Super Rugby: Reds - Highlanders in Brisbane (6/7/2012)

[Darwin]

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Referee: Angus Gardner
Referee: James Leckie
Referee: Steve Lesczcynski
​

Unless the Highlanders get a number of results going there way this will probably be there last match of the season. It will therefore probably be Jimmy Cowan's final match for the Highlanders, so I wouldn't be surprised if he starts (though I'd prefer if the stuck with Aaron Smith). It is going to be a very tough match for the Highlanders, especially with news that Tamati Ellison is out with a torn hamstring. Kenny Lynn and Siale Piutau are probably competing for the 13 jeresy - personally I'd prefer the physicality that Piutau provides (as I think a Burleigh/Lynn midfield lacks a direct ball runner), but I suspect they will pick Lynn. I'd like to see a few other changes for the Highlanders too. Hore needs to be back starting at hooker, and I'd like to see Bekhuis back starting at lock (with Hoeata on the bench). Not sure whether I'd start Boys or Haskell at 7 - either way it is going to take a team effort to neutralize Liam Gill.

We could well see Delany back starting at 10 this week (possibly outside Cowan). It was noticeable that the Highlanders were trying to hide Noakes defensively last week, with Ben Smith defending up in the line. However Noakes still managed to miss a number of tackles, and the Highlanders missed Ben Smith's ability to spark a counter-attack from the back. I only watched part of the Reds game last week, so didn't notice where Quade Cooper was defending - I'm sure the Highlanders will look to try and exploit Cooper's defense (or lack of), though I understand Cooper is in doubt for the Reds...

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

vBookie Reds-Highlanders

Added the vBookie

 

[Kiwiwomble]

we shall be victorious!

 

[Dizzy]

As much as I want the Highlanders to pull off this upset for the Hurricanes sake, I'd say it's going to be very tough for them to do...

Reds 1-12

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Highlanders: Ben Smith, Kade Poki, Siale Piutau, Phil Burleigh, Hosea Gear, Mike Delany, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu, James Haskell, Adam Thomson, Nick Crosswell, Jarrad Hoeata, Ma'afu Fia, Andrew Hore, Jamie Mackintosh (capt). Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Chris King, Josh Bekhuis, Tim Boys, Jimmy Cowan, Chris Noakes, Kenny Lynn.


maybe Delany is the guy we need to start. i wouldn't mind his running all the time if he ended up making a pass at the end and keeping it going, we need 5 points to even have a sniff of the playoffs so tries are the key

i will be disappoionted if any highlanders have enough energy left to walk off the field, no point keeping it for next week if there isn't a next week

 

[Darwin]

Happy with that team - good to see Piutau at centre. The only change I would have made would be Bekhuis for Hoeata, but there is not much between any of our top three locks at the moment.

Liam Gill is in doubt for the Reds - it would be great for the Highlanders if he was ruled out

 

[Larksea]

key for the highlanders:

4 Jarrad Hoeata
5 Nick Crosswell
6 Adam Thomson
7 James Haskell
8 Nasi Manu

basically 5 loose forwards, they have Thomson to strengthen their lineout as arguably the best lineout loosie in the competition but the height they lack in the locks is made up for with the impact these guys have around the field and at breakdowns ball in hand and on defense. When Crosswall and Hoeata fire they are hard to contain, they are not the kind of players that just go about their business and do their job. They throw themselves at the game and the work they do allows Thomson to work out wide. Manu can't be overstated, he's been awesome and will be better off for the break and last weeks game to get him back up to speed.

This is another example of Finals rugby/knockout rugby starting early. Highlanders need to bank 5 points and then see how the other results go Reds are in a similar situation. I think it will be an epic game. Reds are hot.

 

[Draggs]

We should have a vBookie for how long it takes Haskell to get carded.

 

[Darwin]

Hmm....according to this site Josh Bekhuis is starting at lock for the Highlanders - hopefully they are correct. However I'm not sure how much faith I have in the report, considering it also suggests Kade Polie will be starting at 14, Maa-afu Fia will be starting at 3, with Jason Tutledge the reserve hooker :lol:

EDIT: Checked xtra.co.nz - they also have a Bekhuis starting, but they seem to think his first name is Jock.....

 

[Draggs]

Hmm....according to this site Josh Bekhuis is starting at lock for the Highlanders - hopefully they are correct. However I'm not sure how much faith I have in the report, considering it also suggests Kade Polie will be starting at 14, Maa-afu Fia will be starting at 3, with Jason Tutledge the reserve hooker :lol:

EDIT: Checked xtra.co.nz - they also have a Bekhuis starting, but they seem to think his first name is Jock.....

Sounds like the Highlanders lost their official license. Highlighters from now on...

