Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Highlanders lose All Black for Waratahs clash as test duo near injury returns

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

The Highlanders have lost one international but will gain another for this weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Waratahs in Dunedin.

ADVERTISEMENT

In the midst of a three-match winning streak that has revived their previously dwindling season, the Highlanders need just one more victory to virtually cement their place in the competition’s quarter-finals, which kick-off in a fortnight.

Eager to lock in their top spot against the sixth-placed Waratahs at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Sunday, the southerners will have to do so without All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot, who will miss the match through a mandatory All Blacks rest week.

Video Spacer

Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 14

Video Spacer

Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 14

A regular starter for the Highlanders, De Groot’s absence will left his side bereft of size, power, mobility and scrummaging prowess, all of which are hallmarks of the four-test international’s game.

However, the loss of De Groot will be offset by the return of five-test England wing Denny Solomona, who is fit and available for selection after missing the Highlanders’ recent three-match tour of Australia and Fiji due to a hamstring injury.

Solomona, an injury replacement player called into the Highlanders squad midway through this year’s campaign, has impressed in the few appearances he has made for the franchise since relocating to New Zealand from England.

As such, it wouldn’t surprise to see the 28-year-old thrust back into the starting lineup straight away as the Highlanders continue to chase a playoffs spot.

ADVERTISEMENT

Their hunt for a top eight finish could also be aided by the potential return of All Blacks loose forward Shannon Frizell, who Highlanders assistant coach Clarke Dermody said on Tuesday was nearing a return from injury.

Frizell has been sidelined since he hurt his knee in the opening minutes of his side’s win over Moana Pasifika six weeks ago, but the 17-test international, who was a standout for the Highlanders prior to his injury, could be back in action by next week.

“Shannon is not quite ready, but he’s not too far away, which is promising heading into the games we’ve got,” Dermody said as he suggested that Frizell might be available for next week’s match between the Highlanders and the Rebels in Melbourne.

That fixture will be the final match of the regular season for both teams, and if the Highlanders do secure a place in the Super Rugby Pacific post-season, Frizell’s return would be a significant boost to their hopes of progressing through the play-offs.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He’s sort of back running and starting back into training with us, so maybe that game,” Dermody said of Frizell’s possible comeback against the Rebels.

“It’ll be a pretty close call, though, I think for that week, but potentially the week after if we get that far.”

Related

Of those available for this week’s match against the Waratahs, youngster Sam Gilbert appears to be the frontrunner to retain the No 10 jersey after producing a top-class performance in his maiden outing as a Highlanders first-five last weekend.

The 23-year-old, who had only ever played wing or fullback in his professional career, was a key figure in his side’s emphatic 61-10 win over the Western Force last Friday.

After landing all eight of his shots at goal and looking comfortable in his role as the team’s chief playmaker, Gilbert’s chances of selection at first-five have been increased by the head knock sustained by Mitch Hunt late in that game.

Hunt clashed heads with veteran Force midfielder Richard Kahui in what was deemed by the officials to be a high tackle, leading to a red card against the World Cup-winning former All Black.

While Kahui’s dismissal was relinquished by the SANZAAR judicial committee on Tuesday, Dermody said Hunt is yet to prove his full fitness following his head knock, indicating that Gilbert is in line for a second successive start at first-five.

“Who would have known? There was a lot of doubt around that,” Dermody said.

“I guess the one person that knew was Brownie [Highlanders head coach Tony Brown]. He knows his players and really happy for Sam.

“He controlled the team really well and a bit of a point of difference on his running game, being able to offload, he was able to bring that as well. Really happy for him. Puts his name right in the hat for the 10 jersey.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jon 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

35 Go to comments
j
john 9 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

36 Go to comments
A
Adrian 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

36 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Storm clouds gather over Biarritz with owner poised to bail out Storm clouds gather over Biarritz with owner poised to bail out
Search