Golden opportunity for former Under 20 flanker as injury strikes Crusaders
A warm and sunny evening is expected in the beautiful central Otago town of Wanaka for the annual Farmlands Cup pre-season fixture between the Highlanders and Crusaders.
A capacity crowd of 7,000 will enjoy the traditional rivalry between the two South Island clubs, but there will be one unexpected absence in the form of Crusaders flanker Billy Harmon.
Harmon injured his knee in last weekend’s pre-season fixture between the Crusaders and the Hurricanes in Ashburton and will spend the better part of the next month on the sidelines.
The 25-year-old was poised to play a major role in the Crusaders’ season after spending the past two years backing up Matt Todd, who has now departed for Japan. While Harmon could miss minimal matches for the Crusaders, he may struggle to earn his spot back if his replacement makes a good fist of things on Friday night and over the opening rounds of Super Rugby 2020.
In Harmon’s place comes former Under 20 captain Tom Christie, who is entering his first season of Super Rugby.
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Christie has been marked as a player with a big future and will look to emulate the performances of the Crusaders’ former superstar opensides, Todd and Richie McCaw.
With 2020 captain Scott Barrett still a week away from returning, fullback David Havili will take on the leadership duties.
“As coaches, we were really pleased with what we saw in Ashburton, particularly from some of our young players who certainly put their hand up,” head coach Scott Robertson said.
“We’re proud of them for taking their opportunity and it’s given us something to think about ahead of round one next week. The pre-season is a chance to test some of our combinations and structures, and we’ll do more of the same this Friday night. We’re looking forward to heading to Wanaka for another tough Farmlands Cup encounter.”
A Super Rugby rookie has been suspended from rugby after he was found guilty of serious misconduct in a New Zealand Rugby misconduct hearing.https://t.co/6iGfVfkHkD
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Highlander CEO Roger Clark is excited by the sell-out crowd coming to Wanaka.
“We are delighted by the response to this game, to have any match at full capacity prior to kick-off is always exciting. The Central Otago community certainly get in behind our pre-season games and I know the team love playing in this part of the world”, said Clark.
Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger is looking for his players to make the most of their game time and bring plenty of energy and intent, “Friday’s match is a good chance to really get our game going, to do that we are going to have to be clinical and introduce a more physical edge to our game.”
After the Highlanders fell to the Waratahs in Sydney last weekend, Mauger has made a number of changes to the experimental starting line-up, which saw All Black pivot Josh Ioane slot into the midfield.
Ioane will spend the first half at fullback for the Highlanders then move into the more familiar 10 position in the second period. Former Crusaders first five, Mitch Hunt, will start the game at 10.
This will be the last preseason match for both the Highlanders and the Crusaders, with the Highlanders heading into their first-round bye next week before their first match against the Sharks on Feb 7.
The Crusaders, in contrast, will open their season against the Waratahs in Christchurch in round 1.
Highlanders (1st half): Josh Ioane, Time Fainga’anuku, Rob Thomposon, Teihorangi Walden, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Kayne Hammington, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, James Lentjes (c), Dillon Hunt, Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Siate Tokolahi, Nathan Vella, Ayden Johnstone.
Highlanders (2nd half): Josh McKay, Kirisi Kuridrani, Patelesio Tompkinson, Michael Collins, Scott Gregory, Josh Ioane, Folau Fakatava, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Dillon Hunt (c), Zane Kapeli, Jesse Parete, Jack Whetton, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Sebastian Siataga, Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Additional reserves: Ethan De Groot, Sione Misiloi, Aleki Morris
Crusaders: David Havili (c), Will Jordan, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Brett Cameron, Mitchell Drummond, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Tom Christie, Tom Sanders, Quinten Strange, Mitchell Dunshea, Michael Alaalatoa, Andrew Makalio, Isi Tu’ungafasi. Reserves: Brodie McAlister, George Bower, Oliver Jager, Cullen Grace, Sione Havili, Bryn Hall, Fergus Burke, Manasa Mataele, Harry Allan, Luke Romano, Fetuli Paea.
