Darwin
AKA Dingo_Darwin
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Can't say I'm overly confident of the Highlanders chances leading into this match. However it sounds like Cruden is still struggling with injury, having not trained all week, while Andrew Horrell hasn't trained all week with an injured ankle. Robbie Robinson has been training at 10 all week for the Chiefs, and if he has to play there (if Cruden and Horrell are ruled out) I'd say the Highlanders will have a very good chance in this match!
The Chiefs look to have a slight edge in the front row: I'd take Smith over MacKintosh, Tameifuna over Fia (though I quite like Fia), and Schwalger over Rutledge (though this would be very close). The locks matchup pretty well: all four are hard-working locks, but again I see the Chiefs having a slight edge. Messam vs Thomson at 6 will be a highlight of the match, as they could well be fighting for 1 spot in the next AB's squad. Manu needs to have a big match for the Highlanders - hopefully the 3 week break will have done him good, as his heavy work load appeared to be taking its toll in recent weeks.
Smith vs Kerr-Barlow is a good match-up at halfback, but the Chiefs look to have a big edge at 10 and 12 (assuming Cruden is fit). The only area the Highlanders may have an edge is numbers 13-15, with Ellison, Gear, Poki, and Smith having a clear edge over Willison, Tikirotimu, Nanai-Williams, and Robinson. Unfortunately having an edge out wide isn't necessarily going to help if we can't get them quality ball to work with!
Overall I'm picking the Chiefs to win by about 10.... unless Cruden and Horrell are ruled out, in which case I will pick the Highlanders by 5
The Chiefs look to have a slight edge in the front row: I'd take Smith over MacKintosh, Tameifuna over Fia (though I quite like Fia), and Schwalger over Rutledge (though this would be very close). The locks matchup pretty well: all four are hard-working locks, but again I see the Chiefs having a slight edge. Messam vs Thomson at 6 will be a highlight of the match, as they could well be fighting for 1 spot in the next AB's squad. Manu needs to have a big match for the Highlanders - hopefully the 3 week break will have done him good, as his heavy work load appeared to be taking its toll in recent weeks.
Smith vs Kerr-Barlow is a good match-up at halfback, but the Chiefs look to have a big edge at 10 and 12 (assuming Cruden is fit). The only area the Highlanders may have an edge is numbers 13-15, with Ellison, Gear, Poki, and Smith having a clear edge over Willison, Tikirotimu, Nanai-Williams, and Robinson. Unfortunately having an edge out wide isn't necessarily going to help if we can't get them quality ball to work with!
Overall I'm picking the Chiefs to win by about 10.... unless Cruden and Horrell are ruled out, in which case I will pick the Highlanders by 5