1
The GOAT is back to fill gap for the Highlanders
Aaron Mauger has announced his Highlanders squad for the 2019 Super Rugby season, headlined by the return of cult hero Marty Banks.
ADVERTISEMENT
The fan-favourite Banks helps fill an experience gap left by departing All Black Lima Sopoaga and the recent announcement of the Hurricanes signing Fletcher Smith. Otago first five-eighth Josh Ioane shapes as the future of the Highlanders, but will compete with Banks and ex-Blues first five Bryn Gatland for the starting jersey this year.
“We already had Josh Ioane and Bryn Gatland locked in, and we have been really pleased with how they have progressed in Mitre 10 Cup, and feel they are ready to step up,” head coach Aaron Mauger explained.
“In the end, what we were looking for is somebody to add just that little bit of experience to the group, someone who can mentor those guys through, but also compete and challenge for that number 10 spot.
“We feel with all the guys we assessed, Marty was the best candidate for that role.
The Highlanders front-row stocks received a boost with the signings of hooker Ray Niuia, and props Josh Iosefa-Scott, Ayden Johnston and ex-Queensland Red Sef Fa’afase.
“Part of the learnings from the 2018 Highlanders was our ability to contest up front against bigger sides.
“So that’s one thing we were looking at [a bit of size] when we were looking to recruiting our forward pack, a bit of bulk, and we feel that Ayden Johnston and Josh Iosefa-Scott are going to give us that up front, a well as Sef Fa’agase.
ADVERTISEMENT
Current props Aki Seiuli and Kalolo Tuiloma are believed to be out for one season, following injuries in the Mitre 10 Cup.
“Aki did his knee playing for Otago and Kalolo sustained a neck injury playing for Counties. It is likely he will have surgery in January that will rule him out for the whole season.
A major snare was the recruitment of Hawkes Bay and last year’s Hastings Boys halfback Folau Fakatava. The 19-year-old halfback was injured in the national 1st XV semi-final and subsequently missed his chance to play in the New Zealand schoolboys side. His elevation into a Super Rugby squad already speaks to his pedigree and what he will potentially bring to the Highlanders in the future.
“I reckon he is going to add a real spark to this team, and that’s what we are looking for, something a little bit different,” Mauger explained on Fakatava’s signing.
ADVERTISEMENT
“He’s a very young man, still only 19-years old. He’s been up in the Hawkes Bay environment for a number of years. Probably still a little bit green, he hasn’t played a lot of minutes but we see massive potential in Folau to bring a different dynamic to our game.
“He loves having a crack, backs himself, and is very physical for a smaller guy and he’s just got ‘game’.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpkvri6HTBh/?taken-by=highlandersteam
More Super Rugby squads:
Chiefs 2019 Super Rugby squad
Hurricanes 2019 Super Rugby squad
Crusaders 2019 Super Rugby squad
Blues 2019 Super Rugby squad
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.
24 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
24 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.
1 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.
24 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