'It's what every player tries to do': How Scott Gregory recovered from his horror Highlanders debut
It’s been almost a year since rising Highlanders star Scott Gregory had a starting debut to forget against the Blues in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Thrust into the starting lineup for the first time in what was just his second-ever Super Rugby match, Gregory endured a torrid time at Eden Park in his side’s 27-24 defeat last June.
Named at fullback, the then-21-year-old suffered a multitude of errors, two of which – a charged down kick on his own tryline and an aimless midfield bomb – led to tries to Dalton Papali’i and Rieko Ioane.
A slew of handling errors didn’t help his cause, and Gregory could have been excused for wilting under public pressure as he became a scapegoat for many among the Highlanders fanbase and the wider New Zealand rugby fraternity.
However, upon his return to the franchise a year older and a year wiser this season, the Northland youngster appears to have turned a corner and has flourished with extensive game time in his preferred midfield position.
It all started in April, when Gregory was called back into the side for the first time since last year to plug one of the many gaps left by the six Highlanders players stood down days before their clash with the Crusaders for excessive partying.
While many expected little from Gregory after his performance against the Blues the year beforehand, he put in a remarkably solid showing to help the Highlanders shock the reigning Super Rugby Aotearoa champions in a 33-12 victory in Christchurch.
It wasn’t just a flash in the pan display, either, as Gregory’s consistency and reliability have established him as a regular starter for the Highlanders ever since that drizzly evening at Orangetheory Stadium.
The fact that Gregory has started in every Highlanders match since that surprise win over the Crusaders has shown a true test of his character to bounce back in the face of adversity, something the man himself addressed while speaking to media on Tuesday.
“These things happen to everyone,” Gregory said when asked about that Blues match in Auckland 12 months go.
“We all are human and I think that’s something a lot of people struggle to remember, so I think it’s just being able to push past that and know that we are better than those performances that we do have and we just go out there and try our best every week.
“It’s what every player tries to do.”
An ex-All Black believes the national selectors might take a conservative approach when it comes time to picking their squad to face Tonga and Fiji next month. #AllBlacks https://t.co/Uys5rirKym
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It has also probably helped that Gregory has been given a licence by this year’s coaches, Tony Brown and Clarke Dermody, to play at second-five rather than at fullback or on the wing.
Despite his versatility – he revealed he also played first-five while growing up – it’s in the midfield where he looks most comfortable thanks to the physicality that he provides.
“I think that’s probably just part of my game,” Gregory said of his physical nature.
“It’s probably a strength I’d say I have. I definitely like it and it’s probably what appeals to me about the midfield. You get in there and you have a lot more physicality in the games, so that’s one part I really like.”
He attributes being sandwiched between the experienced figures of Mitch Hunt and Michael Collins at first-five and centre, respectively, as key reasons behind his vastly improved showings in 2021.
“It’s awesome having guys that have such experience around me. It’s definitely helped me develop my game in that area as well, so it’s awesome to have encouragement with them, players on the field, coaches as well. I’m happy with where I’m sitting.”
Hunt has been outspoken in his admiration for Gregory’s resilience as he piled the praise on his five-eighth partner following the Highlanders’ 40-19 win over the Reds in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman opener last month.
“It’s pretty tough when everyone judges you off his first Super game and what happened there,” Hunt said shortly after the match in which Gregory bagged his first Super Rugby try.
“He’s only proved himself every training, every game that he’s played since. It’s been fantastic for us.
“He’s a big lad and I know a lot of what Brownie and the likes of [assistant coach] Shane Christie talked to Scotty about is around that physicality, and we’d seen that tonight on those edges, he was putting some great shots on.
“When he carries, he carries hard, takes a couple of defenders, so I’m stoked with how he’s grown this year and actually been sort of a talisman for us as well.”
Could a debutant take their first steps in the international arena come July, or will the #AllBlacks look at shifting around some pieces? #SuperRugbyTThttps://t.co/RWUARPn2qa
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The Highlanders can expect to utilise the services of Gregory, who said he is tipping the scales at 100kg, for at least another year as he confirmed that he has signed on with the franchise through until the end of 2022.
In doing so, he has turned his back on the All Blacks Sevens programme, which he had committed himself to in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics before COVID-19 struck.
Although the prospect of an Olympic gold medal is enticing, Gregory has parked those ambitions to one side as he looks to continue to his rapid development with the Highlanders.
“I’m pretty happy getting comfortable with the XV-a-side environment at the moment,” he said.
“The Olympics is an awesome opportunity, I really enjoyed my time when I was there, but I think I’d be happy to have another go at that, maybe another time down the track.”
Chiefs star Damian McKenzie’s Super Rugby season is over after he was banned by SANZAAR for his red card tackle against Reds halfback Tate McDermott on Saturday. #SuperRugbyTT https://t.co/NsljbJNTUx
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Before he gives the 2024 Paris Olympics any thought, Gregory has to turn his attention to the Waratahs this weekend.
After picking up three wins from as many matches in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman this season, the Highlanders only lie in fourth place with 13 points to their name.
A missed chance to pick up a bonus-point win over the Rebels in Sydney last Sunday could prove to be detrimental to their title hopes, but they would receive a boost if they can clinch all five points against the Waratahs in Dunedin on Saturday.
Still yet to pick up a win this season, the Waratahs will be written off by many heading into this weekend’s clash, but Gregory is acutely aware of the threat the New South Welshmen pose.
“They’ve still got good players in their side and they’re still capable of pulling one out of the hat as any team is. I think a lot of people would have been writing us off against the Crusaders a couple of weeks ago and look what happened.
“We can’t take anyone lightly in this competition. As you said, the other night the Reds got over the Chiefs and any team can do that to anyone in this competition. That’s the beauty of rugby.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
late hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
4 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
24 Go to comments