 

[nickdnz]

Hmm....according to this site Josh Bekhuis is starting at lock for the Highlanders - hopefully they are correct. However I'm not sure how much faith I have in the report, considering it also suggests Kade Polie will be starting at 14, Maa-afu Fia will be starting at 3, with Jason Tutledge the reserve hooker :lol:

EDIT: Checked xtra.co.nz - they also have a Bekhuis starting, but they seem to think his first name is Jock.....

Sounds like the Highlanders lost their official license. Highlighters from now on...

:lol:

 

[Darwin]

Sounds like the Highlanders lost their official license. Highlighters from now on...

:lol:

Anyways, Reds named:
Luke Morahan, Dom Shipperley, Anthony Faingaa, Mike Harris, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Quade Cooper, Will Genia (captain), Scott Higginbotham, Beau Robinson, Jake Schatz, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Saia Faingaa, Greg Holmes.
Reserves: James Hanson, Ben Daley, Radike Samo, Jarrad Butler, Ben Lucas, Ben Tapuai, Nick Frisby

Liam Gill and Digby Ioane are both out injured, which is good news for the Highlanders

The Highlanders have apparently made a couple of changes too, with Cowan now set to start at 9 (with Smith on the bench), and Bekhuis starting at lock (as I mentioned earlier).

Looking at the two teams I'm thinking (or at least hoping) the Highlanders have a good chance to win this match. The Reds have a very mobile front row, but the Highlanders may have a slight edge at scrum time (which would be a change!). The locks look pretty evenly matched, and I think that the Highlanders may have a slight edge in the loose-forward trio. Thomson has been in outstanding form again this season - his work at the kick-offs was particularly outstanding last week. Schatz is a good young player, but not in the same class as Thomson. Robinson and Haskell are pretty evenly matched at 7 - Robinson is a genuine openside, but his form hasn't been as impressive this year as it was last year, while Haskell is a good player even if he isn't a genuine 7 (until he gets yellowed carded...). Manu and Higginbotham are two contrasting 8's - both a big ball runners, but Manu tends to run closer to the ruck or crash it up in the midfield, while Higginbotham is more comfortable lurking on the wing.....

The Reds have an obvious edge in the halves - I would have preferred if we had stuck with Aaron Smith at 9! Cooper probably isn't fully match-fit, but is still quality at this level, though the Highlanders will look to attack wherever he is in the defensive line. The Reds probably have a slight advantage in the midfield, but I think the Highlanders have an obvious edge in the outside backs. Shipperly has impressed me this season with his consistent play, but he is going to have his hands full containing Hosea Gear if Gear keeps playing like he has been in recent weeks! Feauai-Sautia is an impressive young player, but he is going to have to keep his eye on Poki, who looked back near his back last weekend. Morahan has some phenomenal pace, but I think Ben Smith has an edge over him in almost ever other area.

Overall I'm picking the Highlanders to pull off the upset, and keep their (faint) playoff hopes alive.

 

[Dizzy]

key for the highlanders:

4 Jarrad Hoeata
5 Nick Crosswell
6 Adam Thomson
7 James Haskell
8 Nasi Manu

basically 5 loose forwards, they have Thomson to strengthen their lineout as arguably the best lineout loosie in the competition but the height they lack in the locks is made up for with the impact these guys have around the field and at breakdowns ball in hand and on defense. When Crosswall and Hoeata fire they are hard to contain, they are not the kind of players that just go about their business and do their job. They throw themselves at the game and the work they do allows Thomson to work out wide. Manu can't be overstated, he's been awesome and will be better off for the break and last weeks game to get him back up to speed.

This is another example of Finals rugby/knockout rugby starting early. Highlanders need to bank 5 points and then see how the other results go Reds are in a similar situation. I think it will be an epic game. Reds are hot.

Call it Hurricane bias, but I'd give that title to Vito

Well, that makes things interesting for the Highlanders, but can they beat the Reds at Suncorp with the form they have now?.. I'm slightly leaning towards the Highlanders now..

 

[Darwin]

Go the mighty Highlanders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(ok not sure what that was about.... still quite a few hours to go....)

 

[Larksea]

Call it Hurricane bias, but I'd give that title to Vito

that's Hurricanes Bias

they are both great, vito like thomson has proved to be good on opposition throw as well.

you would have to say Adam is best though as he is the leading lineout taker in all New Zealand teams and has been as high as #2 overall. Insane really

i think both actually take too much lineout, Loosies should be a lineout option not the main lineout ball winner IMO. All I can say is dont expect any locks from the Highlanders or hurricanes to make the All Blacks any time soon. How can any of them be selected when none are the main source of lineout ball for their super team?

but Thomson is often in a postion at the highlanders where his two locks are not line out jumpers, the highlanders actively take advantage of the fact Thomson is great in the line out by playing an extra loose forward in the locks.

