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'At 20-nil it's not easy to be looking down the barrel like that': Josh Ioane's latest performance puts him back in the conversation alongside Otere Black
The arrival of the headline signing of former Crusaders first five Mitch Hunt last season forced then-coach Aaron Mauger to look at how he would operate the Highlanders backline with newly capped Josh Ioane also on the rise.
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To start the Super Rugby season, Mauger tried a now-uncommon combination in New Zealand, using both pivots at 10 and 12. The experiment got off to a rough start as the Highlanders won just one game from their first six matches before the competition was cancelled.
The arrival of Hunt stalled the growth of Josh Ioane as a 10 until last year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa season, with new coach Tony Brown opting to use the pair as a 10-15 combination, a more common dual playmaker arrangement in New Zealand.
With Ioane at 10 and Hunt at fullback, the Highlanders completed an impressive comeback over the Chiefs in round two of Super Rugby Aotearoa, highlighted by three tries to wing Jona Nareki.
Former Blues hooker James Parsons said on this week’s Aotearoa Rugby Pod that it was the two playmakers that deserved a fair share of the plaudits.
“I thought Josh Ioane was looking great, especially when he was running at that line and just getting through, enabling to get his hands free for those offloads and making defenders think,” he said.
“I think Mitch Hunt has that ability to inject himself in that first receiver role. Also, I think they did that same overthrow line out move where Conor Garden-Bachop scored [against the Crusaders].
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“They used it again and Mitch Hunt injected himself and obviously drew in McKenzie. I liked him at fullback, I think the dual-pivot worked really well for them later in the game, and I think Josh really came into his own once he started playing that flat style of game that he’s really good at. I was really impressed with what I saw.”
With Richie Mo’unga the clear number one option at 10 currently playing in New Zealand, there is an opening behind him to become the number two option for Ian Foster and his staff.
After an impressive showing against the Hurricanes in week one by Otere Black of the Blues, Parsons was prepared to also put Ioane back into that conversation after his Chiefs’ performance.
“We spoke up Otsy [Otere Black]. Otsy last week and the way his game management in a different style of play, Josh has certainly put his hat in the ring with that performance.”
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“The ability to stay calm and composed at 20-nil, to sort of orchestrate a come back. I think both of them need credit, Mitch and Josh, but at 20-nil it’s not easy to be looking down the barrel like that.”
“Tony Brown spoke about his leaders having a big part to play, and I think Ash Dixon is a big part of that and Aaron Smith is a big part, but it always comes down to your 9, 10, and 15 and your hooker to get you to that victory.”
The 25-year-old Highlanders playmaker debuted for the All Blacks in 2019 against Tonga before the Rugby World Cup, but was then not picked in the squad’s 2020 Rugby Championship campaign by new coach Ian Foster.
Ioane will get the chance to potentially square off head-to-head with Otere Black when the Blues host the Highlanders this week, in a key matchup battle that could have ramifications for All Blacks selections later in the year.
Despite the Highlanders’ impressive comeback away win over the Chiefs, Parsons wasn’t prepared to back them over the in-form Blues who, coming off the bye, should be fresh and ready for this game.
“I think the Highlanders are good, they are a really good outfit. They are not a one man show. Certainly Nareki is good, in pre-season he had spiders on him and he is one to watch, but their forwards are old school.
“They roll up their sleeves, they seem to be sticking with that maul, they are desperate for that maul try so the Blues will be wanting to nail that maul defence.
“They know what is coming. It is always a big battle. I think the Highlanders will still be hurting from that last-gasp victory we got against them at Eden Park last year.
“I think the Blues have got enough, a week off, coming back fresh and a bit of confidence from getting that away win.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments