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'Big opportunity' finally arrives for All Blacks hopeful Marino Mikaele-Tu'u
With Covid now prevalent in the community, it’s no surprise that the Highlanders have had to rejig their team ahead of their Round 4 Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Blues.
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The Highlanders have made five personnel changes to their starting line-up for this Friday’s clash at Eden Park, bringing in Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Aaron Smith, Mosese Dawai and Scott Gregory. Bryn Evans, Hugh Renton and Folau Fakatava have dropped back to the bench while Fetuli Paea and Sam Gilbert have been omitted from the match-day 23 altogether.
Highlanders manager Greg O’Brien confirmed on Wednesday that a number of squad members had been afflicted by Covid but understandably would not divulge the names of any individuals.
“We can confirm we’ve got a few cases within our environment that we’re dealing with, have been dealing with the last couple of weeks really as we look to mitigate the effect of Covid on us,” he said.
“It hasn’t affected our ability to field a side at all this week.”
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Whether Covid is behind any specific absences is unknown but head coach Tony Brown was quick to explain a number of the more curious changes to the starting line-up.
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All Black Smith’s return to the No 9 jersey is no surprise while lock Selby-Rickit has been one of the Highlanders’ best performers over the opening three rounds of the competition, starting against the Chiefs and Crusaders and then adding plenty of impetus off the bench against the Hurricanes last weekend.
“We just rotated Manaaki back in as we rotated him out last week,” Brown said of the change in the second row. “It’s not really anything to do with the Blues, it’s more just managing our squad.”
Perhaps the more interesting change in the forwards is the elevation of Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, with the 24-year old a permanent fixture in the No 19 jersey to kick off the year. The loose forward burst onto the scene back in 2020 and was considered by some as a possible inclusion in that year’s All Blacks squad. Mikaele-Tu’u missed out, however, and subsequently struggled for minutes with the Highlanders last year, managing just three starts and two further appearances from the reserves. That was thanks in part to the presence of Japanese international Kazuki Himeno, who has returned to Japan for the 2021 season.
Brown suggested that Friday’s skirmish could be Mikaele-Tu’u’s chance to draw a line in the sand.
“I think with Marino, he’s come off an operation so we wanted to build his load through the early part of the season and we feel as though he’s ready to start a game of rugby now,” he said, “and it’s pretty exciting for him to get out there and show everyone what he’s got because he had a bit of a light year last year so it’s a big opportunity for him.”
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The return of Mosese Dawai in the back three is also notable, with the 2022 debutant struggling in his first-up appearance against the Chiefs in the opening round of the competition. Brown has dropped plenty of hints that the Fijian flyer could be back in action soon and he’s made good on that, bringing Dawai back into the line-up in the No 11 jersey.
“He’s had a great couple of weeks,” Brown said. “He’s added a little bit of conditioning to his footy so he’s a bit fitter.
“But I think it was important for him just to have a couple of weeks off, think about what happened on his debut, and make sure that next time he gets the opportunity, he’s gonna play his style of rugby and not be afraid.”
With Dawai on the left wing, last weekend’s debutant Liam Coombes-Fabling on the right (both who represented Waikato in last year’s NPC title-winning run) and the inexperienced highly promising Connor Garden-Bachop at fullback, the Highlanders’ back three boasts just 10 caps in total but plenty of X-factor – something Tony Brown’s side will need if they’re looking to finally start scoring some tries.
The Highlanders will take on the Blues at 7:05pm NZT on Friday evening.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments