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Highlanders to unleash Japanese star Kazuki Himeno against Crusaders reserve side
Japan star Kazuki Himeno will get his first taste of action in Highlanders colours this weekend, but his Super Rugby Aotearoa debut will have to wait another fortnight.
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The Brave Blossoms loose forward has been named to start for the franchise’s reserve team, the Bravehearts, who will take on the Crusaders Knights at Pleasant Point on Saturday afternoon.
The match will act as Himeno’s first involvement in New Zealand rugby since arriving in the country from Japan last month.
Having not played in over a year, Highlanders head coach Tony Brown has opted to take a precautionary approach about the way in which he implements his star man into the side.
He said Saturday’s clash against the Crusaders’ reserve side will give Himeno some valuable playing time to bring him up to speed physically as he eyes a Super Rugby Aotearoa debut against the Hurricanes on March 26.
“He’s good. He’s trained really well,” Brown said.
“He hasn’t had a game for over a year, so it’s important he gets some good minutes under his belt on Saturday against the Crusaders Knights, and then we’ll be looking at that game and see if he can get him in against the Hurricanes.”
The 17-test international, who has joined the Highlanders on a year-long deal from Toyota Verblitz, isn’t the only headline name to play for the Bravehearts this weekend.
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Former All Blacks wing Nehe Milner-Skudder, who is also awaiting his Highlanders debut since signing with the franchise last year, has been named to start at fullback, while new Chiefs recruit Solomon Alaimalo will start on the right wing.
“Solomon needs game time,” Brown said of Alaimalo’s inclusion in the Bravehearts side.
“It’s a good opportunity for him to go and play in the Bravehearts, get 80 minutes of footy into his body. He hasn’t played for a long time either, so guys who are returning from injury that we need to get game time into.”
All Blacks lock prospect Pari Pari Parkinson, meanwhile, will also complete his return from a long spell on the sideline through injury as he has been named to start in the Bravehearts second row.
Likewise, loosehead prop Ayden Johnstone, who has been out of action since picking up a concussion during last year’s North vs South match, will start the match as co-captain.
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Other Highlanders squad members playing for the Bravehearts include Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Kayne Hammington, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Scott Gregory, Ricky Jackson and Sione Misiloi.
The Crusaders Knights, meanwhile, will field full Crusaders squad members such as Isileli Tuungafasi, Oli Jager, Ereatara Enari, Brett Cameron, Manasa Mataele, Isaiah Punivai and Tamaiti Williams.
Kick-off for the match between the Highlanders Bravehearts and Crusaders Knights is scheduled for 1:30pm [NZT].
Highlanders Bravehearts
1. Ayden Johnstone (co-c)
2. Quentin MacDonald
3. Saula Ma’u
4. Grayson Knapp
5. Pari Pari Parkinson
6. Teariki Ben-Nicholas
7. Sean Withy
8. Kazuki Himeno
9. Kayne Hammington (co-c)
10. Caleb Makene
11. Josh Moorby
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen
13. Scott Gregory
14. Solomon Alaimalo
15. Nehe Milner-Skudder
Reserves: Ricky Jackson, Namatahi Waa, Chris Apoua, Fabian Holland, Sione Misiloi, Arese Poliko, Matt James, Nathan Hastie, Cameron Millar, Giovanni Leituala, Jermaine Pepe.
Crusaders Knights
1. Isileli Tuungafasi
2. Shilo Klein
3. Oli Jager
4. Will Tucker
5. Caleb Aperahama
6. Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta
7. Mitch Gibson
8. Matt Letoga
9. Ereatara Enari
10. Brett Cameron
11. Manasa Mataele
12. Tim O’Malley
13. Isaiah Punivai
14. Cam Bailey
15. Josh McKay
Reserves:
16. Sam Stewart
17. Conan O’Donnell
18. Tamaiti Williams
19. Antonio Shalfoon
20. Liam Allen
21. Braden Stewart
22. Luke Donaldson
23. Alex Harford
24. Taine Robinson
25. Tahu Kaa
26. Rico Syme
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
28 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
24 Go to comments