Highlanders v. Blues

[Kiwiwomble]

HIGHLANDERS v BLUES
- Tomorrow, 12.30pm, Balclutha.

• HIGHLANDERS: Ben Smith, James Paterson, Siale Piutau, Shaun Treeby, Kade Poki, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu, Adam Thomson, Nick Crosswell, Joe Tuineau, Jarrad Hoeata, David Te Moana, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh (captain).
Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, Bronson Murray, Halani Aulika, John Hardie, Josh Bekhius, Alando Soakai, Sean Romans, Lima Sopoaga, Matt Saunders, Kendrick Lynn, Telusa Veainu, Robbie Robinson.


• BLUES: Jared Payne, Lachie Munro, Benson Stanley, Luke McAlister, Sherwin Stowers, Stephen Brett, Chris Smylie, Chris Lowrey, Luke Braid, Peter Saili, Filo Paulo, Kurtis Haiu, Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau.
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Pauliasi Manu, James King, Sean Polwart, Mat Luamanu, Toby Morland, Winston Stanley, Nafi Tuitavake, Auvasa Faleali'i, Gareth Anscombe, Aaron Bancroft.

What do we recon? not what i was expecting for the starting XV for the highlanders but im sure it will change and mix up as the game goes on

good to see slade is up to scratch, no cowen? and kurt baker still not good?

 

[Amobokoboko]

Curious to see how the highlanders will do.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Interesting game I reckon...
Highlanders have a strong looking line-up. Would be close to a first team i would say, with the exception of Cowen, Donnelly and possibly Robinson.

Blue line-up looks rather patchy without their All Blacks.

 

[ranger]

Interesting game I reckon...
Highlanders have a strong looking line-up. Would be close to a first team i would say, with the exception of Cowen, Donnelly and possibly Robinson.

Blue line-up looks rather patchy without their All Blacks.

Soakai, Chris King and Bekhuis to add to that too. Im also not sure if Treeby/Piutau is their top centre partnership

 

[Kiwiwomble]

i thought Lynn might be close to first choice and yeah, i would think Robbie at fullback (if kurt still not around) and smith on the wing

 

[Sam Owen]

Maybe Ben Smith at centre??..Kendrick Lynn perhaps. Definately Robbie Robinson at fullback.

Blues have good players in key positions for tommorow.

 

[markshaw]

lachie on the wing? hes slower then some of the forwards. pat lam does my head in

 

[Kiwiwomble]

some big talent in that blues team (although still without AB's?) and some new names with us...could be some interesting match ups

smith did really well at centre for otago but i always felt it was more covering where we were weak and seeing as the centres look pretty solid we should cut him loose out wide, give home some space to play with

also, we dont have a hell of a lot of cover outside so prob wont get much of a run in the centers even if we need him.

 

[Sam Owen]

some big talent in that blues team (although still without AB's?) and some new names with us...could be some interesting match ups

smith did really well at centre for otago but i always felt it was more covering where we were weak and seeing as the centres look pretty solid we should cut him loose out wide, give home some space to play with

also, we dont have a hell of a lot of cover outside so prob wont get much of a run in the centers even if we need him.

Well he was picked as a winger for the ABs and went ok there in black. I thought he looked good in the centres for Otago ITM cup but yeah your right they've got good mid-fielders already.

The more you look at the Highlanders (on paper) the more impressive they get.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Have to say that having not followed the ITM cup I am a bit lost here. Would have loved to watch the game to get a look at what to expect for the S15 although if I erad correctly these are also not full strength sides.

The Highlanders likely to come into the starting XV have been named. Who for the blues?

Woodcock, Mealamu, Afoa, Borric, Williams, Kaino, Braid, Lowrey, Mathewson, Brett, Rokocoko, Stanley, Toe'ava, Ranger, Williams? Or maybe Toe'ava at fullback with McAllister coming in and Paul Williams moving to the bench. Rudi Wulf? Not sure who the starting 8 will be. There was a guy there, Justin something if I remember correctly, that played for the Blues at 8 a while back (I think 2009) and impressed me. Anybody know who I'm talking about and what happened to that guy?

I wouldn't wager a prediction. Possibly the Highlanders for what its worth at this stage.

 

[Sam Owen]

Not sure who the starting 8 will be. There was a guy there, Justin something if I remember correctly, that played for the Blues at 8 a while back (I think 2009) and impressed me. Anybody know who I'm talking about and what happened to that guy?

Justin Collins experienced player he's been playing for awhile. Im not sure where hes at though.

