1
Meet the man challenging rising All Blacks star Josh Ioane for the Highlanders' No. 10 jersey
The man who consigned the Highlanders to one of the most painful losses in recent franchise history is now looking to cement himself as the club’s premier playmaker.
ADVERTISEMENT
After three title-winning campaigns with the Crusaders, Mitch Hunt has moved south in search of a more prominent on-field role after living in the shadow of All Blacks star Richie Mo’unga.
Mo’unga has been a key figure for the Christchurch side since debuting for the 10-time champions in 2016, guiding his hometown team to a hat-trick of titles over the last three seasons from first-five.
Continue reading below…
His work was rewarded with a maiden All Blacks call-up at the end of 2017, and the 25-year-old has since gone on to dislodge Beauden Barrett as New Zealand’s top No. 10, with the two-time World Rugby player of the year instead deployed at fullback throughout last year’s World Cup in Japan.
Mo’unga’s success for club and country, though, stunted Hunt’s development at Super Rugby level, leaving the Nelson product with the difficult decision to pack his bags and relocate to Dunedin.
His transfer to the Highlanders is an interesting twist of fate, given that it was Hunt who slotted a phenomenal 83rd minute drop goal from 43m out to hand the Crusaders a dramatic 25-22 victory over their South Island rivals three years ago.
That win helped lay the platform for the Crusaders to go on to claim the first of their three successive championships, but a switch of allegiance means Highlanders fans will now have to put their faith in the player who is famous for breaking their hearts.
ADVERTISEMENT
Subsequently, Hunt was wary about a frosty reception surrounding his arrival at Forsyth Barr Stadium, but as the Highlanders come to terms with a mass exodus of established players following the World Cup, those fears have been quickly alleviated.
“I was pretty nervous coming down, how I was going to be received from a playing group, but because there’s so many fresh faces, I wasn’t the only one in that boat,” he told reporters on Monday.
“I’m just excited. There’s new combinations, new mates, it’s the works, so can’t wait to get stuck in.”
As a first-five, one of those new combinations will be with veteran All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith, who created a formidable halves partnership with incumbent Highlanders pivot Josh Ioane last season.
ADVERTISEMENT
In fact, the duo worked in tandem so well in Ioane’s breakthrough Super Rugby campaign that the 24-year-old was handed an All Blacks debut against Tonga in a World Cup warm-up clash last September.
Ioane’s exploits as an exciting ball-runner, good distributor and reliable goal-kicker has made him a fan favourite in Dunedin, but Hunt – whose move from Christchurch stemmed from a desire to earn substantial game time – appeared confident with the new dynamic he has built with Smith.
After a frustrating season-opening defeat to the Chiefs, the @BluesRugbyTeam have been dealt another unwanted setback early in their 2020 campaign. #Blues #SuperRugby https://t.co/Ad0UCNFeQ9
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 4, 2020
“It exciting, actually,” Hunt said.
“Obviously [I’ve] only had the last 10 days-ish working with him [Smith], but [we’re] already starting to build that wee combination there, and I look forward to it in a game sense to get out and actually play with him.”
That means the race to start in the Highlanders’ No. 10 jersey in their season-opener against the Sharks on Friday will be fiercely competitive.
However, if head coach Aaron Mauger’s pre-season selections are anything to go by, then it could well be Hunt who is handed the early playmaking duties.
The 24-year-old started at No. 10 in the Highlanders’ January fixtures against the Waratahs and Crusaders, with Ioane shifted to second-five and fullback in both matches to accommodate for Hunt.
It seems likely, then, that Mauger might opt for a dual playmaking system in the backline this weekend, which should relieve Hunt of any added pressure as a key shot-caller in what will be his franchise debut – should he be selected.
“[It’s] just having that knowledge out there on the field of vision and decision-making, getting that right communication,” Hunt said of the benefits of having two playmakers on the field at the same time.
“As a No. 10, if you’re getting told ‘in the corner’ [by Ioane], you don’t even have to look, you can just execute when you’re getting that sort of communication.
“We’ve had that chance to do it already and he’s been awesome, so [that’s] something to build on as well.”
The Highlanders will name their side to face the Sharks on Wednesday, before taking to the field for the first time in Super Rugby this year two days later.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Absolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
5 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
5 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to comments