Highlanders reveal reasoning behind Sam Gilbert's shock selection at No 10
It may have come as a surprise to the rugby public, but the Highlanders say the selection of Sam Gilbert at first-five is anything but.
In fact, assistant coach Clarke Dermody said on Wednesday that Gilbert, normally a wing or fullback, has been played out of position for years.
A first-five during his days as a schoolboy at St Andrew’s College in Christchurch, Gilbert has also featured at No 10 at club level in Dunedin, but has never played in the role since his first-class debut three years ago.
That will change this weekend when he steers the ship for the Highlanders against the Western Force at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Friday.
The decision to name Gilbert at first-five caught many off-guard, but Dermody said the 23-year-old has the skillset required to thrive there this weekend.
“It’s obviously a surprise to anyone outside of the team,” Dermody, the Highlanders forwards coach, said.
“What we see is a guy with a good skillset for 10. Obviously not my area of expertise, but he’s been running the team really well this week and looking forward to seeing how he goes in there.
“He’s had a couple of club games there, and he was also a 10 at school, so, effectively, he’s been out-of-position for a couple of years for us on the wing and at fullback, which is probably his other position, but this week he gets another crack at 10.”
Among the positives Gilbert offers as a first-five, his sizeable physical frame is possibly the most alluring for the Highlanders, whose selection of the youngster is perhaps indicative that they eager for more from their chief playmakers with ball-in-hand.
Standing at 1.88m and 98kg, Gilbert is 10cm taller and 10kg heavier than regular starter Mitch Hunt, who has been demoted to the bench.
As such, Gilbert is set to provide the Highlanders with a different dimension than what they have become accustomed to this season.
“Obviously trusting Brownie’s [head coach Tony Brown’s] instinct on it a wee bit because he obviously sees things a bit better than I do in those positions,” Dermody said.
“But what he sees is a guy with natural ability, strong kicker, good tackler and distributes the ball well.
“I think it potentially indicates maybe a change of style in game we’ve been playing in the last few weeks. It’s probably all we can say at the moment.”
Despite his initial reluctance to give away too much information in the way of pre-game tactics, Dermody made note that Gilbert’s size and communication skills will be of particular use against a Force side the he said are direct in their attacking approach.
“Obviously [Gilbert is] a bit bigger under the high ball, and also, the way the Force play, they come through the front door, especially in the 22, so, early in the game, looking to negate that as well,” Dermody said.
“He’s a good communicator. Obviously when you’re not in that position, you don’t have to talk as much, so, this week, being put in there has put more on him to be able to do that.
“So far, this is without having our main training, he’s done a good job leading the team around.”
The idea of picking players seemingly out of position isn’t a new concept for teams coached by Tony Brown, who played picked current Waratahs No 8 Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco as a second-five during their time at the Sunwolves in 2019.
That selection ploy worked to devastating effect as Warren-Vosayaco starred there for the now-defunct Japanese franchise, and Brown has since brought his unorthodox selection methods back with him to the Highlanders.
Gilbert’s selection at first-five isn’t the first time Brown has toyed with the idea of playing an outside back in the No 10 role this season.
Last month, he revealed that he views hot-stepping sevens star Vilimoni Koroi as a first-five rather than a fullback or wing, which is where he has played most of his XVs rugby for the Highlanders and Otago.
Dermody said that Koroi – who has played just once in Super Rugby Pacific this year – was in contention to start at first-five this weekend, but the Highlanders selectors ultimately decided to opt for Gilbert.
“Unfortunately for Vili, he’s a genuine utility, so can cover a lot of positions in the backline. It was talked about for selection this week, but decided to go with Sam’s skillset.”
Dermody added that if Gilbert succeeds this weekend, he will remain a contender to push for further starting roles at first-five, but made it clear that the underperforming Hunt is still very much an option for his side.
“Obviously the team hasn’t been playing well, so when the team hasn’t been playing well in the first half of this competition, it’s hard to stand out as a 10,” Dermody said.
“I think Mitch had one of his better games on the weekend. We had some good go-forward ball from him, we were starting to use the ball a bit more, so we have that opportunity off the bench, hopefully the game’s freed up and we can use his running game a bit more.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments