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Highlanders boss Tony Brown explains positional switches for three key players

By Alex McLeod
(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Highlanders head coach Tony Brown believes Thomas Umaga-Jensen’s move from second-five to centre may bring the best out of the wildcard All Blacks prospect.

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Umaga-Jensen has been named to start in the No 13 jersey for the second match running this weekend when the Highlanders become the first Super Rugby Pacific team to play the Fijian Drua in Suva on Saturday.

The powerful 24-year-old starred there for the Dunedin-based franchise in their 28-17 Super Round defeat to the Brumbies in Melbourne last Sunday after having played exclusively at second-five throughout this year’s Super Rugby Pacific.

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Umaga-Jensen’s performance at AAMI Park was a continuation of his strong form this season, which has thrust him into discussions about a potential All Blacks call-up among an uncertain group of midfield candidates.

As such, Brown has opted to retain Umaga-Jensen at centre after having swapped midfield places with new second-five Fetuli Paea.

The reasoning behind the slight positional tweaks is due to the fact that Brown thinks Umaga-Jensen’s traits as an explosive ball-carrier will flourish more in the wider channels than in the face of stern defences further in the backline.

“There’s not a lot of difference, really,” Brown said on Thursday of the exchange of positions between Umaga-Jensen and Paea.

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“It probably is what you’re saying, it’s just getting him into a little bit more space a little bit wider so he can be a little bit more destructive there rather than sending him into dominant defenders.

“We feel as though Fetuli’s a physical guy in our backline, both on attack and defence, and the 12 position suits him better.”

Umaga-Jensen and Paea aren’t the only players Brown is keen to try in alternative positions, as he revealed that he sees All Blacks Sevens star Vilimoni Koroi as a long-term first-five rather than an outside back option.

A veteran of rugby’s abbreviated format, Koroi has largely played on the wing or at fullback in XVs, where most of his game time has come for Otago in the NPC.

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The exciting 24-year-old has also been called upon as a first-five on occasion while playing provincially, but he is yet to feature as a pivot for the Highlanders at Super Rugby level.

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In fact, Koroi has only three appearances to his name since making his Highlanders debut in Super Rugby Aotearoa two years ago, and has played just once this year in a brief cameo showing off the bench against the Blues in Dunedin last month.

Koroi has again missed the cut to play against the Drua this weekend, and Brown said he has kept the hot-stepper sidelined as he continues his ongoing positional transition in training.

Brown made particular note that he doesn’t see Koroi’s future as a wing due to the sizeable nature of those who play there in Super Rugby Pacific.

Instead, the Highlanders boss views Koroi as first-five who can also play at fullback if need be.

“It’s trying to learn XVs and where he fits in the XVs game,” Brown said.

“Obviously a lot of power wingers who operate in Super Rugby, and Vili’s obviously not the biggest man, so we’re trying to develop him as a first-five-eighth who can cover fullback.”

Without Koroi on the park at ANZ National Stadium on Saturday, Brown has recalled a familiar back three comprised of Scott Gregory, Sam Gilbert and fullback Connor Garden-Bachop.

The trio have been regulars for the Highlanders this season, although none of them started in the loss to the Brumbies five days ago.

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Their inclusions means rookie wing Vereniki Tikoisolomone’s wait for a Super Rugby Pacific debut goes on, with the electric Taranaki wing yet to make an appearance for the Highlanders since being called in as an injury replacement late last year.

Similarly to Koroi, Brown said he is reluctant to throw Tikoisolomone into the mixer until he further develops his game in training.

“He’s been developing really well. Obviously really green at this level of rugby, only been in New Zealand a couple of years, so his development’s more important than his opportunity.”

Elsewhere, Brown has named a fresh loose forward contingent which is headlined by Marino Mikaele-Tu’u’s return from injury.

The barnstorming No 8 adds firepower to the Highlanders’ back row, which also includes hard-working openside Billy Harmon and last week’s debutant Christian Lio-Willie at blindside.

Both Harmon and Lio-Willie earn their first starts of the year, with the former ruled out for the opening half of the campaign by a shoulder injury, while the latter impressed Brown enough against the Brumbies to warrant the No 6 jersey.

“Obviously Christian had an awesome debut coming off the bench against the Brumbies,” Brown said.

“Physically, very good ball-carrier and impacts the game well, and it’s good to have Marino back.

“Similar sort of player, very good carrier and very good operator in the width, and then finally with Billy being 100 percent fit and ready to go now, it’s great to get him back in the team and give Jimmy [James Lentjes] a little bit of a rest.”

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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