Good to see Jimmy get a start in his last game. I'd love to see him play a blinder.

 

[admartian]

that's Hurricanes Bias

they are both great, vito like thomson has proved to be good on opposition throw as well.

you would have to say Adam is best though as he is the leading lineout taker in all New Zealand teams and has been as high as #2 overall. Insane really

i think both actually take too much lineout, Loosies should be a lineout option not the main lineout ball winner IMO. All I can say is dont expect any locks from the Highlanders or hurricanes to make the All Blacks any time soon. How can any of them be selected when none are the main source of lineout ball for their super team?

but Thomson is often in a postion at the highlanders where his two locks are not line out jumpers, the highlanders actively take advantage of the fact Thomson is great in the line out by playing an extra loose forward in the locks.

Good to see Jimmy get a start in his last game. I'd love to see him play a blinder.

I agree that Vito and Thomson take too much ball. It's not like both teams are suffering from the lack of Locks either.

 

[Darwin]

that's Hurricanes Bias

they are both great, vito like thomson has proved to be good on opposition throw as well.

you would have to say Adam is best though as he is the leading lineout taker in all New Zealand teams and has been as high as #2 overall. Insane really

i think both actually take too much lineout, Loosies should be a lineout option not the main lineout ball winner IMO. All I can say is dont expect any locks from the Highlanders or hurricanes to make the All Blacks any time soon. How can any of them be selected when none are the main source of lineout ball for their super team?

but Thomson is often in a postion at the highlanders where his two locks are not line out jumpers, the highlanders actively take advantage of the fact Thomson is great in the line out by playing an extra loose forward in the locks.

Good to see Jimmy get a start in his last game. I'd love to see him play a blinder.

I don't think it is Jamie Joseph's job to 'give his players the best chance to make the All Blacks' though. I think his job is to make the Highlanders as successful as possible. I think it would be silly not to use your best lineout jumper just because he doesn't have a 4 or a 5 on his back

 

[Larksea]

yeah the issue is that if your 6 is taking all the lineout ball then he's not going to be at the next breakdown or two to secure possession if needed, taking a lineout will usally take the player out of a couple of plays that you usually want your loose forwards available for. At the highlanders though that is covered with their locks being very mobile, basically capable loose forwards.

And sure it's not Jamie's job to get his players into the AB's but how do you think a guy like Josh Bhekuis feels about it? The guy has been touted for a long time as a future all black. For a while it was just a matter of time. But he's never going to get selected if Adam Thomson is one of the Top lineout takers in super rugby and his stats are nowhere to be seen...

 

[Darwin]

yeah the issue is that if your 6 is taking all the lineout ball then he's not going to be at the next breakdown or two to secure possession if needed, taking a lineout will usally take the player out of a couple of plays that you usually want your loose forwards available for. A4 the highlanders though that is covered with their locks being very mobile, basically capable loose forwards.

You have summed up the issue of having your 6 as your primary lineout target nicely, but as you mention this isn't an issue at the Highlanders due to the make-up of their locks. In reality the lineout target is only going to be unavailable at one breakdown, and you have plenty of other forwards who can do a job here. I think it is only an issue if your lineout jumper is one of your primary ball-runners from 1st phase, which Thomson isn't for the Highlanders (he's much better running when the game is less structured). The fact that both Hoeata and Crosswell are probably better ball runners in the 1st phase is probably an advantage of using Thomson in the lineout! I have far more of an issue with the Canes using Vito a lot in the lineout, as he is probably their best ball running forward.....

And sure it's not Jamie's job to get his players into the AB's but how do you think a guy like Josh Bhekuis feels about it? The guy has been touted for a long time as a future all black. For a while it was just a matter of time. But he's never going to get selected if Adam Thomson is one of the Top lineout takers in super rugby and his stats are nowhere to be seen...

I don't think Thomson being the primary lineout jumper for the Highlanders has any effect on Bekhuis AB's chances. If Bekhuis was taking no ball at all I think it would be an issue, but according to these stats he has taken 23 lineouts so far this season. That is not a huge amount (Thomson has taken 50...), but it is certainly enough for the AB's selectors to judge whether he is competent enough at lineout time. I very much doubt the AB's selectors will take much account of 'raw' stats in any case - I would think they would be far more interested in what percentage of lineout ball someone has taken. Interestingly Luke Romano has apparently taken exactly the same amount of lineout ball as Bekhuis this season, yet this 'lack' of lineout ball doesn't seem to have affected his AB's chances!

 

[Sam91]

This will be a mighty close game I would imagine hopefully quade can get more than a half rugby in this week as I think it will be vital to their chances. Definitely couldn't pick who will win to be honest but ill say reds by 3 only because they're at home