– with Highlanders and Crusaders Rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
Is Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
17 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
17 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
2 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
17 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
1 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
17 Go to commentsSA sides should do the right thing and leave the champions cup, they are lowering the standard with completely one sided games, not up to the right level. The greatest club tournament in the world is being banjaxed by the weak SA sides.
17 Go to commentsCouldnt agree more. SA sides need to show more committment and really have a go at the Champions Cup. Its quite possibly the most prestigious title in Europe and SA sides need to respect that prestige and serve up their best. EPCR needs to do more to ensure that sides from South Africa and sides travelling to and from SA have a better chance in this competition. The Bulls were put in a really difficult position of having to travel there and back in one week. One could argue that this is what the SA sides signed up for and that La Rochelle didnt complain or send out weakened sides despite having to travel to SA and back and play on successive weekends but surely the situation is also unfair on La Rochelle as well and so EPCR needs to think about successive gameweeks and the travel effect of the competition
17 Go to commentsI hadn’t watched much Canes this season but sat through a replay of that Chiefs game with no distractions. That pack is beastly. I really like the look of Iose. He loves the tough stuff. The first Quins clip may be the best I have even seen for a TH driving his opposite into oblivion. i need to take your word for the contribution of Walker, but Collier there with a straight back pushing up from under was a lovely thing to see. Have you fallen in love with Baxter also, Nick? I think Stuart Barnes may have written his column about him recently, naked. He positively frothed.
14 Go to commentsSmart guy. I wish he was running the RFU or something!
2 Go to commentsWhy Barrett, when Leinster already have at least 4 top centres.?
15 Go to commentsGood write up, Brett. Rebels are an interesting one for sure. 88 points scored in the last two games, but against two teams that are unlikely to be in the top 4 at seasons end. However the other side of the coin, against the Hurricanes, the team to beat atm, they conceded 54 points, and add in another 53 points to the then high flying Reds, and things don’t look so good. The acid tests will be against the Blues and the Chiefs. I do hope they do contest the finals this year, if only to confound those working on their demise. Les Kiss has made a big difference to the Qld. Reds, and they could so easily have now been sitting unbeaten at the top of the table. But they have now lost some games in a most disappointing fashion, and now step up against the Highlanders this weekend seriously depleted, four absolute key players down, two to suspension, two injured. Of the other Australian sides, the Brumbies look unlikely to fold to anyone any time soon, while the Waratahs and Force both disappoint. But still and all, winning games against the NZ sides is very welcome, and one would hope for more to come. Who will come out on top ? A North Island side for sure should contest the final, but I would hope an Australian side might just get there this year. Brumbies most likely, Qld. Reds could be formidable with a full team back on the field.
12 Go to commentsThe stat that illustrates some progress compared to recent years is that Aussie sides have won 5 of 12 games against Kiwi sides. The Tahs have lost 2 tight games against Kiwi sides, while the Reds and Tahs have contrasting experiences in games against Kiwi sides decided by that farcical thing called golden point.
12 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes pack has stepped up in a huge way this year. Their improvement at scrum time has been a big contributor to their success. Aumua looks like he is playing with a lot of confidence and put in a really good display at both set piece and in general play on Saturday. Him and Numia are putting in a good case for higher honours, A dominate combination with Lomax will help their case. And their loose forward depth is class. Iose has benefited from regular game time and Lakai has shown his versatility and promise. Thanks Nick. Hope all is well.
14 Go to commentsSamoa have enough former internationals who want to flick a switch for a country most have probably hardly set foot in. If you’re that passionate about Samoa, go live and play rugby there to qualify instead of just waltzing into the side and kicking a player actually from Samoa out of the squad. All these ex internationals hasn’t really made them that much more competitive because most look like they're going through the motions.
2 Go to commentsKini Naholo at 14 brings to memory Waisake.
1 Go to commentsGrace, much like Luke Jacobson, has never looked like the same player since his run of injuries. He also looked much better as a 6 than an 8. He still looks like he doesn't completely understand the position.
2 Go to comments