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New era of success beckons for Highlanders
When former head coach Jamie Joseph took charge of the Highlanders towards the end of 2010, he revolutionised the way in which the Dunedin-based franchise operated.
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He was joining a battling side that were fielding calls from some quarters for their culling from the competition as a result of not reaching the playoffs since 2002, posting a win average of just three matches per season in the three years preceding his arrival, and generally being one of the more dull, incapable teams in the competition.
However, during his six-year tenure, Joseph – with the help of assistant Tony Brown – transformed them into a team that claimed their maiden Super Rugby title in 2015, took them to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 2000, and made them one of the most skilled and exciting clubs to watch in the southern hemisphere.
He did so by vastly improving the chemistry within the squad and instilling his troops with an unquantifiable amount of self-belief.
Those attributes, combined with an insatiable hunger for gritty defence and an encouragement to play instinctive rugby with ball in hand, made the Highlanders a lethal prospect under the tutelage of Joseph.
Those qualities he introduced has laid the foundation for a golden era of Highlanders rugby that the southern men are still basking in since his departure for Japan in 2016.
Even with Brown and now Aaron Mauger coming on board as head coaches, the Highlanders have set a club record for most consecutive yearly playoff appearances and have built on their reputation as a side that thrives off their underdog status through rock-solid defence and innovative, off-the-cuff style of offence.
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However, every golden era must come to an end, and one of the challenges facing second-year coach Mauger is that the Highlanders look to be nearing that point heading into 2019.
No doubt they’ll once again prove to be one of the title frontrunners this year, as anything less than a quarter-final appearance will be deemed to be a significant failure.
What Mauger needs to be wary of, though, is the expected post-World Cup exodus of the long-time playing personnel that has formed the core of the Highlanders squad since 2011.
Malakai Fekitoa and Lima Sopoaga were two of the side’s title-winning All Blacks who have already left for Europe, while club legend Ben Smith has signed a seven-month deal with French club Pau.
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Rumours persist of World Cup-winning halfback Aaron Smith moving overseas after 2019, while Liam Squire and Waisake Naholo have confirmed they will. Other key players whose contracts expire at the end of this year include Luke Whitelock, Liam Coltman, co-captain Ash Dixon, Richard Buckman and Tom Franklin.
While the loss of that much talent and experience from Mauger’s squad could make life from 2020 daunting for him, there remains a silver lining.
A clear out of established names and familiar faces paves the way for Mauger, whose coaching career is still in its infancy, to produce his own golden era at the helm of the Highlanders.
2019 could be the year of transition from one era to another.
His transfer activity during the off-season indicates that he’s preparing for the future by bringing in a raft of fresh, new faces both on and off the field.
Headlining the new recruits is returning cult hero Marty Banks.
The 29-year-old is back in Dunedin after spells in Italy and Japan to fill the void left by Sopoaga and new Hurricanes playmaker Fletcher Smith, and is widely expected to follow on from his outstanding campaign with the side in 2017.
North Harbour pivot Bryn Gatland will contest with Banks and Josh Ioane for the vacant starting first-five spot, as he moves south from the Blues in search of more game time and better results.
Waikato props Josh Iosefa-Scott and Ayden Johnstone impressed for the Mooloos in their Mitre 10 Cup Championship-winning campaign last year.
At the age of 22, both men are babies by front row standards, and have long professional careers ahead of them.
Joining them in the front row is former Reds prop Sef Fa’agase and Tasman hooker Ray Niuia, while promising loose forward Marino Mikaele-Tu’u returns to the side after debuting as an injury replacement in 2018.
Lock Jack Whetton, son of 58-test All Black Gary, returns to Super Rugby after making his debut with the Brumbies five years ago.
He brings with him lots of experience from England and France, which should offset the loss of 37-year-old Alex Ainley.
19-year-old halfback Folau Fakatava is relatively unknown outside of Hawke’s Bay, but Mauger has described the former schoolboy star as someone who has “just got game”, and certainly looks to be one for the future.
Off the field, former England and British and Irish Lions midfielder Riki Flutey has joined the club as a skills coach, adding to the depth of experience within the Highlanders’ coaching staff.
Expect these new signings to improve the quality already evident in the squad.
Whether it be seasoned veterans such as the Smith’s, Naholo, and Squire, the exciting young talent of Josh McKay, Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Tyrel Lomax, or players looking to build on ground-breaking campaigns in 2018 like Rob Thompson, Jackson Hemopo and Shannon Frizell, there’s plenty of talent to go around.
All things considered, there’s no reason why the host of departing veterans can’t expect a deserved send-off in what’s likely to be their swansong season.
It will be a tough ask in a demanding New Zealand conference, but the next generation of Highlanders should be determined to kick-start their own era of success under the guidance of Mauger.
2019 Predictions:
New Zealand Conference Placing: 4th
Player of the Year: Waisake Naholo
Rookie of the Year: Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
Best Signing: Marty Banks
Breakout Player: Josh McKay
Squad Movements:
Ins: Sef Fa’agase (Reds), Josh Iosefa-Scott (Waikato), Ayden Johstone (Waikato), Ray Niuia (Tasman), Jack Whetton (Auckland), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (Hawke’s Bay), Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay), Marty Banks (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes), Bryn Gatland (Blues)
Outs: Guy Millar (Biarritz), Aki Seiuli (injured), Kalolo Tuiloma (injured), Greg Pleasants-Tate (released), Alex Ainley (released), Dan Pryor (Sunwolves), Josh Renton (Zebre), Fletcher Smith (Hurricanes), Lima Sopoaga (Wasps)
Squad:
Forwards: Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Ray Niuia, Sef Fa’agase, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Ayden Johnstone, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Tyrel Lomax, Siate Tokolahi, Josh Dickson, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Pari Pari Parkinson, Jack Whetton, Elliot Dixon, Shannon Frizell, Dillon Hunt, James Lentjes, Liam Squire, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u Luke Whitelock
Backs: Folau Fakatava, Kayne Hammington, Aaron Smith, Marty Banks, Bryn Gatland, Josh Ioane, Richard Buckman, Matt Faddes, Rob Thompson, Sio Tomkinson, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Teihorangi Walden, Tevita Li, Josh McKay, Tevita Nabura, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith
Mitch Drummond ahead of Crusaders’ clash with the Blues:
Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to comments