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[2014 Super Rugby] New Zealand conference
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<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 616310" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>I actually expect the Highlanders will do a lot better than many people are expecting - I would actually be surprised if we come dead last in the NZ conference. There is no doubt that we have the weakest of the NZ teams "on paper", but we have enough talent sprinkled through the squad to pull off the odd upset. I'm not a big fan of Jamie Josephs coaching style, but I do feel he is much better coaching a side full of solid players than a side full of superstars. We had some success in 2011 when Joseph took over with a similar strength side. The key to this success was the 'back to basics' approach that Joseph adopted: there were no complicated backline moves, backs and forwards alike ran hard (and straight!), and our forwards ploughed into rucks hard, often turning over opposition ball through shear weight of numbers. The Highlanders style has changed dramatically over the last two seasons - last year we had a "run at all costs" gamplan, the backs spend most of the season passing the ball from side to side, while the forwards seemed to scared to even hit a breakdown. If the Highlanders adopt a far more simple game-plan this season we could cause a few teams some issues - we are very unlikely to make the playoffs, but finishing somewhere around 8th-10th is not out of the question. However if we continue playing the style we tried last season there is a very realistic chance we will get dead last.....</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 616310, member: 24910"] I actually expect the Highlanders will do a lot better than many people are expecting - I would actually be surprised if we come dead last in the NZ conference. There is no doubt that we have the weakest of the NZ teams "on paper", but we have enough talent sprinkled through the squad to pull off the odd upset. I'm not a big fan of Jamie Josephs coaching style, but I do feel he is much better coaching a side full of solid players than a side full of superstars. We had some success in 2011 when Joseph took over with a similar strength side. The key to this success was the 'back to basics' approach that Joseph adopted: there were no complicated backline moves, backs and forwards alike ran hard (and straight!), and our forwards ploughed into rucks hard, often turning over opposition ball through shear weight of numbers. The Highlanders style has changed dramatically over the last two seasons - last year we had a "run at all costs" gamplan, the backs spend most of the season passing the ball from side to side, while the forwards seemed to scared to even hit a breakdown. If the Highlanders adopt a far more simple game-plan this season we could cause a few teams some issues - we are very unlikely to make the playoffs, but finishing somewhere around 8th-10th is not out of the question. However if we continue playing the style we tried last season there is a very realistic chance we will get dead last..... [/QUOTE]
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[2014 Super Rugby] New Zealand conference
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