 

[MrChairman]

Sounds like the came from behind to win this 31-29 in an epic game. Can't confirm if that's the final result but its the last update i got before the whistle.

Also, I'm pretty sure gus collins isn't even in the squad. He played for northland very late in the itm cup last year but I havent heard anything about him since.

 

[northharbour]

The Blues kicked-off their pre-season preparations with a hard-fought 31-29 victory over the Highlanders in Balclutha today.

Trailing by 29-17 midway through the second half against a near full-strength Highlanders outfit, the Blues rallied hard in trying conditions to score two late tries before Lachie Munro clinched the win with a conversion in the final minute.

While Blues head coach Pat Lam insisted victory was not the primary goal in the first pre-season hit out of the year, he was thrilled with the way his young team performed.

"It's a pleasing start," Lam said.

"With about 12 or 13 guys missing from our regular squad, it was a good opportunity for the younger guys to perform and I thought they really stepped up. We were under a lot of pressure early on away from home but the boys were able to turn that around and come back hard at them and that shows a lot of character," he said.

"While there were plenty of positive aspects, there's also a lot we need to work on but it was just great to get a game under our belts. It brings a lot of belief when the guys get a chance to try things and it works or almost pays off and for us as coaches it gives us something to work with."

The Highlanders shot out to an early 10-nil lead before Blues first five-eighths Stephen Brett slotted a penalty goal and then converted his own try to level the scores.

The Highlanders replied with a try shortly before half time as the home side took a 15-10 lead into the changing sheds.

But Nafi Tuitavake put the Blues in front for the first time early in the second half, finishing off a good period of sustained pressure to score as North Harbour teammate Luke McAlister added the extras.

The dogged Highlanders, boasting a line-up featuring Jamie Mackintosh, Adam Thomson, Colin Slade and Ben Smith, looked to take the game away from the Blues as they hit back with two quick-fire tries to establish a 29-17 lead.

However Nafi Tuitavake claimed his second try of the match 10 minutes from full time, before a thrilling passage of interplay between the forwards and backs saw the visitors work their way from one end of the field to the other, with hooker Ash Dixon crashing over underneath the posts to level the scores.

Lachie Munro then calmly landed the conversion as the Blues claimed a thrilling 31-29 victory.

The Blues now head north to Tutukaka for a week-long camp before facing the Hurricanes in Kerikeri on Friday night (5.30pm kick-off) in their second pre-season match. For ticketing information visit the Far North District Council website.

Blues 31 (Nafi Tuitavake 2, Stephen Brett, Ash Dixon tries; Stephen Brett pen, con, Luke McAlister 2 con, Lachie Munro con) Highlanders 29

 

[Shaggy]

... And those wanting a bit of extra Info ... like ... I don't know ... who scored the points for the Highlanders , there's this courtesy of NZ Herald website

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10702921

The Blues have beaten the Highlanders 31-29 in a Super rugby pre-season match at Balclutha today.

Nafi Tuitavake grabbed the winning converted try and his second of the game as the Blues came from behind in the third quarter to pip the Highlanders who led 15-10 at halftime.

Highlanders first five Colin Slade took a blow to the cheek during the game and was taken to hospital for x-rays, but Wellington youngster Lima Sopoaga proved an able replacement, kicking two conversions.

Scores: Blues 31 (Nafi Tuitavake 2, Stephen Brett, Ash Dixon tries; Brett pen, con, Luke McAlister 2 con, Lachie Munro con) Highlanders 29 (Shaun Treeby 2, Bronson Murray, Aaron Smith tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 con, Colin Slade pen, con). Halftime 10-15.

 

[Amobokoboko]

After reading this I reckon the Highlanders will have a good season.

 

[markshaw]

I dunno bates? losing to a junior blues team?

 

[ranger]

Well, Slades out. This isn't great news for the Highlanders.. Robbie Robinson into first five, Ben Smith to fullback probably.

 

[Sam Owen]

Well, Slades out.

Pre-season games can be expensive at times.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

question, if he was a write off and seeing as the season hasn't kicked off yet (offically) could we draft in someone else? no idea who is even out there...mmmm Tony Brown?

anyway, I would say Lima Sopoaga into first five and Robbie covering both first five and fullback, no point having a specialist first five and leaving him on the bench at the expense of fullback

 

[Sam Owen]

anyway, I would say Lima Sopoaga into first five and Robbie covering both first five and fullback, no point having a specialist first five and leaving him on the bench at the expense of fullback

True that and Lima from what Ive seen in his ITM games is an exciting attacker and it maybe that Lima gets the 10 jersey but who knows...definately something heavy on coach Joesphs conscious.