowell.

[Spy]

Mad start.

[cashead]

Highlanders definitely the better team out there tonight. The Lions look like they're struggling to keep up.

Webb's done some good things, but he's also guilty of a few clangers tonight. Very much amixed game.

And it looks like Lawes has fucked himself up. It looks like he's in Disneyland at the moment. If he'd timed that right, it could've been a try-saving tackle.

[jared_7]

Naholo scoring and taking out Courtney Lawes in the process.

[cashead]

Hahahaha, Hemmington picks a fight with Sinckler, and then disappears as soon as the big boys from his team get involved. Now that's some good halfbacking.

[joshfishkins]

Anyone got a stream?

[Matt Ha]

Anyone got a stream?

http://live.robinwidget.org/streamvideo ... 94551.html

[joshfishkins]

Anyone got a stream?

http://live.robinwidget.org/streamvideo ... 94551.html

Top man - good work!

[Spy]

Highlanders created twice as much in the first half as the Crusaders managed all game. Naholo looking very good. Both teams playing some good rugby.

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